The Historical Existence of Christ - Does it Matter?

I recently got into a lengthy debate with a theology major friend who is a devout Pentecostal Christian. I asked him if he had researched the actual existence of Christ outside of the Bible, since little to no text from that time period makes mention of Christ as a historical man (one would think he might be kinda popular in those parts, eh?) He mentioned a Roman Census that proved Jesus Christ's human existence & also referenced another text whose author's name I'm blanking on, but those were the only two references he could think of that would prove Christ was a real man. So I started looking up this census to see if it held any water and came across this article. D&D:

-Does Christ's historical existence have any context in how you feel as a Christian? Because Christianity is based on the fundamental idea that Christ sacrificed his human body for all mankind, would it make you feel differently if it was proven that he never existed? (Which is probably impossible to disprove, but to me it just seems like it would be more important to prove it before someone decided to become a Christian. just my opinion!)

Here's the article for further reading, which leans towards the idea that Christ's existence can't be proven through the census records, because they no longer (or never did) exist: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2001/what-did-the-census-at-the-time-of-the-birth-of-christ-accomplish

In my opion there are billions of people never mentioned in history. I don't need proof to know that people lived.
As far as how it effects my beliefs. I believe in faith through grace. Its something my heart tells me is true and I must believe for my own mental health.
I need hope to not be depressed. I have hope in a Savior.
Ignorant? Maybe/Probably. Good enough for me? Definatly!

I think that he existed. I don't believe that he was the son of God, just a man. His existence being proven or disproven would make no difference to me.

I believe that Jesus Christ really existed because of my faith, but even then, just because he existed doesn't mean that he was necessarily the Messiah. He could have just been a great man with good philosophies. I leave it all to faith to believe in something that you honestly have no physical evidence of.

Quoting One Lazy Bitch:" I believe that Jesus Christ really existed because of my faith, but even then, just because he existed ... [snip!] ... man with good philosophies. I leave it all to faith to believe in something that you honestly have no physical evidence of."

I think that is how most religion is which probably answers your question OP. I don't think it would matter because religion is already based on faith in something you can't see or prove.

christianity seems pretty made up and arbitrary to me. i dont suppose whether christ really existed changes anything.