Why do atheists even bother about debating Jesus?

[Minimalist]

Although some scholars still postulate pre-Christian gnosticism, no evidence has been found to date.

I don't know when that article was dated, Ape, but recently The Gabriel Revelation stone which dates to the rebellions which broke out upon the death of Herod the Great ( c 4 BC ) indicates that there was a belief in someone coming back to life after 3 days.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0...85,00.html

Since this article was published the disputed word [hayeh] has been confirmed by scholars.

http://www.bib-arch.org/bar/extra.asp?Ar...ticleID=14

After reviewing the document, I came to the conclusion that the reading suggested by Professor Knohl for the third word of line 80—HAYE “live”—seems to be the only plausible reading of that word. Thus, the first five words of this line should be translated as: “In three days live, I Gabriel.”