THis is the logical fallacy known as 'shifting the burden of proof'. As for the claims for the gospels, that is the claim to be confirmed, not the evidenec for the confirmation. I have, on numerous occations shown that out of billions of people who have live and died both before and after the alleged incident, there has not been on confirmed case of 'resurrection'. THerefore, that shows beyond any kind of reasonable doubt that the case of Jesus of Nazareth did not happen either. So, that's busted
Nonsense.
By your common practice of discarding or attempting to marginalize ALL historical references to Jesus, you unwittingly would have people believe in a massive and complicated conspiracy by mostly common, uneducated fishermen, etc., to advance a false narrative of Christ. Let's review who would probably have to be in this unwitting conspiracy of yours (or be labeled as liars, charlatans, etc.)
1. Most or all of the disciples, including early unbelievers such as James and Thomas. You would, in effect, be assigning acts of deception to these men in spite of there being no narrative or history of dishonesty on their part.
2. The women at the tomb. Their testimony that a resurrection never occurred is absent in history.
3. Luke, the physician and author of his Gospel. He wasn't a disciple. He wrote that he carefully investigated "everything" from the beginning. There's no evidence he just focused on the words and accounts of the apostles alone. What's more, he continues his narrative with the Book of Acts, with additional miracles and people (including Paul, a person hostile to Christianity) claiming to have had experiences with Christ. Plus, Paul's companions on the road to Damascus "heard the sound" of Paul's experience with Jesus.
4. Eusebius and Josephus and others in the links and posts previously provided had to be lying, mistaken, or in on the conspiracy to defraud the populace.
5. We need to add Paul to the conspiracy (or at least to the list of people who were defrauded), since he wrote of the resurrection of Jesus in his epistles. According to Luke, Paul had an experience with Jesus on the road to Damascus.
6. Let's also add in all the other eyewitnesses of miracles and/or authors of the New Testament, since they must also be liars, madmen, or charlatans.
I can probably dredge up some more, but the list of people who would have to be liars, charlatans, etc., is now too long (and unsupported by any actual evidence on your part) to be believable.
It's like trying to believe Slick Willie Clinton when the interviewer asked him, "Why would all these women be lying about you?"
Why would all those New Testament figures be lying, insane, or deluded, but you're right on the money? Sure, Ramoss.
