Norseman said:
I assume by saying this you're implying you have studied it, so by all means, tell me what you've found.
Yes. Buddhist monks in Tibet have lit themselves on fire during protests. In the past some of them starved themselves to become mummies. Pain doesn't appear to be a very uniform problem for people who want to do crazy things.
I was born Christian but I was a sceptic...and I learned a LOT... i'd take FOREVER for me to rite everything I learned, I suggest you read The Case for Christ. Its by a reporter of the Chicago times who was not a believer and when his wife became a Christian, he went out to find out more about this God. Its a 400 page book with substancial evidence and citations where you can go back and check the information.He interviews 13 famous scolars, anthropologists and others to figure out what evidence there is proving Jesus is Lord and the authensity of the Bible. Do read it.
Again about the deciples, the monks believed for a fact that what they believed was right. They are monks because they believe in what they do, were they eye witnesses, friends and deciples of Budda? were they with him when he walked and preached? They are going on FAITH arent they? Unlike that the desciples would be following a lie which they KNOW to be a lie, that is harder to do than following something that they put their faith in even if it may be something false. If I sincerely believed that my GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT grandfather was the pope and would do anything for that point. thats one thing. If i KNOW FOR A FACT that my GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT grandfather was NOT the pope but still choose to die for it and other people too totally indepentatly willing to die for it too, then thats psycotic. Human beings wouldnt do it so willingly. These people would be the VERY PEOPLE who would know if Jesus was who he was or not. And get this, most followers believe the person WHILE they are alive and that belief disinigrates with time. That can be seen with most other religions as well. But for Christianity, these disciples followed him but still doubted him because if he was not the Messiah, they pretty much wasted their time. Even when he died, they were cowardly and hiding out so they wont be killed too but when they see Jesus, all the doubts go away, these people are preaching in a place very much like Manhatten and are strong and have no problem dieing for the truth. They believe him AFTER he dies and raises again caz now they had PROOF he was who he said he was. This is the most realistic senario ever, because most people only believe after they see proof, the disciples were not different.
1 Corinthians 15
The Resurrection of Christ
1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[
a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter,[
b] and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
9For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of themyet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
The Resurrection of the Dead (1 Corinthians 15)
12But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
