I often see in responses an "if Jesus existed". What I wonder is how is it that some say they acknowledge He existed and others who say that Jesus didn't exist?
Of those who are not Christian do you believe He existed or do you not, and why don't you think He lived at all?
2007-03-12 03:09:47 · 14 answers · asked by thankyou "iana" 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It is really important that I do not wish to be devisive... I have just observed this and am wondering.
I am Christian if it wasn't obvious.
2007-03-12 03:17:19 · update #1
i think when people say that what they are trying to say is that they don't believe he existed as a god on earth. (i know that there are writings about jesus in the talmud, none of it is very flattering, but i do consider it proof of his existance.) basically i think they are just trying to express the extent of their disbelief in christianity, albeit in a way that makes them sound like they do not know what they are talking about. when i say i don't believe in jesus, i am not questioning his existance, but expresses the opinion that i do not think he was the messiah or anything other than a man. it's one of those statements you have to "read between the lines" on.
hope that helped -
2007-03-12 03:36:42 · answer #1 · answered by mommynow 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Christian concept of the doubting Thomas comes more into play every single day. Without photographic proof, or one who was actually there, there will always be doubters.
I believe he existed...where there is smoke, there is fire...but similar to a previous answer, I don't think he was anymore the son of God than I am. Might have been a great man...might have been a man in the right/wrong place at the right/wrong time. All religions, though, are now subject to interpretation more than anything else as there is no true proof of actual situations within events...
For the record, yes there is proof of certain things in the Bible as far as places go, but the actual stories of what happened there can never be proven conclusively. If the Bible is a work of fiction, which many including myself believe it is, it does have one step up on, say, the Book of Mormon where the author's didn't take things into account like geography and finding artifacts of what happened where.
2007-03-12 10:18:16 · answer #2 · answered by Gwydyon 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
there is a raging debate in the biblical arena as to whether the jesus of the bible actually existed. there is no consensus at this time due to ongoing research into the the gospels and the evidence to support their narratives along with archeological research to verify dates, people, events, and timelines of those stories. the evidence to date does not support the notion of a divine jesus of nazareth but may offer some proof of a holy man, a rabbi no doubt, offering a different perspective on life and how to treat ones fellow man that may or may not have been named jesus. following the evidence where it leads has brought this non christian to conclude that the jesus of the bible is a man made myth, an invention, used to promote an idea and to consolidate power at a time of great civil unrest and uncertainty.
2007-03-12 10:29:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He probably existed. When you're talking about something that happened 2000 years ago there's always a certain degree of doubt, but it seems likely that there was an actual person called Jesus and some of the stories in the bible were written about him.
2007-03-12 10:24:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Personally (I'm a believer, by the way), when I hear arguments against Jesus having resurrected, or being God, I treat them seriously, and am willing to debate them.
When I see people saying he didn't exist as a historical person, I have a lot of trouble taking them seriously: that is, I will probably not bother debating them, or even trying to enlighten them - they are clearly not interested in a historical perspective anyway. If they were, they would have done a little reading and thinking and would know He existed as a historical person.
2007-03-12 10:16:07 · answer #5 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There is only the bible as a record to the existance of Jeses, yes you have temple mount in Jurusalem but the attachments are not based on any factual records.
Did Jesus actually exist is unknown.
2007-03-12 10:15:58 · answer #6 · answered by clever investor 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's not a lot really known about Jesus, including whether he existed or not. The stories written about him were written decades after his death. The stories about his childhood and personal life were written even later. Jesus wrote nothing and there is nothing of note written during his life. There are, at most, some vague references to Jesus made earlier by people who talked to early Christians. No firsthand references.
A good video on this subject is "The God Who Wasn't There".
Personally, I don't think it matters whether Jesus existed or not. The stories were written late enough that there is probably little to no real information about his actual life in them. So, even if there was a real Jesus, the Bible Jesus is still a fictional character.
2007-03-12 10:12:36 · answer #7 · answered by nondescript 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Probably, but it is by no means a sure thing.
There are very few outside sources that say he did. And even more importantly, none of those sources was from the same time, they were all 70 years or so later. So at the very least you would have to conclude that outside observers from that time who actually met him were not terribly impressed.
2007-03-12 10:59:36 · answer #8 · answered by Alex 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I feel that Jesus existed, and that there is a difference between the historic Jesus, and the faith based conception. I feel that the historical Jesus was a political figure, and also a spiritual teacher.
2007-03-12 10:19:58 · answer #9 · answered by beatlefan 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is enough information(historical, records beyond the Bible) that Jesus existed. For many, it's the point of believing he is the Messiah.
2007-03-12 10:13:08 · answer #10 · answered by <><><> 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋