JESUS <3

[Exian]

Oh well in that case, horizontal by far.

But seriously, I've read both sides of the argument many times and haven't been 100% (or close to) convinced either way. And, really, it just doesn't matter enough for me to take a stance. His existence is trivial.

[Catholic_Lady]

I just remember when I was in high school my text book for World History class actually made reference to Jesus as the man who founded Christianity. His name was also one of the key words under "important people to remember" at the end of the chapter. It was a public high school. Does that bother you?

I thought more atheists believed Jesus was a real man, just not who He said He was.

[Minimalist]

It doesn't matter.  What we now call xtianity was still being revised centuries later.  The Trinity wasn't written into the Nicean creed until 381 and seems to have been kicked around for a further 70 years before everyone agreed to it.

IOW, this shit has nothing to do with any "jesus."

[Exian]

Nah, doesn't bother me. History class also teaches about Hitler. What would bother me is removing someone from history just because you disagree with their actions. And as I mentioned above, I'm not convinced either way on the subject of Jesus' historicity.

[drfuzzy]

New ideas?  You're kidding, right?

These gods all predated Jesus of Nazareth. Most were said to be born of a virgin, were sons of supreme gods, were born on December 25, had stars point to their birthplaces, were visited by shepherds and magi as infants, fled from death as children, exhibited traits of divinity in childhood, spent time in the desert, traveled as they taught, had disciples, performed miracles, were persecuted, were crucified, descended into hell after death, appeared as resurrections or apparitions, or ascended into heaven. 
 
Chrishna of India (Krishna), 1200 B.C.
Alcestos (Alcestis) of Euripides, 600 B. C.
Atys (Attis) of Phrygia, 1170 B. C.
Bali of Orissa, 725 B. C.
Budha Sakia of India, 600 B. C.
Crite of Chaldea, 1200 B. C.
Hesus or Eros (Esus), 834 B. C.
Iao of Nepaul, 622 B. C.
Indra of Thibet, 725 B. C.
Mithra (Mitra) of Persia, 600 B. C.
Prometheus or Æschylus of Caucasus, 547 B.C.
Quexalcote of Mexico, 587 B. C.
Quirinus of Rome, 506 B. C.
Thammuz (Tammuz) of Syria, 1160 B. C.
Thulis of Egypt, 1700 B. C.
Wittoba (Vithoba) of the Bilingonese, 552 B. C. 
And how did this list forget Horus, Osiris, Ishtar, Romulus, Dionysus, Glycon . . . 

These stories were old old old by the time Jesus came along. But the stories were popular, so they just kept putting new faces on old myths. 
It's very possible Jesus the man didn't exist at all.  Or if he did, he got attention by challenging Jewish thought and behavior (mostly the 
behavior of those in power) that stories were told of his teachings afterward.  Those stories grew into myths.

[Napoléon]

I don't think it matters.  Apocalypticism was in the air, a story like the one we have would have sold well to the people in those times, whether it was based on a real man or not.

My sentiments also.

Honestly... I don't know if Jesus really was an actual person, but I don't need to know if he really existed in order to work out he didn't do all the shit it says in the bible, like turning water to wine, walking on water, returning from the dead, born from a virgin birth etc. That's the only thing that matters.

I think Hitch said something to this effect on the topic: what is more likely? That the laws of the universe have been suspended, or that a Jewish girl would tell a fib?

[ignoramus]

I was fairly certain he was constructed.
But after seeing that video yesterday which Rob posted, I have removed all doubt.
Bare in mind, the same character has been doing the rounds eons before Christianity came onto the scene.

[Catholic_Lady]

Thanks for the answers, everyone.

I am curious about something. Do yall have any theories as to who actually began spreading the Christian faith, if not Jesus? And do you believe this happened 2000 years ago?

[KUSA]

Thanks for the answers, everyone.

I am curious about something. Do yall have any theories as to who actually began spreading the Christian faith, if not Jesus? And do you believe this happened 2000 years ago?

It was swindlers.

[Homeless Nutter]

There are some reasons to believe that Jesus was based on a real person (however loosely), mainly because of how convoluted the stories are, that the authors of the NT had to make up, in order to have Jesus fulfill certain Hebrew prophecies. Like being born in Bethlehem (the City of David), instead of Nazareth, where he was supposed to be from.

Of course - he was unlikely to be named Jesus and much of the account of his words and deeds in the Bible seems apocryphal at best, but I do think that authors of the gospels had a particular person in mind, when making all that sh*t up.

Hell - in a couple of thousands years we may be able to argue for the existence of Iron Man/Tony Stark, simply because Howard Hughes was a real person (and also because Robert Downey Jr is awesome)...