Why should I believe in God, Jesus, or anybody?

Now you guys are getting my hint ! Exactly, Alty, go for it, I am with.

GooBoo forever !

I think we may have to worship Binky the bunny God. You and WG ate GooBoo!

Having said that, I'm running away now before Ben or Chuck slap my wrists for hijacking this thread. Wait....did I hijack it this time? Sigh.

Meet me in the discussion forum where we can discuss our new religion.

As much as I'm loving the Gooboo side-trip, I feel a need to be a wet blanket and return to the original question {duck and cover}

Annabear, there are two things I know for sure. First, there has to be a god of some sort who is bigger than the universe and had to put it here. Even the so-called God particle isn't a full explanation for existence because it had to come from somewhere or something. Where did God come from then? Don't know, don't care. But the fact of existence and all we know scientifically about the origin of the universe and everything else argues for some creative force. Call it God, call it X, call it late for supper, it doesn't matter. There has to be something "out there."

Second, it's a historically-probable fact that Jesus of Nazareth, a first-century itinerant Jewish preacher, died and rose again. There are a number of facts that just about all but the most radically anti-Bible scholars accept, including
1. He did exist. There's plenty of evidence for it.
2. He was dead. The Romans excelled at putting people to death.
3. The tomb was found empty.
4. Numerous people, followers and non-followers alike, reported seeing him alive after his death and burial. He was seen by individuals and groups, and we have credible eyewitness testimony to all of it.
5. Even opponents like James and Paul (there's no reason to doubt the existence of either one) came to the conclusion that this event really happened. We might be able to explain away James based on guilt, but not Paul. Paul was convinced he was doing God's work by trying to wipe out this new belief system. He honestly believed he was doing good, then suddenly did a 180 and was willing to die for his faith.
6. Something transformed a handful of scared rabbits into bold preachers who were willing to give their lives for the idea that Jesus rose. If the story was false, they had no good reason to go to such lengths. Liars don't make martyrs, especially when there's everything to lose and nothing to gain.

That's just a few. I don't know why you want to completely exclude the Bible, since it is a reasonably accurate record of the events surrounding the beginning of Christianity. The book of Acts, as well as the letters of Paul that we know are authentic, give us enough to establish the facts above. And that's not to mention the writings of Pliny, Josephus and other contemporaries who watched this new movement appear and grow.

I disagree with Alty on one point: real faith isn't blind. It's rooted in facts. There's a lot that we can't prove, sure. But there's enough of a foundation to have an informed faith, one that looks at the facts and draws reasonable conclusions from them. In the case of Jesus, we have enough foundation to do that.

Dave,

While I agree with you completely. I remember watching Peter Jennings do this story something about searching for Jesus. I had the impression he really didn't buy into the life and resurrection of Jesus. But at the end, he had all these different people, historian, theologians, skeptics all say basically the same thing. The all admited that SOMETHING had to have happened concerning what his disciples witnessed. They based it on how the early Christians were tortured for their beliefs. They all agreed on that best i can remember.

Incidently, I noticed you weren't too impressed with my thoughts on the Jews...not surprised though. You really need to rethink your position. You couldn't be more wrong.....well, aside from your political views.

Say it was written by men, and no one ever said God wrote it, he merely inspired man to write. But men writing it, is evidence, just like testifying in court.

It is like saying I have to touch the stove top, to see if it is hot, I can't beleive the warning sign since I don't know who wrote it, and I don't believe anyone that ever touched the stove has written the warning. You don't want to discuss or accept the bible, since it is the proof you refuse to accept

I didn't have anything to add to it. I don't necessarily disagree with what you said, I just didn't have anything to say about it. Your next assignment: come up with a cure for which there is no known disease. Oh wait, you just did that! :P

Because 1 year ago I was like you I KNEW that Jesus didn't exist. Until I opened my eyes and ears and listened " really listened" it all made perfect sense, and from the second I wispered to GOD ( wow God I BELIEVE and I want you to come into my life) in an instant from my head to my toes I felt GODS love fill my body. A few weeks later I read about when you invite GOD into your life he instantly fills us with his holy spirit .
In a nut shell I know my GOD lives. A year ago I would have been calling me a nutter. Give GOD a chance!!!:-)
GOD bless u

wonderful post, Friend of GOD

Thanks Bro
;-)

The Jew? Could you be more offensive? The Puerto Rican, the Black, are no less offensive.

Have you tried asking The Jew any of your questions? Posting about The Jews and your problems understanding Judaism on the Christian Board is like asking vegetarians about pot roast.

If The Jews discussed The Christians on The Jewish Board it would be inappropriate and out of place. I feel the same way here. You are discussing an entire religion behind that religion's back.

I'm always amused by the "Love God" people who can't wait to swipe at something they don't understand - such as Judaism. I think (much as you think about The Jew) that there are two problems with organized religion: (1) People who are repenting or regreting something or other and, therefore, have turned into zealots; (2) People who judge others based on "their" religious beliefs. Oh, wait, there's a third. People who can barely form words and sentences and suddenly see the light and feel compelled to discuss it (using words they barely understand).

"And I think the Jew alone is enough for anyone to come to their senses and recognize that there IS a God."

You've studied Christianity and that gives you insight into The Jews? Please.

And for the record, no, I'm not The Jew. And also I'm not going to discuss religion - I just "think" (in the same way you think about The Jew) that this is inappropriate.

There are people whose words are inspirational - Frchuck, Don, a handful of others. Everyone else it's judgmental, judgmental, judgmental.

Read The Holocaust Chronicle published by Louis Weber. After you've studied that, then come back and preach about what The Jews should and shouldn't expect and want and why they MIGHT want to live apart, in their own Country, with their own religion and maybe even their own language. Until then it is offensive to discuss The Jew on The Christian Board where there are no Jews posting.

And, yes, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti sounds like a good idea. It would be two for one. After we worship the Spaghetti we can eat it.