Before you start tossing dates around, PLEASE check out the links I put up backaways. The Gospel of Mark was probably the first written, probably around 90 CE. That there were other writings attributing their sayings to Yeshua is also fact -- the Nag Hammadi library, which includes one copy of the "Gospel of Mary of Magdala" for one.

I, myself, can't say for certain that any of YOU exist, much less someone who was supposed to have lived better'n 2K years ago. But some questions would have to be answered by those who claim that Big J didn't exist:

1. Given the undoubted and proven age of some of the manuscripts which profess to give his words, and the remarkable consistency thereof, are you proposing some widespread conspiracy?

2. Related to number 1, what would be the point? There were already enough religions (Mithraism, et al.) around to satisfy 'most anyone.

3. What became Christianity was originally a sub-sect of Judaism, and the Apostles were themselves divided about whether or not a Gentile could become a proto-Christian without first becoming a Jew. Paul, bless his li'l ol' misogynistic heart, was the first the open it up to non-Jews; Peter, the leader in Jerusalem, agreed but only after claiming direct word from Big Daddy ("What I have made clean..."). The Romans didn't care what you worshipped, as long as the plebes were quiet and the taxes rolled in. It's quite clear the Pilate did the deed he's credited with because he was asked to do so by the Jewish leaders -- not because of anything The Man had done. (Oh, yeah, there was no custom of releasing prisoners at Passover.)

4. The "King of Jews" sign was intended as sarcasm.

5. "..of the House and Family of David" was almost certainly added later, to provide authenticity to the claims of the early Christians that JC was The Messiah.

6. Roman records show that there were a LOT of folks popping up, claiming to be the Messiah.

Dang, I wish I had my books out of storage!!!