Caractacus, I think you've got the basics of current historical thinking about right. few scholars genuinely question the existence of Jesus a a person. Apart from the Gospels (not written that long after the death of Jesus - certainly in the 1st century AD) and some references in the Apocrypha the main textual evidence comes down to us from the 1st century Jewish historian, Josephus.
He was born around 4BC and died at 1500 hrs on Friday 3rd April 33AD.
He was certainly a religious irritant to the ruling Pharisaic elite in Judea as he believed the elites got richer and the poor got poorer. The priests even had their own entrances into the Temple so as to avoid contact with the great unwashed. From the Roman point of view, they actively colluded with the Pharisees as the Empire was more concerned about social and political stability and conformity. Not for religious reasons - the Romans were incredibly tolerant toward native beliefs. It was social unrest they would not tolerate as it meant a dilution of their political and economic power. So this combination proved fatal for the Jewish non-conformist called Jesus.
But ancient and modern jews have always believed in capital punishment. Death sentences could only be passed by a court of priests and scholars called the Sanhedrin. Though you are right in suggesting execution was very rare.
For the saddos who've read this to the end I know this stuff not because I'm religious -which I'm not- but because read this at university. Sorry to be so boring..........I'll get my coat.
jesus christ
Re: Israeli Executions
Actually, Israel have only executed 1 person (officially) and that was Adolf Eichmann who was nabbed by Mossad in Argentina in 1961. He was hung despite worldwide appeals for his reprieve.
Unofficially, Mossad execute people and is well thought that Robert Maxwell was 'knocked off' and made to look an accident by agents of Mossad.
Pensioners of the Daily Mirror would certainly perferred Captain Bob to have stood trial instead of dying
Unofficially, Mossad execute people and is well thought that Robert Maxwell was 'knocked off' and made to look an accident by agents of Mossad.
Pensioners of the Daily Mirror would certainly perferred Captain Bob to have stood trial instead of dying
The West London of my youth is now on dvd
I've met the man on the street............and he's a cunt
I've met the man on the street............and he's a cunt
Re: Israeli Executions
As I said, official sanction of the death penalty in Jewish history is rare, but it exists in Jewish law. Ancient Jewry rarely applied the death penalty but has a long history of complicity in execution under the rule of Rome. To repeat it served the purposes of both Rome and it's subjugated provincial elite. Don't forget there were two other poor bastards crucified with Jesus that day.
Re: on capital punishment
another 2 in florida some yrs back picking random folk and shooting for the hell of it,there was a film made the fbi murders i think it was starred david soul.
Re: on capital punishment
Hey Bimmercat, we don't have the death penalty here in the UK. We have what are know as lifers, people who have been commited to prision for life & in most cases it means life!
Re: calendars
All due to a change in calenders hundreds of years ago steve.