A simple challenge for atheists

[bob96]

Oh, and also? In an increasing number of circles we use C.E and B.C.E, not B.C and A.D. So... I guess that's a strike against the existence of Jesus?

Historical writings about Jesus and his disciples outside of the bible:

Flavius Josephus (37AD-c.100) is the most famous Jewish historian.
In his Antiquities he refers to James, “the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ.”
Josephus writes:
"At this time there was a wise man named Jesus"
"many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples."
"Pilate condemned him to be crucified"
"But those who became his disciples did not abandon his discipleship."
"He was [the] Christ"
"he was perhaps the Messiah".

The first-century Roman Tacitus, who is considered one of the more accurate historians of the ancient world, mentioned superstitious “Christians”, who suffered under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius.

Julius Africanus quotes the historian Thallus in a discussion of the darkness which followed the crucifixion of Christ (Extant Writings, 18).

Pliny the Younger, in Letters 10:96, recorded early Christian worship practices including the fact that Christians worshiped Jesus as God and were very ethical, and he includes a reference to the love feast and Lord’s Supper.

The Babylonian Talmud (Sanhedrin 43a) confirms Jesus' crucifixion on the eve of Passover and the accusations against Christ of practicing sorcery and encouraging Jewish apostasy.

Lucian of Samosata was a second-century Greek writer who admits that Jesus was worshiped by Christians, introduced new teachings, and was crucified for them.

Mara Bar-Serapion confirms that Jesus was thought to be a wise and virtuous man, was considered by many to be the king of Israel.

The Gnostic writings (The Gospel of Truth, The Apocryphon of John, The Gospel of Thomas, The Treatise on Resurrection, etc.) all mention Jesus.

In fact, the gospel could almost be reconstructed just from early non-Christian sources: Jesus was called the Christ (Josephus), performed miracles (“did magic,”) led Israel into new teachings, and was hanged on Passover for them (Babylonian Talmud) in Judea (Tacitus), but claimed to be God and would return (Eliezar), which his followers believed, worshipping Him as God (Pliny the Younger).

There is overwhelming evidence for the existence of Jesus Christ, both in secular and biblical history. Perhaps the greatest evidence that Jesus did exist is the fact that literally thousands of Christians in the first century A.D., including the twelve apostles, were willing to give their lives as martyrs for Jesus Christ. People will die for what they believe to be true. No one will die for what they know to be a lie.

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This is why the year is "2015". We count the years from the birth of Christ.

I hope you don't believe that the present calendar, the one that dates the present year as 2015, dates back to Jesus' time.

It wasn't introduced until 1582, and it wasn't adopted by over half of Europe until more than a century later. Britain didn't adopt it until 1752.

I didn't know that. Thanks.