Physical proof? No. But if that’s the criterion for proof that someone existed, then that mean 90% of historical figures can’t be proven to have existed. We don’t have the remains of Alexander the Great or any artefacts we can be sure are his. We have no remnants of Plato, none of his original writings remain.
Did a person name Jesus live sometime during the first century AD? Scholars are fairly certain of that.
We do have textual evidence other than the bible that points to his existence.
It is highly unlikely that he was anything like the person written about in the bible. He was likely one of many radical apocalyptic prophets of the time.
We don’t have too many details about his life but because of something called the criterion of embarrassment we have good reason to believe he was baptized by a man named John the Baptist and was later crucified. (i.e. most burgeoning religions seeking legitimacy don’t typically invent stories that are embarrassing to their deity)
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historicity_of_Jesus
KneeTitts@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Well for most of those we tend to use independent verification for their existence. And in the case of jesus, we have literally zero independent verification.
aidan@lemmy.world 5 months ago
en.wikipedia.org/…/Sources_for_the_historicity_of…
KneeTitts@lemmy.world 5 months ago
While early scholars considered the Testimonium to be a total forgery, the majority of modern scholars consider it partially authentic, despite some clear Christian interpolations in the text
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephus_on_Jesus
aidan@lemmy.world 4 months ago
Why? If it was a popular myth, why assume he wouldn’t try to confirm/deny it
So? I’m not presenting evidence for him being a Messiah. I am saying there is some independent evidence of him existing.
I agree that is bizarre, but not proof of it being fake. Though should be taken with a grain of salt.
Who is Bart Ehrman and why relay his beliefs rather than speak for yourself?
Shard@lemmy.world 5 months ago
If you mean Jesus as described word for word in the bible? Yes you are right. Such a mythical figure never existed.
A man name Jesus from the first century AD? Who preached in the Levant? Who was baptized by a man named John and was later crucified? There is good enough evidence of such a person existing.
I see you are familiar with Bart Ehrman, Even he doesn’t dispute that a historical Jesus existed.
youtu.be/43mDuIN5-ww
Here’s an even deeper dive from Bart Ehrman.
youtu.be/4CD5DwrgWJ4