Did Jesus Christ exist as a historical human or was he a theological construct?

[Minimalist]

I too am torn.

The evidence for his existance is less than convincing.

But I tend to think that Jesus was a David Koresh or Charles Manson charismatic type.

I have no evidence for this but that is what I think at present.

As always I am ready to be swayed by convincing arguments.

The trouble there is that there are no first-century source documents upon which to base those arguments. The fact that there is such a massive silence about what should have been earth-shaking events is evidence in itself but it is an argument from silence which brings its own problems. Unlike many, I do not think those problems are fatal - there is nothing but silence about invisible pink unicorms either - but the problem remains.

People who have a deep seated psychological need to believe in bullshit find solace in those problems.

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While true it ignores the fact that the Romans had a traditional start of winter festival, the Saturnalia, which went back to the 3d century BC.

Good point! I think the "Jesus" myth involves a mixing of Mithraism with Saturnalia and other traditional festivities. (At Christmas, I like to wish people a "Happy Saturnalia!" and then explain what I'm talking about when I get a quizzical look. Maybe it will plant a seed that will ultimately bear fruit.)

http://en.allexperts.com/e/s/sa/saturnalia.htm


Io, Saturnalia.