Rylands was best known as an advocate of the Christ myth theory. He denied the historicity of Jesus.
"In a work so short as the present one it has been impossible to set out in any degree of fullness the evidence in support of all the statements contained in it. It is hoped, however, that sufficient has been given to make the conclusions reached appear reasonable.
Readers who desire more detailed evidence may consult the works of the writers to whom reference is made. This book is in no sense an attack upon the Christian religion. My only motive has been the desire to reach historic truth. But if anyone thinks that religion is likely to suffer through the re-transformation of Jesus from a man to the Son of God which he originally was, I would draw his attention to the fact that W. B. Smith, Arthur Drews, Edouard Dujardin, and Albert Kalthoff—with whom, no doubt, love of truth was also a motive—have all undertaken the disproof of the historicity of Jesus in the interest of religion." Gordon Rylands.