[mikemach5]

Ask him why the Koran affirms certain things about Jesus (e.g., that Jesus never died on the cross), when many texts from earliest Christianity (see above, for example) affirm just the opposite.

Not only from earliest Christianity, but eye-witness accounts (Matthew and John) to boot. How can the Koran seriously refute eye witness accounts?

[mikemach5]

How can the Koran seriously refute eye witness accounts?

Also... there are Roman records from the time in question that state a man named Jesus of Nazareth was crucified (unfortunately, I don't have the source. History Channel or Mysteries of the Bible most likely).