Modern Cosmology. GOD and The Resurrection of the Dead.

But to insult him as a "fraudster" is a completely different thing.

As for the history of Jesus as a man, I could quote an entire bibliography, some including texts written by his Roman contemporaries, besides texts written by his followers. Some are very critical of him.There are books by Ernest Renan and Alfred Loisy, both ex priests, that tried to demonstrate that he was only a man, not the Son of God.None of them denied his historical existence, which is beyond any doubt.

Jesus showed mankind one thing, that humans should improve themselves and before looking to other imperfections to critisize they should look to themselves. He also showed that no matter if you are a king, a peasent, or even the son of God, we are all mortals, we born, we live and we die the same way.

At this moment and until proven otherwise we only have one life, so use it wisely and use it in benefit of others. It can look silly, but if you make 3 people smile everyday for sure you will be happy.

At this moment and until proven otherwise we only have one life, so use it wisely and use it in benefit of others. It can look silly, but if you make 3 people smile everyday for sure you will be happy.

Josephus Flavius, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII,63-64,XX,200

Der Babylonishe Talmud, VII-181

Letter to his son by Mara bar Sapion, in G.Theissen, A.Merz, The historical Jesus, Italian edition, Queriniana, Brescia, 2008

Plinius the younger, Epistula ad Traianum, 10,96

Publius Cornelius Tacitus, Annales, 15,44,2-5

Gaius Svetonius Tranquillus, Vita Claudii 25, in Vita Dodecarum Caesarum

So you don't believe that Christ existed as a man in history. Then explain to me the existence of Christianity. How come so many men in the world believe in Christ? Who invented him? The Apostle Paul?

Actually I did answer your question.

Your response seems to confirm that you are suggesting that merely because numerous people have committed their lives to the idea of Christianity, that this somehow confirms the existence of a man.

The story of Jesus is a great story of a single man who overcomes the odds and changes the world. Many stories use similar concepts and we all enjoy them so much because they fill us with hope. Just like the tale of Moses is a great story of washing away the old and making way for new life.

The whole idea behind parables is that the facts of the story aren't important so long as you take the moral or point of the story.

The problem with Christianity is that believers require the parables to be based in truth or fact or it would break people's faith. Some go so far as to try to interpret the Bible literally. Others try to re-interpret the Bible based upon what they know in the present and apply it to the past.

Yes. Christianity can exist for a million years without being based in fact or Jesus ever having existed. Judaism has existed longer than Christianity and their stories are just as suspect.

That's the power of belief.

Christianity likely wouldn't have lasted long if it weren't for the Holy Crusades forcing people to become believers, or Christianity assimilating pagan concepts and ideals to help their conversion process of pagans into Christians.

It's spreading in those areas due to believers telling spreading the word and indoctrinating them into the religion.

Meanwhile, non-believers are the fastest growing group in all developed nations.

People who feel oppressed or enslaved (or convinced that they are) are easily sold on the promises of salvation, forgiveness, and perceptions of love and peace, and many are gullible enough to believe this can only come from divinity. Intelligent people are also capable of getting lost in over-rationalizing without critical thinking. Belief is not proof or evidence of fact.

Here are two excellent book titles, that explain a lot how were got where we are. They are both a really good read, and very informative. Most people have no idea, but have played a 2000 year old game of telephone, and got a lot of the original intent wrong. (Not that the original intent was right. It really breaks down to how you want to live your life, which is your own choice.)

Misquoting Jesus

and

How to Read the Bible

Steve
____________
Warning, addicted to SETI crunching!
Crunching as a member of GPU Users Group.
GPUUG Website

The Scientific Method has Beget Evil.

So you don't believe that Christ existed as a man in history. Then explain to me the existence of Christianity. How come so many men in the world believe in Christ? Who invented him? The Apostle Paul?

The man's name was Jesus of Nazareth. Christ is a title given to the Messiah. ...

Paul was nearly a contemporary of Jesus, yet he hardly mentions Jesus at all, being far more concerned with his own thoughts and deeds. Paul's vision of salvation has become the Church's too. Paul's undoubted influence leads to suggestion that the Gospels were written or edited to Paul's agenda. It is ironic to think that in saving Christianity Paul very nearly destroyed Jesus.