Mythical Jesus

Here I mean not that Jesus did not exist, but that his divinity and divine deeds were invented long after he died. See Bart D. Ehrman

Mythical Jesus gives us some great transcendental qualities to strive for (or an avatar upon which to project our ideals):

• Perfect Justice
• Perfect Mercy
• etc.

Mythical Jesus (Son of God, or God Incarnate) can have some negative aspects, namely that in trying to be perfect ("Be ye therefore perfect") or trying to be like Jesus ("WWJD") we may despair, as we are not equipped for perfection.

See also "To err is human, to forgive divine."

See also Jesus of Nazareth and Historical Jesus.