'Prove Jesus Existed' Judge orders Priest
Take from url: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-1967413,00.html
Prove Christ exists, judge orders priest
From Richard Owen in Rome
AN ITALIAN judge has ordered a priest to appear in court this month to prove that Jesus Christ existed.
The case against Father Enrico Righi has been brought in the town of Viterbo, north of Rome, by Luigi Cascioli, a retired agronomist who once studied for the priesthood but later became a militant atheist.
Signor Cascioli, author of a book called The Fable of Christ, began legal proceedings against Father Righi three years ago after the priest denounced Signor Cascioli in the parish newsletter for questioning Christ?s historical existence.
Yesterday Gaetano Mautone, a judge in Viterbo, set a preliminary hearing for the end of this month and ordered Father Righi to appear. The judge had earlier refused to take up the case, but was overruled last month by the Court of Appeal, which agreed that Signor Cascioli had a reasonable case for his accusation that Father Righi was ?abusing popular credulity?.
Signor Cascioli?s contention ? echoed in numerous atheist books and internet sites ? is that there was no reliable evidence that Jesus lived and died in 1st-century Palestine apart from the Gospel accounts, which Christians took on faith. There is therefore no basis for Christianity, he claims.
Signor Cascioli?s one-man campaign came to a head at a court hearing last April when he lodged his accusations of ?abuse of popular credulity? and ?impersonation?, both offences under the Italian penal code. He argued that all claims for the existence of Jesus from sources other than the Bible stem from authors who lived ?after the time of the hypothetical Jesus? and were therefore not reliable witnesses.
Signor Cascioli maintains that early Christian writers confused Jesus with John of Gamala, an anti-Roman Jewish insurgent in 1st-century Palestine. Church authorities were therefore guilty of ?substitution of persons?.
The Roman historians Tacitus and Suetonius mention a ?Christus? or ?Chrestus?, but were writing ?well after the life of the purported Jesus? and were relying on hearsay.
Father Righi said there was overwhelming testimony to Christ?s existence in religious and secular texts. Millions had in any case believed in Christ as both man and Son of God for 2,000 years.
?If Cascioli does not see the sun in the sky at midday, he cannot sue me because I see it and he does not,? Father Righi said.
Signor Cascioli said that the Gospels themselves were full of inconsistencies and did not agree on the names of the 12 apostles. He said that he would withdraw his legal action if Father Righi came up with irrefutable proof of Christ?s existence by the end of the month.
The Vatican has so far declined to comment.
THE EVIDENCE
The Gospels say that Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth, preached and performed miracles in Galilee and died on the Cross in Jerusalem
In his Antiquities of the Jews at the end of the 1st century, Josephus, the Jewish historian, refers to Jesus as ?a wise man, a doer of wonderful works? who ?drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles?
Muslims believe Jesus was a great prophet. Many Jewish theologians regard Jesus as an itinerant rabbi who popularised many of the beliefs of liberal Jews. Neither Muslims nor Jews believe he was the Messiah and Son of God
Tacitus, the Roman historian who lived from 55 to 120, mentions ?Christus? in his Annals. In about 120 Suetonius, author of The Lives of the Caesars, says: ?Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, Emperor Claudius expelled them from Rome.?
Related Messages
you go baby - grl ...... 
But isn't it nice to hear all views rather than just what you want to hear?..I am sure you will be fine Mycap..but remember a child doesn't help relationship problems..A lot of women are under this false misconception. So let me get this right, your in a relationship with an aqua and you had a short term fling with a cappy who's child you are now carrying?
Well my thoughts are with you..remain strong and do what YOU want to do..not for the benefit of a situation or someone..
Peace
Well my thoughts are with you..remain strong and do what YOU want to do..not for the benefit of a situation or someone..
Peace
WE LOVE YOUR SEXY SELF TO
Who else but a cap tis they way of all things my friend.
Ya know, lately I am really impressed with myself for guessing (simply by looking) whether a man is scorpio or not..its really quite scary..And Branh if you come onto this board, please let me live the moment, don't snatch it away from me with your woman bashing and a thesis on psychology...
so here goes..a few weeks back I was watching the Oscars..and the guy that was hosting the awards Jon Stewart (phwoar!). He came on and at once I was like, wow for an older guy he is one hottie..and also his eyes...and his personality etc..So I logged onto the net and found his biography..and yes he was a scorpio so I was utterly impressed with myself..Then today I was reading "Ok" magazine and saw a picture of Jouaquin Phoenix and an interview with Reece Witherspoon where she was saying it was difficult to work with him because he was intensely private..but the chemistry was great..so i thought..yep he's got to be a scorpio, look at those piercing eyes and also the fact that he's private..So I looked him up on the internet..and low and behold..he's a scorpio..And then there is this guy I have just met recently online, just by looking at his profile (no picture) and the fact that he's really funny and crazy, and the different personalities (i.e. private, joker, lover) I just knew he would be a scorpio..I asked him and he was like "damn girl, are you a psycho-therapist or something..lol..
So I am actually very impressed with myself..
so here goes..a few weeks back I was watching the Oscars..and the guy that was hosting the awards Jon Stewart (phwoar!). He came on and at once I was like, wow for an older guy he is one hottie..and also his eyes...and his personality etc..So I logged onto the net and found his biography..and yes he was a scorpio so I was utterly impressed with myself..Then today I was reading "Ok" magazine and saw a picture of Jouaquin Phoenix and an interview with Reece Witherspoon where she was saying it was difficult to work with him because he was intensely private..but the chemistry was great..so i thought..yep he's got to be a scorpio, look at those piercing eyes and also the fact that he's private..So I looked him up on the internet..and low and behold..he's a scorpio..And then there is this guy I have just met recently online, just by looking at his profile (no picture) and the fact that he's really funny and crazy, and the different personalities (i.e. private, joker, lover) I just knew he would be a scorpio..I asked him and he was like "damn girl, are you a psycho-therapist or something..lol..
So I am actually very impressed with myself..
First of all febpisces comments were kind of rude, but as someone said shes just giving her life experience. U can't assume things if you don't hear my side of the whole thing and know whats going on w/me and the cap at this moment in time. I'm not wanting him to become exclusive w/me jsut because of the child I'm having. I know for a fact, febpisces, that this child is his. I was never in a relationship w/the aqua man. Yeah we hung out, were friends, but that was it. We've never slept together, nothing to that extent or level. Yes the cap knew aobut the aqua, but he also have 'girl' friends.
Missmorals, you are totally wrong. I've been with the cap for 10 mos now and am not in a relationship w/the aqua. I don't know where u got that from.
Maybe I shouldn't have told the board about this. Most of you seem to be putting me down, but thanks to the ones who are supportive.
I"m not pushing for a relationship w/the cap jsut because of the kid. Me and him are discussing a lot of things and what we r going to do.
Missmorals, you are totally wrong. I've been with the cap for 10 mos now and am not in a relationship w/the aqua. I don't know where u got that from.
Maybe I shouldn't have told the board about this. Most of you seem to be putting me down, but thanks to the ones who are supportive.
I"m not pushing for a relationship w/the cap jsut because of the kid. Me and him are discussing a lot of things and what we r going to do.
And I am also starting to see a pattern..most scorpio men I have come across in life have been around 5ft 8" tall..what the hells all that about..
And isn't it weird that Jouaquin's surname is Phoenix..as in the Phoenix rising..lol..sorry I am getting waaaaaaay too carried away..
And isn't it weird that Jouaquin's surname is Phoenix..as in the Phoenix rising..lol..sorry I am getting waaaaaaay too carried away..
Yes, see, as to the above questions that had to be asked by Missmorals. I rest my case.
She's prolly just bubbly..or she finds you amusing..
Thanks for ur support CapGirl. U always have my back!!