Some people in the Religion section swear that Jesus Christ never existed as a historical person?

Question

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070817235408AAYAGhB&r=w

As the people in the History section, what is your opinion on this issue?

This question isn't about whether He was God or not, just whether He existed!

Answer 1

I don't believe in God as you may call him. I do, in fact, have a very strong belief that Jesus Christ, in fact; did exist. It's not all people that have this disbelief, just the ones that have become disillusioned because of horrible happenings in their life. I can understand that. Even if it was written in stone that he existed, some people are just not comfortable with a "saviour" or a "messiah" as he is called in various religion.

Answer 2

The historical problem in deciding whether Jesus was a historical person is that there is no historical evidence that he existed, apart from the 'self serving' Gospels. By self serving, I mean that they exist to to show that he existed. We know that, for example, Pontius Pilate, was a real person as his name is recorded in other historical sources. On the other hand, PP was a Roman Governor and an important person and therefore likely to have been recorded*. Jesus would just have been seen as another Jewish troublemaker and unlikely to have been recorded by Roman historians. At the end of the day, you just have to make up your own mind.

*Although, and this is worth pointing out, we only know the names of a minority of the Roman Governors of Britannia.

Answer 3

The one certainty in history is that the "idea of Jesus" has existed and influenced world history for almost two thousand years. I think the evidence does support the existence of the man. It seems doubtful that the disciples, especially Peter
and then Paul, could have sold the idea without the existence
of the man and at least some of the stories of his teaching.

Answer 4

Well, it is true that we don't have any solid proof of his existence. The first record of his life and teachings was written 30-40 years after his death. There were at least 3 Jesuses born to a Joseph and Mary in the proper year in the proper place that could have been him.

But, honestly, does it matter? There's no conclusive proof either way. It's just another pointless argument.

Answer 5

To put to rest the question of whether Jesus was a real historical figure, one should study the works of the Jewish historian Flavious Josephus. He lived at the time of Jesus and had several references to him.

Answer 6

I am aware of the theory that the person "Jesus" is a composite figure, built up - so to say - from the characteristics (real or mythical) of several "historical" persons. Personally I tend to agree with this view, but for the people in the Religion Section to SWEAR that it is so, is ridiculous. There is no PROOF of either view of this issue.

Answer 7

At this point in our History, it takes "faith" to believe in both God and Jesus.

We don't have evidence of their existence except for word of mouth and some 3rd persons writings, so if you believe it is because of your faith. If you don't believe, no one cam blame you because there is no concrete evidence.


Live and let live, I say.



g-day!

Answer 8

There is no doubt that he existed as a human being but perhaps the entire debate was whether or not, he was a "theological construct".

And they are discussing for the sake of discussing,(shooting the breeze)

Answer 9

Yeah yeah and some people swear the holocaust never took place and Hitler was a saint!!!!

Answer 10

they were smoking weed during history classes . or there liberals or maybe the had a gay agenda. take a pick