Historicity of Jesus | Atheist Experience

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[TheFoemp]

The fact that the stories around Jesus are so different from each other and contradicting to high degrees, trying to please different groups (virgin birth for pagans, Josef being from david's lineage for jews), makes me think that people so desparately wanted his existence to be important and have meaning. Therefore, I do think that Jesus existed, because if not, they would have fabricated him out of thin air, without contradictions.

him out of thin air and make sure that the story sticks.

[lordscully]

@h2omanz there is a deafening silence from people who should have been very aware of jesus and his miracles, his political aggitation, his multitude of followers. you can't read the bible and claim that jesus was some backwater unknown prophet. if the bible is to be believed then there really should be plenty of contemporary accounts. there is nothing. i find this highly unusual. there are other sects of the time which were considered worth mentioning but not jesus? strange.

[lordscully]

@h2omanz his brother Gallio, whom according to the bible, was at the trial of paul. he has nothing to say about jesus or, strangely, paul either. justice of tiberius, a native of galilee not far from jesus hometown, wrote a huge history covering the entire time jesus is said to have lived. in fact the only reason we know about him is because of what he said about jesus. NOTHING! Philo of alexandria who was alive before, during and after the time of christ, clearly knows nothing about it

[lordscully]

@h2omanz the first century is not some historical black hole. there were plenty of historians in the right place at the right time to have mentioned such an incredible character as jesus. according to the bible he was stirring up a huge shit storm, religiously and politically. seneca the younger (4bc-65ad) wrote a book called "on superstition" in which he lambasted all the major religions of his time but had nothing to say about jesus or christianity.

[lordscully]

@h2omanz to say that in for me to be atheist requires that jesus never existed is ridiculous. his divinity, miracles and resurrection are a whole different ball game. one does not prove the other. the gospels are not reliable as they full of contradictions, both within themselves and from one another. also we have no idea who wrote them. as you should be well aware they were later attributed to matthew mark luke and john arbitrarily by the church.

[h2omanz]

2.for ancient manuscripts its exceptional for that era. There are references of Jesus outside the Bible, most later but this is due to His short 3yr span, He was in the furthest remote corner of the Empire, as well historians rarely wrote anything about religious figures.

[h2omanz]

@lordscully

1.Am I talkn to a differ person, wheres the insults, have a change of heart? Actually it does matter to you. Very much so, in order to deny God, Jesus can't be who He stated He was and one better never existed. there is plenty of debate between historians, yet honest (many atheistic as well) do admit that the evidence is over and beyond the guidelines of acceptable history. I don't think the evidence is shut case without investigation, but as

[lordscully]

@h2omanz If you must know i happen to think that it is more likely that the gospels are based on a real person. my argument here is that it cannot be considered proven. there just isn't enough data to make a firm conclusion. you seem to be suggesting that there is no doubt about it and no debate to be had, that the question is settled. unambiguous reference to jesus is hard to find (outside of the bible). there's a big difference between that and some vague reference to a christ.

[lordscully]

@h2omanz i have no problem with the truth, no matter what it might be. it really doesn't matter to me if the story is based on a real character. it matters hugely to you though, seeing as your faith requires his existence. you seem to be suggesting that there is no debate among historians about whether or not he existed, that only ignorant googling idiots feel it is unproved. please tell me if that is what you are saying. if you know of a source you feel i can trust then what is it?

[h2omanz]

4.decades-FACT. Thats another epic failed attempt to deny evidences. You can keep acting like you know what you are talking about, but you only expose your preconceived n unschooled bias/denial as we go.