(February 17, 2013 at 6:52 pm)Brakeman Wrote: If the saga of jesus christ existed in fact, then there would have been contemporary art found that corroborated it.
Minimalist and I are discussing whether Tacitus's report about Nero's persecution of Christians is authentic. It's got nothing to do with whether Jesus really existed.
(February 17, 2013 at 8:55 pm)ThomM Wrote: WE already know that Tacitus did not live during the supposed life of the mythical christ - so it really does not matter whether it is real or a forgery
The question of whether it's a forgery is important because it's about Christian persecution under Nero. Did Nero really put on a spectacle where Christians were executed in horrible ways or did Christians add that later?
Do you think that Nero put on an execution show for Roman citizens after the great fire of Rome? It's taught as real history but some people think it never happened.
The reference to someone being executed by Pontius Pilate doesn't prove that Jesus existed. If it's authentic it just tells us what Christians believed at the time.
Where are the snake and mushroom smilies?
