what if you are wrong?

[Nathan Poe]

There are the letters of Paul, who only reports having met Jesus in a vision (not generally considered the most reliable source of information)

Even less reliable considering that Paul himself never says a word about having a vision of Jesus -- the famous "road to Damascus" episode is written in Acts, IIRC, not in anything by Paul.

 

[keith99]

Even less reliable considering that Paul himself never says a word about having a vision of Jesus -- the famous "road to Damascus" episode is written in Acts, IIRC, not in anything by Paul.

A point in a relate vein. Somewhere in the NT it says Jesus apeared to thousands. But as I see it this comes down to one man's claim that this happened. So in effect one witness.

 

[sfs]

Even less reliable considering that Paul himself never says a word about having a vision of Jesus -- the famous "road to Damascus" episode is written in Acts, IIRC, not in anything by Paul.

The road to Damascus is indeed only in Acts (twice, once when it happens and once when Paul describes it later), but Paul does make some reference to his conversion in his letters. He says he met Jesus, but after all of the other apostles, like one born at the wrong time (I Corinthians 15), and also says that he received his knowledge of Jesus by direct revelation, not through human means (Galatians 1). Something like a vision (which he talks about elsewhere) seems like a reasonable inference.

 

[sfs]

A point in a relate vein. Somewhere in the NT it says Jesus apeared to thousands. But as I see it this comes down to one man's claim that this happened. So in effect one witness.

More than 500. It's in one of Paul's letters.

 

[Hespera]

Cabeza de Vaca wrote for the King of Spain an account of his travels in America, 1528. Shipwreck in Florida, walked to Mexico City, took him 8 years. First Europpean that the natives along most of the way had ever seen. Many thought he was magic, and a healer. They followed him about....imagine if he had known the languages, had made an effort to encourage that belief. And if the natives had somehow written it down. two thousand years later, what might that story have turned into? Even weirder if you combine it with the Aztecs who had a propecy of such a god coming.

Cortez wasnt much of a god but he had them going for a while. Captain Cook too; they had a prophecy that he would come. i expect a whole lot of societies have been predicting such. In fact, I have heard that Jesus is supposed to come back.

Imagine if captain cook came, left gifts and cured a few people, then sailed away.
what would that story turn into in 2000 years?

Just some thoughts.

 

[Braunwyn]

what if as an athiest or an agnostic you are wrong? if i am wrong it really isn't that big of a deal...if you are wrong it is a very big deal.

Sometimes, I like the idea of being wrong. I'm certainly not interested in dying. But, my being wrong doesn't include a violent deity. At the very least, I'd be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Why is a flood so inconceivable?

Every nostril-breathing species on Earth being rounded up into an Ark? All modern populations being descended from a scant handful? All human Y-chromosomal DNA being descended from Noah?

The facts just don't add up.

Archaeology has investigated the towns and places mentioned in the gospels. All the small details found have been consistent with events described, such as soldiers being in Capernaum, the synagogue where Jesus taught, stone jars, etc. Archaeological findings have been entirely consistent with the culture described. That doesn't prove the Bible, but strongly suggests its accuracy, since nothing has emerged that disproves anything in the Bible.

Genesis and Exodus spring to mind. However, archaeological evidence supporting the minor details doesn't explain the stunning lack of evidence corroborating, say, the existence, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus.

Besides, it's hardly surprising that myths and legends would incorporate local details (there exists a North Pole, but that doesn't mean Santa's workshop is really underneath it).

The benefit of the doubt?? Is that all?

Is that not enough for you?

The gospels are estimated to have been written 30-60 years after the death of Jesus. It would be like someone nowadays remembering the 70's.

Indeed: memories fade and distort, myths and legends crop up in the meantime, etc. Even with all our modern technology, records from 30-60 years ago are fading.

 

[Gracchus]

How do you know what god wants? What you described is not in the bible.
It is. We're told many times in the Bible to work hard, be good to others, follow the law, etc.

Work hard?!
Certainly we should work enough to get by.

But: "25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." --- KJV Chapter 6