You all who doubt Christ ever was real...?

Question

If Jesus Christ never existed, then go ahead and tell me the date. Todays date. Which would be July 10, 2006 A.D. right? (A.D. meaning Anno Domini meaning "in the year of our Lord" and they have been counting using A.D. since Christ's birth) So, if Christ never existed as you say, why have they been using B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini) for 2000 years now?

Never existed? Really? So they just made up one day over 2000 years ago the whole B.C./A.D. thing?

Why is it stupid? Because I'm serious here, I'm not trying to put anyone down it's just that so many people on here don't believe Jesus ever existed. I just wanted to hear what they thought about this.

Answer 1

First, the historic facts.

The current dating system was set in the VI century, that is to say, after more than 500 years since Jesus believed birth year. So, we have been using this system for a bit over than 1400 years, the monk who estimated the starting point of the calendar obviously didn't live in the christ era, he estimated the date according to his beliefs and not according to facts. This calendar, known as gregorian calendar, replaced the julian calendar created by Julius Caesar, before the christ era.

Second, the logical statement.

Your statement is a fallacy known as post hoc ergo propter hoc, that is to say, you are correlating Jesus existence because the existence of a calendar using his estimated birth year as a starting point. The fact is, the monk who designed the calendar knew as much about Jesus as you do today, he had faith he existed, that's all we know about it. Another problem, if the calendar validates the existence of Jesus, does the names given to the week days validate the existence of nordic gods? Since the names are taken from that. January takes its name from the god Janus, does that mean Janus exists (or existed)? Check your logic.

Answer 2

Wow. After scholars from all over the world have tried in vain to prove that God exists you have managed to achieve it so eloquently with perfect logic right here on Yahoo! Answers. Amazing.

However, there is one minor flaw in your 'logic.' The Christian calendar is an arbitrary system created by academics centuries ago based on some arbitrary date that many believe is actually incorrect, from Jesus' time. It does not prove that Jesus Christ was the son of God or God as man. All it proves is that some men centuries ago picked a time and dated everything from that time.

Your other argument is that since this dating system has been going on for 2000 years it must be right. Well slavery has also been going on even longer than that. Do you think slavery is right too?

When you get to college take some philosophy classes and then try again once you have a more reasonable argument to present.

Answer 3

Christ could have been a historical figure, this is no doubt that is a possibility. In fact, I'd even say that he did exist, but as to the fact that he was the "son of God", that is to be debated.

However, I would ask that you stop trying to post inflammatory questions here. There comes a point where people should respect each other's beliefs. The last four or five questions that you've posted explicitly target people that don't believe what you do. You did get called a few names, that is true, and that's not fair, however, what did you expect? If you pose your question with the attitude "Atheists and Evolutionists have no proof" why bother asking the question in the first place? No one is going to be able to convince you otherwise, no matter how hard they try.

People have different beliefs. There's no reason we should have to push them onto each other, wether we be atheists, evolutionists, christians, buddhists, daoists, or otherwise. You know that, and so do I.

Please be nice.

Answer 4

This is a cultural phenomenon. Today is also Monday, which is derived from the Latin roots that mean "Moon day". Similarly, Sunday is for the sun, Tuesday is for Mars (it is "mardi" in French and "martes" in Spanish), Wednesday is Mercury ("mercredi" in French and "miercoles" in Spanish)...etc...

The days were most likely named this way because of polytheism. The Greeks in particular thought that there was a god behind just about everything in the sky. They had Apollo for the sun, Ares (the god of war) for Mars, etc...

So if the AD in the date "proves" Jesus, then the days "prove" Greek gods.

Further, there are many cultures around the world which operate on a different calendar system. The Jews and the Chinese, for example, are celebrating something like the Year 5768 and the Year 4704, respectively. (Numbers may not be exact... I'm just ballparking).

I'm not saying that Jesus was fake (I will not state any position on that), I'm just pointing out that your argument is weak.

You should allow yourself to be exposed to more of the world, and you will see that some things you take for granted are actually just culturally-biased viewpoints. Further, you should probably not pose questions in an arrogant tone. It's un-Christian-like and it only causes more embarrassment when someone smarter comes along and proves you wrong.

Answer 5

Christianity has played a dominant role in the development of Western civilization over the past two thousand years. A prime example is the dating system we commonly use which was instituted by the monk Dionysius Exiguus in or about the year AD 532. The scheme is based on Exiguus' determination of the year in which Jesus Christ was born. For instance, in the date AD 2001, the prefix "AD" stands for "Anno Domini" which is Latin for "the year of our Lord." Similarly, in the date 500 BC, the suffix "BC" stands for "Before Christ."

This is a quote - the date convention was not fixed at the time of Christ's so-called birth, but 500 or so years later. There's your answer.

Answer 6

I am sure a MAN named Jesus Christ existed, and became known for his goodness, and his beliefs he spread. However that does not mean that he was resurected or any of the the other folk tales are true. Even the Bible tells you not to take it for the letter.. Instead take it for the spirit. That tells me that it is a book full of parables, morals and legends. Not entirely based on fact. But that doesn't mean a legend can't exist in some form and have some history effected by it.

Answer 7

Well you genius because even if Christ didn't exist the year 1 AD is the birth of Christianity. Most people that think he didn't exist just think that he wasn't Gods son and do you seriously think that it takes Gods son coming to earth to start our counting years? You are aware that there are other religions who are now in a totally different year aren't you? Muslims for example.

Answer 8

yes, actually they did "just make it up." People have been doing that sort of thing for a while now.

I am assuming that you are very, very, very young, and very, very, very unlearned.

There is absolutely no historical or archaeological proof whatsoever that Jesus existed.

My question to you is: does it matter? If we look at Jesus, what, really, was his message? What did he really say? Not what did Paul say about Jesus. Not what your preacher says about Jesus. What message did Jesus himself say was most important? "Love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself."

Now, it doesn't really matter if he was real or not, does it, because as long as you follow that teaching - can you go wrong? If you give honor to whatever you regard as divine, and you give honor to all other living beings, won't that make your life better, and won't that make the world a better place?

So regardless of whether Jesus existed or not, you can be inspired by him.

The truths that lie behind the story of Jesus are far more important than the question of whether he literally existed or not.

Answer 9

SSSSSHHHHHHH!!!

Why do you insist on arguing with those who are dead set against your values. Your "head" knowledge of the Lord is great for someone so young, but your "heart" knowledge is lacking. What is your purpose with these arguments... "they that are blind to the truth know not that they are blind" If you think you will convince a single soul, especially by your tone you are already defeated. Our Lord didn't dignify his accusers with responses when he was accused, nor should you.
"When angry you are ...defeated you will be"

You should go back and read just what YOU have written. Don't read any responses. listen to the tone of your comments and see if the term "holier than thou" comes to mind?

Sometimes God needs believers and sometimes zealots. He'll tell you when. You have to be quiet to hear the message.

Answer 10

Actually it's been used for only some 1300 years or so and the guy that started it didn't get the year of Christ's birth quite right.