Xanqui, I'm actually pretty sure we do have that evidence although I might be mistaken. If I remember correctly from one of my history classes and a religion class I've had, we have that evidence.
EDIT: I'll check when I have time, right now I'm studying music theory so... hahaha. However, if you say that you weren't able to find anything reliable, I trust ya dude.

if you can find it, I am interested in hearing about. 

The problem is, every time I hear this claim, the evidence is dated decades after the supposed existence of jesus.  Considering the execution of jesus was a pretty big deal according to the bible, and you know, the big freaking earthquake afterward, there would have to be something outside of the bible dated around that time. 

Personally, I lost faith in god because I kept looking for some shred of evidence, but I couldn't find any.  I read articles on every side of the fence, but it all came down to faith.  Faith is the belief in something without any evidence, so if I was going to believe in god, I might as well believe in every other claim that has nothing to back it up.  I never saw what made the bible more believable than, say, The Iliad or the Lord of the Rings. 

the thing is the first gospel was only written some 20-30 years after jesus was crucified. people seem to forget that there were PEOPLE around. he had thousands of followers according to the bible at least and there's plenty of evidence for CHRISTIANS at that time (nero). jesus' existence wouldn't have been questioned only 30 years after, it's pretty weird to question if at least a jesus FIGURE existed for this reason.

i brought this up with one of my lecturers when he criticised the census story of jesus (why would you need to return to your place of birth for a census??), that if something huge like that didn't happen then why would anyone believe it 60 years later, and he looked a little astonished and said 'that's a very interesting point' and i was pretty chuffed. the bible isn't evidence of god but as far as a lot of stuff goes it'd be fairly ridiculous for so many people to use a book that says stuff that patently doesn't happen at that time, AT THAT TIME.

the thing is the first gospel was only written some 20-30 years after jesus was crucified. people seem to forget that there were PEOPLE around. he had thousands of followers according to the bible at least and there's plenty of evidence for CHRISTIANS at that time (nero). jesus' existence wouldn't have been questioned only 30 years after, it's pretty weird to question if at least a jesus FIGURE existed for this reason.

i brought this up with one of my lecturers when he criticised the census story of jesus (why would you need to return to your place of birth for a census??), that if something huge like that didn't happen then why would anyone believe it 60 years later, and he looked a little astonished and said 'that's a very interesting point' and i was pretty chuffed. the bible isn't evidence of god but as far as a lot of stuff goes it'd be fairly ridiculous for so many people to use a book that says stuff that patently doesn't happen at that time, AT THAT TIME.

you can start a religion based on false facts.  Look at scientology. 

Sixty years later is a pretty long time, especially back then.  The average person didn't live more than 30 years, so that's at least two generations.  Without anyone to verify jesus's existence, and people more than willing to believe whatever their priests told them, it wouldn't be that hard to get people to believe in a guy who never existed. 

Still though, it's all dated decades later.  You would think that if such a GREAT guy existed, and he had THOUSANDS of followers, that some texts from around that time would have been written.  And all of this is, as you put it, according to the bible.  The bible is not a verifiable source without others to back it up.  Considering all of the other ridiculous stories in it, such as a talking bush, a guy who loses all of his magical powers when his hair gets cut, and the entire genesis portion, it's perfectly reasonable for anyone to question the validity of the story of Jesus. 

L RON HUBBARD NEVER EXISTED
christians weren't liked at all, read the bible: jesus was a bit of a dick to the pharisees, hence crucifixion.
people lived far longer than 30 years it was the middle east not dark ages england. jesus was around 33 when crucified and his mother was still around. furthermore peter set up the first churches and acts of the apostles talks about the apostles and the rest of jesus' disciples kickin it A.D. too

if you take this path you kinda have to question the reality of anyone or any event prior to idk VIDEO, and even then you've got moonlanding skeptics.

there aren't all that many texts from around that time, the 'bible' is some 66 books, the gospels provide four different accounts. parts seem contradictory but so do writings on other historic figures.

Guys-- where in the bible does it say bestiality is a sin?

climbtree you said you were majoring in christian theology right? what do you plan on doing with that degree?                           

OH

BURRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNNNNNN

arguing on internet forums

lol

climbtree you said you were majoring in christian theology right? what do you plan on doing with that degree?                           

i never said that at all, theology is specifically christian stuff, i majored in religious studies which is a pretty broad pretty poor overview of all religion.

why does everyone forget i also did psychology and psychology was the main thing??? i'm currently doing a masters degree in psychology but that's subject to change

Heh.. you're the psychology student,  you tell us why we forgot

theology fits better with your schema of climbtree especially when i'm in a topic about religion

the bible says the world is flat.  the bible says pi equals exactly three.  the bible says unicorns exist/did exist.  the writer of the bible didn't seem to mind that moses had his troops rape captured women.  the bible says you should stone homosexuals.  the bible says that a guy in the sky murdered thousands upon thousands of people while the guy in hell only killed a few, yet the guy in the sky is considered the good one.

I know you don't agree with a lot of those things, and neither do most sane, intelligent people.  You are picking and choosing because you don't go around stoning homosexuals, and you don't believe the world is flat.  And if you do those things, I don't care how righteous your god says it is, you're a piece of shit.

There is a profound truth in nearly every piece of literature ever written.  If you spend enough time analyzing and interpreting, any book can give you really good advice.  But at the same time, there's a lot of shit that has to be waded through. 

do you get your opinions from Penn & Teller: Bullshit? 

I mean I'm an atheist and everything but you clearly just don't get it.

I mean I'm an atheist and everything but you clearly just don't get it.

I completely agree.

God? Feh, I choose science.


I'm a atheist

Have you seen the movie zeitgeist? Heh, prepare to have ur mind blown...

Guys I recommend a book called "The God Delusion" by a guy named Richard Dawkins. Anyone ever heard of him?

maybe humanity is just one big ironic post...  god's ultimate jone...