Why Is Theism Waning And Atheism Growing?

[sealybobo]

“Properly read, the bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived.” – Isaac Asimov

the fool says in his heart there is no God. Fortunately Jesus died for sinners (me and you). Jesus took our punishment and those who accept Jesus as Savior are justified before God the Father.

Think about what you wrote please. Assume I've never heard about Jesus or God before. Is that how you start off by immediately telling the listener that I'm a fool if I don't believe your unbelievable stories you are about to tell?

I would say only a fool would believe stories about talking snakes, virgin births, 350 year old men or a man living in the belly of a whale for 3 days or men rising from the dead after being dead 3 days.

Your story sounds more like a cult. This Jesus died for me and all I have to do is believe your unbelievable stories?

What if I can't? I'm a fool? Again, that sounds like something a bullshit con artist cult leader would say. Just because your cult has lots of members doesn't mean your not a cult.

It may be obvious to you but your a brainwashed member of the cult fool. Seriously, you're a fucking idiot.

 

[PostmodernProph]

Theism, and specifically, Christianity, is growing by leaps and bounds.

As we proved and discussed in guano's retardothread.

In America it is going away faster than ever before. Of course it'll take the longest for people in the poor ignorant bible belt but in the northeast and northwest people are being enlightened every day.

This is a great video if you have 10 minutes

Yes, Sealybobo, Christian religious beliefs are diminishing, however, with the significant influx of Muslims from the Middle East and North Africa, plus their higher birthrate than Americans of European descent, we are seeing an increase of the Muslim faith. I believe that one day, this nation will deteriorate into another Civil War; one which pitches non-Muslims against Muslims. Time will tell.

Not a chance. The future generation of American Muslims will be very moderate if not liberal.

Some will become atheists, some will become Christians and many of them will do exactly what a lot of us Christians do.

sorry Sealy, you aren't part of "us Christians" anymore......you're an "agnostic atheist", remember?.......I believe, as you put it, that means you're a wishy washy god denier......

 

[PostmodernProph]

Inspired by Guno's thread about declining 'religious affiliated' people the question occurs, why is one declining in popularity, and the other increasing?

Atheism doesn't promise good stuff for good people but rather absolute nothingness. Not much of a selling point there, yet it's becomming more popular, and the ones that do promise heaven or paradise are in their declines. Why would that be?

Might think because people gravitate to the truth, but I wouldn't agree they do that as evidenced by Christianity and Islam's 3.5 billion followers where Judaism, the initial religion latter ones are built from have only 14 million. If truth were always more attractive, there should be 3.5 bn Jews and only a few million other faiths.

Maybe it's the constant assertions of there's this being we call God who loves you, is all-powerful, and will reward you when you die...But we can't prove a word of it. GIven the choice between identifying as someone who believes that versus 'there is no God' maybe people are just choosing the more sensible option at last? Not necessarily the better option, just the more sensible one.

If Christianity is so god damn obvious and I'm just stupid for not seeing it, why aren't Jews and Muslims stupid for not seeing it?

of course they are......

 

[PostmodernProph]

Where it is exploding is in the anti-Christian shitholes, where the first acts of kindness people have ever witnessed come to them at the hands of Christians, who have risked their lives to be there.

And you do know that the better educated, the more likely a person is to attend church..right?

That tells us all we need to know about you, guano.

That's we we Jews laugh at you trailer dwelling white trash goyim

I'm sure real Jews are proud of your contribution to the discouse

How come Christians get mad at us when we call bullshit on the whole Mary a virgin, Jesus the son of god who rose from the dead after 3 days but they don't get mad when Jews deny those things ever happened?

Seems like, as long as people who deny Jesus believe in their own god(s), they get a pass.

But if you don't believe in any god(s), christian or other, you're going to hell. Funny Jesus God put so much importance on people believing in him but the Jews, WHO WERE THERE WHEN HE SUPPOSEDLY PERFORMED MIRACLES, get a free pass.

why do you assume the Jews who were there when he performed miracles didn't become the first Christians?......

 

[PostmodernProph]

it does if I deny the errors, inconsistencies and falsehoods and you cannot document them......

You can document them for yourself.

/shrugs....so far I've disproven the ones people have admitted to......the rest must be pipe dreams....

You have disproven nothing. How is it that you gods allowed mortal men to write such a clumsily composed and assembled collection of tales and fables and never bothered to edit-out / correct the errors, omissions and false claims?

there weren't any in the original documents......any errors were errors of translation and copying......many of those have been corrected as we discover older manuscripts like the Dead Sea scrolls......

 

[PostmodernProph]

There's nothing at all clumsy about the Bible. Ask any archaeologist or historian.

There is no evidence to support any of the claims made in the Bible concerning the existence of a god. Any ‘evidence’ proposed by theists to support the Bible’s various historical and supernatural claims is non-existent at best, manufactured at worst.

The Bible is not self-authenticating; it is simply one of many religious texts. Like those other texts, it itself constitutes no evidence for the existence of a god. Its florid prose and fanciful content do not legitimise it nor distinguish it from other ancient works of literature.

The Bible is historically inaccurate factually incorrect, inconsistent and contradictory. It was artificially constructed by a group of men in antiquity and is poorly translated, heavily altered and selectively interpreted. Entire sections of the text have been redacted over time.

There is no contemporary evidence for Jesus’ existence or the Bible’s account of his life; no artifacts, dwellings, works of carpentry, self-written manuscripts, court records, eyewitness testimony, official diaries, birth records, reflections on his significance or written disputes about his teachings. Nothing survives from the time in which he is said to have lived.

All historical references to Jesus derive from hearsay accounts written decades or centuries after his supposed death. These historical references generally refer to early Christians rather than a historical Jesus and, in some cases, directly contradict the Gospels or were deliberately manufactured.

The Gospels themselves contradict one-another on many key events and were constructed by unknown authors up to a century after the events they describe are said to have occurred. They are not eyewitness accounts. The New Testament, as a whole, contains many internal inconsistencies as a result of its piecemeal construction and is factually incorrect on several historical claims, such as the early existence of Nazareth, the reign of Herod and the Roman census. Like the Old Testament, it too has had entire books and sections redacted.

The Biblical account of Jesus has striking similarities with other mythologies and texts and many of his supposed teachings existed prior to his time. It is likely the character was either partly or entirely invented by competing first century messianic cults from an amalgamation of Greco-Roman, Egyptian and Judeo-Apocalyptic myths and prophecies.

Even if Jesus’ existence could be established, this would in no way validate Christian theology or any element of the story portrayed in the Bible, such as the performance of miracles or the resurrection. Simply because it is conceivable a heretical Jewish preacher named Yeshua lived circa 30 AD, had followers and was executed, does not imply the son of a god walked the Earth at that time.

why do you keep pasting the same bullshit but never give your source?.....

 

[CrusaderFrank]

There's nothing at all clumsy about the Bible. Ask any archaeologist or historian.

There is no evidence to support any of the claims made in the Bible concerning the existence of a god. Any ‘evidence’ proposed by theists to support the Bible’s various historical and supernatural claims is non-existent at best, manufactured at worst.

The Bible is not self-authenticating; it is simply one of many religious texts. Like those other texts, it itself constitutes no evidence for the existence of a god. Its florid prose and fanciful content do not legitimise it nor distinguish it from other ancient works of literature.

The Bible is historically inaccurate factually incorrect, inconsistent and contradictory. It was artificially constructed by a group of men in antiquity and is poorly translated, heavily altered and selectively interpreted. Entire sections of the text have been redacted over time.

There is no contemporary evidence for Jesus’ existence or the Bible’s account of his life; no artifacts, dwellings, works of carpentry, self-written manuscripts, court records, eyewitness testimony, official diaries, birth records, reflections on his significance or written disputes about his teachings. Nothing survives from the time in which he is said to have lived.

All historical references to Jesus derive from hearsay accounts written decades or centuries after his supposed death. These historical references generally refer to early Christians rather than a historical Jesus and, in some cases, directly contradict the Gospels or were deliberately manufactured.

The Gospels themselves contradict one-another on many key events and were constructed by unknown authors up to a century after the events they describe are said to have occurred. They are not eyewitness accounts. The New Testament, as a whole, contains many internal inconsistencies as a result of its piecemeal construction and is factually incorrect on several historical claims, such as the early existence of Nazareth, the reign of Herod and the Roman census. Like the Old Testament, it too has had entire books and sections redacted.

The Biblical account of Jesus has striking similarities with other mythologies and texts and many of his supposed teachings existed prior to his time. It is likely the character was either partly or entirely invented by competing first century messianic cults from an amalgamation of Greco-Roman, Egyptian and Judeo-Apocalyptic myths and prophecies.

Even if Jesus’ existence could be established, this would in no way validate Christian theology or any element of the story portrayed in the Bible, such as the performance of miracles or the resurrection. Simply because it is conceivable a heretical Jewish preacher named Yeshua lived circa 30 AD, had followers and was executed, does not imply the son of a god walked the Earth at that time.

What crap

If Jesus was a myth and none of the Gospels were even "written decades or centuries after his supposed death" please explain how Nero was burning Christians in 60 AD???????????

 

[sealybobo]

Where it is exploding is in the anti-Christian shitholes, where the first acts of kindness people have ever witnessed come to them at the hands of Christians, who have risked their lives to be there.

And you do know that the better educated, the more likely a person is to attend church..right?

That tells us all we need to know about you, guano.

That's we we Jews laugh at you trailer dwelling white trash goyim

I'm sure real Jews are proud of your contribution to the discouse

How come Christians get mad at us when we call bullshit on the whole Mary a virgin, Jesus the son of god who rose from the dead after 3 days but they don't get mad when Jews deny those things ever happened?

Seems like, as long as people who deny Jesus believe in their own god(s), they get a pass.

But if you don't believe in any god(s), christian or other, you're going to hell. Funny Jesus God put so much importance on people believing in him but the Jews, WHO WERE THERE WHEN HE SUPPOSEDLY PERFORMED MIRACLES, get a free pass.

why do you assume the Jews who were there when he performed miracles didn't become the first Christians?......

I'm just asking. I find it amazing that you believe a 2000 year story and yet all the Jews who lived and saw it or heard about it remained skeptical.

If your story was at all rational 95% of the world would sign up but it isn't rational it's just as irrational as all the other cults no matter how large or small.

 

[sealybobo]

There's nothing at all clumsy about the Bible. Ask any archaeologist or historian.

There is no evidence to support any of the claims made in the Bible concerning the existence of a god. Any ‘evidence’ proposed by theists to support the Bible’s various historical and supernatural claims is non-existent at best, manufactured at worst.

The Bible is not self-authenticating; it is simply one of many religious texts. Like those other texts, it itself constitutes no evidence for the existence of a god. Its florid prose and fanciful content do not legitimise it nor distinguish it from other ancient works of literature.

The Bible is historically inaccurate factually incorrect, inconsistent and contradictory. It was artificially constructed by a group of men in antiquity and is poorly translated, heavily altered and selectively interpreted. Entire sections of the text have been redacted over time.

There is no contemporary evidence for Jesus’ existence or the Bible’s account of his life; no artifacts, dwellings, works of carpentry, self-written manuscripts, court records, eyewitness testimony, official diaries, birth records, reflections on his significance or written disputes about his teachings. Nothing survives from the time in which he is said to have lived.

All historical references to Jesus derive from hearsay accounts written decades or centuries after his supposed death. These historical references generally refer to early Christians rather than a historical Jesus and, in some cases, directly contradict the Gospels or were deliberately manufactured.

The Gospels themselves contradict one-another on many key events and were constructed by unknown authors up to a century after the events they describe are said to have occurred. They are not eyewitness accounts. The New Testament, as a whole, contains many internal inconsistencies as a result of its piecemeal construction and is factually incorrect on several historical claims, such as the early existence of Nazareth, the reign of Herod and the Roman census. Like the Old Testament, it too has had entire books and sections redacted.

The Biblical account of Jesus has striking similarities with other mythologies and texts and many of his supposed teachings existed prior to his time. It is likely the character was either partly or entirely invented by competing first century messianic cults from an amalgamation of Greco-Roman, Egyptian and Judeo-Apocalyptic myths and prophecies.

Even if Jesus’ existence could be established, this would in no way validate Christian theology or any element of the story portrayed in the Bible, such as the performance of miracles or the resurrection. Simply because it is conceivable a heretical Jewish preacher named Yeshua lived circa 30 AD, had followers and was executed, does not imply the son of a god walked the Earth at that time.

What crap

If Jesus was a myth and none of the Gospels were even "written decades or centuries after his supposed death" please explain how Nero was burning Christians in 60 AD???????????

How come so many of us Jews, Buddists, Hindus, Muslims, Agnostics & Atheists don't believe it? Must be your evidence isn't sound.

 

[sealybobo]

There's nothing at all clumsy about the Bible. Ask any archaeologist or historian.

There is no evidence to support any of the claims made in the Bible concerning the existence of a god. Any ‘evidence’ proposed by theists to support the Bible’s various historical and supernatural claims is non-existent at best, manufactured at worst.

The Bible is not self-authenticating; it is simply one of many religious texts. Like those other texts, it itself constitutes no evidence for the existence of a god. Its florid prose and fanciful content do not legitimise it nor distinguish it from other ancient works of literature.

The Bible is historically inaccurate factually incorrect, inconsistent and contradictory. It was artificially constructed by a group of men in antiquity and is poorly translated, heavily altered and selectively interpreted. Entire sections of the text have been redacted over time.

There is no contemporary evidence for Jesus’ existence or the Bible’s account of his life; no artifacts, dwellings, works of carpentry, self-written manuscripts, court records, eyewitness testimony, official diaries, birth records, reflections on his significance or written disputes about his teachings. Nothing survives from the time in which he is said to have lived.

All historical references to Jesus derive from hearsay accounts written decades or centuries after his supposed death. These historical references generally refer to early Christians rather than a historical Jesus and, in some cases, directly contradict the Gospels or were deliberately manufactured.

The Gospels themselves contradict one-another on many key events and were constructed by unknown authors up to a century after the events they describe are said to have occurred. They are not eyewitness accounts. The New Testament, as a whole, contains many internal inconsistencies as a result of its piecemeal construction and is factually incorrect on several historical claims, such as the early existence of Nazareth, the reign of Herod and the Roman census. Like the Old Testament, it too has had entire books and sections redacted.

The Biblical account of Jesus has striking similarities with other mythologies and texts and many of his supposed teachings existed prior to his time. It is likely the character was either partly or entirely invented by competing first century messianic cults from an amalgamation of Greco-Roman, Egyptian and Judeo-Apocalyptic myths and prophecies.

Even if Jesus’ existence could be established, this would in no way validate Christian theology or any element of the story portrayed in the Bible, such as the performance of miracles or the resurrection. Simply because it is conceivable a heretical Jewish preacher named Yeshua lived circa 30 AD, had followers and was executed, does not imply the son of a god walked the Earth at that time.

why do you keep pasting the same bullshit but never give your source?.....

My favorite site. Explains everything.

Why there is no god

Almost everything. If you can think of any argument not covered here, let me know and I'll consider it.

 

[chikenwing]

Laughing uncontrollably and inappropriately is just a symptom that you need to adjust your meds.

we mock and laugh at your kind

And that makes you feel so special doesn't it,Who taught you to be such an ass? your parents,the lady next .
door? But after all this is an indication of poor self worth,and insecurity,poor sucker just can't help himself.

 

[Steven_R]

why do you assume the Jews who were there when he performed miracles didn't become the first Christians?......

Why would the million plus Jews who had just personally watch Jehovah fuck up Egypt turn right back to idolatry while Moses was up on the mountain having his pow-wow with the Almighty?

 

[sealybobo]

Where it is exploding is in the anti-Christian shitholes, where the first acts of kindness people have ever witnessed come to them at the hands of Christians, who have risked their lives to be there.

And you do know that the better educated, the more likely a person is to attend church..right?

That tells us all we need to know about you, guano.

That's we we Jews laugh at you trailer dwelling white trash goyim

I'm sure real Jews are proud of your contribution to the discouse

How come Christians get mad at us when we call bullshit on the whole Mary a virgin, Jesus the son of god who rose from the dead after 3 days but they don't get mad when Jews deny those things ever happened?

Seems like, as long as people who deny Jesus believe in their own god(s), they get a pass.

But if you don't believe in any god(s), christian or other, you're going to hell. Funny Jesus God put so much importance on people believing in him but the Jews, WHO WERE THERE WHEN HE SUPPOSEDLY PERFORMED MIRACLES, get a free pass.

why do you assume the Jews who were there when he performed miracles didn't become the first Christians?......

Because they would have established a church and shrine and it would have been well documented. They would have preserved his body. You could go tour Mary's house.

The stories of Jesus were written 80 years after his death. Only 11 guys survived and lived to tell about Jesus. That's a cult. They went 11 different ways and recruited new members.

Even the 11 weren't so sure. Who was the guy who denied being with Jesus? Dude if I was sure I was hanging out with God I'd go gihad on anyone who tried to touch him.

And you are that sure of their story? Just because your grand great great great great ancestors believed it?

You'd be swallowing Mohammad right now if you grew up in the middle east.

 

[koshergrl]

There's nothing at all clumsy about the Bible. Ask any archaeologist or historian.

There is no evidence to support any of the claims made in the Bible concerning the existence of a god. Any ‘evidence’ proposed by theists to support the Bible’s various historical and supernatural claims is non-existent at best, manufactured at worst.

The Bible is not self-authenticating; it is simply one of many religious texts. Like those other texts, it itself constitutes no evidence for the existence of a god. Its florid prose and fanciful content do not legitimise it nor distinguish it from other ancient works of literature.

The Bible is historically inaccurate factually incorrect, inconsistent and contradictory. It was artificially constructed by a group of men in antiquity and is poorly translated, heavily altered and selectively interpreted. Entire sections of the text have been redacted over time.

There is no contemporary evidence for Jesus’ existence or the Bible’s account of his life; no artifacts, dwellings, works of carpentry, self-written manuscripts, court records, eyewitness testimony, official diaries, birth records, reflections on his significance or written disputes about his teachings. Nothing survives from the time in which he is said to have lived.

All historical references to Jesus derive from hearsay accounts written decades or centuries after his supposed death. These historical references generally refer to early Christians rather than a historical Jesus and, in some cases, directly contradict the Gospels or were deliberately manufactured.

The Gospels themselves contradict one-another on many key events and were constructed by unknown authors up to a century after the events they describe are said to have occurred. They are not eyewitness accounts. The New Testament, as a whole, contains many internal inconsistencies as a result of its piecemeal construction and is factually incorrect on several historical claims, such as the early existence of Nazareth, the reign of Herod and the Roman census. Like the Old Testament, it too has had entire books and sections redacted.

The Biblical account of Jesus has striking similarities with other mythologies and texts and many of his supposed teachings existed prior to his time. It is likely the character was either partly or entirely invented by competing first century messianic cults from an amalgamation of Greco-Roman, Egyptian and Judeo-Apocalyptic myths and prophecies.

Even if Jesus’ existence could be established, this would in no way validate Christian theology or any element of the story portrayed in the Bible, such as the performance of miracles or the resurrection. Simply because it is conceivable a heretical Jewish preacher named Yeshua lived circa 30 AD, had followers and was executed, does not imply the son of a god walked the Earth at that time.

What crap

If Jesus was a myth and none of the Gospels were even "written decades or centuries after his supposed death" please explain how Nero was burning Christians in 60 AD???????????

The only people who claim that Jesus was a *myth* are the very young and very, very uneducated...or alternately, liars who know they are lying, but continue to lie in order to lead the young and uneducated away from God.

You run into both on this site.

Once an anti-Christian loon has been convinced that Christ is a myth, they will hold hard and fast to that notion, no matter how stupid they look, because they don't want to admit they ate a line of garbage.

At that point, they move from the "misled" group, to the willfully deceitful group..they lie to save face.

 

[sealybobo]

why do you assume the Jews who were there when he performed miracles didn't become the first Christians?......

Why would the million plus Jews who had just personally watch Jehovah fuck up Egypt turn right back to idolatry while Moses was up on the mountain having his pow-wow with the Almighty?

This is a subtle way of trying to make people feel guilty if they don't believe. Suggesting even if they saw god himself they'd still be "wicked"?

 

[sealybobo]

There's nothing at all clumsy about the Bible. Ask any archaeologist or historian.

There is no evidence to support any of the claims made in the Bible concerning the existence of a god. Any ‘evidence’ proposed by theists to support the Bible’s various historical and supernatural claims is non-existent at best, manufactured at worst.

The Bible is not self-authenticating; it is simply one of many religious texts. Like those other texts, it itself constitutes no evidence for the existence of a god. Its florid prose and fanciful content do not legitimise it nor distinguish it from other ancient works of literature.

The Bible is historically inaccurate factually incorrect, inconsistent and contradictory. It was artificially constructed by a group of men in antiquity and is poorly translated, heavily altered and selectively interpreted. Entire sections of the text have been redacted over time.

There is no contemporary evidence for Jesus’ existence or the Bible’s account of his life; no artifacts, dwellings, works of carpentry, self-written manuscripts, court records, eyewitness testimony, official diaries, birth records, reflections on his significance or written disputes about his teachings. Nothing survives from the time in which he is said to have lived.

All historical references to Jesus derive from hearsay accounts written decades or centuries after his supposed death. These historical references generally refer to early Christians rather than a historical Jesus and, in some cases, directly contradict the Gospels or were deliberately manufactured.

The Gospels themselves contradict one-another on many key events and were constructed by unknown authors up to a century after the events they describe are said to have occurred. They are not eyewitness accounts. The New Testament, as a whole, contains many internal inconsistencies as a result of its piecemeal construction and is factually incorrect on several historical claims, such as the early existence of Nazareth, the reign of Herod and the Roman census. Like the Old Testament, it too has had entire books and sections redacted.

The Biblical account of Jesus has striking similarities with other mythologies and texts and many of his supposed teachings existed prior to his time. It is likely the character was either partly or entirely invented by competing first century messianic cults from an amalgamation of Greco-Roman, Egyptian and Judeo-Apocalyptic myths and prophecies.

Even if Jesus’ existence could be established, this would in no way validate Christian theology or any element of the story portrayed in the Bible, such as the performance of miracles or the resurrection. Simply because it is conceivable a heretical Jewish preacher named Yeshua lived circa 30 AD, had followers and was executed, does not imply the son of a god walked the Earth at that time.

What crap

If Jesus was a myth and none of the Gospels were even "written decades or centuries after his supposed death" please explain how Nero was burning Christians in 60 AD???????????

The only people who claim that Jesus was a *myth* are the very young and very, very uneducated...or alternately, liars who know they are lying, but continue to lie in order to lead the young and uneducated away from God.

You run into both on this site.

Once an anti-Christian loon has been convinced that Christ is a myth, they will hold hard and fast to that notion, no matter how stupid they look, because they don't want to admit they ate a line of garbage.

At that point, they move from the "misled" group, to the willfully deceitful group..they lie to save face.

Not that Jesus was a myth. The myth is the miracle stuff. If Jews, Muslims or Atheists believed Mary was a virgin we'd be Christians.

We clearly don't believe the myths that were written like turning 2 fish into thousands and feeding the multitudes or rising from the dead after 3 days.

Funny most Christians realize adam & eve, Moses, Noah and Jonah are all allegories but they believe the Jesus myths.

 

[koshergrl]

why do you assume the Jews who were there when he performed miracles didn't become the first Christians?......

Why would the million plus Jews who had just personally watch Jehovah fuck up Egypt turn right back to idolatry while Moses was up on the mountain having his pow-wow with the Almighty?

Jews are typically liberal assholes. I think this was probably true back then, as it is now...which explains a lot.

 

[sealybobo]

There's nothing at all clumsy about the Bible. Ask any archaeologist or historian.

There is no evidence to support any of the claims made in the Bible concerning the existence of a god. Any ‘evidence’ proposed by theists to support the Bible’s various historical and supernatural claims is non-existent at best, manufactured at worst.

The Bible is not self-authenticating; it is simply one of many religious texts. Like those other texts, it itself constitutes no evidence for the existence of a god. Its florid prose and fanciful content do not legitimise it nor distinguish it from other ancient works of literature.

The Bible is historically inaccurate factually incorrect, inconsistent and contradictory. It was artificially constructed by a group of men in antiquity and is poorly translated, heavily altered and selectively interpreted. Entire sections of the text have been redacted over time.

There is no contemporary evidence for Jesus’ existence or the Bible’s account of his life; no artifacts, dwellings, works of carpentry, self-written manuscripts, court records, eyewitness testimony, official diaries, birth records, reflections on his significance or written disputes about his teachings. Nothing survives from the time in which he is said to have lived.

All historical references to Jesus derive from hearsay accounts written decades or centuries after his supposed death. These historical references generally refer to early Christians rather than a historical Jesus and, in some cases, directly contradict the Gospels or were deliberately manufactured.

The Gospels themselves contradict one-another on many key events and were constructed by unknown authors up to a century after the events they describe are said to have occurred. They are not eyewitness accounts. The New Testament, as a whole, contains many internal inconsistencies as a result of its piecemeal construction and is factually incorrect on several historical claims, such as the early existence of Nazareth, the reign of Herod and the Roman census. Like the Old Testament, it too has had entire books and sections redacted.

The Biblical account of Jesus has striking similarities with other mythologies and texts and many of his supposed teachings existed prior to his time. It is likely the character was either partly or entirely invented by competing first century messianic cults from an amalgamation of Greco-Roman, Egyptian and Judeo-Apocalyptic myths and prophecies.

Even if Jesus’ existence could be established, this would in no way validate Christian theology or any element of the story portrayed in the Bible, such as the performance of miracles or the resurrection. Simply because it is conceivable a heretical Jewish preacher named Yeshua lived circa 30 AD, had followers and was executed, does not imply the son of a god walked the Earth at that time.

What crap

If Jesus was a myth and none of the Gospels were even "written decades or centuries after his supposed death" please explain how Nero was burning Christians in 60 AD???????????

The only people who claim that Jesus was a *myth* are the very young and very, very uneducated...or alternately, liars who know they are lying, but continue to lie in order to lead the young and uneducated away from God.

You run into both on this site.

Once an anti-Christian loon has been convinced that Christ is a myth, they will hold hard and fast to that notion, no matter how stupid they look, because they don't want to admit they ate a line of garbage.

At that point, they move from the "misled" group, to the willfully deceitful group..they lie to save face.

If at any point in my life I change my mind and start believing in gods, particularly your god, I'll let you know. And I would not "hold out" out of pride. If I even thought for a second you were right I'd be down on my knees praying god for forgiveness and apologizing to all of you for being so stupid. And I know you hate it but you know your god and you would have to forgive me. That's the great thing about your religion. You can be a dick and just ask to be forgiven. As long as you believe in Jesus you're cool because he died for all your sins.

Or if I thought the Mormons were right I'd put the magic underwear on. Or if I thought the Jews were right I'd be wearing a yamaka. Or I'd pray 5 times a day if I believed the Muslims.

But I don't.

Oh yea, the other day I thought, "what if I saw a ghost, angel or demon/devil". If I came on USMB and told you I just saw an angel, would you believe me? Even if I truly believed I saw one and could pass a polygraph test, would you REALLY believe I saw an angel or ghost? That would make you gullible no?

 

[sealybobo]

why do you assume the Jews who were there when he performed miracles didn't become the first Christians?......

Why would the million plus Jews who had just personally watch Jehovah fuck up Egypt turn right back to idolatry while Moses was up on the mountain having his pow-wow with the Almighty?

Jews are typically liberal assholes. I think this was probably true back then, as it is now...which explains a lot.

On what issues are they liberal? Fiscal/Economic or just social issues? Makes a huge difference.

 

[PostmodernProph]

Where it is exploding is in the anti-Christian shitholes, where the first acts of kindness people have ever witnessed come to them at the hands of Christians, who have risked their lives to be there.

And you do know that the better educated, the more likely a person is to attend church..right?

That tells us all we need to know about you, guano.

That's we we Jews laugh at you trailer dwelling white trash goyim

I'm sure real Jews are proud of your contribution to the discouse

How come Christians get mad at us when we call bullshit on the whole Mary a virgin, Jesus the son of god who rose from the dead after 3 days but they don't get mad when Jews deny those things ever happened?

Seems like, as long as people who deny Jesus believe in their own god(s), they get a pass.

But if you don't believe in any god(s), christian or other, you're going to hell. Funny Jesus God put so much importance on people believing in him but the Jews, WHO WERE THERE WHEN HE SUPPOSEDLY PERFORMED MIRACLES, get a free pass.

why do you assume the Jews who were there when he performed miracles didn't become the first Christians?......

I'm just asking. I find it amazing that you believe a 2000 year story and yet all the Jews who lived and saw it or heard about it remained skeptical.

again, you are making what is likely an invalid assumption.......the first Christians were almost exclusively Jews....there is no reason to think that all those who lived and saw it remained skeptical.....more likely, most of them became his first followers......