How do we know these historical figures exist? are there any that people are dubious about their existence?

Question

i.e. - people are skeptical about jesus, mohammed, etc. existence. anyone else?

Answer 1

Jesus is questionable; Muhammad is not.

Answer 2

Jesus was mentioned by Josephus the Jewish historian, I am sure there are other historians that have written about Mohammed.

Answer 3

Historians base their work on evidence, mainly contemporary writing but also later non-contemporary archaeology also plays a part (for example unearthed paintings from Pompeii gave information about the lives of ordinary citizens). Some figures from history, though widely referenced, have left very little in the way of evidence, the classic case is probably King Arthur. Synoptic gospels are used as evidence of the existence of a man called Jesus, the theory that there are sufficient differences as well as coincidences to indicate that one is not merely a copy of another but a separate, distinct source – this has been disputed – similar problems exist over the existence of Mohammed, there are sources but they, in both cases, have agendas.

Answer 4

mohammed was a murderer, Jesus taught peace and forgiveness

Is it any wonder that Christian-founded countries prosper while islam countries are poor and violent and undeveloped.

Answer 5

bill w hits it right on the nose. mohamed was a dillusional idiot or maybe even a mental case that also tells us a lot about his followers.  that is if he ever even existed.

Answer 6

groker do you really take what the bible says literally? also you should brush up on your ancient mythology... Horus was the son of Osiris not Ra... and he was not born of dec. 25, the late roman god sol invictus was.  

also the exploits of socrates are very well documented, mostly by plato but by many others as well. Muhammad appears in many various texts, not just islamic ones. i cant say much about jesus, but i do know that debate of his existence is almost not heard of among scholars.

Answer 7

I've always been a bit skeptical about Jesus, the fact that the man was born through Imaculate conception for starters, always thought that that must have made Joseph feel a bit funny. Then there's the whole rising from the dead bit?

If you look at the Life of Jesus christ it bears a striking similarity to that of Horus who was the son of the Egyption god RA. Both born through imaculate conception on the 25th of december, both raised from the dead etc etc.

Answer 8

socrates... maybe I don't know I just always thought this guy had a fictional element attached to his legacy but maybe that's just me I don't know much about the guy but I just have a feeling that he could be a dubious character in history am I alone on this or what lol

Answer 9

Many people are skeptical about the existence of many biblical figures. Especially those with miracles.

I think more people are skeptical about the real biography of people like Jesus or Muhammad rather than their existence. But there's one man by the name of Muhammad son of Hasan Al-Askari. The Shiite Muslims believe he existed & he is their 12th Imam. The Sunni Muslims on the other hand insist that Hasan Al-Askari was childless.