Evidence for why we know the New Testament writers told the truth.

[joobz]

For example in the Muslim religion their beliefs play a greater role in their everyday lives.

Which, by the games you play, means that Islam is more true than christianity. So, shall I expect you to start explaining why there is no god but allah?

 

[X]

We have no signature of Julius Caesar, does that mean he never signed anything. And if your army is defeated and you are a pharaoh or your gods are discredited or another people's God is exalted why write about it and lower your standing with your own people or lower the standing of your own religion.

But this thread is about the New Testament upon which there are nearly 25,000 ancient manuscripts compared to 7 manuscripts for Plato, and 20 for the Roman historian Tacitus' Annuls.

It's interesting how three of the main characters (Jesus, Paul, and Moses) in your so called fictional stories got to be the 3rd, 6th, and 16th, most influential people in the history of the world according to the well known book "The 100: a Ranking of the Hundred Most Influential People in History".

As I have mentioned, the author said Jesus would have been ranked #1 if his teachings played a greater role in the everyday lives of the people who claimed Christianity. For example in the Muslim religion their beliefs play a greater role in their everyday lives.

I'm sorry, this thread is about evidence, not conjecture.


Evidence:

Noun
something which provides ground for belief or disbelief: there is no evidence that depression is inherited

Verb [-dencing, -denced]
to show clearly; demonstrate: you evidenced no talent for music



What someone else believes is NOT evidence.

- Ewart Oakeshott believed in God. It is evident in his writings.
- Ewart Oakeshott was an expert (the expert, in point of fact) on medieval swords.
- Medieval swords exist, and Oakeshott's word is trusted on them since it is accurate.
- Therefore god exists.

It makes just as much sense as your claims.

 

[amb]

And evidence shows that the gospels are, for the most part, fictional stories containing obviously made up stuff (e.g., the census)

For the most part? Try 90% at minimum.

 

[Ichneumonwasp]

It's interesting how three of the main characters (Jesus, Paul, and Moses) in your so called fictional stories got to be the 3rd, 6th, and 16th, most influential people in the history of the world according to the well known book "The 100: a Ranking of the Hundred Most Influential People in History".

As I have mentioned, the author said Jesus would have been ranked #1 if his teachings played a greater role in the everyday lives of the people who claimed Christianity. For example in the Muslim religion their beliefs play a greater role in their everyday lives.

Yes, it is interesting; don't think anyone would deny it. Of course this has nothing to do with whether or not the stories underlying those folks are true. Influence and truth are completely different concepts -- one of the reasons why we have different words to cover them.

You do realize that this is one person's opinion -- that book. He also argues that Shakespeare was really Edward DeVere. Was he correct with that argument?

 

[amb]

Jesus would be the most influential person, according to whom? Xtians only I would hazard a guess. As would muhammad be to muslims, Joseph Smith to mormons, etc.

 

[Akhenaten]

It's interesting how three of the main characters (Jesus, Paul, and Moses) in your so called fictional stories got to be the 3rd, 6th, and 16th, most influential people in the history of the world according to the well known book "The 100: a Ranking of the Hundred Most Influential People in History".

As I have mentioned, the author said Jesus would have been ranked #1 if his teachings played a greater role in the everyday lives of the people who claimed Christianity. For example in the Muslim religion their beliefs play a greater role in their everyday lives.

o rly?


If someone, who shall remain nameless for now, had not invented monotheism on a whim one afternoon, your story book wouldn't even have been written and your alleged main character would have been cutting papyrus up in the delta for five copper deben a day.

So both of your books are wrong. That sucks, eh?


Nepherkheperure Waenre

 

[DOC]

For example in the Muslim religion their beliefs play a greater role in their everyday lives.

Which, by the games you play, means that Islam is more true than christianity. So, shall I expect you to start explaining why there is no god but allah?

Or it could mean the world wouldn't be so screwed up as it is if Christianity played a greater role in the everyday lives of the people who claimed to be followers of this world's #1 religion.

 

[Twiler]

Or it could mean the world wouldn't be so screwed up as it is if Christianity played a greater role in the everyday lives of the people who claimed to be followers of this world's #1 religion.

Are you a Christian, or do you claim to be a Christian?

 

[joobz]

Or it could mean the world wouldn't be so screwed up as it is if Christianity played a greater role in the everyday lives of the people who claimed to be followers of this world's #1 religion.

Or it could mean that theworld would be less screwed up* if everyone were muslims.


*I do not subscribe to the fatalistic view that the world is more screwed up now than it was 1000 years ago. For instance, we are much better off without religion in government. We no longer have evil conceps like slavery or surfdom, which were justified through the bible.

ETA: Hey. McFly!! Your contradiction is showing..

A million years is a given time period. And Christ said no man, not even the Son, knows the day or the hour of the end -- only the Father {God the Father}

Which is why you keep stating that the decaying morality of the United States is a sign that the end times are almost upon us. You aren't giving us a day and hour, but a rough timeline of "soon, really really soon".

Got it.

 

[Lothian]

Or it could mean the world wouldn't be so screwed up as it is if Christianity played a greater role in the everyday lives of the people who claimed to be followers of this world's #1 religion.

What do you mean by screwed up? Medicine and technology have advanced the quality of life and life expectancy tremendously as time has gone by.

If you are judging it by your Christian morality you are using the wrong test. Humanity has by and large left behind the intolerance and hate preached in the bible.

Given that many Christians have fought each other for years, your ‘greater role’ statement is ludicrous. It appears to me that it is the most devout of a religion that murder doctors, commit terrorism or preach hate. The dilution of all religion is far more likely to lead to a better society.

The world’s number one religion as you describe it is far from united. It is a mix of over 700 different sects. From what was probably a fairly united beginning it has split and split again. The issue of homosexuality is likely to lead to further divisions. While, as time progresses, religions strive to drive people apart it is only Atheism that remains exactly the same today as is always has. That is why more and more people are leaving religion behind.

 

[Paulhoff]

This says a lot..........



Paul

 

[DOC]

Are you a Christian, or do you claim to be a Christian?

Is the pope Catholic?

 

[DOC]

ETA: Hey. McFly!! Your contradiction is showing..

Hokulele may have said I said something in your post 4889, but I don't believe I ever said what Houkele said I believed. You should let "my" posts do the talking about my beliefs rather than what Hokulele thinks I said.

Unfortunately this is a regular occurrence in my threads of people misrepresenting my beliefs. I'm getting tired of constantly using the term "strawman".

 

[Lothian]

I'm getting tired of constantly using the term "strawman".

If you get bored, try for a change offering up some evidence for why we know the New Testament writers told the truth.

 

[DOC]

What do you mean by screwed up? Medicine and technology have advanced the quality of life and life expectancy tremendously as time has gone by.

Read the newspapers and watch the news about stuff happening in your city. It seems to me that people are killing their own kids quite often now where I never remember hearing about that in the 60's and 70's.

And Jefferson lived to be 81 and John Adams lived to be 90 without modern medicine. I don't see any improvement on that. And less and less people can actually afford the medical advances you talk about. Also more people are overweight now than ever before.

 

[Lothian]

uotp

Read the newspapers and watch the news about stuff happening in your city. It seems to me that people are killing their own kids quite often now where I never remember hearing about that in the 60's and 70's.

Allegedly the practice dates back some 2000 years to a fable where a 'God' sent his son to be killed. Many Christians have followed this example and killed their kids in a mistaken belief that they go to a better place. In my city things are improving well. Once we tuft out the residents of this monstrosity and convert it into flats it will be about perfect.

And Jefferson lived to be 81 and John Adams lived to be 90 without modern medicine. I don't see any improvement on that.

Some people live to be 100. You need to look at the average not the peaks.

And less and less people can actually afford the medical advances you talk about. Also more people are overweight now than ever before.

We don't pay for medicine in atheist Europe, the secular state looks after us. Paying for care is an American Christian phenomenon. We are also slimmer. In the Middle East, India & Pakistan you do not get the obesity you see in America. Christianity obviously makes you fatter than the other faiths.

 

[Twiler]

DOC, suppose I find a one-page holy book that reads: Zeus is responsible for everything and demands a cow sacrificed everyday. Should I sacrifice a cow everyday? After all, 'Zeus is responsible' explains the whole universe.

 

[zooterkin]

Allegedly the practice dates back some 2000 years to a fable where a 'God's sent his son to be killed. Many Christians have followed this example and killed their kids in a mistaken belief that they go to a better place.

And I seem to recall a previous example, where this same god demanded someone sacrifice his own son. That he then changed his mind doesn't change that he expected Abraham to be prepared to kill his own son.

 

[joobz]

Hokulele may have said I said something in your post 4889, but I don't believe I ever said what Houkele said I believed. You should let "my" posts do the talking about my beliefs rather than what Hokulele thinks I said.

Unfortunately this is a regular occurrence in my threads of people misrepresenting my beliefs. I'm getting tired of constantly using the term "strawman".

I'm sure you are, but this isn't a strawman.

 

[Lothian]

And I seem to recall a previous example, where this same god demanded someone sacrifice his own son. That he then changed his mind doesn't change that he expected Abraham to be prepared to kill his own son.

This God is a tad obsessed with infanticide. He sends plagues that infect the mind and causes people to kill their own children. If that is not bad enough he also makes them eat them.


2 kings 6:28 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son tomorrow.

6:29 So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son

This god is proud of this 'party trick' and likes to brag about it.

Jeremiah 19:6 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter.
.....
19:9 And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them.