Religion

Ferretherder

(1,450 posts)

8. As a card carrying atheist, I feel obligated to say...

Sun Apr 1, 2012, 06:47 PM

Apr 2012

...that I believe there WAS a man named Jesus who was born in or around Bethlehem a little over 2000 years ago, grew up studying the various religions of his time, became a leader of a group of disciples who felt he was a very wise, charismatic and caring individual, and who became a thorn in the side of the holy men who held sway over the people of his country and who had him killed by the Roman occupiers of that land.

Do I think he was born of a virgin mother and was the son of a big, bearded guy sitting on a throne in the clouds? ...............uh,.....no.

...but that's just me.

And just so you know, I think a lot of the stuff he taught about living life peacefully and treating everyone the way YOU would like to be treated are pretty good guidelines to live by.

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'Did Jesus Exist?': A Historian Makes His Case [View all] rug Apr 2012 OP

There is, for example, no historical evidence of Nazareth until circa 200 CE. Warren Stupidity Apr 2012 #1

I'll mark you down as a mythicist. rug Apr 2012 #3

Jesus doesn't get a free pass. The evidence is not compelling. Warren Stupidity Apr 2012 #11

Are you intending that to be derogatory? nm rhett o rick Apr 2012 #14

There is reference to Nazareth in Matthew, which dates from the mid-to-late first century struggle4progress Apr 2012 #39

"Paul knew Jesus' brother, James CJCRANE Apr 2012 #2

Careful now, if you dare question the existence of Jesus... eqfan592 Apr 2012 #4

It doesn't hurt. rug Apr 2012 #6

Now that you mention it, it's amazing we know anything at all. rug Apr 2012 #5

I know a guy called James. CJCRANE Apr 2012 #7

Talk to me when you know a guy who knew Archimedes. rug Apr 2012 #10

The thing is...we can recreate Archimedes' experiment... CJCRANE Apr 2012 #15

Not in the least. eqfan592 Apr 2012 #9

someone of profound charisma spoke enough truths that generations of individuals roguevalley Apr 2012 #23

I agree with your analysis and most of your conclusions... CJCRANE Apr 2012 #26

I love science. I just love it and read the new things constantly. My spirituality roguevalley Apr 2012 #27

As a card carrying atheist, I feel obligated to say... Ferretherder Apr 2012 #8

I agree with you about his message CJCRANE Apr 2012 #12

Yeah, I think this book is just about whether he existed. rug Apr 2012 #13

Do you believe Ganesha existed? CJCRANE Apr 2012 #16

No. I haven't studied these beliefs but I suspect their etiologies are quite distinct. rug Apr 2012 #21

Ehrman is very smart longship Apr 2012 #17

I'm halfway through the book. earthside Apr 2012 #20

Tomb and Ossuary longship Apr 2012 #24

Jesus Tomb Probable earthside Apr 2012 #30

Yes, that's the irony... CJCRANE Apr 2012 #40

Is there much more in the book beyond arguing from the Bible as if... Silent3 Apr 2012 #31

I will need more proof than... Kalidurga Apr 2012 #18

"wanted to provide evidence" well quelle surprise what his conclusion was going to be nt msongs Apr 2012 #19

Before I read this I need to know what his conclusion will be. Speck Tater Apr 2012 #22

As a mythicist, I'd suggest that mr blur Apr 2012 #25

Did the Angel Moroni exist? edhopper Apr 2012 #28

Now you're saying Juan Diego didn't exist? rug Apr 2012 #29

Yeah, but the money wasn't good enough to quit his day job. jeepnstein Apr 2012 #32

I can see that. rug Apr 2012 #33

Yes edhopper Apr 2012 #34

It's interesting that some of the strongest of the critics, including Poole, a Vincentian priest, rug Apr 2012 #36

I do not know if he existed or not. The claims about him are highly dubious and edhopper Apr 2012 #38

A long rebuttal, based on the Huffington Post article Ehrman wrote a couple of weeks ago muriel_volestrangler Apr 2012 #35

Why is he pushing "evidence"? I thought I was supposed to have "faith". brooklynite Apr 2012 #37