Samuel Maximilian Rieser
Encyclopedia
Samuel Maximilian Rieser (1893 – 1981) was a Jewish lawyer
and philosopher
.
Born in Kraków
, where he went to school, he began the study of law in Vienna
. His studies were interrupted by World War I
, during which he lived in Switzerland
. After the war he returned to Vienna, completed his law studies and obtained a position at an insurance company. In 1938 he opened a private law practice. Among his clients was Reinhold Hanisch
, a childhood friend of Adolf Hitler
. Rieser immigrated to the United States
in 1939. Here he earned his living by writing under different pseudonyms for the New Yorker Staatszeitung
. After World War II
he worked for different European newsletters and as a translator
for an immigrant service organization. Although he had never studied philosophy, he authored a series of essays, reviews and monographs, which appeared in different American philosophical journals. Among other things, he argued for a version of the Christ myth theory, the view that Jesus
never existed.
was a product of the Hellenistic
urban world. Christianity, retroactively set in pre-70 Galilee
and Jerusalem, arrived last, not first, in Palestine
. It is for this reason that very ancient Christian artifacts are typically found in Rome
, but not in Israel
. Jesus, the Apostles
, and Paul are seen as entirely fictional. The central importance of sacred meals in mystery religions
is acknowledged.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and philosopher
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
.
Born in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, where he went to school, he began the study of law in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. His studies were interrupted by World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, during which he lived in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. After the war he returned to Vienna, completed his law studies and obtained a position at an insurance company. In 1938 he opened a private law practice. Among his clients was Reinhold Hanisch
Reinhold Hanisch
Reinhold Hanisch was an Austrian migrant worker and sometime business partner of the young Adolf Hitler. Hanisch, who published articles on Hitler, with whom he had lived in 1910, is, next to August Kubizek, one of the few witnesses to Hitler's Vienna years...
, a childhood friend of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. Rieser immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1939. Here he earned his living by writing under different pseudonyms for the New Yorker Staatszeitung
New Yorker Staatszeitung
The New Yorker Staats-Zeitung, nicknamed „The Staats“, is the premier German-language weekly newspaper in the United States.-History:...
. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he worked for different European newsletters and as a translator
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
for an immigrant service organization. Although he had never studied philosophy, he authored a series of essays, reviews and monographs, which appeared in different American philosophical journals. Among other things, he argued for a version of the Christ myth theory, the view that Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
never existed.
The True Founder of Christianity and the Hellenistic Philosophy
Rieser is occasionally remembered for his book, The True Founder of Christianity and the Hellenistic Philosophy, published in 1979. Here he argues that ChristianityChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
was a product of the Hellenistic
Hellenistic civilization
Hellenistic civilization represents the zenith of Greek influence in the ancient world from 323 BCE to about 146 BCE...
urban world. Christianity, retroactively set in pre-70 Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
and Jerusalem, arrived last, not first, in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
. It is for this reason that very ancient Christian artifacts are typically found in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, but not in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Jesus, the Apostles
Apostle (Christian)
The term apostle is derived from Classical Greek ἀπόστολος , meaning one who is sent away, from στέλλω + από . The literal meaning in English is therefore an "emissary", from the Latin mitto + ex...
, and Paul are seen as entirely fictional. The central importance of sacred meals in mystery religions
Greco-Roman mysteries
Mystery religions, sacred Mysteries or simply mysteries, were religious cults of the Greco-Roman world, participation in which was reserved to initiates....
is acknowledged.
External links
- The Max Rieser Collection at the Center for Jewish HistoryCenter for Jewish HistoryThe Center for Jewish History is a partnership, or consortium, of five Jewish organizations based in Manhattan. It is a partnership of five organizations of Jewish history, scholarship, and art: the American Jewish Historical Society, the American Sephardi Federation, the Leo Baeck Institute, the...