Originally Posted by hannukah harry

josephus wasn't born until a few years after jesus's death. to my knowledge, there are <b>zero</b> contemporary references to jesus. during the time he supposidly lived there were others (with contemporary documentation of their lives) who claimed to be the messiah, rise from the dead, perform miracles, etc.

considering what the world was like back then, it doesn't surprise me that people would be able to be convinced that jesus was real and did what he did. i think to believe in him based on teh current references we have is a pretty thin argument. i see no reason to believe in him just as you see no reason to believe that hercules once lived on earth.

my current personal belief is that he may or may not have existed. if he did, he was a normal man, maybe preached a bit. but that what was written about him is about as true as the harry potter books are.