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Is Jesus's "this generation will certainly not pass" valid grounds for scepticism?

Skeptical Greg said:
No, I'm saying the contemporaries of the authors of the NT didn't have enough evidence to go on.

We no longer have that problem.
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I think you mean that today we have enough evidence to dispel any notion that Jesus was anything other than a deluded human?
 
Skeptical Greg said:
We don't have the problems of believing in something unseen/unevidensed that people did 2,000 years ago.
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I'm finding it difficult to know exactly what you are saying.

Huge numbers continue to believe. Some of them are extremely intelligent.
 
Poem said:
Were you aware of the issue as described in the OP when you were a Christian?
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You're making assumptions about my personal life and its relevance to our discussion that I find offensive. I thought I had already made this clear.


You're also singling out that one passage as being specially problematic for believers. I thought we had already established that it's not not special, and that none of the many similar passages are all that problematic for believers.
 
theprestige said:
You're making assumptions about my personal life and its relevance to our discussion that I find offensive. I thought I had already made this clear.
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It's fine if you'd rather not answer. I am confused by your offence...zero intended.
theprestige said:
You're also singling out that one passage as being specially problematic for believers. I thought we had already established that it's not not special, and that none of the many similar passages are all that problematic for believers.
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Special or not, it remains a formidable challenge in my book.
 
theprestige said:
Clearly not formidable. Christianity is the most popular religion in the world.
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Surely, Christians believe in Jesus despite his Olivet Discourse 'this generation' prophecy? They will focus on the testimony of his miracles and resurrection and that most of the disciples gave their lives for their faith.

BTW - please do tell me what is offensive?
 
Poem said:
Surely, Christians believe in Jesus despite his Olivet Discourse 'this generation' prophecy? They will focus on the testimony of his miracles and resurrection and that most of the disciples gave their lives for their faith.
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Yes. You've finally figured it out.
Poem said:
BTW - please do tell me what is offensive?
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You trying to make my personal life a part of this debate.

How else can I explain this to you, in words that you will understand, take seriously, and remember the next time you're tempted to make my personal life a part of this debate?
 
theprestige said:
Yes. You've finally figured it out.
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Not at all - I've always know this.
theprestige said:
You trying to make my personal life a part of this debate.

How else can I explain this to you, in words that you will understand, take seriously, and remember the next time you're tempted to make my personal life a part of this debate?
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Okay - clearly a sensitive issue, so I'll leave off it.
 
theprestige said:
You keep pretending you don't.
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I'm not pretending anything, Jesus's Olivet prophecy is a reason to doubt for some of us. If there was clarity to his words such that all Christians agreed then that would be powerful testimony in itself.

Extremely powerful.
theprestige said:
You didn't leave off after the last time I made it clear. This calls for an apology, not assurances of no more intentional rudeness.
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I can assure I had no intention to be rude - but, sure, I apologize.
 
Poem said:
I'm not pretending anything, Jesus's Olivet prophecy is a reason to doubt for some of us.
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Who is 'us' in this sentence? I mean, you can't mean Christians, because you're not a Christian, right?
But if it isn't Christians you mean, then who? Atheists? I doubt any of the atheist sceptics on this forum have lost any sleep pondering that little snippet of the Bible. Believers in other religions? Again, doubtful. How much time do non-Hindus spend worrying about details of Hindu mythology? Very little, I expect.
Poem said:
If there was clarity to his words such that all Christians agreed then that would be powerful testimony in itself.

Extremely powerful.
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But there isn't. Vague and self-contradictory utterances, based on the knowledge and morality of the people of that time and place, are all this claimed god seems capable of making. If there really was a god, he would, I venture, be able to use his mighty powers of omnipotence to tell us directly who he is and what he wants of us, without all this fannying about with burning bushes, zombie invasions and pieces of silver.
 
Cosmic Yak said:
Who is 'us' in this sentence? I mean, you can't mean Christians, because you're not a Christian, right?
But if it isn't Christians you mean, then who? Atheists? I doubt any of the atheist sceptics on this forum have lost any sleep pondering that little snippet of the Bible. Believers in other religions? Again, doubtful. How much time do non-Hindus spend worrying about details of Hindu mythology? Very little, I expect.
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Well, I'm just fine with it being only me...but i very much doubt that. And, as I have stated a number of times - the OP is but one of a number of issues.
Cosmic Yak said:
But there isn't. Vague and self-contradictory utterances, based on the knowledge and morality of the people of that time and place, are all this claimed god seems capable of making. If there really was a god, he would, I venture, be able to use his mighty powers of omnipotence to tell us directly who he is and what he wants of us, without all this fannying about with burning bushes, zombie invasions and pieces of silver.
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I wouldn't put it as you do - but, sure, with such powers one would assume such a God could communicate his existence as you suggest.

You appear to be somewhat irritated that anyone would even ponder the possibility of some truth in Christianity?

....and on a forum about Religion. What are you suggesting - that ISF shuts down all threads on religion because you think it's all bunk?
 
acbytesla said:
Another very problematic story involves God punishing Adam and Eve for eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Even though God tells them not to eat from it, they would have no concept of what is good and what is bad. This is the equivalent of punishing a baby.
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The whole idea of god punishing us for sinning is just him punishing us for making us in such a way that he knew when and how we would sin. God is punishing us for his own wrongdoing.
 
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