Toto

Is there any real life issue that would change if Jesus existed, or if he didn't?

Does the historical Jesus even have anything to do with Christian origins, or how to live a good life?

Why do Christians keep the issue open? Why do atheists care?

aa5874

Your questions appear to be NAIVE.

What do you think would happen if the Pope PUBLICLY declared that it was KNOWN for hundreds of years by the Roman Church that Jesus was a HOAX?

DoubtingDave

Question 1: No. I never met the guy so how can I love him?

Question 2: no. He has no basis in christianity. The Jesus in the bible certainly never existed.

Question 3: Their entire religion is based on that "fact."

Question 4: I honestly do not.

stephan huller

I have always believed that people who engage in discussions at this forum no matter what their position all do so for the same reason - life is pointless. People die but books and ideas live on. Books and ideas about how life is pointless without books and ideas last the longer than any others.

TedM

Why are kids upset when they find out Santa Claus is a lie?

Jesus is not kids stuff to many people. He is the adult Santa Claus. His gift is eternal life.

If he never even lived, it is perhaps the world's greatest mystery..how could Christianity have started otherwise? How could history have duped over 2 billion people?

If the world can be convinced that he never even lived, Christianity would die out. This has enormous implications to both Christians and atheists, and eventually to the rest of the world.

The implications are so enormous, the idea of 'moving on' is preposterous. It won't happen.

Jesus is unnecessary for living a good life. But for many, the point of living a good life disappears if Jesus is a phantom of imagination, as there would be (for them) no accountability beyond this life.

Juststeve

Toto:

To answer your questions:

Nothing about my life depends on the resolution of the HJ/MJ dispute.

I do not think there would be a Christianity were it not for a HJ which from the standpoint of my ancestors would have been better.

The HJ has nothing to do with my idea of how to live a good life.

Christians don't keep the issue open, for at least most of them there is no issue.

This atheist cares only because I'm interested in knowing what is true. Its like a lot of other issue. If quantum theory were to collapse tomorrow my life would change not one wit, but I still find it interesting.

Steve

aa5874

You present more BS.

Christians worship the Jesus of FAITH, God Incarnate born of the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mary.

In antiquity, HJ was HERESY.

Have you ever SEEN the NICENE CREED?

It has ZERO to do with HJ of Nazareth who could NOT remit sins.


Steve, you cannot use your IMAGINATION as evidence of the past. You need sources of antiquity and you have ZERO for HJ of Nazareth.

Emil

I don't care and i consider the evidence too weak to form an opinion either way. So i moved on and formed no opinion. I don't know why others don't do the same. Perhaps they regard the evidence as strong enough, or think that for all they know, it could be strong enough, and if it is, they want to form the correct opinion.

Minimalist

You'd have to ask them but I suspect some deep emotional problem relating to insecurity. The only reason I care is because they keep trying to shove him up my ass.

Ancient superstitions are an irrelevancy in my life.

Cege

Doesn't it all have to do with either living this earthly life only or living this earthly life then a life afterwards? If Jesus existed and if belief in him as a sacrifice necessary for eternal life, isn't that a real life issue?

If Jesus laid out a plan for how to live a good life on earth that would also lead to an eternal life afterwards, doesn't that have to do with Christian origins that depend on both a good life on earth and a good life in eternity?

Christians keep the issue open, to my understanding, so that anyone and everyone can enjoy both a good life on earth and a good life in eternity by simply believing. To disbelieve is to suffer eternally.

Why atheists care also seems to be keyed to an issue of belief. To believe in something false (Christianity) is useless and ultimately harmful; living a life based on a myth that ends at death rather than in an eternal wishlife is a wasted life.