The crucifixion and "rebirth" of Jesus. I'm not religious, but I'd be curious what actually happened.
It's probably one of the most influential events in modern human history and while the truth of it is probably very boring, I'd still like to know.
Question was about historical events..
It is a historical event. Jesus was a real person, and there are a lot of sources - outside the bible - about him as a person and his crucifixion.
That's my entire point. I'd like to know the truth behind the religion. I find it absolutely fascinating how historical events get warped over time to become a religion that billions of people still believe in today.
Sadly there are not a lot of extra-biblical sources on Jesus and his life actually.
There is one, a single one. And it’s pretty bad. Josephus. He basically mentions “James, the brother of Jesus they call Christ”, in the middle of a text not about Jesus at all.
And that’s it.
I'm not a historian, but Tacitus definitely mentioned Jesus' crucifixion. Saying there are a "a lot" of source is an exaggeration, you're right about that, but there's basically no doubt that Jesus was a real, historical figure. (I'm not saying that you're disputing that, I'm just still stuck on the guy actually thinking that Jesus wasn't real.)
Obviously Christian sources can't be taken at face value, but there's enough corroborating evidence - be it archaeological or written - that proves that at least some of the things in the gospels are based on facts, even if it's certainly embellished and a lot of it likely just made up and/or warped over time.
The Annals of Tacitus were lost throughout history and many of the passages (including the ones that mention Christ) were rewritten in the 11th century by Christian monks. We cannot trust it as an historical source any more than we can trust the Bible itself
Issue with Tacitus is he wrote about Jesus over 70 years after he allegedly died. After a Christian movement was already under way.
And yes I do think Jesus was a real historical figure.
But we have very little actual history on him, that’s all.
I guess then you’d see more if you could witness Paul’s … event. But then again there’s probably no single historical event that explains Christianity. Maybe the 2nd council?
The Zanclean Flood. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanclean_flood
@chairman @JohnSaveourSocks I had a similar thought. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonneville_flood
I would need a drone with me, capture the moment and then post it in the Fediverse..
@chairman While looking up what ancient fauna I'd be eaten by while distracted with a fpv headset I found another event I wish I could have seen.
https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/article/55/5/19/1016361/Recent-Nearby-Supernovae-May-Have-Left-Their-Marks
I thought I was the only one fascinated by the Bonneville flood. What a scene that must've been.
Sure as fuck not the fuck-ton of them that have gone on in the last 8 years.
The astroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. Would be cool to see a world ending event as the sky lights on fire, oceans evaporate, and a super tsunami.
I have a few since I'm a historian:
The revolutions of 1848 Europe, particularly Berlin or Paris. The atmosphere in that year was confusing, conflicting, and explosive. People wanted generally better lives, and put their own on the line to see it happen in numbers that shock us today.
The fall of the T'ang dynasty and the early Song dynasty. I'd love to see if the Naito Hypothesis holds up as a viewer of that time and space.
The Atlantic Revolutions between 1770s to 1800. So American, Haitian, French, etc. The birth of nationhood (in Europe), a new consciousness found its footing, and what it meant to have liberty, to be human, and to be unfree were changing.
And Japan in the 1930's. How fascism developed in the country. It's a question that's big in Japanese history, and not so clear today.
I'm going to guess you've already listened to the Revolutions podcast?
you'd witness a lot of gore 😬
The first time man walked on the moon. I love astronomy, space travel, and studying the physics that makes it all happen. I’m too bad at math to ever be an astronaut, so seeing that first hand through wish magic would mean everything to me
There's a film First Man which nicely depicts that era (you'd be seeing it via TV either way)
the creation (birth?) of the first live cell. it's the beginning of life!!
Hiroshima.
Sorry, had to make the dark joke.
The serious answer is the first Apollo launch. Because space. That's when real space ventures became a reality rather than a dream.
Tbh though, if it was some kind of magical thing where it was possible, the moon landing would be a bigger deal for me. But there's no way without going into fantasy for that to happen, and it wouldn't be the same because part of the cool part of this idea is being there, in person, with the ability to experience the entirety of the event. Can't cram another person into the lander at all, and that's where I would want to be. But I'd be perfectly happy to be in the crowd watching a launch
i think you can find video of the Hiroshima bombing on YouTube
Not sure they wanted to be there just to observe!
Battle of Hastings, 1066
Last time that the island of Britain was successfully invaded. I think the culture of chivalry that the Normans brought was what changed English culture to become what it is today and away from their Anglo-Saxon routes. I would even go as far as to say that the Normans were proto-imperialists and the culture they helped develop in England, France, and the Mediterranean led to a big chunk of the old imperialism of the 1500-1700s (minus the Spanish/Portuguese/Dutch).
Storming of the Winter Palace would be fun I think.
Normandy beach, d day.
It's be fun to look around for a few seconds then get shot
The Gettysburg Address.
Lincoln's assassination and the aftermath.
The trial of the conspirators. I'm fascinated with (and saddened by) the trial and execution of Mary Surratt.
Pretty much anything related to Lincoln and the Civil War.
A roman triumph.
The detonation of either the Hiroshima or the Nagasaki nuclear bomb, including the aftermath and suffering, assuming the explosions and fallout couldn’t hurt me eyesight- or radiation-wise.
I think that’s also something every politician should witness before getting into office. Maybe the world would be more peaceful and diplomatic.
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