Why should I provide you evidence for Jesus’s existence, when every known credible historian I know of, has already provided that answer for you, yet you’re unwilling to take their expertise as valid or true.
So all of those eminent historians, Ph.D’s who have spent their lives researching and analyzing and debating each other before coming to a consensus that Jesus did, in fact, exist are wrong? I guess you’d better take it up with them.
I also know of several so called Christians that are racists. Do you call them generally good people?
Are all early followers of Jesus hypothetical?
Where is the consensus for this?
Then John himself wrote his own Gospel. And by the way, the USCCB is not infallible and some of their opinions reflect a leftist, revisionist history approach that has been dominant for a time in biblical criticism (but is currently losing ground). It’s nice that you consider them a higher authority, though, since you appealed to them.
Not at all, you are not talking about atheism but philosophical paradigms. It is perfectly rational for an atheist to accept pragmatism, in fact I know many that do. Can you give me an example of an absolute moral?
I guess we must be hypothetical too, Rebecca, since the line of succession of believers must all vanish in this curious fantasy. Too bad, I was looking forward to a nice lunch.
No I did not, I used them so show that there is no a consensus regarding who wrote john, nice try thoughThen John himself wrote his own Gospel. And by the way, the USCCB is not infallible and some of their opinions reflect a leftist, revisionist history approach that has been dominant for a time in biblical criticism (but is currently losing ground). It’s nice that you consider them a higher authority, though, since you appealed to them.
.Great then provide me with THE evidence, not appeals to authority or consensus, or an appeal to your own authority
.This does not state that John did not write the gospel of John, i.e., there can be many reasons why there are supposed inconsistencies, i.e., he used a scribe rather than write all portions of the gospel himself . . etc.
It certainly questions the authorship, but like I said I don’t really care much as even if jesus did exist and I am open to the idea, that does not mean he was a god.
Indeed, my point. The evidence of Jesus are His disciples. Some of whom put in writing the teachings of the Person they followed.
With the best will in the world I could not accept that as evidence as I cannot validate it. Would you not agree then in order to accept evidence as being valid one has to be able to verify it as credible?
I’ve already imparted the most important aspect of all, i.e., every credible historian I know of does not question the reality of Jesus’s existence, and that is because they base their findings on the writings of Josephus, the Bible, Pliny the Younger, Tacitus, Lucian . . .etc.Great then provide me with THE evidence, not appeals to authority or consensus, or an appeal to your own authority
Then let’s focus on that rather than whether He existed, it’s a waste of our time, really.
Even if true that there is “no consensus” your choices are either that John wrote his eponymous Gospel, or a community of scholars (the “Johannines”) who had intimate knowledge of John and/or his recollections of the time he spent with Christ, transcribed (not authored) them.No I did not, I used them so show that there is no a consensus regarding who wrote john, nice try though
So I assume you don’t believe in love?Not at all gravity is not material, the only evidence I will accept it verifiable evidence. I am baffled that anyone would accept evidence that they cannot verify?If one can’t verify it then what is the process of validation it, and if there is no process of validation the how the heck can you know it is valid?
As for historical jesus there is not a single contemporary account of jesus, NOT ONE. And don’t try to hit me with josephus he was not a contemporary.
Of course, you cannot validate it because you weren’t there, which is why believing in Jesus and the Bible requires faith, and by faith I mean the grace of God which illuminates the mind, heart and soul to the truths transcribed in the Bible.