The Atheist Perspective

The teachings and behavior ascribed to Jesus conform to several sects and thus he (or his creators) likely attempted to create their own sect by cannibalizing the best ideas from several. We can identify components of Essene, Pharisee, and Baptist cult elements in the teachings and behavior of Jesus, and that's even just from what limited information we have. There were at least ten and possibly as many as thirty sects of Judaism at the time, about most of whom we know nothing or next to nothing, so there's no telling which of those sects the Gospel Jesus most resembled.

Second Temple Judaisms