1. A person probably lived a life of defying the pharisees and preaching to the people. He was then crucified and buried. Far later people remembered this person and wrote a fictionalized story narrating his life. This is what I think happened. Also, the gospels are contradictory, especially the ones not in the Bible. The most damning evidence that compels me to believe he didn't accomplish what is said in the Bible is that no known historian documented his existence at the time of his death. The actual Jesus was in my mind nothing like the biblical version.
2. I think he probably did exist. Many sources can verify his existence, and they align well for the most part. Although even if he didn't exist it wouldn't change anything now.
It all comes down to your standard for evidence, right? If you can believe contradictory documents with vaguely known authors nothing should be considered fictional. According to this logic there should be no difference in historicity between Matthew's Jesus and Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson.
2. I think he probably did exist. Many sources can verify his existence, and they align well for the most part. Although even if he didn't exist it wouldn't change anything now.
It all comes down to your standard for evidence, right? If you can believe contradictory documents with vaguely known authors nothing should be considered fictional. According to this logic there should be no difference in historicity between Matthew's Jesus and Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson.
