An important fact that has not been mentioned in this discussion is that Jesus whether real or not was not in any sense a Christian, and there is no evidence that he wished to found a religion. He lived and died a Jew. Those who call themselves Christians do not follow the religion of Jesus since they reject his religion. Paul founded a religion in the name of Jesus, but it was not the religion of Jesus. Judaism believes in God without a sidekick.

According to the Bible God had other sons besides Jesus. (KJV) Genesis 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 6:4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

According to the Bible Jesus was neither a Christian nor the only son of God.

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a modest contribution to the yuletide festivities …

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRQPdZ5Fo1I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-CoD452CFs

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Well, if he was real or at least based on a historical figure then it is perhaps insufficient to say that he was just a person who practised Judaism wouldn't you say *DavidF?*

I accept though that it is very important to recognise that he was Jewish in origin.

But did he not see himself as the fulfilment of Jewish prophecy?

And if the stories regarding him are true then it seems that he clearly took some issue with the manner that Judaism was being practised back then.

Perhaps if he had of been not just an itinerant preacher, but also a triumphant Warrior and subsequent King that Judaism may have accepted him as their Messiah?

What do you say?

"Tim you keep missing the point, we really need you to answer the big questions like "How many Angles can dance on the head of a pin"?"
Posted by cornonacob, Wednesday, 31 December 2014 12:35:31 PM

Why would Tim O'Neill, who happens to have been an atheist for near on 30 years, answer a theological question like that?
Check out his profile on http://armariummagnus.blogspot.com.au/

"By the way, I don’t believe you’re an atheist. No-one gets this flustered over the existence of an historical figure. I’ve seen this kind of claim-to-atheism made here several times before in a grab for credibility, but I’ll run with the assumption anyway."
Posted by AJ Philips, Wednesday, 31 December 2014 2:38:52 PM

A predictable ad hominem attack on Tim O'Neill to avoid avoid debating the issue with him. Tim O'Neill is an atheist who despises ideologically driven history. He tends to unleash on anyone who distorts history for ideological ends. I have seen him slap Christians and New Atheists as well as those who distort history for nationalistic ends. He does not discriminate.

see here: " Here I criticise Rodney Stark for distorting history and presenting pseudo historical junk reasoning out of ideological bias. And I criticise Charles Freeman for distorting history and presenting pseudo historical junk reasoning out of ideological bias. And I criticise Stephen Greenblatt for distorting history and presenting pseudo historical junk reasoning out of ideological bias."

http://armariummagnus.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/the-jesus-myth-theory-reponse-to-david.html

O'Neill has also had guest posts on blogs by atheists like Thony Christies "The Renaissance Mathematicus" http://thonyc.wordpress.com/ and other atheist blogs like http://www.strangenotions.com/author/tim-oneill/

Correction. "Strange Notions" is not an atheist blog. The contributors are predominately Catholic. Tim O'Neill was simply a guest on the forum.