That is a possibility, I admit. But I find it more likely that this was a popular personality cult, possibly one of the unnamed ones in the histories I read. Obviously the mythic aspects of Jesus are just that. But a simple revolutionary preacher? This seems plausible. And recall that the gospels were propaganda pieces, never meant to be honest attempts at history.

When people report being abducted by aliens, does that mean that there are aliens?

No, of course not. But it's easier to hallucinate or dream something you're already familiar with than one you just make up.

(December 15, 2014 at 1:49 pm)Parkers Tan Wrote: When people report being abducted by aliens, does that mean that there are aliens?

Well of course.

It's our alien overlords coming back to check on their creation. Didn't you know?

And I hope you appreciate the fact that I messed up my hair deliberately just to type that.

There were, I believe, four Jesuses known to history from around that time, all of them doomsday prophets in their own way and none of them fitting the bill for the godboy even if you strip away the magic. Add to which the name Jesus (Yeshu, Yeshua, whatever) was practically as common a name then as, say, Dave is now, and you could postulate a thousand rebel cult leaders called Jesus, the existence of whom is lost to history.

(December 15, 2014 at 1:58 pm)Stimbo Wrote: There were, I believe, four Jesuses known to history from around that time, all of them doomsday prophets in their own way and none of them fitting the bill for the godboy even if you strip away the magic. Add to which the name Jesus (Yeshu, Yeshua, whatever) was practically as common a name then as, say, Dave is now, and you could postulate a thousand rebel cult leaders called Jesus, the existence of whom is lost to history.

Dave of Nazereth, Someone must make this sit com.

(December 15, 2014 at 2:06 pm)downbeatplumb Wrote:

(December 15, 2014 at 1:58 pm)Stimbo Wrote: There were, I believe, four Jesuses known to history from around that time, all of them doomsday prophets in their own way and none of them fitting the bill for the godboy even if you strip away the magic. Add to which the name Jesus (Yeshu, Yeshua, whatever) was practically as common a name then as, say, Dave is now, and you could postulate a thousand rebel cult leaders called Jesus, the existence of whom is lost to history.

Dave of Nazereth, Someone must make this sit com.

Someone must make this their user title.

Oh, wait.

(December 15, 2014 at 1:54 am)His_Majesty Wrote:

(December 14, 2014 at 6:00 pm)Parkers Tan Wrote: But the thing is, Shakespeare, I didn't make that claim.

You said in post #75 "He (God) actually doesn't do anything at all, because he is a figment of your imagination."

That is a claim of knowledge...and I simply asked you to provide evidence for that absolute claim...which you didn't, which you can't.

No, it's an opinion.

(December 15, 2014 at 1:54 am)His_Majesty Wrote:

(December 14, 2014 at 6:00 pm)Parkers Tan Wrote: I voiced my opinion that your god is a figment of your imagination.

You conveniently left out the first part where you said made the absolute claim...I just posted it in context above...and the # post you said it in...so keep it real...have some integrity about yourself.

... said the guy who made a positive claim about having settled the matter of Jesus's existence ... only to backtrack and say that it was his opinion.

You're so stupid you don't even realize you got fished into this position deliberately. Thank you for agreeing with my point.

Oh -- and I believe your god is a figment of your imagination.

(December 15, 2014 at 1:49 pm)Parkers Tan Wrote: When people report being abducted by aliens, does that mean that there are aliens?

I think what really reinforces it is when people who knew people who claimed to know those people write about the abductions. Forty or so years later.

Two threads merged?

Does that mean I can start a thread on the case for the resurrection of Gandalf the Grey?