Do you believe Jesus was a historical figure that lived 2,000 years in Israel? Do you believe there was guy named jesus but did not rise from the dead? Or do you deny he even existed at all?
2006-12-21 17:20:01 · 20 answers · asked by Chase 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Josephus, the Jewish historian, noted the existence of Jesus as a cultish figure in his first century history writings. I have no problem accepting the Jesus probably existed, although the existence of many of the old testament figures (such as Abraham) is open to much more profound questioning.
I only believe that Jesus died and did not rise from the dead. The testimony of the gospels is all hearsay, and Paul, the biggest Christian advocate of them all, only saw Jesus in a hallucination.
2006-12-21 17:41:51 · answer #1 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The general consensus is that there was a historical figure, or else why would the story exist in the first place? It has to be based on something. As for Jesus rising from the dead, atheists don't believe that happened.
2006-12-21 17:23:24 · answer #2 · answered by Roman Soldier 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I don't know for sure. I am willing to assume that there was a historical figure named Jesus who could have been a great leader and philosopher. He might also have gotten on the wrong side of the law and got nailed for it. All that is reasonable to assume. It's the god part that we have trouble with.
BTW - It's not just atheists who think this. Most non-Chistains believe something along those lines or they believe that he is a purely mythical figure.
2006-12-21 17:41:30 · answer #3 · answered by Alan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suspect that there could have been a charismatic fellow who went around, gathered followers, and preached about breaking away from the main Judaic faith. If he did exist, a lot of tales were tacked on to him well after his death. If he did exist and was martyred, then that was the end of his story. He was killed for being politically inconvenient for the Empire and the Religious leaders of the time. No getting back up or taking on sin or the rest. As I said, that stuff got tacked on much later.
2006-12-21 17:33:41 · answer #4 · answered by Scott M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I actually do not believe such a creature ever existed. The books are in conflict and Paul does not seem to have considered Jesus to have been a walking talking human. I think it is just mythology.
2006-12-21 17:38:47 · answer #5 · answered by Barabas 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a lot of thought and discussion that the Jesus of the bible stories was actually a conglomerate of several people of the era. There is very little hard evidence that supports the existance of the man described in the bible.
2006-12-21 17:43:36 · answer #6 · answered by ndmagicman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure, a man named Jesus may have lived 2000 years ago but it's also quite possible that one didn't. If he did exist then he didn't rise from the dead, after he died that was it; the end.
2006-12-21 17:22:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
lot of guys back then had that name but as for the one you speak of no I am sorry to say he did not there are no records of that time that show of his existence at all and Romans were anal about record keeping if he had existed and had been considered a threat to the state the Romans would have documented the **** out of him and each senator would have had spymasters after him to see if he could be used for them to gain the purple > I just wish it were true because if it were it would be so much easier to gain back what we have lost in this country !
2006-12-21 17:31:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most see no point in denying the existence of jesus, only the existence of his divinity.
2006-12-21 17:23:50 · answer #9 · answered by ? 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I think he is most likely a real historical figure. I just don't believe in the supernatural feats.
2006-12-21 17:39:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋