Chris Weimer

Heh, remember this? Maybe one day, when I've got nothing better to do, I'll finish and refine the arguement, but for now, requiescat in pace.

McD

By way of comparison, I am posting the results of the exact same survey, posted at another forum which is a better cross-section of society.

The participants of this forum are mostly american and about half and half Democrat and Republican.

Here are their results:

http://www.geocities.com/stevenmcduffie/jesuspoll.html

That forum is as busy as this one, but people are not as interested in the religious discussions, so whereas the poll on that forum that asked "Is it ok to pee in the shower" received nearly 400 votes, this Jesus one only received 45.

However, the results are encouraging. I suspect that if this poll was taken a hundred years ago, the responses would have been more than 75% in favor of 'Lord'.

That is not to say that the people who voted for the 4th or 5th options could defend their position very well, but at least it's a step in the 'left' direction

John Kesler

I, too, believe that it is more likely that a historical Jesus existed. Leave aside for a moment the stories of a virgin birth, walking on water, etc. When all we are trying to establish is whether Jesus of Nazareth existed, I think that there is more than enough evidence that he did, and I think the mythicists set the bar entirely too high when they demand more proof from an era when most people were illiterate and most historians would have no particular reason to mention him.

However, I think the paradox is that when Christian apologists list all the reasons why Jesus could have carried on his three-year ministry in relative obscurity, they accentuate the difficulty that many skeptics have in believing that this existence is how the creator of the universe, who wants all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9), chose to reveal himself to mankind.

Jon Promnitz

I think the two best choices are:
1. He existed, but was a mere cult leader
and
2. He is simply a myth

Jesus may have existed, but it hasn't been completely ruled out that he did not. If he did exist, he was a man like you and me, and less than half as educated.

JesusLovesYou

John 3:14-18
14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God

Rev. 3:20
20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

1 John 1:7-10
7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

John 1:12
12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Romans 10:9-13
9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Acts 4:12
12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved

Jesus Loves You

Toto

Hi Jesus Loves You: could you explain how those Bible verses relate to this topic?

McD

I think the point was to prove that Jesus was either a liar or a lunatic :huh:

JesusLovesYou

Oh yeah, that is it. I was just showing how He must be a liar or a lunatic to love you so much.

It is a shame that He can love you so much, but yet we have questions like this thread that make fun of His love and sacrafice.


Jesus Loves You

Jonzo

rock on Jesus Loves You
The purpose of putting those verses [which, by the way, we're beautiful] is to show His love for all of us--even though we ourselves are sinners. I often ask myself the question: why did He die for me? But I know I'll always get the same answer: Because He loves me.
That's amazing.
Jonzo

post tenebras lux

Hi JesusLovesYou and Jonzo, and welcome to IIDB.

I don't quite follow your statements; are you saying that this thread should be entitled 'Jesus: Lord, Lunatic, Liar, or LoverBoy?'? :huh:

How does he love you? Does he love everyone, or just you two?

Luxie :wave: