Court to decide if Jesus existed...

"I started this lawsuit because I wanted to deal the final blow against the Church, the bearer of obscurantism and regression," Cascioli told Reuters.

Cascioli says Righi, and by extension the whole Church, broke two Italian laws. The first is "Abuso di Credulita Popolare" (Abuse of Popular Belief) meant to protect people against being swindled or conned. The second crime, he says, is "Sostituzione di Persona", or impersonation.

"The Church constructed Christ upon the personality of John of Gamala," Cascioli claimed, referring to the 1st century Jew who fought against the Roman army.

A court in Viterbo will hear from Righi, who has yet to be indicted, at a January 27 preliminary hearing meant to determine whether the case has enough merit to go forward.

"In my book, The Fable of Christ, I present proof Jesus did not exist as a historic figure. He must now refute this by showing proof of Christ\'s existence," Cascioli said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060105/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_religion_court_2

Sheer lunacy... although it is a bit unique to see the ignorance directed the other way around.

Hasnt Jesus\' existence already been proven? They do have the spear head that stabbed him....and I heard thye new his blood type, but that\'s a little iffy.

"In my book, The Fable of Christ, I present proof Jesus did not exist as a historic figure. He must now refute this by showing proof of Christ\'s existence," Cascioli said.

Was this obvious to anyone else? $_$

He existed get over it, and who cares.

[videoholic]

I didn\'t know people disputed his existence.  I believe the dude existed.  

Just don\'t believe that I go to heaven because he was killed on a cross.

Videoholic is what it\'s all about, man.

[Titan]

I thought they had written Roman records of his existance. He may not have necessarily been named Jesus but a man who was a rabbi, preached similar things and was crucified for blasphemy I believe existed.

[Viper_Fujax]

werent a lot of people crucified for blasphemy?

At least we find out now that American courts aren\'t the only ones to deal with ridiculous cases.

Oh yeah? Prove it!

I\'m suing you.

-Dan

[Titan]

Originally posted by Viper_Fujax
werent a lot of people crucified for blasphemy?

Probably. I\'m sure Jesus was based off one of those that was a rabbi and thought of himself as the son of God. But think about it. Jesus did the same thing as some people today, saying that they are the son of God and preaching about it. Makes you wonder about the times then and what made him so special. Perhaps he was the first one to do so or something?

[Jumpman]

perhaps he preformed miracles, with people present

and was resurected from the dead, with people presents

and there was this testament shit that happened soon later

etc

Well shit in Italy is a tad different. If you speak bad about the church, you go to jail. In that case, I can fully understand this guy sueing to prove that jesus even existed.

I don\'t think his existence has ever been proven, and the spearhead was proven to be a fake by carbon dating.

I don\'t think carbon dating is very accurate for such a short period of time (i.e. 2 millenia as opposed to 40 million years). But still, using a random spearhead as evidence for Christ\'s existence is...

Originally posted by videoholic
Just don\'t believe that I go to heaven because he was killed on a cross.

Quoted for truth.  I may lean to the right, but by no means do I subscribe to what some believe in the Bible Belt.  Personally I believe Jesus did exist, whether he was the son of God or just a good guy who did good things, I do not know.  

What bothers me is extremism either way.  I don\'t like Athiest/Agnostics who rabidly attack Christianity just as I don\'t like those (like my sister) who take the Bible literally without question.  You think I pick on liberals here - you should have seen Christmas morning at my sister\'s house!  Her kids don\'t even know about evolution!  I want my son to know both and not be ignorant of either.