Did Jesus exist?

[Tangerine]

a virgin by your defintion can be artifically inseminated with sperm

How common was that 2000 years ago?

 

[Peter Parka]

How common was that 2000 years ago?

About as common as men who turned water into wine.

 

[Tangerine]

About as common as men who turned water into wine.

It was food coloring. Red dye #2.

 

[Guyzerr]

How common was that 2000 years ago?

I'm sure they had turkey basters back then. Matter of fact I can remember them. They weren't made of plastic though. It was some sort of vegetable matter if I recall.

 

[Tangerine]

Here is my whole problem with peoples beliefs. Step outside and look at what you just said. You believe something because you were taught that to be true. So in other words, because they were convincing in their story telling, you subscribe to that faith. Have you ever considered the fact that if you were born into a Muslim family that you would be telling us that Mohammad is the true profit. And you would be arguing that it's your belief because that is what you were taught as a little girl. Or what if you were born into a family of Buddhists? Would you then believe in that?
My point is people believe what they believe because of where they were born and into what family they were born into. There are very few that have escaped the dogma of what they learned early in life to actually seek out the truth. And those who have usually end up the atheists.

I agree with this 100%

If often stated my belief that nearly every person that walks this planet has the religious belief system they have because of one of two reasons:

A) They follow what their parents taught
B) They completely reject what their parents taught.

 

[Guyzerr]

A) They follow what their parents taught
B) They completely reject what their parents taught.

C) They became old and wise enough to actually use their own brain in the way it was intended... rationally.

 

[Tangerine]

C) They became old and wise enough to actually use their own brain in the way it was intended... rationally.

That's the other .001%. But I suspect many of them only started down that path because of (B)

 

[Peter Parka]

That's the other .001%. But I suspect many of them only started down that path because of (B)

I guess Im one of the 0.001% then. I grew up in a cult and it took me till my mid 20s to break free. I still believed in god though but gradually I've learned through common sense that he probably dosen't exist and the god of the bible definately dosent.

 

[Dana]

It was food coloring. Red dye #2.

crushed beetles

 

[Tangerine]

I guess Im one of the 0.001% then. I grew up in a cult and it took me till my mid 20s to break free. I still believed in god though but gradually I've learned through common sense that he probably dosen't exist and the god of the bible definately dosent.

Would seem to put you in group B. At least in the way I meant for those groups to be.

 

[Peter Parka]

Would seem to put you in group B. At least in the way I meant for those groups to be.

Not at all. I still held the bible in high regard and believed in god, it took me a while to completely reject my parents religion, I dont completely reject it now, there is always some good in it even if a lot of it is putrid.

 

[Tangerine]

Not at all. I still held the bible in high regard and believed in god, it took me a while to completely reject my parents religion, I dont completely reject it now, there is always some good in it even if a lot of it is putrid.

Would you have arrived at the same conclusions and the same views on religion had you not grown up in that environment?

 

[Peter Parka]

Would you have arrived at the same conclusions and the same views on religion had you not grown up in that environment?

Who knows? I do feel rather clear about the matter now though and that includes a couple of decasdes at my most impressionable from Christian indoctration

 

[mazHur]

Interesting points. I think at some point Jesus did exist at some point; he has a plan for every different one of us, it's just we don't know usually what that is, but things happen to each of us for some reason.

This gives rise to yet another question: how can we deny history??

If Jesus didn't exist this world be all Jews!

 

[darkangel]

I agree with this 100%

If often stated my belief that nearly every person that walks this planet has the religious belief system they have because of one of two reasons:

A) They follow what their parents taught
B) They completely reject what their parents taught.

Very interesting POV. I find flaw in your thinking. I didn't follow what my parents taught and I didn't reject what my parents taught. I was taught nothing by my parents. I was taught by school but I do not not follow the religion they way it was taught. I do not go to church. And I don't do a lot of other things that the Catholic Religion preaches. Yet I still believe and hold my convictions.

Just because you and how many others no believe doesn't mean that God doesn't exist. It doesn't mean that Jesus doesn't exist. They live in our hearts because if they were to come out into the limelight now with the way the world is there would be complete chaos. Just because you haven't had a spiritual awakening or experience doesn't mean that their existence never happened. It is just as ignorant for non believers to put down the notion that anything ever occurred as it is for believers to put down the notion that nothing ever occurred.

Ignorance goes both ways. You are a believer or a non believer. Or you are like me and sit in the Grey. Either way how can you explain that millions or maybe billions of people around the world believe in one religion or another? They didn't just pull religion out of a hat and say I think I'm going to beleve this today.

There are so many reasons for us not to believe that out weight the reasons that people do believe. What does tha tell you? It tells me that there is some greater forces working in the lives of these millions / Billions of people . Now can the existence be proved? Not to the degree that would satisfy the non believers. But don't be surprised if one day you wake up and realize that every country and their people need something to believe in to get them through the day. Just because they choose it to be God and/or Jesus doesn't mean they are crazy just like if you choose not to have an religion then that doesnt mean you are crazy.

We will ALL know once we die....

 

[Peter Parka]

. Or you are like me and sit in the Grey.

So are you an agnostic, like me? Admittedly, I'm more leaning toward atheist but I dont rule out a god though I seriously doubt one existed. You seemed pretty sure of the existence of god earlier on in this thread.

 

[darkangel]

So are you an agnostic, like me? Admittedly, I'm more leaning toward atheist but I don't rule out a god though I seriously doubt one existed. You seemed pretty sure of the existence of god earlier on in this thread.

I don't believe in Labels Peter. I believe what I believe and I can thump what I can thump. I can make arguments for both sides. Does that make me agnostic? No I am a Catholic. I just am more spiritual than religious. And i do believe there is a God but I can post things from both POV's. That's what makes my posts good I believe. I won't knock anyone for their beliefs cuz everyone is entitled to them. I can see it from every angle. And that makes me who I am.

 

[Peter Parka]

Agnostic means you keep an open mind when it comes to the existence of god, its not a label, far less than being a Christian or an atheist, anyway.

 

[darkangel]

Agnostic means you keep an open mind when it comes to the existence of god, its not a label, far less than being a Christian or an atheist, anyway.

Well TBH I really don't fall into any category except being very spiritual. I guess if I had to call myself something thats what it would be. I usually avoid religion and discussions about it. I am no connoisseur when it comes to religion but i am one when it comes to freedom of religion and religious beliefs. By your description I guess maybe I am Agnostic. I never really put much thought into it as I don't think about religion often...

 

[retro]

I don't believe in Labels Peter. I believe what I believe and I can thump what I can thump. I can make arguments for both sides. Does that make me agnostic? No I am a Catholic. I just am more spiritual than religious. And i do believe there is a God but I can post things from both POV's. That's what makes my posts good I believe. I won't knock anyone for their beliefs cuz everyone is entitled to them. I can see it from every angle. And that makes me who I am.

I'm very confused.