The fishes and loaves thing is not meant to be taken literally. The crowd were satisfied with the word of God and that's why the food was enough to feed everyone. We were taught this in GCSE RE at Catholic school. The miracles are all to demonstrate putting your faith in God paying off.Yes I believe he existed. I believe he was a travelling preacher who had some sort of event happen to him to make him think he was the son of God. Maybe voices in his head (like Joan of Arc).
I believe he was subsequently crucified on the cross. That was a typical barbaric punishment in those times. So many people executed throughout history for their beliefs or going against the status quo.
I think yes, he was born in a stable, I can almost hear him preaching about his humble upbringing to a crowd. And I think his status as son of God was cemented by a few lucky 'miracles' happening which made doubters believe him (doubting Thomas). Things that we would scoff at now, but in those days must have seemed like a miracle. A bit like blood moons and comets being seen as 'signs' by pagans etc
But the fishes and loaves thing, rising from the dead, nope. Concocted to keep his following and faith going by his followers. I think his death had the opposite effect of making him a legend rather than stamping out his following/preaching.
Incidentally, Mr Peas thinks that he may have been in a coma / presumed dead after being on the cross, and did indeed 'rise from the dead' when his supposed dead body was being attended too/ washed. I think there might be something in that - we've all heard the stories of scratch marks being found on the inside of coffins because the person was actually still alive, just probably comatose
I think he existed, and I think his message was positive but its been misinterpreted and used to control people for thousands of years.