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seoulunitarian

Joined: 06 Jul 2004
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Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:33 pm Post subject: Did Jesus Really Exist? |
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I've been studying this issue recently, and even though I am an atheist, I always believed up to this point that there was a historical Jesus. However, after much research, I'm not so sure anymore. The writers of the NT (after the writings of Paul) really have nothing historically accurate to say about Jesus, and all the miraculous writings seem to be borrowed from myths much more ancient. There's not a single secular historian (including Jospehus) whose writings verify the existence of Jesus. Jospehus' writings are hotly disputed. Philo (a contemporary of Christ) says nothing of him. This is surprising since huge volumes of their work are still extant. I'm curious if anyone has some objective proof for the existence of Jesus.
Peace,
Daniel |
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kangnamdragon

Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea
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Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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If He does not exist, why do you call yourself a unitarian and go to church? |
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coldcrush
Joined: 02 Apr 2004 Location: melbourne.... Posts: 1
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Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:50 pm Post subject: Re: Did Jesus Really Exist? |
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seoulunitarian wrote: |
I'm curious if anyone has some objective proof for the existence of Jesus.
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you mean, like a driver's license? |
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thorin

Joined: 14 Apr 2003
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 12:01 am Post subject: |
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I heard Jesus had a fake ID. True? |
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thorin

Joined: 14 Apr 2003
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casey's moon
Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: Daejeon
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 12:04 am Post subject: |
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Like the rest of the posters on this thread so far, I can't answer your question. I would like to say that it is something I have wondered also, and hope that someone posts some real information here eventually! |
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coldcrush
Joined: 02 Apr 2004 Location: melbourne.... Posts: 1
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 12:06 am Post subject: |
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proof somewhat undermines the idea of faith |
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casey's moon
Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: Daejeon
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 12:41 am Post subject: |
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coldcrush wrote: |
proof somewhat undermines the idea of faith |
you don't understand the op's question |
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kangnamdragon

Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 12:43 am Post subject: |
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What do you want, a body? You won't find it. I don't believe there are any secular histories from the time. What more proof do you need than the effect He has had upon the world?
Last edited by kangnamdragon on Wed Mar 16, 2005 12:46 am; edited 1 time in total |
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kermo

Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Location: Eating eggs, with a comb, out of a shoe.
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 12:45 am Post subject: |
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coldcrush wrote: |
proof somewhat undermines the idea of faith |
That's kind of a circular arguement, implying that there's something innately good about believing something that's hard to prove. I do believe in a historical Jesus, though, and I also get the joke in your signature.  |
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SuperFly

Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Location: In the doghouse
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 12:49 am Post subject: |
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Not only did he exist, he had children and I am a decsendant of their first family dog! His name was Felonius. |
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hellofaniceguy

Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 12:53 am Post subject: |
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Someday WE ARE ALL going to find out for sure! We'll all meet the maker...... or not. |
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Blind Willie
Joined: 05 May 2004
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 12:57 am Post subject: Re: Did Jesus Really Exist? |
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seoulunitarian wrote: |
I've been studying this issue recently, and even though I am an atheist, I always believed up to this point that there was a historical Jesus. However, after much research, I'm not so sure anymore. The writers of the NT (after the writings of Paul) really have nothing historically accurate to say about Jesus, and all the miraculous writings seem to be borrowed from myths much more ancient. There's not a single secular historian (including Jospehus) whose writings verify the existence of Jesus. Jospehus' writings are hotly disputed. Philo (a contemporary of Christ) says nothing of him. This is surprising since huge volumes of their work are still extant. I'm curious if anyone has some objective proof for the existence of Jesus.
Peace,
Daniel |
There is none.
But religion works in an information vacuum. Otherwise there'd be proof, and that means no faith. Without faith, you wouldnt have people having a good excuse for their gullibility. |
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kermo

Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Location: Eating eggs, with a comb, out of a shoe.
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 2:36 am Post subject: |
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The extant copies of the Gospels are from years well after Jesus, but there is reason to suspect that at least one gospel writer was a contemporary of Jesus. According to tradition, John lived to be a very old man, and is credited with the eponymous gospel, wherein he refers to himself as "the disciple that Jesus loved."
In the aftermath of Jesus' death and the subsequent birth of the early church, several people took it upon themselves to document what was going on, by interviewing witnesses and gathering stories. They wrote for different audiences, some for the Jews, some for the Gentiles.
The four Gospels that were canonized have parallels, but they are significantly different, and don't seem to have been culled from the same source.
It's difficult to imagine how Jesus would have made it into the history books if it weren't for the fervent evangelism of his followers; he was a Mediterranean carpenter, without a political position or a pedigree. Prophets were a dime a dozen, and the Roman authorities wouldn't have been in a rush to recognize or lend credibility to a sect that refused to worship the Emperor and spoke of a "kingdom to come."
It is difficult, but possible to discuss Jesus from a rational standpoint. |
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Manner of Speaking

Joined: 09 Jan 2003
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 3:53 am Post subject: |
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kangnamdragon wrote: |
What do you want, a body? You won't find it. I don't believe there are any secular histories from the time. What more proof do you need than the effect He has had upon the world? |
Well, Santa Claus has had a big effect on the world. We haven't seen a body for him, either. |
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