How do you know jesus really existed?

[Smiler]

Can I pose a ? on your ? please .." how do we know he didnt?"

I respect your thread .. No offense

Regards

:)

Well, other then the bible, theres no historical evidence of some guy named jesus from around the year 33, who raised the dead and walked on water, and was crucified... ( they actualy wrote down everyone who was crucified, jesus isnt o n any of the known papers)

Does this mean he didnt 100% exist? No, but so far, its highly highly unlikley, espoecialy when you realize 80% of christianity was assimilated form pagan cultures, even soem concepts fo jesus

[Internal Queries]

Originally Posted by Smiler

Can I pose a ? on your ? please .." how do we know he didnt?"

I respect your thread .. No offense

Regards

:)

you directing your query to me? i didn't start this thread.

personally, i believe a radical rabbi named Yeshua did exist because most legends have their basis in real life people and events but such stories become exaggerated and aggrandized with the telling.

True dat IQ

[Smiler]

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

See yah

:)

[theophilus]

Originally Posted by Internal Queries

ah, the repentent atheist story. that's nice.

however, the numbers of people who repent their Christianity in favor of atheism, agnostism, spirituality or some form of paganism far outnumber those who convert to Christianity. statistics show a decline of Christianity in both Europe and America but a slight rise in 3rd world countries where education is sparse and superstition still runs rampid.

How many of those who leave Christianity were really Christians in the first place? I have met lots of people who call themselves Christians because they grew up in a family that had some kind of connection with a church but who in fact know little or nothing about the Bible or what Christianity really is.

Sometimes people who go from being merely nominal Christians to being atheists return to Christianity when they find out what it really is. One person who was in this category was C. S. Lewis. He wrote an autobiography called Surprised by Joy in which he described who he lost his early belief in Christianity and became an atheist, but then discovered that there were problems with this belief and eventually converted to true Christianity.

[theophilus]

Originally Posted by Internal Queries

Luke 12. 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.

i wonder to what good purpose it was/is that Jesus deliberately went about sowing strife among already violently contentious humanity.

any thoughts?

Causing strife wasn't his intention. He and his followers merely proclaimed the truth and some believed it and some rejected it. Those who reject the truth about Jesus often persecute those who accept it, and that is the cause of the strife Jesus foretold. To see examples of this, I suggest that you read the book of Acts. Whereever the gospel was preached some believed but often they were then persecuted by those who didn't believe.

I think Jesus was here to show others Who They Are. That everyone is capable of What He Was and Is. The Buddha as well. Jesus shifted world consciousness in a new direction, that's for sure. As far as Mary being pregnant with Jesus without another man. I question that part. I think Jesus Remembered Who He Was. Divine stuff happens when you see yourself as equal to God. A partnership relationship. Maricles happen. Same for Moses.

[Internal Queries]

Originally Posted by theophilus

Causing strife wasn't his intention. He and his followers merely proclaimed the truth and some believed it and some rejected it. Those who reject the truth about Jesus often persecute those who accept it, and that is the cause of the strife Jesus foretold. To see examples of this, I suggest that you read the book of Acts. Whereever the gospel was preached some believed but often they were then persecuted by those who didn't believe.

oh please, theo, the Bible has him saying unequivically that he came not to bring peace but division. IT'S RIGHT THERE.

and then as soon as Christianity gained acceptance and then power it went about returning the "favor" to the world by persecuting those who didn't believe in Christianity. and so it goes.

[Internal Queries]

Originally Posted by theophilus

How many of those who leave Christianity were really Christians in the first place? I have met lots of people who call themselves Christians because they grew up in a family that had some kind of connection with a church but who in fact know little or nothing about the Bible or what Christianity really is.

Sometimes people who go from being merely nominal Christians to being atheists return to Christianity when they find out what it really is. One person who was in this category was C. S. Lewis. He wrote an autobiography called Surprised by Joy in which he described who he lost his early belief in Christianity and became an atheist, but then discovered that there were problems with this belief and eventually converted to true Christianity.

i've always loved the blatant arrogance in the assumption that any ex-Christian never was a "true" Christian. just because you can't imagine having the courage to climb out of the Christian box and have a look around doesn't mean that those who do were somehow less sincere or devoted. in fact, it is they who are devoted to truth who will overcome their hell fears and question the dogma foisted upon them in their malleable innocence.

those who manage to escape their early childhood religious conditioning often do so by actually studying the Bible, which is why ex-Christians are often more knowledgable of the Bible than Christians who rely on their pastors, priests, ministers and other assorted middlemen for their Biblical info.