http://www.charter.net/news/read.php?rip_id=<D9QMOHSO0@news.ap.org>&ps=1018 I think it interesting to note that this was carried by a person only 500 years after Jesus walked the Earth. What do those who don't believe that the man Jesus even lived think of such evidence?
Uhm nothing. We know the religion existed at that time, but does this prove that Jesus existed? Nope. Does this prove that he was/is God. Nope. As a matter of fact, all it proves is that there were people who followed the religion that later became known as Christianity 500 years after their God is belived by them to have lived and this has never been disputed. AH
500 years is not that long. How do you think in that amount of time a messianic religion developed to the degree that it did if the man Jesus did not actually live?
The point is, your find does not prove anything. No one denies that the religion existed then. And this is no surprise. Islam existed whilst Mohammed was still alive. Does that mean he was right? Does this mean Jesus was a god? Nope AH
I'm not sure what this would have to do with the existence of Jesus? 500 years is more than enough time for a myth to develop into a religion.
25 generations is "not that long"? There are some modern religions that are far younger than that with very dedicated members.
just look into the El rong cubbard (scientiology) What i crack up on is the symbolism of the cross is far older than jesus. From egyptian to chinese to even the indigenous, they all have renditions well before christians did. The crucifix would be the unmistakenable rendition of a christian cross. as for me, it renders 'light'. The electric and magnetic fields of energy in perpendicular planes [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvfZP3C2pBI"]Electromagnetic Waves - YouTube[/ame] its the perfect cross! but notice the spectrum [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfS5Qn0wn2o"]The Electromagnetic Spectrum - YouTube[/ame] all life is of 'the light'
Could you give an example of a figurehead that didn't live, but developed into a religion that claims he or she walked among men within 500 years?
Then I'm not addressing you. There is a faction of people who think Jesus (whether man or God) never really existed--that he is a titular Savior only and never a man of flesh and blood. I think that's silly--whether you believe him to be God or not.
Pick a religion other than Islam, which is just about the only founder of a great religion for whom we actually have evidence. If you want one very pointed one, Mithras would do, who mimics the Jesus legend quite closely, and was a contemporary deity.
Mormonism is based off from Christian tradition and Jesus. Scientology does not have a god that walked the earth. The Unification Church also uses Christian tradition and believes that Sun Myung Moon is the second coming of Jesus. So--two religions based off from Jesus, and a religion with no god but the self that usurped Christian imagery by using the cross as a symbol. Sorry. that's a fail.
They claim that Jesus lived in America, among other things. Clearly false. Their clearly mythological Jesus character (the Jesus that went to America and met the natives) is a figurehead for their religion. That's because they don't believe in gods. You said nothing about gods walking the earth, only figureheads. L. Ron Hubbard would definitely be considered a figurehead for Scientologists. You said nothing about gods originally, and I certainly didn't. You can try to change the goal posts after the fact, but I won't be participating in that game.
You re missing the point. Some people claimed that Jesus never was a real person. You are supporting my point that there needs be something really there to facilitate believe by your examples. Perhaps it's your reading skillz that fail.
Please find a source that claims Mithras walked among men within 500 years of the development of the religion. Had to look that one up. Again....where was Hermes born, and where did Hermes live? There is a distinct and verifiable geography for Jesus. There are factual historical events he is said to have attended. What about those guys?
This is an interesting example--and nearly the sort of refutation I was looking for. However, the isolation of this group renders the comparison to Jesus unconvincing.
Both were believed to be real people by their worshippers. Unfortunately detailed information about either cult is pretty hard to come by considering Christians violently tried to wipe them out and destroyed almost all of the writings of each religion.
Wouldn't the source be the story and followers, just as with Jesus? The two stories are close, so close that the church fathers said the devil made up the Mithras story - before - Jesus, to mock the church, as he knew Jesus was coming. All gods are from the geography of the people that originally wrote their myths, with additions and changes for migrations, wars, etc. Casper the ghost could be written about with real places and events - which obviously doesn't mean he actuall existed. Many Pagan Gods are said to have come to earth and fathered children on mortal women. Tammuz was supposed to have come to earth, and died, and arose. The Hebrew women wept for him - which make him important when looking into the Iesous story. Though Iesous could have existed, there is no proof that he did, and even if he did - no proof of deity, as has already been pointed out.
What aren't you understanding? I am taking issue with the claim that THE MAN Jesus never existed. I'm not arguing his deity. Some people claim that THE MAN never existed, and I'm saying that evidence of worshipping in the context of the recent culture (first century to 6th) demonstrates that it is likely that there was a real person named Jesus who was killed on a Roman cross.
