Did Jesus exist at all?

[Minimalist]

Xtians dominated the (Western) world because they backed the right horse at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.  Oh what a better world we would have if Maxentius had won that battle.

Politics, man.  Religion is about power.  Has little to do with dogma.

[Mudhammam]

Xtians dominated the (Western) world because they backed the right horse at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.  Oh what a better world we would have if Maxentius had won that battle.

Politics, man.  Religion is about power.  Has little to do with dogma.

Of course. My point is that it was accidental that Christianity--and not, say, the Etruscan religion--became that dominating politic, and its emergence in the first century is best explained by such insignificant circumstances as those which, in my view, make Jesus a real person who wandered around the streets disclaiming the influential religious authorities in his culture. Such a figure was and is all too common to be unbelievable.

[Minimalist]

“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”

― Christopher Hitchens

An actual jesus is no more important to xtianity than an actual Zeus was to the Greek pantheon.

[Aractus]

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This doesn't mean that other books don't have a clear political agenda, just that the Pentateuch is not the production of vested interests and fiction writers.

It was the production of a bunch of altruistic news reporters, was it?  Stop, lol.  OFC it was the production of fiction writers with vested interests...but so what...what is it you're trying to avoid by arguing against such dry facts as the fictional status of magical narratives...or the origin of fictional stories as being human creativity?  You couldn't even keep it together in that single sentence trying to defend -whatever it is- you're defending.  You acknowledged a vested interest in the text...an then claimed that this interest was what...non-functional?

Myths don't escape the usual behavior of the myth-makers.  Stories are stories.  Yes, they work like that.   Suppose there was a jesus...assume that to be true for no reason - like we do-.  So what, the mythmakers and legend builders -still- had a long go at him.  What is presented to us in the text could very well be entirely unrelated to that original kernel of a character.  It's pointless to tell me that doesn't happen, that myth doesn;t work like that - because we've seen it happen in modern times with cargo cults and their mythmaking apparatus.  Unless you think that the stories of a divine king with cargo in his magical ships is non-fiction...no one made it up, and the construction of all of those ceremonial runways, docks, piers and plane effigies wasn't a pure manifestation of a vested interest.

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Your ignorance of the phenomena does not mean it doesn't exist.

[The Grand Nudger]

Well shit...I'm convinced?  I;m still not sure what it is you're disagreeing with me about.

-That myths are "not non-fiction" (lol)?
-That people are the origin of myths?

[Minimalist]

I think he's trying to say "jesus is different."

You know  "special pleading."

[Mudhammam]

“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”

― Christopher Hitchens

An actual jesus is no more important to xtianity than an actual Zeus was to the Greek pantheon.

I suppose your understanding of the manner in which Greek religion developed, and the rise of Christianity in the first century, is different from mine, and virtually all others who have sought to seriously inform themselves on the topic.

But your welcome to hold on to your cherished god boy. I have no interest in debating the dogmatics of your faith.

[Love333]

“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”

― Christopher Hitchens

An actual jesus is no more important to xtianity than an actual Zeus was to the Greek pantheon.

They are all the same story. Zeus had to overpower his "father" for control of the world. Zeus's powers are pretty similar to Gods aren't they? Especially in regards to weather. Zeus also went into the wilderness to learn the ways of God just like "Jesus" did.

It is also eerily similar to the Egyptian story of Pharaoh Akhenaten. His mother prevented him from the temple ceremonies and he went out into the wilderness and learned the truth about the world. He then finds out that love, peace, truth, curiosity, and kindness are the answer and brings all religions together.

How can everyone be so blind to these narratives? They all tell the same story. You think the story of Buddha was created solely to control people and spread all the way to America in the form of Jesus solely as control? They are the same people, but they were seperated by names over time through misconception. It is a game for all of us to put the pieces together.... I hope I made at least one blind person see this just a small amount...

[robvalue]

Did Jesus exist?

No smoke without fire is a very stupid and inaccurate approach. Jesus' pants are on fire, however. What could we conclude from that? That there is also smoke up his butt?