Rhea

Atheists are often asked, what would it take you to be convinced of the truth of the christian faith?

They expect answers like a certain "miracle", which is an interesting exercise.

Well I am curious,
Christians (or any other faithful) what would it take you to be convinced that the bible is NOT true?

I imagine that for Christians it would be easiest to disprove. Because their faith depends on the existence of Jesus and his ressurection.

A box was found, labeled "James, brother of Jesus" and many Christians found this to be a bolster to their faith. But what if a box was found that said "Here lies Jesus of Nazareth, son of Mary and Joseph, killed on a cross in the year of Augustus (whatever)" Would that shake your faith?


A jew would be harder to come up with a hypothetical, I would think, since they aren't relying on one man. But perhaps a scroll saying that the story of Abraham is not true, only Isaac was killed by his father. Or perhaps the finding of thousands of corspes under the Red Sea dressed in Hewbrew clothes.

How about the invention of a time machine? What if that happened? And we could send a camcorder back in time and saw - - - something totally different??? Would that change your faith to a different one or to none at all?

What if life _IS_ found on another planet. Or finds us? And brings evidence that it was THEM who did these sea-partings and bush-burnings?


...


Just an exercise.

Since your faith is backed up by one written book, could another written book override it? Since your faith is predicated on certain efvents, could evidence that they never happened, or happened differently change your faith to a different one?

keyser_soze

I thought they did find the ossuary of yeshua, joseph and mary...
But the ossuary of james is an obvious fraud. I remember seeing an expose on it, where they did a close up of it, and you could see that it was OBVIOUSLY two separate engravers. The first half says "Here lies James(close enough for grenades)" and the second part is so obviously a later addition "brother of yeshua". Not even a decent forgery. Give me a dremel, I'll have you tomb of god.

Jayjay

(Hmm, I wonder what can be the point of spelling Jesus as "Yeshua" while sticking with english versions of James, Mary and Joseph...)

Anyway, about the question, I think it would take a miracle to convince theists too, but they can rationalize the miracle that leads them away from faith as "a ploy of satan" and stick with their current choice of religion. The atheists on the other hand would be at least forced to admit that there're some supernatural thingamajigs out there, whether they turn out to be gods or devils is a minor detail.

Rhea

I heard about the fraudness of that box, but while it was out there Christians would claim that (assuming it was true) _I_ should be swayed by it. So hence my question. So what if a box was found that didn't support you - would that then sway you?

No Christians? Not one?
I'm really curious.
What basis for your faith, if removed, would be undeniable?

You people ask us this all the time. Is the question too hard? I don't get it? Is this sauce for the Gander only? Are you afraid to ask yourself this question - or tell me your answer?

I'm disappointed, I didn't expect to come back to _nothing_.

keyser_soze

There was no point of it, I remember yeshua, I don't remember the literal names of joseph and mary. I do remember some other fraud about their tombs some years back though.

Magus55

The only thing that will ever make me give up my faith, is dying and rotting in the ground for eternity with nothing happening afterward. Of course once i'm dead, i'm not gonna really be able to worry about it so iow - Nothing!

I stand by Jesus Christ my Lord for eternity.

Silent Dave

What about winding up in a lake of fire with pitchfork-wielding demons who speak to you in Arabic? Would that change your mind? Or would you still stand by Jesus Christ your Lord for eternity?


Dave

Magus55

Well, since Islam has even a less likely chance to be true than Christianity, id' accept Atheism before it. Afterall, if Christians are wrong, we still have the chance for atheism. If atheists are wrong, you are in trouble ( yes i know its Pascal's wager). But it doesn't matter anyway, you have the opportunity to find salvation, you turned it down and rejected God's gift. It was your choice.

And frankly, the idea of spending eternity having sex with women and little boys, while the women are beaten and have no freedom ( of course, most Islam women go to Hell), disgusts me to no end. Thats a BIG reason i think Islam is false, Allah is an exact reflection of Mohammad. No human on earth has ever been as pure and holy as Jesus.

Jayjay

You in a lake of fire + Arabic demons = Islam is less likely to be true than Christianity?

I don't think so.

Hedwig

Ummmm...Magus, you really didn't answer the question. Even atheists will wind up in an Islamic hell, I'd wager (we are secular infidels, after all). Only you Christians would be there burning right alongside us. What say you?