Proofs That Jesus Existed

Discussion about the New Testament, apocrypha, gnostics, church fathers, Christian origins, historical Jesus or otherwise, etc.
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Peter Kirby
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

Post by Peter Kirby »

ARGUMENT FROM TACITUS
(1) Tacitus mentioned Christ.
(2) Tacitus was a second century Roman historian.
(3) Did Tacitus just hear this from Christians?
(4) Is the Pope Catholic?
(5) Therefore, Jesus existed.
"... almost every critical biblical position was earlier advanced by skeptics." - Raymond Brown
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Blood
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

Post by Blood »

This could go on for awhile.

MODIFIED ARGUMENT FROM CS LEWIS
(1) Jesus was either a liar, lord, or lunatic
(2) Liars don't start world religions
(3) I'm just going to ignore Joseph Smith
(4) Therefore, Jesus was Lord.
“The only sensible response to fragmented, slowly but randomly accruing evidence is radical open-mindedness. A single, simple explanation for a historical event is generally a failure of imagination, not a triumph of induction.” William H.C. Propp
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Blood
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

Post by Blood »

ARGUMENT FROM HAVING THE WRONG KIND OF COLLEGE DEGREE
(1) GA Wells thought Jesus was mythical
(2) GA Wells taught German, not Jesus stuff
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.
“The only sensible response to fragmented, slowly but randomly accruing evidence is radical open-mindedness. A single, simple explanation for a historical event is generally a failure of imagination, not a triumph of induction.” William H.C. Propp
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Blood
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

Post by Blood »

ARGUMENT FROM YHWH IS A MAD GENIUS
(1) YHWH knew his son would get crucified and sent him for that purpose
(2) You can't make this shit up
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.
“The only sensible response to fragmented, slowly but randomly accruing evidence is radical open-mindedness. A single, simple explanation for a historical event is generally a failure of imagination, not a triumph of induction.” William H.C. Propp
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Blood
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

Post by Blood »

ARGUMENT FROM THE CRUCIFIXION
(1) Crucifixion was a really, really, really, really horrible way to die
(2) Nobody would make up a story about a god who dies a horrible death
(3) Previous stories about gods who died horrible deaths were just myths
(4) Therefore, Jesus existed.
“The only sensible response to fragmented, slowly but randomly accruing evidence is radical open-mindedness. A single, simple explanation for a historical event is generally a failure of imagination, not a triumph of induction.” William H.C. Propp
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Blood
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

Post by Blood »

ARGUMENT FROM SIMULACRUM
(1) All ancient stories about gods are myths
(2) The story of Jesus appears mythical, but isn't
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.
“The only sensible response to fragmented, slowly but randomly accruing evidence is radical open-mindedness. A single, simple explanation for a historical event is generally a failure of imagination, not a triumph of induction.” William H.C. Propp
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Blood
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

Post by Blood »

ARGUMENT FROM GNOSTICISM
(1) The Gnostics wrote some crazy-ass stuff
(2) The Church Fathers weren't gnostic
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.
“The only sensible response to fragmented, slowly but randomly accruing evidence is radical open-mindedness. A single, simple explanation for a historical event is generally a failure of imagination, not a triumph of induction.” William H.C. Propp
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JoeWallack
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

Post by JoeWallack »

ARGUMENT FROM UNIVERSITY CLASS
(1) Dr. James McGrath, University Professor, teaches a course on The Historical Jesus
(2) Universities only offer Historical courses on historical people
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.
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Blood
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

Post by Blood »

ARGUMENT FROM ARCHAYA S
(1) Archaya S says Jesus didn't exist
(2) Ehrman says Acharya S is just another "Internet mythicist"
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.
“The only sensible response to fragmented, slowly but randomly accruing evidence is radical open-mindedness. A single, simple explanation for a historical event is generally a failure of imagination, not a triumph of induction.” William H.C. Propp
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Blood
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Re: Proofs That Jesus Existed

Post by Blood »

ARGUMENT FROM ROBERT M. PRICE
(1) Robert M. Price says Jesus didn't exist
(2) Ehrman says Price is just a "bitter ex-fundamentalist," unlike himself
(3) Therefore, Jesus existed.
“The only sensible response to fragmented, slowly but randomly accruing evidence is radical open-mindedness. A single, simple explanation for a historical event is generally a failure of imagination, not a triumph of induction.” William H.C. Propp
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