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Christians
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There is no concrete evidence of the resurrection of Jesus - in fact it's possible that he didn't die on the cross - so why do you believe?
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hey naomi, personally I dont think that there is any evidence that the biblical Jesus even existed
http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Mysteries-Was-Orig inal-Pagan/dp/0609807986
I remember hearing the two authors of this book being interviewed on late night radio when it was published...and it confirmed everything that I had ever thought, or learnt about, prior to it been written. I went out the next day and bought the book.
Have a butchers and let me know what you think...
http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Mysteries-Was-Orig inal-Pagan/dp/0609807986
I remember hearing the two authors of this book being interviewed on late night radio when it was published...and it confirmed everything that I had ever thought, or learnt about, prior to it been written. I went out the next day and bought the book.
Have a butchers and let me know what you think...
I used to struggle with this a lot, and now and then I still do.
I got round it by realising that I accepted God as the ultimate creator as I believe that there is 'something' out there.
From that, if God can make all things, it is not inconceiveable that he can pull off the resurrection!
For God, it would be little more than a parlour trick after the big firework display!
And it's a good test of faith.
I made that leap three years ago - and I'm glad I did.
As for proof - we have accounts in the bible of honourable men being crucified, stoned, burned and worse (!) for believing what they saw and wrote about.
Much easier to deny it and live, eh?
Especially with the sort of death that awaited them...
I got round it by realising that I accepted God as the ultimate creator as I believe that there is 'something' out there.
From that, if God can make all things, it is not inconceiveable that he can pull off the resurrection!
For God, it would be little more than a parlour trick after the big firework display!
And it's a good test of faith.
I made that leap three years ago - and I'm glad I did.
As for proof - we have accounts in the bible of honourable men being crucified, stoned, burned and worse (!) for believing what they saw and wrote about.
Much easier to deny it and live, eh?
Especially with the sort of death that awaited them...
Scotchollie, the bible is not proof - it's a carefully selected collection of writings that have been changed countless times over the years.
If you can think about the resurrection logically, it's highly unlikely that Jesus would have died within such a short time. Crucifixion was a lengthy and agonising process lasting many days, and yet Jesus was pronounced dead and taken down from the cross after just a few hours. Additionally, when his side was pierced with a spear, water and blood emanated from the wound, and quite simply dead bodies don't bleed. His apparently very swift demise surprised even Pilate.
A good test of faith? Yes, perhaps it is - and it's a good test of gullibility too.
If you can think about the resurrection logically, it's highly unlikely that Jesus would have died within such a short time. Crucifixion was a lengthy and agonising process lasting many days, and yet Jesus was pronounced dead and taken down from the cross after just a few hours. Additionally, when his side was pierced with a spear, water and blood emanated from the wound, and quite simply dead bodies don't bleed. His apparently very swift demise surprised even Pilate.
A good test of faith? Yes, perhaps it is - and it's a good test of gullibility too.
Hi Naomi.
I know what you are saying and it's really tough reconciling all the possible reasons for not believing with those in favour of believing.
Dead bodies, do, in fact bleed and it is well documented that blood, is part of the fluid that collects post mortem and would have been a good clue that a crucified person was, in fact dead.
Jesus was not merely crucified. He had been flogged to the bone for a heck of a long time prior to the actual crucifixion during the 'procession' leading to his place of execution. He was already practically dead when the first nail was driven in.
My take on it is that I read the information available, spoke to many, many people from many faiths, and Christianity fitted the need that I had. Over the last few years, my Christian agnosticism has dwindled and I do, actually, feel that having faith has been the best thing I have done.
That said, you won't find me outside Woolies on Saturday mornings, tub thumping!
The tenets of faith - humanity, perseverance, humilty etc. are lessons that we can all benefit from, regardless of our beliefs and are worth sharing.
Christians (and indeed adherents of many faiths) have done a lot of wrong and followed many blind alleys. The way that some Christians present their faith can be arrogant, insensitive and parochial and that makes me shudder! But then, so do adherents of other faiths when they espouse their own beliefs.
My hope is that we, as humans, can transcend this and come together in our humanity and really come together as we face the challenges that the future inevitably holds for us.
You don't need to be a Christian to do that - nor do you have to be gullible!
I know what you are saying and it's really tough reconciling all the possible reasons for not believing with those in favour of believing.
Dead bodies, do, in fact bleed and it is well documented that blood, is part of the fluid that collects post mortem and would have been a good clue that a crucified person was, in fact dead.
Jesus was not merely crucified. He had been flogged to the bone for a heck of a long time prior to the actual crucifixion during the 'procession' leading to his place of execution. He was already practically dead when the first nail was driven in.
My take on it is that I read the information available, spoke to many, many people from many faiths, and Christianity fitted the need that I had. Over the last few years, my Christian agnosticism has dwindled and I do, actually, feel that having faith has been the best thing I have done.
That said, you won't find me outside Woolies on Saturday mornings, tub thumping!
The tenets of faith - humanity, perseverance, humilty etc. are lessons that we can all benefit from, regardless of our beliefs and are worth sharing.
Christians (and indeed adherents of many faiths) have done a lot of wrong and followed many blind alleys. The way that some Christians present their faith can be arrogant, insensitive and parochial and that makes me shudder! But then, so do adherents of other faiths when they espouse their own beliefs.
My hope is that we, as humans, can transcend this and come together in our humanity and really come together as we face the challenges that the future inevitably holds for us.
You don't need to be a Christian to do that - nor do you have to be gullible!
Naomi - It is well documented that Christ was assisted in carrying his cross - by a Samaritan, such was his pre-execution weakness.
The key to this is faith - not proof.
But, answer me this - if someone came on Answerbank and provided you with the concrete proof you refer to in the question - would you then become a Christian?
The key to this is faith - not proof.
But, answer me this - if someone came on Answerbank and provided you with the concrete proof you refer to in the question - would you then become a Christian?
I know exactly what's documented which is why I believe Jesus survived.
Scotchollie: Would I become a Christian if I was given proof of the resurrection? The question then is 'what is a Christian?' . Roman Catholic, Mormon, Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Christodelphian, Jehovah's Witness ... or is it one of the multitude of other made-made varieties? What is a Christian? My answer would be 'none of the above'. If someone provided me with indisputable proof, I would have to believe the resurrection took place, but I would not believe that the god of the bible was instrumental in bringing it about; I would not believe it's purpose as taught by Christianity; I would continue to believe that Jesus was an ordinary man born in ordinary circumstances - and I would definitely not join a church.
Scotchollie: Would I become a Christian if I was given proof of the resurrection? The question then is 'what is a Christian?' . Roman Catholic, Mormon, Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Christodelphian, Jehovah's Witness ... or is it one of the multitude of other made-made varieties? What is a Christian? My answer would be 'none of the above'. If someone provided me with indisputable proof, I would have to believe the resurrection took place, but I would not believe that the god of the bible was instrumental in bringing it about; I would not believe it's purpose as taught by Christianity; I would continue to believe that Jesus was an ordinary man born in ordinary circumstances - and I would definitely not join a church.
