After reading Thomas Paine's essay "The Age of Reason - Part 2", I decided to pose a question on an Episcopalian e-mail group I belonged to. I asked if the Christian holidays are based originally on the pagan ones and if there is any documented evidence of the existence of Jesus Christ.

I got one answer from a parishoner stating that the Christian holidays might be based on them but no response from any clergy member who is a regular respondant on the list despite naming a specific deacon to answer.

In light of this, I decided to do some more research and, other than religious authors claiming that Christ did exist, I have not been able to verify whether non-religious or historians point to Jesus' existence. Roman author Suetonius does not. Pliny the Younger does not and Tacitus mentions Jesus but does not go into what he did or if he experienced what is outlined in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. While the New Testiment scriptures describing the ministry of Jesus have a common theme to them, unfortunately and as Thomas Paine points out, Jesus himself did not make any personal record of his ministry. I was also unable to find any modern day historians that can verify Jesus' existence. If Jesus did not exist, I decided it was safe to assume neither does God since Christians believe Jesus is God, respectfully.

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