From: jaskew@spam.maths.adelaide.edu.au (Joseph Askew)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Re: Okay, if you're so smart ...
Summary: That could be one explaination
Date: 28 Jan 93 01:19:59 GMT
Followup-To: alt.folklore.urban
Organization: Statistics, Pure & Applied Mathematics, University of Adelaide

In article <4D1ZXB1w165w@codewks.nacjack.gen.nz> system@codewks.nacjack.gen.nz (Wayne McDougall) writes:
>pharvey@quack.sac.ca.us (Paul Harvey) writes:

>Also, of the statements variously attributed to Jesus in the Bible, some
>appear to be variations / derivations /turned-on-their-head sayings/idiomatic
>speech in Aramaic that were translated literally into Greek.

>Other wording indicates that it may well have been spoken in Greek directly.
>This would not be surprising as an educated Palestinian of the time would
>have been taught Greek. Even though Jesus was reputed to be the son of a
>carpenter, it would appear that he received a thorough education.

Or alternatively it could well be that someone who spoke Greek inserted
some pieces of his own to help with a point he was making. Paul perhaps
(who did speak Greek...badly) Or perhaps an even more likely explanation
is that there was not one Jesus but two! This would account for the two
birthdays, the two grandfathers etc etc.

>As for Jesus' existence - there is a Roman reference to his execution under
>Pontius Pilate for leasding a Jewish movement between AD 30 and AD 36.

I would be delighted to hear what this source was as I have never even heard
of one for Pontius Pilate (indeed I have been explicitly told by a Classics
scholar that none exist) Certainly there are the odd fakes - like Josephus
(no relation:-)) but no genuine evidence of Pontius, Jesus, St John the
Baptist et al.

>Various other strands of evidence make a very strong case for the existence
>of a historical person with that name at the time who was crucified. More
>evidence, in fact, than say, Julius Caesar ever existed.

Such as? We have genuine evidence of Julius Caesar. REAL evidence, like
responsible disinterested historians, inscriptions with his name on them,
copies of laws he passed (which were named after him), pictures and scuptures
of the man. What do we have for this Jesus bloke? The word of a secret
policeman/Inquisitor who suffered (on his own admission) from delusions
and strange voices (aka schizophrenia) Who never saw the man himself, who
wasn't there and whose accounts fundamentally disagree with other so called
eyewitnesses? I think not.

OBGrammarTrivia I am assured that the plural of Julius Caesar is Julii
Caesari, thus the plural of Jesus Christ *must* be Jesi Christi.
(The Father, the Sons and the Holy Ghost perhaps?)

OBHistoryTrickQuestion : What was Julius Caesar's first name? (hint Not Julius)

OBUrbanLegend Not only has Elvis been seen risen from the dead but Bon Scot
has been too (for all you nonAustralians he was the legendary singer for
AC-DC before they were old) He was sighted at a fish and chip shop in
Paddington (nothing to do with the bear) with a new tattoo! Of course
he has a long  way in the 'risen from the dead league'. Unlike Elvis
he hasn't been seen more times than Jesus yet, probably he only matches
some pathetic little Saint, St John perhaps, but he is on the right track


Joseph Askew


-- 
Joseph Askew, Gauche and Proud  Barbarian horns draw out the northern wind;
jaskew@spam.maths.adelaide.edu  Paler than water lies the Thistle Pass;
Disclaimer? Sue, see if I care  Sky swallows up the road to Kokonor;
One China One Korea One Eire32  Moonlight, a thousand miles along the Wall.