Imperialmajesty
Emperor
What evidence is there that Jesus actually existed?
Evidence supporting the existance of Jesus
- Thread starter Imperialmajesty
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Imperialmajesty
Emperor
Crap, can this be moved to the History forum, I posted it in OT by accident.
JohnRM
Don't make me destroy you
There is no physical evidence, if that is what you mean. Other than that, I think you know what other evidence exists.
Imperialmajesty
Emperor
Hmm... similar to what else I have seen on Wikipedia and various Google searches. (Nice work finding the relevant posts and amazing job by Plotinus, definitely a favorite poster of mine)
Berzerker
Deity
I'd say the number of accounts, testimonials, hearsay, etc is proof enough... A religion started around a man's teachings usually involves a man teaching 
I'd say the number of accounts, testimonials, hearsay, etc is proof enough... A religion started around a man's teachings usually involves a man teaching
I must bring in Bill Maher's ideas to debate this with you.
Why were there no recordings of him when he lived? Evidently he was more or less the most popular guy in the region... You'd think SOMEBODY would have written some stuff down. But no, it had to wait until about 30 years after he died til somebody took notice? Seriously?
We have no firsthand accounts in writing. Only hearsay.
Berzerker
Deity
people thought he was coming back
he said this generation would not pass away before he returned
and they've been thinking that ever since
as the generation began passing away, his teachings were put to paper/scroll
thats my take on it anyway
he said this generation would not pass away before he returned
and they've been thinking that ever since
as the generation began passing away, his teachings were put to paper/scroll
thats my take on it anyway
Hmm, that does make some sense. Nonetheless I think someone, somewhere who knew about writing would have written his history or whatever down. Like, say, a Roman who didn't believe the 'returning to save them all' thing.
Perfection
The Great Head.
It's in the god damn bible!
DUH!
DUH!
Considering he was crucified, evidently, SOMEONE took notice.
Also, while the Gospel's (and epistles, ect.) were written after His death, many of the people who witnessed his life were still alive. The writer of Luke and Acts, Luke, himself says as much at the beginning of the Gospel of Luke.
I'd say the number of accounts, testimonials, hearsay, etc is proof enough... A religion started around a man's teachings usually involves a man teaching
Which suggests, but does not prove...
cardgame said:
It might help if Mr Mayer had read anything on the subject.
cardgame said:
We don't have firsthand accounts for the majority of historical figures. I make do with inscriptions written long after the fact to substantiate the existence of the majority of the Maharaja's of Srivijaya. Dachs' Greco-Bactrians have a similar dearth of information as well, but we don't doubt that they existed and we don't have any reason to doubt the existence of their Kings.
cardgame said:
They didn't really care, it seems they thought they were executing another criminal and that other than carrying out the sentence it had nothing to do with them.
Berzerker
Deity
makes perfect sense - if the messiah is coming back soon who needs written records for posterity? Besides, I believe people did write down much of what he taught. We have a variety of accounts from the church approved to gnostic sources and no way of knowing when they were first recorded. People do make copies of older texts...
its proof enough for me... and the symbolism tells me Jesus was part of a religious order going way back
hey, wait a second - Romans did not believe in the messiah.
And the selection I bolded seems to be contradictory.
That said, I do agree with Masada's solution, as it makes perfect sense.
Integral
Can't you hear it?
That a guy named Jesus was preaching in Judea around the late 20s CE is hardly in dispute...Which suggests, but does not prove...
Integral
Can't you hear it?
If we're just looking to establish Jesus' mere existence, then the chances of consensus are rather high.
TheLastOne36
Deity
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2007
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Existence of Jesus or existence of Jesus being right and Christianity being true and everything?
I bet the chances of Jesus' existence in real life is pretty high, I mean there were record (I assume) taken by the Romans and everything right?
I bet the chances of Jesus' existence in real life is pretty high, I mean there were record (I assume) taken by the Romans and everything right?
Berzerker
Deity
Many in his audience did believe, and who Jesus was required interpretation - many believed he was coming back, soon. Others thought maybe years or decades, but before that generation passed away. At some point "the prophecy" must be changed - reinterpreted to accommodate the fact he didn't return. I'm sure someone recorded some events as they happened while most were probably recorded later from memory. As for the Romans, their non-belief makes them less likely to record Jesus' life. Did the Romans record the executed? Jesus is like a black hole, you see evidence by looking at how the surroundings change. What other religion allegedly started by a man wasn't started by a man?
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