Religion III

[Actor]

Originally Posted by boxcar

... superficial resemblances.

Superficial resemblances?

• Born on December 25th.
• Born of a virgin.
• Twelve disciples.
• Crucified.
• Son of a god.
• Substitutionary punishment.

[boxcar]

Originally Posted by Actor

Superficial resemblances?

• Born on December 25th.
• Born of a virgin.
• Twelve disciples.
• Crucified.
• Son of a god.
• Substitutionary punishment.

Yup, superficial. And much of it is made up. Research it. A lot of Christians sites out there debunk the myths.

[Actor]

Originally Posted by boxcar

Yup, superficial.

So is the Bible.

Originally Posted by boxcar

And much of it is made up.

Again, so is the Bible.

Originally Posted by boxcar

Research it.

I have. Do you think I pulled these things out of thin air. Do you want me to give you my sources?

Originally Posted by boxcar

A lot of Christians sites out there claim to debunk the myths.

FTFY! I would be surprised if there were no such sites. By the way, merely making a claim or presenting some thin argument does not add up to debunking.

[boxcar]

Originally Posted by Actor

So is the Bible.

Again, so is the Bible.

I have. Do you think I pulled these things out of thin air. Do you want me to give you my sources?

FTFY! I would be surprised if there were no such sites. By the way, merely making a claim or presenting some thin argument does not add up to debunking.

And by the way, "merely making a claim or presenting some thin argument" does not add up to proving that some proposition is true.

Here are the two links I posted a year or two ago to debunk the myths.

http://www.apologeticspress.org/apco...10&article=186

http://www.apologeticspress.org/apco...10&article=609

[Actor]

From part I

Christians need to recognize as an undeniable fact—a fact confirmed by mythology, history, and even early Christian apologists—that ancient documents reveal that the story of Christ is not the first story ever told of a virgin-born, crucified, resurrected, miracle-working savior-god who supposedly died for the sins of humanity. These documents further reveal that many of Christ’s teachings can be gleaned—at times almost verbatim—from sources that were in circulation hundreds or thousands of years before Jesus was born. Early apologists acknowledged these facts because they were, and are, quite indisputable.

If one accepts a naturalistic and evolutionary account of the origin of religion, he will believe that Christianity can be explained naturally.

Those who believe that the Universe and life within it evolved in a purely naturalistic fashion likewise must find a totally naturalistic cause for every facet of life. Religion itself is one of those facets...

For such an explanation I recommend you read Breaking the Spell by Daniel Dennett.

[Actor]

Originally Posted by boxcar

And by the way, "merely making a claim or presenting some thin argument" does not add up to proving that some proposition is true.

Most religious arguments are quite thin.

Originally Posted by boxcar

Here are the two links I posted a year or two ago to debunk the myths.

http://www.apologeticspress.org/apco...10&article=186

http://www.apologeticspress.org/apco...10&article=609

I have read the first. (Interesting read.) Unfortunately I have other obligations which force me to delay reading the second. Perhaps tomorrow.

[boxcar]

Originally Posted by Actor

Most religious arguments are quite thin.


I have read the first. (Interesting read.) Unfortunately I have other obligations which force me to delay reading the second. Perhaps tomorrow.

Actually, skeptics' arguments against the bible are paper thin.

[Actor]

From part II

One important fact that cannot be ignored is that Jesus is the only historical figure Who fulfills the criteria necessary to justify, sanctify, and redeem mankind. No human’s creative mind concocted the narrative of Jesus of Nazareth. Human eyes saw Him, and human ears heard Him. He walked and talked—lived and loved—on the streets of real cities and in the houses of real people. His life is the only life of any “savior-god” that can be (and has been) thoroughly documented.

The big lie of this paragraph, indeed of Christianity in general, is that the life of Jesus has not been thoroughly documented. It has not! We've been through that before. Compare this to Alexander, Caesar, Antony, Cleopatra, Ptolemy, et al, whose lives have been documented by dozens, if not hundreds, of authors.

Therefore, the story of Jesus Christ does not occupy a place amidst the pages of Greek mythology or ancient religious legend.

Fallacy of Special Pleading! Standards that apply to others do not apply to you.

[boxcar]

Originally Posted by Actor

From part II
The big lie of this paragraph, indeed of Christianity in general, is that the life of Jesus has not been thoroughly documented. It has not! We've been through that before. Compare this to Alexander, Caesar, Antony, Cleopatra, Ptolemy, et al, whose lives have been documented by dozens, if not hundreds, of authors.

What had to known about the Person, Life and Ministry of Jesus was indeed "thoroughly documented", preserved and passed on to mankind.

Fallacy of Special Pleading! Standards that apply to others do not apply to you.

Give me one such example.

[Actor]

Originally Posted by boxcar

What had to known about the Person, Life and Ministry of Jesus was indeed "thoroughly documented", preserved and passed on to mankind.

Go back and correct the grammar of this sentence.

Originally Posted by boxcar

Give me one such example.

I gave you an example. If you don't like it that's not my problem.

[boxcar]

Originally Posted by boxcar

What had to known about the Person, Life and Ministry of Jesus was indeed "thoroughly documented", preserved and passed on to mankind.



Give me one such example.

You gave me no example. Scripture has provided mankind with everything we need to know about God's salvation, which of course includes the person, life and ministry of Christ.

[Actor]

Originally Posted by boxcar

You gave me no example. Scripture has provided mankind with everything we need to know about God's salvation, which of course includes the person, life and ministry of Christ.

How many other religions say the same thing about their god?

[boxcar]

Originally Posted by Actor

How many other religions say the same thing about their god?

You don't know? NONE! Did any of your mythical gods claim to be the savior of mankind?

P.S. The bible does claim that God, in his revelation, has given everything man needs to be saved.

[Actor]

Originally Posted by boxcar

You don't know? NONE!

How do you know? Have you researched all of them? The burden of proof is yours.

Originally Posted by boxcar

Did any of your mythical gods claim to be the savior of mankind?

Do any other religions teach that mankind needs saving?

[boxcar]

Originally Posted by Actor

How do you know? Have you researched all of them? The burden of proof is yours.

You made the claim by asking a rhetorical question. So the burden of proof is yours. I know what the bible claims, whereas you do not. Not only that but you also don't know if any other religion claims what the bible specifically claims about the sufficiency of scripture regarding salvation.

Do any other religions teach that mankind needs saving?

Wrong question. Do any other religions teach that mankind is saved solely by God's grace through faith -- and that even that faith is a gift from God?