The Israelis and Arabs fighting over Israel aren't referencing "2,000 year old books."
The Torah, even by the most liberal textual critical standard, is 2500 years and the Koran is 1300 years old.
In his letters, Paul explicitly says that if the crucifixion did not happen, then his words are meaningless.
Everything he says about religion demonstrates that he is only vaguely acquainted with the history and texts he is criticizing.
Paul explicitly says that if the crucifixion did not happen, then his words are meaningless.Hate to be a stickler, but Paul said in 1 Cor 15 if the resurrection did not happen then it is all meaningless. Of course, the crucifixion is implied, but he was making the explicit point about the bodily resurrection.