Freethought & Rationalism Archive

rlogan · 05-15-2012, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James The Least

"Estimates of the number of Christians, let us say in 100 CE and again 200 CE, are extremely difficult to calculate ... for the year 100 CE, something in the order of 100,000 to 250,000...is about as close as we are likely to get, though, if anything, this may be on the high side...for the later date, 200 CE, we are offered anything from around 1 to 1.5 million, or 1.4 to 2.5 percent of the total population, usually reckoned to be around sixty million."

--Stephen G. Wilson, Related Strangers: Jews and Christians 70-170 CE (or via: amazon.co.uk) (Fortress)

Extremely difficult to calculate, so let's just wave our hands and come up with some apologetic numbers. Let's not get too ridiculous though, you know - not claim a million. Just something safe like these numbers here, basing them on the assumption that second century texts were written a hundred years earlier...

aa5874 · 05-15-2012, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duvduv

WHAT cities? Where? Led by whom?
What's the big deal if the author put an earlier name on the Apology if he wanted to show that the religion goes back a couple of hundred years and was not emerging in the 4th century?
Besides, and I have to repeat this, what evidence do you have that this emperor ever received this document, read it or replied to it?Was it sent return receipt requested with a green card from the Rome post office? I can publish a letter written by John Smith to Richard Nixon that was never sent and for which there is no proof other than the fact that someone wrote it up.

What is the evidence that Justin's "First Apology" may have been written in the 4th century??? How would the Emperor Antoninus read or reply to the letter if he was already dead??

How would the letter be sent to Antoninus in the 4th century??? Tell us all what you imagine!!!

Your speculation does NOT make much sense because we have DATED Texts that fundamentally Corroborate Justin.

You have NOTHING--ZERO--to support your imagination.

aa5874 · 05-15-2012, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duvduv

Virtually the entire 2nd century legend stands or falls on Justin.

Not at all. The DATED Texts of antiquity give 100% support to Justin.

Plus, there are Apologetic sources like Aristides, Municius Felix, and Arnobius which are also corroborated by the DATED Texts of antiquity. These Apologetic sources tend to corroborate that there were Jesus stories before the 4th century but did NOT mention the Four named Gospels, Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline letters.

You cannot IGNORE the DATED Texts and substitute your imagination.

The Sources that AGREE with the ACTUAL Dated Texts can be considered Credible.

Sheshbazzar · 05-16-2012, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sotto voce

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilosopherJay

Hi Toto,

I find it surprising that 100,000 people did not leave a single artifact that is traceable to the First or Second centuries. Since we have tens of thousands of samples of graffiti from this time period, it is surprising that not one is from a Christian.

But then you don't find Christian graffiti now. Christians don't deface.

Then just Who the hell are those people who have drawn, scratched, carved, and engraved all of those hundreds of millions of crosses, dead fish and 'Jesus Saves' Christian graffiti on countless millions of shit-house walls worldwide?

Is it the art-work of several million disguised Buddhist monks that slip into these shitters during the night? Or maybe Santa's elves ?:huh:

It appears that only a 'Christian' could or would be dishonest enough to deny the origins of these graffiti.

sotto voce · 05-16-2012, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheshbazzar

Quote:

Originally Posted by sotto voce

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilosopherJay

Hi Toto,

I find it surprising that 100,000 people did not leave a single artifact that is traceable to the First or Second centuries. Since we have tens of thousands of samples of graffiti from this time period, it is surprising that not one is from a Christian.

But then you don't find Christian graffiti now. Christians don't deface.

Then just Who the hell are those people who have drawn, scratched, carved, and engraved all of those hundreds of millions of crosses, dead fish and 'Jesus Saves' Christian graffiti countless millions of shit-house walls worldwide?

Documentary evidence, please.

Most of what is written on toilet walls is not very spiritual.

Sheshbazzar · 05-16-2012, 05:37 AM

The words of the Christian prophets are written on the shit-house walls, tenement halls...
Well documented in the hundreds of millions of inscriptions produced by their own hands.

...and are not very spiritual.

Not surprising. only a 'Christian' could or would be dishonest enough to deny the origins of these graffiti.

sotto voce · 05-16-2012, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheshbazzar

The words of the Christian prophets are written on the shit-house walls, tenement halls...
...and are not very spiritual.

Not surprising.

It must be fun to live in a bubble.

Atheos · 05-16-2012, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sotto voce

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilosopherJay

Hi Toto,

I find it surprising that 100,000 people did not leave a single artifact that is traceable to the First or Second centuries. Since we have tens of thousands of samples of graffiti from this time period, it is surprising that not one is from a Christian.

But then you don't find Christian graffiti now. Christians don't deface.

ORLLY?

sotto voce · 05-16-2012, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atheos

Quote:

Originally Posted by sotto voce

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilosopherJay

Hi Toto,

I find it surprising that 100,000 people did not leave a single artifact that is traceable to the First or Second centuries. Since we have tens of thousands of samples of graffiti from this time period, it is surprising that not one is from a Christian.

But then you don't find Christian graffiti now. Christians don't deface.

ORLLY?

I wonder what could give an impression that these are the work of Christians.

Atheos · 05-16-2012, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sotto voce

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilosopherJay

Hi Toto,

I find it surprising that 100,000 people did not leave a single artifact that is traceable to the First or Second centuries. Since we have tens of thousands of samples of graffiti from this time period, it is surprising that not one is from a Christian.

But then you don't find Christian graffiti now. Christians don't deface.

ORLLY?

Edit: In about 1 hour I could probably be back with half a dozen photographs of christian graffiti within a few miles of where I live. There's a huge "Jesus" spray-painted on a railroad trestle about 1/2 mile from my house.

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05-16-2012, 05:37 AM	#46
Sheshbazzar Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: On the path of knowledge Posts: 8,889	The words of the Christian prophets are written on the shit-house walls, tenement halls... Well documented in the hundreds of millions of inscriptions produced by their own hands. ...and are not very spiritual. Not surprising. only a 'Christian' could or would be dishonest enough to deny the origins of these graffiti.

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