Do you believe Jesus existed?

[BUDDY]

Do you believe in the historical existence of Jesus Christ? If not, why not? If so, why?

 

[Ori]

I do believe he existed, but I don't believe he was exactly like he is described in the Bible.

 

[Revasser]

I believe it's possible there may have been a person or people who vaguely resembled the character depicted in the Bible. I have my doubts as to how factually accurate the accounts in the Bible would be of the actual person or people the the character is based on.

I think the character may be based on one or more people that existed, but I consider the Gospels as myths like any others. That is, either embellished heavily or fabricated outright for religious effect and purpose.

So, I went with "I am unsure." It's possible, but there's no real way of knowing for certain at this point.

 

[ALifetimeToWaitFor....]

The fact that he didn't exist how we are told makes that charcater fictional in my mind. The real Jesus was probably a prophet, but we will never know what he entirely stood for because of the myriad diguises put on him through out history.

 

[Ormiston]

I think he existed. Mathew, Mark, and Luke seem to me to be very specific about the events and the man. And the geneology seems very specific in the bible. I'd have a hard time believing it was simply a fable.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

This is not a very helpful question.
All Christians by definition Believe Jesus existed.
Muslims believe it.
Many Jews believe it.
In past ages, few in the western world doubted his existance.
A better question Is why should we doubt he existed?

 

[ALifetimeToWaitFor....]

A better question Is why should we doubt he existed?

We can do that. 16 other men died for our sins before Christ starting 3000 years ago. His miracles were performed by many before him. Buddha and Khrisna to name two. Name one historian of the time that named him even in a small way besides the disciples.

 

[Halcyon]

I believe he existed, for the reasons i gave in another thread - here.

 

[ALifetimeToWaitFor....]

Halcyon I think your ideas are fundamentally flawed in the fact that fiction can be ardous, confusing, and can go anyway the author sees fit. Especially sense there were many authors it even gets more confusing. The reasons Mary and Judas' background stories weren't mentioned was because of the things they most likely were and the disciples hated them for that, but certain aspects of the Christ story are most likely correct.

 

[Mr. Hair]

Awesome, for once I'm in the majority!

I do believe he existed, but I don't believe he was exactly like he is described in the Bible.

Oh, and fruballs. Lots and lots of 'em... Well, 11.

 

[Halcyon]

Halcyon I think your ideas are fundamentally flawed in the fact that fiction can be ardous, confusing, and can go anyway the author sees fit. Especially sense there were many authors it even gets more confusing. The reasons Mary and Judas' background stories weren't mentioned was because of the things they most likely were and the disciples hated them for that, but certain aspects of the Christ story are most likely correct.

Judas was a sicariote, or at least from the group who would become the sicarii. They were assassins, parts of the Zealot rebellion. He most probably had a similar to origin to the disciple Simon the Zealot. Giving the story of how Jesus turned these violent men away form murder and towards peace and love for God would have been only beneficial for the biblical authors.

Mary Magdalene wasn't a prostitute, she was never hated.

There is no good reason to leave out the origins of these major players, but mention the origin of others - unless the author didn't know their origin. Which implies that they were real people, because an author of fiction could have simply made up a brief origin - that no creative invention was made suggests at least a small attempt to remain historically accurate.

 

[Zephyr]

I think he probably existed, but he was nothing special. A pretty nice guy who said a lot of pretty nifty stuff and had a religion based off of him. Would be a pretty sweet gig if he lived to see it.

 

[Booko]

Do you believe in the historical existence of Jesus Christ? If not, why not? If so, why?

Occam's Razor sorta demands such a belief, imo. That is, I think the idea that a non-existent person could inspire something that's been as large, influential and long-lasting as Christianity is about on a par with the idea that the Moon Landing was all a hoax.

Um, actually, I would give more credit to the Moon Landing as a hoax theory. Which isn't saying much.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Occam's Razor sorta demands such a belief, imo. That is, I think the idea that a non-existent person could inspire something that's been as large, influential and long-lasting as Christianity is about on a par with the idea that the Moon Landing was all a hoax.

This is just plain silly.

 

[ALifetimeToWaitFor....]

Judas was a sicariote, or at least from the group who would become the sicarii. They were assassins, parts of the Zealot rebellion. He most probably had a similar to origin to the disciple Simon the Zealot. Giving the story of how Jesus turned these violent men away form murder and towards peace and love for God would have been only beneficial for the biblical authors.

Mary Magdalene wasn't a prostitute, she was never hated.

There is no good reason to leave out the origins of these major players, but mention the origin of others - unless the author didn't know their origin. Which implies that they were real people, because an author of fiction could have simply made up a brief origin - that no creative invention was made suggests at least a small attempt to remain historically accurate.

Sorry i was gone for a little while. Where did you get your information on Judas. Is this all canonized?

 

[Fluffy]

I like to think he existed but truly I have no idea, not having seen any evidence myself. To be honest, any evidence (either way) would not be very important to my beliefs anyway.

If he didn't exist... oh well.

 

[Draka]

I guess I'll go out on a limb here and say...not really...have to lean towards "no". There is no other factual historical data or writings other than the bible and other obviously religious writings( and those don't even fall under the previous headings for me) that I am aware of that collaborates his existence. He fits the exact archetype of every other religious "hero" out there. While there may have been an actual man that he was based off of, that remains to be proven. I figure it like The Da Vinci Code and other books like that. There is some actual factual information used as a backdrop for an otherwise, fictional story. He is the hero of that story A model to be worshipped and emulated. Nothing more.

Is it possible he existed? Sure, anything is possible. Is it likely, I don't believe so. So my vote has to be for "other", though as I said, I lean towards "no".

Now I sit back and wait for the condemnations and reprisals and damnations :cover:

 

[bigvindaloo]

Do you believe in the historical existence of Jesus Christ? If not, why not? If so, why?

Sure do. As much as I believe Socrates existed.

 

[CaptainXeroid]

Occam's Razor sorta demands such a belief, imo. That is, I think the idea that a non-existent person could inspire something that's been as large, influential and long-lasting as Christianity is about on a par with the idea that the Moon Landing was all a hoax...

Good point and Frubals to you! Many years ago before I grew out of my agnostic phase, the more I questioned Christ's existence and divinity the more I kept coming back to the point you make.

Needless to say, I do believe that Jesus existed and that he is the Messiah sent by God.:bible:

 

[Booko]

Good point and Frubals to you! Many years ago before I grew out of my agnostic phase, the more I questioned Christ's existence and divinity the more I kept coming back to the point you make.

Thanks for the frubals!

My opinion on the matter of Jesus' existence hasn't changed from when I was an atheist. Occam's Razor applied then as it does now.

My opinion of *who Jesus was* has changed, of course, but that's not a historical question...just a theological one.

I do find it interesting that there are such vehement opinions out there denying the existence of Jesus, but you don't see them deny the existence of other figures that are normally accepted as historical.

It's also interesting to me that I don't see the opinion to be very common among religious people, even those from religions that have no connection or reason to believe he existed.