Fellow Athiests: Do you think Jesus actually existed?

Question

I think there probably was some con-man magician who inspired the myth, but he certainly wasn't what the bible makes him out to be. But it could also be completely fabricated. Your thoughts?

Answer 1

Theres a possibility a man named Jesus did in fact exists, I just dont believe he's God.

Answer 2

Historically, a LOT of legends like this turn out to be BASED on real people, so I wouldn't be entirely surprised if there was a Jesus who inspired the Jesus story in the Bible. Even the King Arthur legends are said to probably be based on a real man. (Though more likely a warrior Lord than an actual King.)
Anyway, I've just thought that he was probably a very smart, very well-liked, and very influential Rabbi at the time, and after his death, the talk about him just became more and more inflated over time. When people went to write down the story, many years later, they included a lot of details that were taken from much older legends. Probably very little of what we read about Jesus was actually experienced or said by the REAL Jesus.

Answer 3

Based on what I heard, there was evident of existence of Jesus Christ.

However, I have doubts or should I say I am reserved stories about his background and his abilities.

Even nowaday with the advance of technologies and communication channels, we don't hear news 100% reflecting the true.

An example will be 911, there were different stories about how many planes were hijacked, how many hijackers and where, who. It takes months and years to figure out most of the stories.

For age and days over 2000 years ago, I suspect most people are illiterate. And most people may exaggerate and dramatize things they see or hear. One by one, the stories may snowballing an ordinary guy to a superbeing.

Answer 4

His existence is true just as the existence of the Abraham Lincoln. But some legacy left about him have posibilities of fabrications. The Bible only said what happened to him and what he did for us to know and remember. The religions after that made him what he is not supposed to be. They started with the lies to control the people and when they saw it was good, they too began to believe in their lies.
Isaiah 29:15 Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkenss and think, "Who sees us? Who will know?" Who turn things upside down, (999 becomes 666)

Answer 5

There's no legitimate proof of that, but if he did exist, I think he was a wise man, maybe a magician and everyone misinterpreted him and thought he was god.

The gospels were written many years after his death, so probably he didn't even mean to con people. The myth started to grow as a snow ball, and then 300 years later, I believe Constantine declared that Jesus was god to calm down the rebellions he had in the Roman Empire. Politics, are you surprised? Not me.

Answer 6

Yep, I think he existed. I don't think he was malicious by any means, in fact he was probably a pretty great guy, but over time, his followers, and later generations of followers twisted his message to mean something that it was not.

He was most likely a good person, who was killed by the Romans, leaving a bunch of followers who had given up their lively hood with nothing to do.

Then they had a "spiritual moment" -see acts- and convinced themselves that he was the son of God and that they should tell others about him.

That time period was full of dooms day, end of the world prophets who were railing against the Romans, so the message was picked up with vigor by many folks including Paul. He adjusted the theology using Greek reasoning, Roman views on Law and Jewish theology, and voila Christianity.

Jesus is probably rolling in his grave watching all this happen.

;-)

Answer 7

I think that Jesus was likely some radical Jew who wanted to start his own cult. Perhaps if I give him a little more respect I would venture to say that he was trying to do for Judaism what the Buddha did for Hinduism. Do I think the Gospels are an accurate account of his life or the New Testament an accurate copy of his message? Of course not.

Answer 8

I don't think there's much serious arguement about whether he actually existed, is there? I think he was probably actually a really nice guy and had a lot of great ideas (there's no telling how much his character was modified by the folks who wrote the bible, of course...), but I don't think he was some sort of supernatural, quasi-god figure.

Answer 9

You know I am not an atheist but I like to butt in.

I think Jesus was a man who was a great teacher. Most of the story of him in the bible is fabricated for affect.

I like the Gnostic Gospels for a better depiction of Jesus and his true message. The church was highly agitated by them though, and declared them heresy and to be destroyed. The church desired control and Jesus was not about control.

Answer 10

Though I am not atheist there is a significant amount of evidence about the man Jesus, the real argument was wether he was the Son of God, or as you put a con-man i believe the Son of God, but obviously an atheist would not believe that.

Answer 11

I think it is embellished stories about many people. No way the Jesus in the bible existed the way it was written.

Think about it, this guy is feeding thousands, healing the sick and raising the dead. He is bigger than any rock star ever was or will be and all that is written is what is in the bible? Decades later? No other cultures write about him? A little bit of Josephus forgery and the bible does not convince me.