When Christians start applying the same kind of reason power to the story of Jesus, then maybe I'd be more inclined to believe you have something.
Which of the five historical facts in post #61 do you doubt and why?
There is no contemporary reference to this outside of the bible. Josephus would not be evidence -- he's relating stories he heard from others about something that happened before he was born. You would not consider this evidence of something today, so when you claim it's evidence back then I can't help but question your credibility.
According to the bible, yes. Same problems as with the first point.
And then beyond that, yes, and David Koresh's followers believed some things that were just as wild. The Heaven's Gate folks believed they were taking a ride on a comet! And that's in our "modern" world where people are more educated than ever in history. Back 2000 years ago, when people were largely uneducated farmers and sheperds . . . just cuz they believed it doesn't mean a thing. You would not consider that to be proven if it happened today, so again, when you claim it's proven 2000 years ago,
3. The conversion of the skeptic James, the brother of Jesus.
Again, so? People will believe anything. This amazes me about you folks -- just because someone believes something to be true, that isn't evidence that it is true.
4. The conversion of the church persecutor, Paul.
The Japanese people believed their emperor to be a god.
If your reasoning is capable of saying, "They believed it, therefore it must be true", then we are not going to be able to have an honest debate. Cuz that is not evidence of truth in any way, shape or form and you know that. So you're not being intellectually honest with me.
5. The tomb was empty.
You say this because a book written 30+ years later claims it to be so.
Consider -- like conspiracy books written about the JFK assasination these days, is that in any way proof? Many people now believe that LBJ and the "Military/Industrial Complex" had him killed, and they write books about it 30 years later, is that proof?
Of course not. And you wouldn't argue it was. Yet you do with the Bible.
Look, if you believe it to be true, fabulous. More power to ya. I respect your opinion. But do not claim it is proven. It is not. And claiming it is only discredits you.