Somewhere back up there Wesley S said:

"I don't think it's necessary to believe in his existance - it's more important to attempt to act in a Christ-like manner. That's my definition of a Christian. And most of us - myself included - fail at being a Christian every day."

I just don't get this sort of logic. If the majority of self-proclaimed Christians fail so miserably (and consistently so!) at acting in a Christ-like manner, surely the time to return to the drawing board has long since passed?

I rather agree with Gurnie, who pointed out what fools we mere mortals be:

"In some countries, he's been turned into a major profit."

The only reason any religious mythology exists, at the end of the day, is because it is of great benefit to the rulers to impose such beliefs on those ruled. As happened in the era being discussed (just as it is happening today), powerful men will actually invent new religions to seize power from other powerful men.

Seems to work every time.