Could you accept the possibility that Christ was invented as an allegory only?

like an allegory for what? interesting idea. clarify if you can. [i'm not religious though, so maybe you're looking for christian answerers]

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my first impression is that it would probably make christianity even more out of control with regards to scriptural interpretation than it already is. if christ is just an allegory created by non-divine individuals, christians would lose the few facts that they don't have to interpret (the life of christ). the creation story is just an allegory, and look at all the trouble and acrimonious debate that it has caused. then there would be those who would insist that christ was real anyway.

i think that from a non-religious perspective, christ is someone who people can respect philosophically. as an allegory, he would just be another component of religious faith that non-religious people like me would probably disregard.

another thing to think about: nietzsche said that the last christian died on the cross...

Oo! You know you're just going to upset people. You no doubt are referring to the fact that the first wrtings about him were produced at least ten years after his departure and even then by a non-eye witness. Could the Jesus who taught in parables actually be a parable himself? Consider.

If Jesus were made up, someone would have to have made him up. If so, they had to have a reason. What distinct message in the Christian faith could possibly be worth the effort it would take to create an imaginary savior? That life is about more than being "right" or getting ahead? That there are things worth dying for? That God cares enough about humanity to actually become human? That we should care for our enemies? Are these ideas enough to risk being exposed as a fraud?

Then again, how could anyone find out?

Well if something is not true then why believe --wouldn't make sense. Of course Jesus Christ is an historical figure, and there is no getting around that. He has more historical documentation than even Julius Caesar, and his influence has changed the course of Western Civilization.

hmmm interesting

though much objective research seems to point to an actual historical figure

You mean some people believe he was real...Aww c'mon!