1. I find it possible, but unlikely. The evidence for an historic Jesus is exclusively based on hearsay by people with a specific agenda to promote. This makes the 'evidence' highly suspect.
2. Yes, of course. Not only is the evidence for George Washington irrefutable (extant letters written by him and to him, detailed accounts of him that tally with other accounts - some written by people who knew him intimately, some by people who never met him), but history would have unfolded quite differently without an historic Washington, whereas the history of Christianity would have unfolded much the same whether the person known as 'Jesus of Nazareth' was historic or mythic.
But I get what you're trying to do here. You wish to make the argument that the case for an historic Jesus is on par with the case for an historic Washington. Not to be harsh, but this is a stupifyingly idiotic position to take. You put me in mind of the time a theist made the claim, 'We have as much evidence for Jesus as we have for Abraham Lincoln.' My response was that if she could produce photos of Jesus, she'd make a bloody fortune.
Boru
2. Yes, of course. Not only is the evidence for George Washington irrefutable (extant letters written by him and to him, detailed accounts of him that tally with other accounts - some written by people who knew him intimately, some by people who never met him), but history would have unfolded quite differently without an historic Washington, whereas the history of Christianity would have unfolded much the same whether the person known as 'Jesus of Nazareth' was historic or mythic.
But I get what you're trying to do here. You wish to make the argument that the case for an historic Jesus is on par with the case for an historic Washington. Not to be harsh, but this is a stupifyingly idiotic position to take. You put me in mind of the time a theist made the claim, 'We have as much evidence for Jesus as we have for Abraham Lincoln.' My response was that if she could produce photos of Jesus, she'd make a bloody fortune.
Boru
‘But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods or no gods. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.’ - Thomas Jefferson
