I found the question still begging at the end of the book “who was Jesus and why was he significant to James”.

You’re right that there were a lot of questions left hanging about the nature of Jesus’ ministry (and I think that’s ok – if you can’t answer responsibly, sometimes its better not to answer at all). I think it’s fair to say that the author believes that Jesus was important to James because they were brothers, and because James was a follower.

Did the author feel that the post resurrection “appearances” to James were authentic

I think the author tried to stay neutral on this – dealing only with the question of whether James considered them authentic. I think he feels James did, but it isn’t clear exactly in what way he did.

and if so what would this signify (by default) about Paul’s divinity claims about Jesus?

To me, a lot. It isn’t completely clear from the text how Paul understood Jesus to be divine. I think that, if Paul had not had a view consistent with Jewish monotheism, that he would not have had the relationship he did have with James and the Jerusalem church. That inclines me toward the view that Paul’s notions about Jesus were that he was the “principle agent” of God, invested with the Divine Name, but subordinate to God.

I find it difficult at the end of the day to read Paul’s letters as a callous anti-semitic political dissimilation of Jamesian Messianism simply to undercut the moral from under Jewish nationalists for the sake of Roman govermental hegemony… as the author would have it… but rather understand the differences between Paul and James as sincere men with genuine differences in their understanding of the “consequence” of Jesus…

I agree. I think that Paul did eventually go “too far” by suggesting – where the certain elite Jerusalem Jews could hear him – that the Law no longer pertained to Jews. I think that this was the reason for his final arrest and fatal trip to Rome. But, I think that his disagreement with the Jewish leadership up to that point had been strenuous but tolerable to at least himself, James & Peter.

There are those out there who argue that he didn’t even really ever exist and that there is no evidence to the contrary that he did.

I never understood that but sincerely my friend, I do not give this stuff nearly as much time, thought and effort as you do.

And I don’t know a single solitary Christian who does.

The bulk of my theology is staring up at the moon and the stars at night while the dog pisses.

And man, you ought to see the moon after Lasiks surgery. Holy shit. If only I could paint I would send you a picture of what it looks like to me.