But how on earth would you identify such a person ? You wrote: .....even if the Gospel stories themselves are false.''GakuseiDon wrote: ↑Tue Mar 26, 2024 3:01 amHmmm... not even if the Gospel stories themselves are false.I suppose. It's the time-travel test: if you can take a time machine back to around that time period could you meet the person who inspired the development of Christianity? So I'm looking for early texts that questioned that person's historicity.maryhelena wrote: ↑Tue Mar 26, 2024 2:11 amWas your 'figure living around 30 CE who inspired the Gospel stories' crucified ?
Some people have something or another, do something or another, that leaves a mark, a footprint, on the lives of others. Some written words can do something similar. So, yes, in theory - (and in the human experience ) - a man living around 30 CE could have left a mark on those who knew him. Followers or people who knew the man, could well tell stories of him, of what he meant to them, of how his existence, his living, had relevance to their own lives.
Yep, perhaps a time-machine might find such a man - but since the 'church fathers' did not know such a man and relied only on stories - their own retelling of the man's story is not evidence of historicity - or ahistoricity. Indeed, we need a time-machine - and the only time-machine available to investigate the past is known as - History.....
As you indicated above re my question on crucifixion - ''not necessarily I suppose' - then, I would suggest, that is a good starting point when looking for a figure, during the time of Tiberius and Pilate, that might have left his footprint.....