I tend to consider myself a Buddhist, and this really won’t change my views on things, but a friend recently said that the man we call Buddha, wasn’t a real person. Anyone know?
He was a real person. I’m don’t know much about the subject but, IIRC, he was a prince before he became enlightened and there are actual, non-religious historical records of his existence.
I’m sure more enlightened dopers will be by to fill in the specifics.
While we wait to be enlightened, you might want to Google on “Gautama Siddhartha” (or Siddharta, Siddartha – the spelling varies).
You could look here
friend iydkiwt:
tricycle.com, an online buddhist magazine has a biography of siddhartha gautama, known as the buddha here
Oh thanks so much 
I’m well read on the history of the ‘religion’, but my friend had me doubting in that ohbutwhatiftheyareright sort of way. Namaste, and thanks again