Jesus Christ

[Cinjin]

Good news and bad news for the church.

Good news: Turns out there is evidence of jesus. An actual photo (enhanced for clarity of course).

Bad news: sorry, he's not quite as white as you were claiming.

[Judas BentHer]

Simple question. What do you guys think about Jesus? Who was he? Did he exist? ...

I spoke with the scholar and author Professor Bart Ehrman about that very thing and asked him the same question. Did Yeshua (Jesus) exist?

He said that he does believe Yeshua to have existed as does every competent historian and biblical scholar that he personally knows. He disusses what historians can and do say about Jesus in his book Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium

Personally, I also believe a radical Rabbi named Yeshua ben Joseph did exist. And he was put to death for daring to say what amounted to there was no need for the Jewish temples to. That if one is born of god god is then innate and not something to be sought after. That one's self then is the temple of the most high. And their life and personal moral character are testament to the laws of god made manifest in right(eous) conduct.
That was nothing the Pharisee nor any other who deemed themselves worthy of being the leadership of the people of the Jewish temple, would want taught amid the masses of them who were sorely hoping to be free from their bondage in this life. If they were led to believe and did accept they were children of god and as such could create as they saw fit their own exodus from their present condition of slavery,poverty or any other oppressive condition, what would they need to pray for? What would they need to pay for so as to make blood sacrifice unto the god they were told required it of them in order to listen to their prayers?

It's like new thought in the 21st century. Daring to think outside the box, that's monitored by those who benefit from it's existence, isn't always approved, respected or let alone without censor or attack.

I do believe Rabbi Yeshua ben Joseph did exist. While the Bible Jesus is a work of fiction, thanks to Paul who wrote 2/3rds of the New Testament in order to prop up his icon and himself live forever in the process.

[Minimalist]

I do believe Rabbi Yeshua ben Joseph did exist.

Of course, the fly in the ointment there is that Rabbinic Judaism did not exist until after the Temple was burned down in 70.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbinic_Judaism

Rabbinic Judaism became the predominant stream within the Jewish diaspora between the 2nd to 6th centuries,

[DeistPaladin]

He said that he does believe Yeshua to have existed as does every competent historian and biblical scholar that he personally knows.

I heard him discuss this point on Infidel Guy Radio. He's really snotty about this topic. When Finley tried to nail him down on what convinces him, Ehrman accused him of being a myther (which Finley is not, he's said he believes a historical Jesus existed, but was just trying to get Ehrman to answer the question).

EDIT TO ADD: I wonder what the criteria for "competency" is for Bible scholars?

[Minimalist]

I wonder what the criteria for "competency" is for Bible scholars?

Believing in the Holy Horseshit which is the essence of their livelihood!

[Judas BentHer]

Of course, the fly in the ointment there is that Rabbinic Judaism did not exist until after the Temple was burned down in 70...

Poor fly. And all due to Wiki.

1st-2nd centuries:

The beginnings of Rabbinic Judaism; development of Oral Torah:
the Written Torah (Hebrew Bible) becomes less central.


Midrash as interpretive technique for expanding interpretations of Scripture - initially, in order to synthesize Scripture with Oral Torah


Oral Torah, in turn, becomes written


"orality" of Oral Torah, midrash - in contrast with a central Temple, religious hierarchy (priesthood), central text (as associated with literacy) -
better suited to the conditions of the Diaspora, i.e., a decentralized plurality of diverse communities, each attempting to preserve "Judaism" in different cultures and contexts .

Source Timeline: the development of Israelite religion / Judaism, the emergence of the Hebrew Bible and the Oral Torah
Dr. Charles Ess / Drury University



Judaism is a religious tradition with origins dating back nearly four thousand years, rooted in the ancient near eastern region of Canaan (which is now Israel). Originating as the beliefs and practices of the people known as "Israel," classical - or rabbinic - Judaism did not emerge until the 1st century C.E. Judaism traces its heritage to the covenant God made with Abraham and his lineage that God would make them a sacred people and give them a holy land.
Source

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EDIT TO ADD: I wonder what the criteria for "competency" is for Bible scholars?

Just as credible as what affords competent historians, I'd imagine.