Historicity of Jesus

[CapnAwesome]

The thing is, what does it even mean to say it was "based on" someone? You could start off with any guy called jesus around that time, any one you like, and then just completely invent his whole life from there. And considering nothing was put to paper until well after he was supposedly dead, this seems very much the most likely explanation. So really, "jesus" is anyone you like. I feel mythicisists and mooters aren't that different. Mythicising a whole life story is what has happened, either way.

Just to clear up something regarding history that always irks me is the idea that it's well after he's dead. Not really, not for the time period. The gospels came closer on the heels of Jesus' supposed lifetime than any writing about Genghis Khan, who conquered most of the world. People simply weren't documenting stuff that vigorously back then. There aren't primary sources about lots of well established historical figures and that in and of itself is pretty shitty evidence.

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The thing is, what does it even mean to say it was "based on" someone? You could start off with any guy called jesus around that time, any one you like, and then just completely invent his whole life from there. And considering nothing was put to paper until well after he was supposedly dead, this seems very much the most likely explanation. So really, "jesus" is anyone you like. I feel mythicisists and mooters aren't that different. Mythicising a whole life story is what has happened, either way.

Well that's what I really want to know. I mean do you think the entire story is made up from start to finish? That would mean far more than just Jesus never existed.