It is easy for anyone to believe what they have been told their entire life without
examination. Once serious study is attempted on BOTH sides of any claim, the truth of the claim can usually be seen. If you are a believer, it is most likely you have learned from your peers or family, and have had confirmation bias that supports your belief from day one. It takes courage, reason and sometimes simple curiosity to study the opposite consensus of a belief system into which you are born and raised.
Why do Roman and Jewish writers who were alive during the time that Jesus is said to have lived not mention him? Contemporary historical accounts record lots of other messiah figures but somehow manage to miss the one which Christian texts claim posed such a huge threat to the powers that be that the Roman leaders had to crucify him. The first historic record of Jesus doesn’t come till CE 93 — more than a half century after the date given for Jesus’ Crucifixion — and that account, allegedly by Josephus, is widely disputed, as is another oft-cited mention of Jesus in 120 by Tacitus. Read more here:http://www.atheists.org/christianity/didjesusexist.html
For those who are reading this and believe Jesus was a real person or a man-God, please do your research on both sides before coming to a conclusion. It does no good to read the Bible and visit Bible classes if you want to know the true mythical history of Jesus. You will find that Paul, the first writer of Jesus, did so many years after Jesus’ supposed time on earth (90 CE) and even though he wrote over 80,000 words, the only things he wrote about Jesus were the Crucifixion, the Resurrection and the Assention. That’s it. All the dozens of Bible stories were added later! This does not make any sense, as Paul, who was closest in time to Jesus, should have known about the many other Jesus miracles and other stories. Rent the movie “The God Who Wasn’t There” to learn how Jesus was a mythical figure turned in to a Man-God many years after his fabled life described by the church. I admit this was a very smart thing to do by the church, as most of the other gods that were worshipped before Jesus were supernatural deities and only a few had a human form as they say Jesus did, such as Zeus’ son.
The more you read and study the Bible, the more you can see there are too many contradictions to call this divinely created.
I admit there might have been a man called Jesus long ago – but there could have been many religious start-up leaders named Jesus.
Here are several sites to find out more about the mythical Jesus
Ancient stone tablet may prove resurrection predated Jesus Christ
or copy and paste this: http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/200828/1440/Ancient-stone-tablet-may-prove-resurrection-predated-Jesus-Christ
Did Jesus exist?
http://www.nobeliefs.com/exist.htm
Gods before Jesus were just like Jesus- search youtube “Truth about Religion”
The reason all these god share the same story is simple astrology
The bright star in the East is called Sirius followed by the three stars – the three kings
See the youtube mentioned above as you will learn the truth about how religion follows astrology.
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A suggestion for the undecided (if you’re already confirmed in your views, I’m not talking to you): Don’t just look at the historical record. Pray about it sincerely and ask him to reveal himself in some way. If he isn’t there, nothing lost. But assuming he does exist, there is FAR more to be gained by a minute of direct prayer than hours of speculating about historical facts. Don’t forget God speaks in a million ways, including through the people around us and the things we read. Pay attention, and you’ll be amazed.
This is a false dichotomy fallacy. Pascals Wager. There is NOT ‘far more to be gained’ because you have to choose from the thousands of religion which one is right. In actually you have a very small chance of getting ti right, so you’re probably going to hell (if you believe in one) anyway. And your are betting on the right religion/god(s). God knows you’re betting, so it won’t count. – To hell again!
Well this is the only thing I will add because I sincerely respect your views and understand this is a platform for atheists and agnostics (so pardon the brief intrusion). Perhaps as a former agnostic I have some standing though. I don’t believe anyone outside of fundamentalists believes that God sends people to hell because they fall outside of their particular religion. Full disclosure – I’m Catholic Christian, and firmly believe that God dearly loves people of all religions and will welcome many to heaven who are not Christians. It makes me very said to see fundamentalists paint such an angry portrait of God, but I guess that’s where our society is right now. (Frankly many people really don’t understand their own religion and don’t help our case at all.) The point I was trying to make was that we spend a lot of time thinking ABOUT God and rarely ask him directly and sincerely if he exists. I did that years ago and felt he answered me in a variety of ways. Anyway thx for letting me take up some space here. I’m done.
I’m not sure why Christians are on an Atheist site…I certainly wouldn’t go on a Christian site and speak about my beliefs there…I suppose they’re just looking for something to argue about.
Horus is born on December 25th?
That’s interesting, but….
Yeah, you should probably take that down: it’s kinda diminishing your argument. That “fact” is irrelevant seeing as how everyone knows Jesus wasn’t born on December 25th.
I’m trying to remain neutral here.
I am a christian and proud. I don’t go door to door or push my religion, but if someone asks then I don’t mind sharing God’s word. But I do believe christian, atheist, muslim, jew, etc. you shouldn’t judge or down grade someone and there belief. To me you aren’t even saying what you think, your just throwing God, Jesus, and the Holy Bible under the bus. I have never in my life seen people in my church or private christian school talk badly about an atheist, and yes I obviously know there are others who do. But my point is you don’t have to offend christians to get your point across. That picture you have that has someone holding a sign pointing to the sky saying “I’m with stupid” is plain out awful, rude, and offensive. I have never pointed a sign at an atheist and said I’m with stupid to them. So maybe if you want people to listen or what not, then don’t be so ignorent.
I’m so sick of ignorant fools quoting Zeitgeist as being historically accurate. Acharya S can’t back any of it up with real facts. All of those claims that mythical Gods shared the same characteristics as Jesus have been thoroughly debunked and disproven, there is no actual evidence to support those claims. Although if you CAN actually prove it these guys will pay you cash money. Go to Zeitgeistchallenge.com
Could you please provide a link to the original text of these myths that Jesus is said to be a parallel of? Specifically with respect to Horus, I’d like to see proof that:
He was born on Dec 25.
He was born of a virgin
There was a star in the East.
He was visited by 3 kings
He was a teacher at 12. Baptized at 30
Had 12 disciples. He performed miracles
He was known as the Lamb of god, the light, the truth, the good sheppard
He was crucified and rose after 3 days
Also I find it interesting that you are attempting to prove that Jesus is parallel with these other mythical gods by saying that they were “Born on December 25″ and “visited by 3 Kings” Since neither one of these facts are said about Jesus in the Bible. Being the honest, truth seeking, freethinkers you are, I’m sure you will have no problem supporting these claims with actual evidence.
That’s all I’ve been asking from theists for years. Factual proof, not here-say or fables. I claim no beliefs, so the burden of proof lies with you. Don’t ask me to “Pray” about it, because the last I heard humans were not capable of telepathy.
Thanks
No actually you DO claim beliefs. This very webpage contains a list of beliefs you hold. They are:
The Egyptian god Horus around 3000bc.
He was born on Dec 25. He was born of a virgin
There was a star in the East. He was visited by 3 kings
He was a teacher at 12. Baptized at 30
Had 12 disciples. He performed miracles
He was known as the Lamb of god, the light, the truth, the good sheppard
He was crucified and rose after 3 days
Please provide evidence for these claims.
You guys are dead wrong to the arument that there are no secuilar confirmations on Jesus Christ. Not to mention the thousands of people who actually saw Jesus and the numerous apostles that wrote about HIM.
You need to do much more research on this fact, before posting such claims.
Jeff – You (nor anyone – including us) should ever believe one book that said ‘thousands of people saw this or that’, especially when circular reasoning abounds within a religious context. You should study what most Biblical scholars agree with – that the apostles were anonymous and lived 2-4 generations after the mythical Jesus. And remember this is YOUR side telling me this. Why believe anything if it was written to confirm earlier writings? Example: Saints coming our of their graves – wow what a story that would make worldwide, not to mention locally! But there is no non-biblical record of this nor the many miracles of your said prophet. Sorry – you lose.
“Sorry – you lose.”
Not very tactful if you want a healthy discussion, even if you disagree with someone else’s argument methods. chill. And thanks for giving us something to think about.
2-4 generations after Jesus? How long do you think a generation is? How many generations has it been since Vietnam? Do you know any Vietnam veterans? I do, and they can definitely tell stories of what happened to them. The latest the Gospel of Mark was written was 70 AD and remember this is YOUR side telling me this! (atheist scholars like Bart Ehrman, Marcus Borg, Gert Luudeman). Thats 40 years after the death of Jesus.
Also keep in mind Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians mentions Jesus death, burial, resurection, and lists the eyewitnesses. All scholars agree that Paul wrote this letter in AD 55, but that in chapter 15:3-11 he is quoting an older oral tradition that goes back all the way to within 7 years of the crucifixion.
Perhaps we should hear what Atheist Bart Ehrman has to say on the subject. Here he deals with an Atheist who tries to tell him that Jesus never existed…
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFAB5FE9417D4B643
Interesting discussion. Bart Ehrman discussed this on the “Infidel Guy Show.”
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFAB5FE9417D4B643
Yo – i appreciate your views and think its good to share information but perhaps you could provide some sources on some of your information – for example, how could Horus be crucified when it wasnt a practice of the Ancient Egyptians? Also, from what ive read, Horus did die and and came back to life….but in the underworld – so yes there are some similarities, but arising to rule the dead and coming back to earth are 2 very different things. Much respect