Is there any historic proof that Jesus existed?

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No extra-biblical evidence? So what? The Bible is a document, isn't it? (Well, a collection of document anyway.) If you want to dismiss what it says, you have to back it up. Critical reading is not systematic rejection.

I certainly agree about the Ancient Testament. You will notice that I did the comparison to Tolkien myself a few times around here.

However, the New Testament was written relatively close to the fact and did not refer to a mythical past. It is a historical document, not the most reliable or trustworthy ever, but the only one we have on this. It can't just be tossed away just because it is bound it the same book as a creation myth and because it contains miracles itself -- if we rejected all sources which admit the existence of miracles or divine interventions, we wouldn't have much to say.

My understanding is, at the time Jesus was crucified, Pontius Pilate decreed that all references to Jesus be stricken from every known tome in an attempt to "erase" his existence.

In the year 325 A.D. the Roman Emperor Constantine called together a council of wise men from Italy, Greece, Egypt, Persia, Arabia, and other nearby countries to invent a religion to replace Paganism and create a more moral society. There were a total of 1,786 scholars, scribes, and religious teachers. They brought with them 2,231 books about gods, saviors, and other great men. 62 gods existed at the time, and about 60 saviors. By ballot, the god 'Kriste' was selected to be used for the new religion which means knowledge in the Ahanic language. A ballot was also done to choose the name of the savior. 'Iesu', meaning sexless, was the name choosen, which became 'Jesus' after the Latin prefix '-us' was added. Parts of the lives of Jose the Nazarene, Apollonius of Tyana, and Jehoshua ben Pandira of Egypt were chosen to compose the story of Jesus. The story of the Hindu god, Krishna, and astrological references were also incorporated. The star Lucifer 'The Son of The Morning' from the constellation Scorpio 'The Great Dragon' goes dark during the winter months. The winter months were a time of famine for the ancient Jews and the star Lucifer going dark represented famine to them. This was also incorporated into the story of Jesus. The four points of the cross represent the four classical elements (Earth, Fire, Water, and Air). The nails in Jesus's wrists, holding him to the cross represent how the flesh keeps us at the mercy of the physical. Jesus's soul represents the fifth element (Aether) which was believed to be the composition of the soul. After enduring the physical, the soul is freed from the body and the elements of the earth.

Assume for a moment that a man/god named Jesus existed. Also, assume that he performed all the miracles listed in the gospels. Did any of these miracles really benefit us? Why didn't he teach something useful such as the germ theory or basic sanitation? What has given us freedom from many communicable diseases, provided safer food and water, and even cures for certain cancers? That's right. Science.
I believe in things I can find evidence. Science provides evidence and proof. Bronze Age myths, god/man saviors, and meaningless rituals provide no enrichment to our lives.
We have outgrown gods.

I'd say there is some evidence but definitely no proof. It's more likely Jesus existed than he didn't, in some way or another, but I wouldn't say we can know for sure.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljRKhZ81aqY[/youtube]