Don, I agree with you that people must come to their own conclusions.

Dianavan, I think that religious leaders who are made powerful by their flocks are opportunists who are like many politicians today.

Separation of Church and State was a crucial foundation of the US Constitution because the Founding Fathers realized just how political religion can become. They were prophetic.
      Historically, there is a short jump from Cromwell to Fallwell.

Everyone, why should anyone care about the historical Jesus? What purpose would it serve? Or the historical Zeus or Mithras. BTW, let me be the first to wish you all a Merry Mithras (ancient Egyptian god) since he was apparently born (unlike Jesus) on December 25th. :)

Frank