Atheist, is Jesus a mythological figure or an actual person?

Question

No need to ask believers this question, as they would say he was an actual person. What do you think, was Jesus of Nazareth an actual person? Im not asking if he ever perfromed miracles and if he was the son of God etc.. , just do you think he ever existed?

Answer 1

I think jesus is myth. There is no contemporaneous written evidence that he lived. The closest documents that mention him are at least 5 decades post his alleged acension. It could be all historical fiction.

Thinking of the alleged miracles that were attributed to jesus during his lifetime on earth, I find it odd that the romans, who kept meticulous notes on every mundane thing (including laundry lists) did not see fit to write any of these miraculous events down anywhere.

Answer 2

I think that it doesn't matter if Jesus was a real person or not. The belief that he was a real person who was the son of god and all that is what matters. People believe he was real, and they based their lives around that belief. They make choices on who to vote for, what is moral, and what to teach children based on the idea that Jesus was a real person. So, it doesn't really matter if Jesus was a real person or not. The belief is what will change the world.

Personally, I haven't given it much thought either way.

Answer 3

I think the Jesus story is pure mythology.

Letting the atheist point that a nonexistant God could not have spawned an illegitimate son rest still leaves other points.

No records, no contemporary accounts and no supporting evidence.
No relevance except as a cult figure.
One of many cult figures in 1rst, 2nd and 3rd century Rome.
Appears as a cult figure after the destruction of the Jewish state by Titus.
Has no relevance to history except as a cult figure.

Answer 4

There is very little evidence that the actual Jesus of the bible existed. More likely than not is that the Jesus of the bible is an conglomeration of several men of the time woven into the parables and myths of the bible.

Answer 5

I am a believer, but Jesus actually did live.

Although whether you believe he did miracles or whether you believe he really is the son of God you have to choose for yourself.

But he did live.

There is actual historical records of that, not just the Bible.

Answer 6

I don't have enough info to decide. On the face of it I'd have thought he was a real person, but John M. Allegro's arguments that he was actually a code-name for an hallucinogenic mushroom is terribly well defended, even though it sounds crazy.

If he was a real person, he doesn't seem to have been a very nice one, all things considered. He went a bit Jim Jones at the end.

CD

Answer 7

im not an athiest- that doesn't even really exist every1 has to think of something anything that is a higher being or something that is better than this world- but i dont believe in organized religions either so i think im ok to answer this question i think yes he was a person and he did very kind things not so much the magic stuff but i dont think that it mattered so much if he was a person or not i think wat was important was his message of love and equality which sounds cheesy but dont be stuck up thats wat the whole main idea is for him i think.

Answer 8

He did actually exist. that is historical. whether you believe what He did is up to each person individually. but to say He was a mythological figure is pure idiocracy on behalf of those who never find anything out for themselves.

Answer 9

Both. There was probably a rabbi named Jesus who preached a radical philosophy, leading to his execution. His life and ministry were embellished with mythological components.

Answer 10

Just today I saw half of the Atheists side with WICCANS.

WICCANS are viable and CHRISTAINS ARE NOT

Seems a paradox to me.

You can believe in SPELLS, INCANTATIONS, GHOSTS, GOBBILINS but NOT JESUS OR GOD

Seems weird.