"...there are numerous pieces of historical evidence that Jesus did exist."

+ "Good, cause there for a minute you were some sort of weirdo."

You obviously need only the thinnest gossamer thread to believe.

Oh, I AM some sort of wierdo! Believe it! Especially from the standpoint of a fundie Xtian. But Scienstismists fine me untennable as well.

I guess you could call me a

Mr. A

Hulk,

I'll read a book for you.

Mr. A

[quote=mranonymous2u]

Hulk,

I’ll read a book for you.

Mr. A

I prefer non fiction.

Mr. A

[quote=mranonymous2u]

I prefer non fiction.

Mr. A

[/quote]

You may want to check out Case for Christ by Lee Strobel. He was a journalist at the Chicago Tribune who sounded a lot like you.  He was an atheist when he started the book, and was not when he finished it.  This may not convince you that Jesus is the son of God, but it may make you rethink your "he probably didn't exist" stance.

http://www.amazon.com/Case-Christ-Journalists-Personal-Inves tigation/dp/0310209307/

Good book.

1. Christ doesn't show up in the Old Testament (I'm assuming that there are 66 books in the OT and that was what Starka was referring to, after all, that's where Genesis is, right?)

2. People being swallowed by whales and Guys making Red Seas part and Guys loading 2 of each animal onto boats and people eating Quinces and being banished from Garden of Edens and women being turned into pillars of salt and and and and and and ... These are not works of a stictly Non Fiction  nature.

3. That's why they're called "Fundies" because it's so much fun to get them all aggitated!

4. A great book to read on the subject of King David is Joseph Heller's God Knows !

Mr. A

Alzo alzo wik: http://www.bidstrup.com/apologetics.htm

Refutation of the Case for Christ charade.

Mr. A

Some may recall that I have quit arguing with people about Jones because it’s like trying to convert an atheist. The atheist likes to argue for the sake of arguing.



And they can argue their way right into hell.

[quote=Incredible Hulk]Some may recall that I have quit arguing with people about Jones because it’s like trying to convert an atheist. The atheist likes to argue for the sake of arguing.



And they can argue their way right into hell.





[/quote]

uh…hell doesn’t exist for atheists.  Hell only exists for believers in hell.

[quote=Spaceman Spiff][quote=mranonymous2u]

Just keep in mind, I'm just having fun here. I'm not entirely serious.

Mr. A

[/quote]

Good, cause there for a minute you were some sort of weirdo.  By the way, there are numerous pieces of historical evidence that Jesus did exist.  Pliny, Josephus, Tacitus to give you a few names to Google.  Enough with the theology.  On to the presents.

Try the Works of josephus, “The Antiques of the Jews”. It makes specific

reference to Christ and other characters of the Biblical times of Jesus.

[quote=Starka]Try the Works of josephus, “The Antiques of the Jews”. It makes specific

reference to Christ and other characters of the Biblical times of Jesus.[/quote]

The tiny reference to Jesus was long ago proven to be a forgery.

" The atheist likes to argue for the sake of arguing."

Fir.. (hey, what did I catch by copying your text?) First off, What's with the "the atheist" what am I some kind of lab experiment? You're from the south, aren't you?

Secondly, I'm not arguing for the sake of arguing I'm trying to save your mortal mind! Just like you're trying to save my immortal soul (and neither of us has any proof that the other's exists). Religion as a belief system is a retardant to true knowledge. You don't want to be retarded, do you?

When you have the easy out of "because that's the way God wanted it!" there is no need to stretch your mind beyond what you know. You become like my daughter when we're doing her math homework, she'll turn her brain off because she knows that I will give her the answer (I didn't not become a teacher because it was too easy a profession, I didn't become a teacher because I haven't the talent for it). If you are willing to rely on "faith" you'll turn your brain off when the challenge gets too new for you to know what to do.

Further, atheists (which I did not say I was, believe it or not there is a whole world of ideas that are theist, deist, without being Christian, but you show your prejudice when you assume that people who question the Christ must not believe in any god.) are capable of having a discussion about the relative merits of religion without trying to "convert" anyone. But you apparently feel the need to proselytise, to bear witness of the glory of the Lord.

It's been said that the only sensible stand is agnosticism. And all in all I'd more likely describe myself as a Gnostic (an agnostic Gnostic, for sure). And if you're going to believe in Gospels, then why not believe in the Judas gospels?

Did you ever notice the similarities between the life stories of Socrates and Jesus?

Most of the mythology of Christianity is the same mythology of practically every religion on the face of the planet. Virgin birth? Happens all the time, mythologically speaking. Death and resurrection? How many times has Vishnu reappeared? The Buddhists believe that the Dalai Lama is the same guy being reincarnated again and again over the centuries.

Mr. A

[quote=mktsystms]

[quote=Starka]Try the Works of josephus, “The Antiques of the Jews”. It

makes specific

reference to Christ and other characters of the Biblical times of Jesus.[/

QUOTE]The tiny reference to Jesus was long ago proven to be a forgery.[/

QUOTE]



If that’s true, why then is it still included in compilations of Josephus’

writings?

Who is doing the compiling? Certainly not Joe.

Mr. A

[quote=mranonymous2u]

Who is doing the compiling? Certainly not Joe.

Mr. A

OK, I've sat on the sidelines long enough...Indyone in RED...

[quote=mranonymous2u] " The atheist likes to argue for the sake of arguing."

Fir.. (hey, what did I catch by copying your text?) First off, What's with the "the atheist" what am I some kind of lab experiment? You're from the south, aren't you?

Secondly, I'm not arguing for the sake of arguing I'm trying to save your mortal mind! My mind is not in need of your saving grace.  Just like you're trying to save my immortal soul (and neither of us has any proof that the other's exists). Religion as a belief system is a retardant to true knowledge. You know, I've managed to get through high school, a four year bachelor's degree, the CPA exam and the CFP exam, all while (gasp!) harboring religeous beliefs and (for the most part...) functioning as a practicing Christian!  You don't want to be retarded, do you?  You can believe or not believe what you want, but insulting those who don't think as you do just undercuts your credibility and causes reasonable folks to question the validity of your argument.

When you have the easy out of "because that's the way God wanted it!" there is no need to stretch your mind beyond what you know. You become like my daughter when we're doing her math homework, she'll turn her brain off because she knows that I will give her the answer (I didn't not become a teacher because it was too easy a profession, I didn't become a teacher because I haven't the talent for it). If you are willing to rely on "faith" you'll turn your brain off when the challenge gets too new for you to know what to do. That's nothing but an unsubstantiated attempt to stereotype Christians.  If you were one, you'd know better.

Further, atheists (which I did not say I was, believe it or not there is a whole world of ideas that are theist, deist, without being Christian, but you show your prejudice when you assume that people who question the Christ must not believe in any god.) are capable of having a discussion about the relative merits of religion without trying to "convert" anyone. But you apparently feel the need to proselytise, to bear witness of the glory of the Lord. I think those that feel the need to do so are entitled to do so.  What you fail to realize is that most religeons are mutually exclusive in their beliefs.  The muslim worships Mohammed to the exclusion if Jesus Christ and the Christian does exactly the opposite.  If you believe in a form of theology, most likely, you will feel compelled to "proselytise" about it in an attempt to bring others into the light.  Yes, as a Christian, I am convinced that other religeons are false doctrine.  I'm just not naive enough to assume that everyone else "gets it" and I'm usually wise enough to not waste time on "those who will not hear", like I'm doing now...

It's been said that the only sensible stand is agnosticism. Oh please...by WHO?  Please tell me why their opinion is any more valid than mine.  And all in all I'd more likely describe myself as a Gnostic (an agnostic Gnostic, for sure). And if you're going to believe in Gospels, then why not believe in the Judas gospels?  That's the beauty of it...I can chose to believe in what I want...much like you.

Did you ever notice the similarities between the life stories of Socrates and Jesus?  Unless you're advocating that Socrates was the Messiah, I can't see any relevance here.

Most of the mythology of Christianity is the same mythology of practically every religion on the face of the planet. Ever think that perhaps other religeons are trying to emulate the real thing?  Virgin birth? Happens all the time, mythologically speaking. Death and resurrection? How many times has Vishnu reappeared? The Buddhists believe that the Dalai Lama is the same guy being reincarnated again and again over the centuries.

Mr. A[/quote]

The beauty of America is that we all have the freedom to believe what we will.  I believe without reservation, and until you've been there, you won't understand it.  Someday you and I will both die and then the truth will be known to both of us.  If you're comfortable with your theories and your version of the truth, good for you...stay right where you are.  Frankly, just as you are tired of fundamentalists, I'm sick and tired of you calling Christians retarded, among other things.  If you don't have anything more constructive to contribute, why don't you crawl back under your rock?  You'll know the truth soon enough.

Well said.



To that I’ll only add that one day we’ll all die. If we’re wrong, well, we’ll

hopefully be remembered as people who tried to live an upright life. On the

other hand, if we’re right in our beliefs, you’ll have eternity to rethink your

beliefs about the “myth”.

[quote=mranonymous2u]

Who is doing the compiling? Certainly not Joe.

Mr. A