Posted on 04/03/2015 7:26:01 AM PDT by rickmichaels
Jesus Christ was not a real person and is probably the result of a combination of stories about several different individuals, according to a writer and leading atheist activist.
David Fitzgerald, a San Francisco based author, believes he has compiled compelling evidence that proves Jesus did not exist.
He claims there are no contemporary mentions of Jesus in historical accounts from the time when he was supposed to have lived, yet other Jewish sect leaders from the time do appear.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
No serious historian believes that Jesus was a myth. As someone earlier already pointed out, this has been dealt with several times over the centuries.
Suffice it to say that the earliest Gospel accounts were written within 50 years of the events described. There are over 5000 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, there are several contemporary non-Christian references to Jesus.
This doesn’t prove Jesus was God’s Son, but it is strong evidence that Jesus the man existed. There are only 7 copies of Plato’s writings and they are1200 years after he lived, only 10 copies of Caesar’s writings exist, written 1000 years after he lived, yet no one doubts their physical existence.
There are legitimate questions that unbelievers might ask, but claiming that history proves Jesus was a myth is not a serious objection.
But, again. As, a song says, “a man sees what he wants to see and disregards the rest.”
Pascal’s Wager......
“’By the time of Paul there appears to have been plenty of different “Lord’s suppers” as he complains about the existence of other gospels and messiahs.”
By the time of Paul? Paul’s meeting with Peter and James dates quite reliably to 3-6 years after the crucifixion. Paul’s first epistle (Galatians) dates to about 52 AD and Corinthians to 55 AD, about 20 years after the crucifixion. They were clearly written many years into his ministry. As Paul points out, many witnesses to the resurrection were still alive when he wrote the epistles and would call him out if they were lies.
And he was writing to established churches (in Galatia and Corinth). So those churches were founded between 5 and 15 years after the resurrection.
Oh yeah, my apologies—meant to write that his account was from decades after Christ died.
I’m not buying the argument in this article, just saying that Josephus was not a contemporary.
Re: “Oh yeah, my apologies—meant to write that his account was from decades after Christ died. I’m not buying the argument in this article, just saying that Josephus was not a contemporary.”
True, but there were living contemporaries of Jesus who were around when Josephus began his “Antitquities” writings. Older contemporaries, yes, but eye-witnesses to some of the events of Jesus’ life none the less. Remember he completed Antiquities in 93 and 94ad, but he must have begun writing and researching years prior to their completion.
You left out “racist.”
See post # 12. When dealing cards from the bottom of the deck it is easy to forget one....
Yeah, it’s a bit like someone born in 1948 writing a biography of Patton.
Not at all trustworthy.
“...the historical person of Jesus of Nazareth.”
The town of Nazareth was so small. (”How small was it!?)
It was so small it is ONLY mentioned in the Bible in reference to Jesus. Joesephus doesn’t mention it. (Some historian in 4th century AD mentions it).
Archaelogists discovered it years later.
But sort of like the coins recently found showing King David. Up until then his kingdom was never in the archaeologic record - so the whole David thing was a “myth”.
“What if the Muslims are right? Then Christians are damned.”
On the other hand - would you want to spend the rest of eternity with a bunch of muslims?
But agreed. It always bothers me when people say “Well you Christians think you are the only ones going to heaven!”
I’m not exactly sure how the whole end of life thing works, but Jesus does say “Nobody enters the Kingdom except through me.” (Do people get one last revelation at death and can say “Geez - I was a muslim searching for God - and now it is finally revealed to me!! Praise God!!” or - they can say “Hey - you’re not Mohammed - leave me alone!”
Regardless, I would imagine most muslims and mormons, etc. believe that THEIR faith is the only way. As it should be.
“Too many people went to their death believing in Jesus.”
And they were people that said they had walked and talked and learned and eaten with Jesus. So they would have been the original liars, and known it was a lie. One or two lunatics might die for what they KNOW is a lie, but not the numbers we see in the Bible. And especially not for a lie that didn’t bring them any power or wealth or status.
Now, people that have been duped into believing a lie ARE willing to die for it, as they believe it is the truth. (Notably the muslims at the present time).
The earliest biography of Alexander the Great was written 400 years after his death. No problem with that one.
Just found and read an exhaustive refutation of Fitzgerald’s book by an atheist by the name of Tom O’Neil. Here is the link, an excellent read:
http://armariummagnus.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-jesus-myth-theory-reponse-to-david.html
I choose to believe the Bible because it is a reliable collection of historical documents, written by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. They report supernatural events that took place in fulfillment of specific prophecies, and they claim to be divine rather than human in origin. - Vodie Baucham
http://www.encouragingevangelism.com/2012/07/why-i-believe-bible.html
Re: “He would argue Flavius Josephus was not a contemporary, as he was born after the crucifixion.”
Actually, I think Fitzgerald’s argument was that Josephus’ quotes are inserted by later Christians or that they referred to a different Jesus.
An excellent refutation of Fitzgerald’s work is given by an atheist, named Tim O’Neil. Here is a link to his critique:
http://armariummagnus.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-jesus-myth-theory-reponse-to-david.html
"Ceterum censeo 0bama esse delendam."
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
An excellent refutation of Fitzgerald’s work is given by an atheist, named Tim O’Neil. Here is a link to his critique:
http://armariummagnus.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-jesus-myth-theory-reponse-to-david.html
“David Fitzgerald, a San Francisco based author...”
David Fitzgerald but does Gerald fit David?
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