Atheist Poll: Was there an historical Yeshua?

[Jayhawker Soule]

Just out of curiosity ...

 

[Phasmid]

Probably, though I think the claims made about him were likely blown out of proportion due to the nature in which the information about him was passed on.

 

[Panda]

Probably he was real, but a myths have sprung up around him. There is also the possibility the myths are based on several different people at the time.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I voted "probably."

"Probably not" chose to remain anonymous ...

 

[Sunstone]

To me, the most plausible scenario is there was someone named Yeshua around whom a whole lot of urban legends grew up.

 

[Halcyon]

Probably.

 

[Kungfuzed]

I think there were probably many of them, just as there are today.

 

[Father Heathen]

Personally, I think it's possible but doubtful.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

So it's now 5 - 1 - 2 in favor of "probably," just the opposite of what I expected.

 

[Sunstone]

I picked "no opinion" on the grounds that my hunch someone named Yeshua existed is just a hunch and that I have not studied the issue well enough to have formed a stronger opinion.

On the other hand, the more I've been thinking about it this evening, the less likely it seems to me that we know much of anything at all that is historically true about this Yeshua -- assuming he existed at all. Instead, it seems increasingly likely to me that the details of his life found in the Bible are either fabrications made up to bring his life in accord with prophecies, or are urban legends.

 

[gnomon]

Probably....

as in probably there were a number of individuals during that time period espousing similar Judaic philosophies and that these individuals were combined into one of those individuals by their followers into a single identity to coincide with their interpretation of Judaic prophecy.

I doubt the existence of one individual as a source for the authors of the gospels. So there was probably some guy named Yeshua who was chosen to personify many ideas from the time.

 

[Nanda]

I picked "No opinion," which is not entirely true. My opinion is that I'm not sure. There isn't very strong evidence for his existance outside of the Bible, but I can't say for certain.

 

[Sunstone]

I picked "No opinion," which is not entirely true. My opinion is that I'm not sure. There isn't very strong evidence for his existance outside of the Bible, but I can't say for certain.

What do you mean "no strong evidence outside the Bible"? Just recently, The National Enquirer quoted a reliable witness whose cousin told her that he had spotted Jesus in a Los Vegas supermarket shopping for vegetables with Elvis. Is that evidence not strong enough for you?

 

[Halcyon]

Instead, it seems increasingly likely to me that the details of his life found in the Bible are either fabrications made up to bring his life in accord with prophecies, or are urban legends.

True, but it's also very plausible that there was a man named Yeshua, follower of John the Baptist, who formed a splinter group under his leadership and teachings, a group which later elevated their leader to Godhood.

 

[kai]

i voted probably, giving it the benefit of the doubt because there wasnt a " havnt got a clue" option

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

i voted probably, giving it the benefit of the doubt because there wasnt a " havnt got a clue" option

I would have thought "no opinion" would have sufficed.

In any event, I'm still somewhat (pleasantly) surprised at the vote ...

 

[whereismynotecard]

I have no idea who we are talking about.

 

[Father Heathen]

I have no idea who we are talking about.

The biblical Christ.

 

[whereismynotecard]

The biblical Christ.

Oh. I think he might have existed. If he did though, I don't think he was as great as everyone says he was.

 

[Nanda]

What do you mean "no strong evidence outside the Bible"? Just recently, The National Enquirer quoted a reliable witness whose cousin told her that he had spotted Jesus in a Los Vegas supermarket shopping for vegetables with Elvis. Is that evidence not strong enough for you?

She did, huh? Damn... I'd like to change my vote.