[Magdalen] did jesus exist

[Marion Thompson]

 From my experience in a course _The search for the historical Jesus_ 
(OMG Pannenberg!) it seems that all that is known for sure is that a 
fellow called Jesus was indeed crucified at that time.  The rest is 
faith, i'nnit?  Including the Seminar fellows and their red print.  As 
famous artist of the Arctic and commited Anglican, Doris MacArthur, 
replied when asked at 90 yrs of age what she would think if, when she 
got to heaven, she were to find Jesus didn't exist, said, "Well, it was 
a wonderful way to live."  I was there when she said it.

Marion, a pilgrim ... today my sail I lift ....
On 1/17/2015 4:23 PM, James Oppenheimer-Crawford wrote:
> I am on a discussion forum where a lot of skeptical questions and comments
> come up.  One thing which I see from time to time is the simple question:
> "Did Jesus exist?"
>
> I've always said that this is for me personally an unimportant question,
> because whether or not there was some guy walking around Palestine back in
> the day has absolutely no impact on us today.  Similarly, the stories about
> walking on water, feeding more than ten thousand people (read the text
> carefully), healing or even those rumors about resuscitation actually mean
> nothing if we do not have reason to think there is an ongoing presence in
> us and in the world today.
>
> However, for a lot of folks, it is being said that there is no evidence
> that Jesus ever even existed at all. This, for them, is a gateway to
> concluding that there is no basis to any aspect of the Christian point of
> view.
>
> So, while it might not be terribly vital to me, evidence that Jesus existed
> is nevertheless an important piece of information for me and anyone who
> might interact with someone of the skeptical nature.
>
> Those of you (I hope nearly all of you. we live in hope) who subscribe to
> Biblical Archaeology Review (BAR) probably already know the article I am
> thinking of. However, not everyone subscribes to BAR, and both of you need
> to take a look at this article from BAR now available online. Since it
> probably will not be so for much longer, I suggest you may want to look now.
>
> http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/did-jesus-exist/
>
> The author does a good discussion of the sources available and puts each
> into good perspective.  In short, this article pretty much demonstrates
> that Jesus the person actually existed and was an influential leader of
> sorts. In this sense, Tacitus' comments are especially useful, since he is
> not likely forged, and his dislike of the "Chrestus" cult (and lack of
> information about them) is evident.
>
> BAR is a rich resource of information on what is being pulled out of the
> ground, and what may be made of it. Since it absorbed the staff of the now
> defunct magazine Biblical Review, it also has regular features on Bible
> related themes as well.
>
> James W. Oppenheimer-Crawford
> *“If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better
> for people coming behind you, and you don’t do it, you're wasting your time
> on this Earth.”  -- *Roberto Clemente
>