(September 26, 2015 at 12:16 pm)downbeatplumb Wrote: Sorry to upset you, but you literally did ask. As for DNA I would compare it to his lineage like they are doing in Russia with the Romanovs. You weren't asking about the ancient world. But the case for the existence of historical figures is uncertain. For example there is no actual evidence that Socrates was a real person and there are some who posit that he was a figure made up by Plato to illustrate a point. ( I saw a documentary the other week on the BBC about Socrates and this was mentioned).
Quote:There has been some question about whether Socrates really existed or was only ever a creation of Plato. Just about everyone agrees that the Socrates in the later dialogues is a creation, but what about the earlier ones? The differences between the two figures is one reason to think that a real Socrates existed, There are also a few references made by other authors. If Socrates didnt exist, however, that wouldnt affect the ideas attributed to him.
http://atheism.about.com/od/philosopherb...crates.htm
Real historians call (most) history documentaries "History Porn". And your terminology "there is no actual evidence" is wrong. We have writings from other people that provide evidence for his existence, so there is evidence. As to whether there is enough evidence to establish his historicity, that's a question you need to ask historians not some documentary you saw.
Denying the science of history and archaeology - as you clearly do - is no different to denying the sciences of medicine, geology, and astronomy.
As for Jesus explain to me how James's theology is so well aligned to the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels when the book of James was written before any of the gospels - and if the gospels were written late (around 85 AD) then the Epistle of James is around 35-40 years older than the gospels. How did he possibly get his teachings so tightly aligned to what Jesus is reported to have said in the gospels if Jesus never existed, never said anything, and somebody made up what he said in 85AD?
Furthermore, Paul's teachings are less aligned to Jesus's teachings in the gospel. How is this possible without a real Jesus? If the sayings attributed to Jesus were all made up in 85 AD why wouldn't they agree more with what Paul had to say?
Why did they need to hold a council in 50AD to decide whether to keep the custom of circumcision? If everything that Jesus is reported to have said was made up in 85AD how come he doesn't say "you no longer need to keep the custom of circumcision" - and instead is quoted as saying something completely contradictory in Matthew 5:17-18?
For Religion & Health see:[/b][/size] Williams & Sternthal. (2007). Spirituality, religion and health: Evidence and research directions. Med. J. Aust., 186(10), S47-S50. -LINK
The WIN/Gallup End of Year Survey 2013 found the US was perceived to be the greatest threat to world peace by a huge margin, with 24% of respondents fearful of the US followed by: 8% for Pakistan, and 6% for China. This was followed by 5% each for: Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, North Korea. -LINK
"That's disgusting. There were clean athletes out there that have had their whole careers ruined by people like Lance Armstrong who just bended thoughts to fit their circumstances. He didn't look up cheating because he wanted to stop, he wanted to justify what he was doing and to keep that continuing on." - Nicole Cooke
The WIN/Gallup End of Year Survey 2013 found the US was perceived to be the greatest threat to world peace by a huge margin, with 24% of respondents fearful of the US followed by: 8% for Pakistan, and 6% for China. This was followed by 5% each for: Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, North Korea. -LINK
"That's disgusting. There were clean athletes out there that have had their whole careers ruined by people like Lance Armstrong who just bended thoughts to fit their circumstances. He didn't look up cheating because he wanted to stop, he wanted to justify what he was doing and to keep that continuing on." - Nicole Cooke
