Do you believe Jesus actually existed?

[Anonymous]

[CountessSarah]

No.

And I've explained this several times before, but theists seem to have a very hard time understanding -
A real historical figure, and a mythological character are not the same person.
Imagine in 10,000 years, Harry Potter is mythologised. People think that Harry really existed. And believers point to the historical records of Daniel Radcliffe and whatever is left of Alnwick Castle and declare "See? There's clearly historical evidence of Harry Potter and Hogwarts!", they're mistaking real historical info for mythologies versions.

A historical Jesus of Nazareth may have existed, but the Jesus of the bible did not. There was no god-man who walked on water or died and came back. Most likely the extant Jesus was a travelling faith healer (Charlatan) who was combined with other myths from the time period.

[artstatues]

Yes
Most scholars of antiquity and historians accept that Jesus was a historical figure

[noamazia]

yes.
it is one thing make believe that an amazing lived in the past. you make places and events up and thats it. but its much harder make people that hate that man remember him.
the orthodox jews change the name of jesus (yeshua) in hebrew to yeshu, which is short for "may his name be forgotten" and the name persists. so they couldn't erase the name of a person they tried to forget. if he wasn't real then all they had to do is say so, and that he was a false god or something like the golden calf. and that's it, he is fake. and im jewish by the way. though not religous.

but him being real doesn't mean that all the stories about him are. he probably was a preacher with good messages that saw traditional judaism as corrupt compared to the original message of the religeon.

[jshm2]

Depends what "Jesus" we're talking about as there are many different versions

Also, the name "Jesus" didn't exist until well into the later Latin Church.

The real name was probably Joshua, Yeshua, Isa, or Iseos, depending on if we're talking Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek in the Roman empire.

That's before we even get into the history, kiddo.

[noamazia]

the name doesn't really matter. even the original name Yeshua may have not been the original name if he existed. yeshua means "salvation". and the writers of the bible (both old and new testaments) liked meaningful names that "suggested" that person role in history. its called in hebrew midrash shem (מדרש שם). for example: abel means in hebrew breath, or the be more precise it is the breath and vapor that comes out of you mouth when you speak, meaning his life was as short as the breath dissapears. so most likely abel wasn't the real name, unless adam and eve saw the future.
so it doesn't matter how we call him, just if there was a man who preached those messages and therefore chased by the romans and rabbis

[doe9de]

I don't just believe I know. Everyone has their own thoughts and beliefs. It is better to believe and find nothing on the other side then not believe and find you were wrong.

[AndrésC64]

Pascal's wager. What if you're wrong? Even Homer Simpson figured out that Pascal had a very flawed argument.

"Suppose we've chosen the wrong god. Every time we go to church we're just making him madder and madder"
--Homer Simpson

[Guy13]

What is your viewpoint ❓ Surely, you have a viewpoint since it is your question. Viewpoint and Why or Why Not please❓

[Guy13]

This is a no question in these days. There is so much secular Roman and rabbinical historical evidence that Jesus existed, taught, was crucified, buried and rose to defeat death. There’s a continent of people who saw him after he resurrected.

[Medhat-M]

Jesus the person? maybe... Jesus the myth.. The legend... The son of God / God himself... Probably not... I think the same about other Abrahamic religions figures too...

[NamerOfStars]

Yes. The sheer amount of similarity in detail between various accounts makes it extremely unlikely that everyone involved was just making it all up.

[Tyrael]

Sure someone named Jesus probably did exist, more than one Jesus I'm sure, especially in Mexico for example.

[Agape93]

Sure. But I don't care about a long dead Jewish cult leader

[AndrésC64]

I am perfectly willing to except that there was a guy named Jesus. Anything beyond that would need evidence. There isn't any.

[MountAverage]

Not really. He was probably based on several different historical figures.

[Recurrence]

I think it’s possible, but I think there’s way more evidence of Muhammad existing than Jesus

[Anonymous]

I don't believe I KNOW HE EXISTED

he is above the dome watching all things
and making his word play out

[exitseven]

Yes, and he will be back.

[TheMajesticKing777]

Yep.

[Anonymous]

yeah

[Iron_Man]

Yes of course

[Wise4myage]

Yes, I do.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Yes I do.