CSflim

So are the majority of Ancient Greek Legends. Do you believe in Cyclopses?

Similarly, I know plenty of Celtic Myths, as they are based in Irealnd, and there is lots of evidence to back up the fact that many of these wars and conflicts did in fact take place?

Do I believe that Cú Cullain single handedly defeated the entire army of Ulster when they attempted to invade, becasue he was in possession of a magic sword? No I most certainly do not!

As for the bible.
Do I believe in a man (possibly) named Jesus? Yes.

the story of the bible, from a historical perspective.

Mary at the age of approx twelve was sold by her father to joseph for marriage. This was how marrage was done at the time. Mary was a virgin, and so fetched a high price. Virgins were worth far more to prospective husbands than "used goods".
Mary and Joesph were engaged, and were to be married in a year.
Before the marriage arrived, Mary had become pregnant. This was obviously a great cause for concern. Such a thing was obviously looked upon very poorly. If joesph wished, he could have had mary put to death. However, he chose not to, and the marriage went ahead as planned.
How did she become pregnant?
Of course the christian answer is: It was a miracle!...yeah sure.
A more likely scenario was that she got pregnant, the old fashioned way. Good ole filthy dirty sex. But who was the father?
Perhaps it was just some unrelated man, with whom Mary caught caught up with.
Some claim that she was raped by a Roman soldier. There is evidence in the bible to suggest this, when opponents of Jesus proudly proclaim that at least THEY are not illigetimate. Don't have the exact quote on me, but it's there.
Of course it is possible that the illigetimacy of Jesus was just a rumour promoted by opponent of him.

So why was Joesph so lienient on Mary? Surely he should have been furious?
Well the christian answer is split.
One Gospel claims that Joesph was visited by an angel, who explained the whole deal to joseph about the virgin coneption and the Son of God etc etc.
Another Gospel claims that Joesph was simply a nice man.
Some claim that it was in fact Joeseph that was the father of Mary's child. This to me, makes the most sense, but its possible that the father was one of the other two (just some guy, or a rapist).
Those who say that mary was raped, claim that joeseph took pity on her. Also makes sense.

So far, so unremarkable.

So what about the birth of Jesus? Well, here's where historcal fact starts to contradict the bible. There was no huge cencus of the Roman empire taken at the time of Jesus. Don't try and claim that no evidence of it would be remaining!
So chances are, Jesus was born at home, in Nazareth, not in a stable in Bethlehem.

Jesus was apprently visited both by rich "wise men" and poor shephards. But the wise men are only mentioned in one gospel...the gospel which most panders to the desire of the upper class. The shepards only appear in one gospel...surprise surprise, the one written mostly for the lower class!

So Jesus grew up, and started preaching from the holy scripture. Plenty of people did such things. Nut cases going around preaching was nothing special in those days. It was common for these usurpers to be arrested and dealt with by the Roman forces.
Exactly what happened to Jesus. He was put to death by the Romans.

The End.

That is the story of Jesus from a historical point of view. It almost certainly did happen. The question is, why does it make you believe in God?

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