Lisa Shea Forums General Discussion Religious Research Any doubt re the existence of John the Baptist?

Did 'John the Baptist' really exist?
Are we sure?
How can we know?
What exactly do we know?
Are we certain that he was a 'cousin' of Jesus?
Are we certain that he was paving the way for Jesus?
Are we certain that he baptised Jesus?
Are we certain that he was the result of a 'miraculous' birth, announced by an angel?

I highly suggest you ditch the last 6000 years of history and search back further for the meaning of life, rather than the constant petty xxxxxxx match about organized religion and presumed historical figures that exist or don't exist in each said religion.

If you want true enlightenment i'd reccomend this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmMwo1Xzgus

I don't think it matters to the nonreligious. To the religious, the Bible seems to be all they need. His existence doesn't really impact my life. Nor really my studies.

This is a religion forum, where we discuss and debate religious matters. For those who find it interesting, it is here. If you do not find it interesting, then there are many other discussions on the forum ~ but please don't use bad language.

I have seen documentaries and read books concerning many of the points raised. I find it a very fascinating subject. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get expert views, so it is hard to draw educated conclusions.

I shall start a new discussion for this.

'Ancient Mysteries'
http://www.wineintro.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/401448#Post401448

Nor mine either, but I find it interesting.

I get the impression that many people believe that he existed ~ even those who are doubtful about Jesus.

We know from Josephus (Antiquities 18.5.2) that John the Baptist certainly existed, at the time of Jesus, and baptized people in the Jordan.

Josephus says that he didn't baptize for the remission of sins, but only for its symbolic significance, I think I read somewhere that was against what the Gospels said, but I don't think the Gospels anywhere implied he was the one forgiving sins "be baptized for the remission of sins" could very well be symbolically speaking for expressing one's devotion.

There were disputes that supposedly Josephus placed John the Baptist's death at the time of Herod's war with the Nabateans in 36, whereas the Gospels place his death no later than 28/30 (depending on when you think Jesus was crucified, 30 or 33), but all Josephus says is that Herod's loss was attributed by the Jews to his beheading of John the Baptist, which doesn't have to be in the same year Herod lost the battle; 6 years is a short enough time for someone's curse to catch up.

I have run into many people who would argue that there is no empirical evidence that Jesus was a real person. Visa vi in argument with them I could never find more than one non-theological reference to the King of the Jews(Jesus) and his writing have been proven tome and time again to have been modified over the years.
Needless to say that after spending so much time on that debate and losing - NOTHING SURPRISES ME anymore.