Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Aspirin99 · 08-25-2005, 07:00 AM

One response I often get from my Christian relatives is that - The stories of Jesus must have been true because the disciples died in martyrdom rather than recant the story.

I know there are a variety of ways to approach that discussion. One way I've been thinking about (but need some historical support - thus this thread) - Is that - Martyrdom in the 1st century was not like that. If you were dragged before the Romans for anything religious, it was to see that you would willingly offer homage to the Roman gods- not that you would recant your raggedy ol' religion. Therefore, the disciples being previously devote Jews would never willingly worship Roman gods - regardless of their views of Jesus. So, if they were martyred, it was not because they didn't recant Jesus, it was because they didn't worship Roman gods.

Am I on target with that? If so ( or not), can someone point me toward more data on this? Thanks.

post tenebras lux · 08-25-2005, 07:03 AM

Where's the proof that the stories of their martyrdom are not fictional?

Luxie

Aspirin99 · 08-25-2005, 07:07 AM

Right. That's one of the other approaches to the discussion I was thinking of. Right now, I'm wanting to investigate this approach.

Huon · 08-25-2005, 07:12 AM

You could also look at a recent thread :
http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=131282

Aspirin99 · 08-25-2005, 07:33 AM

Perfect. Thanks.

08-25-2005, 07:00 AM	#1
Aspirin99 Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: TalkingTimeline.com Posts: 151	Martyrs One response I often get from my Christian relatives is that - The stories of Jesus must have been true because the disciples died in martyrdom rather than recant the story. I know there are a variety of ways to approach that discussion. One way I've been thinking about (but need some historical support - thus this thread) - Is that - Martyrdom in the 1st century was not like that. If you were dragged before the Romans for anything religious, it was to see that you would willingly offer homage to the Roman gods- not that you would recant your raggedy ol' religion. Therefore, the disciples being previously devote Jews would never willingly worship Roman gods - regardless of their views of Jesus. So, if they were martyred, it was not because they didn't recant Jesus, it was because they didn't worship Roman gods. Am I on target with that? If so ( or not), can someone point me toward more data on this? Thanks.

08-25-2005, 07:12 AM	#4
Huon Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bordeaux France Posts: 2,796	Christian martyrs You could also look at a recent thread : http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=131282

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08-25-2005, 07:03 AM	#2
post tenebras lux Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Republic and Canton of Geneva Posts: 5,756	Where's the proof that the stories of their martyrdom are not fictional? Luxie

08-25-2005, 07:07 AM	#3
Aspirin99 Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: TalkingTimeline.com Posts: 151	Right. That's one of the other approaches to the discussion I was thinking of. Right now, I'm wanting to investigate this approach.

08-25-2005, 07:33 AM	#5
Aspirin99 Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: TalkingTimeline.com Posts: 151	Perfect. Thanks.

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