Thoughts on Atheism and Apologetics

[abaris]

For an atheist (ostensibly with an "open mind") to examine evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus is almost a farcical enterprise from the start (at least from a Christian perspective) because he commences the analysis with the extremely hostile presuppositions of:

1. No miracles can occur in the nature of things.
   
2. #1 logically follows because, of course, under fundamental atheist presuppositions, there is no God to perform any miracle.
   
3. The New Testament documents are fundamentally untrustworthy and historically suspect, having been written by gullible, partisan Christians; particularly because, for most facts presented therein, there is not (leaving aside archaeological evidences) written secular corroborating evidence.
   
4. Some atheists even claim (or suspect) that Jesus didn't exist at all (making such a topic even more absurd and ludicrous (given that premise) than it already is in atheist eyes).  
   

That leaves aside of course that you feel the same about all god claims but the one you believe in. It also leaves aside that you probably feel the same about supernatural stuff and miracles if they were connected to Allah, Vishnu or one of the ancient gods. It also leaves aside that you would demand prove from someone calling himself a wizard and performing amazing stuff because otherwise you would think of a parlor trick.

Secondly, what archeological evidence is there for Jesus? Archeological as in found something belonging to or pointing to a real person named Jesus. I hope you don't present the Pilate stone, since it's not disputed that Pilate was Roman governor in Judea.