Evidence for Jesus outside the Bible?

[Hannah]

That's what it comes down to for you Hannah. I prefer evidence.

So do I but the evidence for his existence is there and the evidence for a conspiracy theory, which it must have been if he never existed, is not there.

[The Grand Nudger]

Can I suggest you look at this in a more modern light? Is a viral media "true" because someone created it?
(False statements of celebrity deaths, Uncyclopedia articles, etc)

[Hannah]

You'd agree to be eaten alive by a lion over an unsubstantiated rumour?

They must have had pretty reliable evidence back then.

[The Grand Nudger]

I find it difficult to believe that they "agreed" to this. I think that might be stretching the truth more than a little bit.

When a cop does the whole Miranda thing, he doesn't end it by asking if you agree to be arrested.

[Minimalist]

If Jesus never existed, what on earth was all the fuss about so soon after his death

What "fuss" so soon after his death was this? It is not until the 2d half of the second century that we start to see Greco-Roman writers noticing xtians, ( Lucian of Samosata making fun of them and Celsus denouncing them for being ignorant barbarians.) The earliest Roman writer to mention xtians is Pliny the Younger who interrogated a group in Asia Minor which called itself xtian but from the little he mentioned of their doctrine they seem to be a rather pale imitation of what was concocted later.

The only "fuss" is what believers wrote and I would hope by now that you understand that believers are not a source of useful information.

http://www.jesusneverexisted.com/persecutions.html

The Roman Empire lasted more than a thousand years and persecuted Christians for fewer than twelve of them. The 'Christian Empire' also lasted more than a thousand years and persecuted non-Christians through all of them.

Until the early years of the 2nd century, Roman administrators were ignorant of the existence of the Christians. For a generation that followed they remained indifferent to this obscure 'Jewish' sect (and its many different factions) but, in time, this indifference gave way to contempt and then irritation.

The still marginal but growing numbers of Christians turned the misfortunes of the Roman world to their advantage. The radicals directed their energies towards frightened widows and abandoned children, towards the slave and criminal classes. Every defeat in battle, every pestilence and natural calamity, was seized upon as evidence of divine censure and retribution. With zeal and anticipation, the Christians predicted further ruin and desolation. Among the feckless peoples of the great cities, the fear of imminent judgement and the threat of eternal torment were spread like a contagion. Only by submission to Christ could the individual hope for salvation. "Babylon" would surely fall and most of humanity would perish.

Yet it was only when the empire was itself in peril that the Roman state acted violently against the enthusiasts of Christ, and only then because the obstinate prejudices of the zealots undermined desperate measures taken to defend Roman civilization.

[Hannah]

....which goes to show your lack of understanding of the Christian faith, which I would like to reiterate I am nolonger a follower of.

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

All genuine Christians would willingly die for their faith...now and then.

[The Grand Nudger]

Genuine christians. I love it. I had never before considered that there may be a group of christians who are not "true christians".

[Hannah]

Genuine christians. I love it. I had never before considered that there may be a group of christians who are not "true christians".

So you believed churches were full of true believers and all vicars and priests actually believed?

I bet you loved being a teenager. All those spots to squeeze....

[The Grand Nudger]

Nope, never before have I ever been told that any given group of christians weren't true christians. This revelation has changed my view of the world. Christ is the Risen Messiah.

[Hannah]

There are lots of people who call themselves Christian but who don't even know the requirements of being a Christian. There are many muslims who do not adhere to the tenants of Islam.

So now you know. It's lucky I'm here isn't it?