Ecce Homo! Or A Critical Inquiry into the History of Jesus of Nazareth

D'Holbach approaches the life of Jesus from a critical and skeptical perspective, arguing that much of what is written in the New Testament is mythologized and not based on historical fact. He explores the inconsistencies in the Gospel accounts, suggesting that Jesus was not a divine being but rather a human figure whose story was embellished by his followers over time. The book contends that the miraculous elements of Jesus' life, including his resurrection and miracles, were later inventions designed to reinforce the authority of the church. In this work, d'Holbach also critiques the ethical teachings of Christianity, claiming that many of the values promoted in the New Testament were either borrowed from earlier traditions or were impractical and contradictory. He frames Christianity as a belief system that was used for political and social control rather than a source of moral enlightenment. Ecce Homo! is part of a broader trend in Enlightenment thought that sought to challenge religious orthodoxy and promote reason, skepticism, and secularism.