Did a historical jesus actually exist?

[Rama]

It is a fact that many people of that time lived with the name Yeshua.
'Jesus' is simply a Greek form of the name, made popular because
the the 'New' Testament was written in Greek. ('Joshua' is another
form of the name). So yes, there was a historical figure by that name,

just like in the USA there are many people with the name 'John'.
Now rather you want to believe in the mythology of miracles
associated with a particular 'Yeshua' of that time is your own
affair, but no one can possibly 'prove' those, it is up to the
taste of the individual.

Rather fact or fiction, people should know that the things that they
like about Yeshua are the teachings that were ATTRIBUTED to him.
Fact is, the stuff about 'turning the other cheek' and the 'Golden
Rule'
can be traced back to the Buddha (another historical figure) who lived
500 - 1,000 years earlier. So IMO the Buddha should be given more
credit than someone who 'at best' was quoting someone greater than
himself. At worst, the words were just attributed to this Jewish man
Yeshua in order to fuel a new sect. As an aside, I understand that
the 'sermon on the mount' was an Essene text.

Try this:

http://www.nobeliefs.com/exist.htm