From a historical point of view you have to analyse what was happening in Israel.
The Romans were being pretty crappy to the Jews, heavy taxes, occupying their land etc. Suddenly the jews convince them that theres this guy who must be listened to as he's the son of God and if they dont start being nice then they're all going to hell. Most of the jews dont buy this, but the Romans do.
Now thats exactly the kind of story I'd tell the Romans to get them off my back.
anyone care to have a go at rubbishing that theory?
Before you can analyse something from a historical point of view, you need to get your facts straight. The Romans didn't buy the Christian message until well after the death of Jesus:
Not only that, they were being rather crappy to people all over the place. Vercingetorix did a similar thing with the gauls, and Spartacus with an army of slaves, Boudicca and thr Iceni, there are many others.
Jesus must have been quite special and had such a unique impact on the region and world, that inspired a whole religion to evolve and survive to this day.
There were few people soon after Jesus (pbuh) was taken away by Allah Almighty. Most probably his disples. They went into hiding in a cave where they fell asleep for over 300 hundred years. Allah's will. May be it all started after that. Because when those people came back to the area where they belonged thinking that they were away only for one day. Any way it is a long story if someone wants to read. It is in Quran called "Kahaf" chapter 18. http://www.trueislam.info/Literature/Quran/Tot alSurah/018Soorah/018Sorah.htm