Doesn't history tell us Jesus was nothing more than an earlier Jerry Falwel.?

Question

Isn't it a historical fact that there were no christians in Jesus's time frame. Jesus was a jew though and though, and his interest lay in controling religious views of the jewish religion. He expressed no interest out his small realm of thought and members/clan(later called disciples). Christianity came into being as a result of the Roman emporer;s attempt to bring his empire closer together by adapting a singular religion and copeid the jews in doing so. Jesus was a really insignificent factor in his time, and opnly became a promenent factor after the decision by the roman empire to create the holy roman catholic church.

Answer 1

that's a stupid thing to say. study harder.

Answer 2

Nope. Your pre-supposition is false.

First, Jesus is much more than a "Jerry Falwell" (and even Jerry Falwell would tell you that). Y'see, Jerry Falwell hasn't resurrected anyone to my knowledge, he has not performed miracles, he has not walked on water, and he was not predicted in the text of the Old Testament. Christ was all of those things and much, much more.

Second, A "Christian" is someone who follows Christ. And he had followers in his day--many, many people came to hear the Sermon on the Mount and other events. There were many Christians in His time frame, and yes this is all documented and recorded outside of the Bible too.

Third, Orthodox Christianity is much, much older than the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholics split off over a disagreement of theological nature--although if you ask the RC's they'll probably say the O's split off. Regardless, the "Roman Catholic Church" was branched off from the original teachings of Jesus's day and carried through by the Disciples.

Fourth, Jesus was not insignificant in his time--even His birth brought "wise men from afar." And, although His family fled into Egypt for a time to avoid this, caused the government to begin the systematic execution of the firstborn sons of all family memebers in Israel. Call it evil, call it whatever--but it "ain't insignificant" for sure.

Did the Roman Empire use Christianity for political reasons? Maybe, maybe not. Don't really care. If they did, that wouldn't make Jesus insignificant, it would just make the Romans stupid.

Answer 3

As for Jesus being like Jerry Falwell , Not . Jesus came in the form of a lowly servant knowing how people were before He got here . Those romans are just one of the major factors in His death . Jesus is Lord , God is Lord , get it ? How can you even think or even compare Him to a human ? The roman catholic church teaches false doctrine . They invented traditions to make it more appealing to them . They call their priest father . Matthew 23:9 Jesus came for all and went through excruciating physical and mental pain . Be careful what you speak , you will be judged by the idle words you say .

Answer 4

Oh dear.

You're comparing Jesus to Jerry Falwell?

My apologies to the east, but that's like comparing Ghandhi to an Islamic terrorist.

(Not that Falwell is a terrorist... but just that the comparison is completely illogical, if you actually examine Jesus' character and compare it to the modern-day televangelist type.)

I would suggest (seriously) you read through the gospels and study the content of Jesus' message and how he interracted with human beings, and then compare it to the blatant manipulation that occurs with many tv preachers who are out to build large financial empires. There is simply no comparison at all. None.

Jesus was the first "Christian," true. He was a Jew. But he had no interest in controlling religious views and did what was in his power to avoid being taken seriously, politically.

He presented himself as what he claimed to be, and allowed people to decide what they wanted to do. In many cases, he specifically taught things that were hard, in order to make it difficult to be his follower.

For example (and these are just generalized comments):

* The whole comment about "drinking his blood and eating his flesh" was very repulsive to the culture, and MANY turned away... so many that Jesus asked his disciples if they would "leave him too."

* He taught in parables specifically so that only the real committed people would bother to search him out more.

* He kept NOT telling people to reveal who he was to others, and to keep it secret. There were a number of people claiming to be political messiahs in that day and age, but Jesus was not interested in bringing the Jews out from under the thumbs of the Romans and did not want his message to be misinterpreted -- his kingdom was spiritual, not political.

It was clear from Jesus' comments that he wanted to bring a new religious kingdom / way of living to the world. Very clear. He specifically ordered them to carry the message outwards, into the rest of the nations. He was always outwards directed, bringing his vision first to the Jews but then to the rest of the world.

Your comments don't seem to show a real review of the information. The opening quote: "Isn't it a historical fact that there were no Christians in Jesus' time frame?" Well, isn't that a little ... obvious? People were named Christians for following the teachings of Jesus. If that point is somehow supposed to be a main feature of your argument, it suggests the rest of your comments are not as informed as they could be.

If you want to really get a better grasp of what was going on, I recommend reading through the gospels and then a variety of books (pro and con... not just con) about the church's earlier history.

Answer 5

No, he was more like Martin Luther, who questioned the authority and money-grabbing of the Catholic priests/bishops/pope 1500 years later. Jesus did the same thing with the Levite priests of his time.

The Roman emperor (who was Cesar Augustus at the time of Jesus) did not create Christianity. Quite the opposite. Christians were killed in Rome for many decades. Maybe you've heard the phrase "feed the Christians to the lions." Christians were put into the collesium with lions. Crowds paid to see the lions eat the Christians. You can visit the remains of this very same collesium in Rome today. Rome is in Italy.

Christianity was first spread outside the Israel region by Paul, who wrote most of the letters that make up the New Testament in the Bible. The names of the towns he wrote letters to are the names of those books in the Bible. Paul was eventually captured and killed by Cesar Augustus in Rome.

After Paul's death, followers of Paul kept teaching and Christianity spread, albeit underground and for fear of death for Christians for many decades.

Answer 6

Not in total agreement with you on the creation of Christianity. You are right but I think more of the credit goes to Paul, the reformed Jew who had turned Roman. Jesus was not interested in the power and money of the adjustments he was trying to make to Mass Judaism of his day so I think that precludes him from being a Jerry Falwell, possibly more of a Martin Luther.

Answer 7

I totally disagree with your view of who Jesus was. Jesus always maintained who He was and that was God's Son and was also clear about His purpose in coming to earth and that was to be the ONLY acceptable sacrifice for mankind's sins. Before Christ the Jews, God's chosen people, would go to the priest and annually bring a sacrifice for their sins each year. Jesus Christ birth was foretold for many years before He came. Christians was a name given to those that followed Christ and most of them were Jews, just like Christ, in the beginning but the Apostle Paul was specifically chosen to take the ministry of Christ to the Gentiles. A person chooses to believe or not believe based upon if they have Faith in Christ it is as simple as that. If you believe that Christ sacrifice on the cross and His shed blood atones for our sins then you have met God's requirements for forgiveness but if you think Christ as just another man or church member then you have not met God's demands. Basically I feel you are closed to accepting any possibility that Christ is who he said he was so it really doesn't matter either way.

Answer 8

You are on the right track by questioning and wanting to learn. Many believe as you have - if you are serious about studying this and seeking the truth read "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel (a former atheist) it's no easy read, it's detailed and intellectual, but you'll learn much about history and Christian history. Strobel was determined to prove the whole Christianity thing was a fable and wanted to put that to rest once and for all. I think you'd like the book. God bless you as you seek the truth. ~Nisa

Answer 9

No he wasn't another Jerry Falwell
Unless Jerry can walk on water and raise the dead and heal the sick and mirculously provide food for thousands out of a few fishes and a loaf of bread.
Jesus was always thought of as more than just a man
They wanted to make him king
they worshiped him and he appeared to them 3 days after his death to show them he had been resurrected.
Lets see jerry do that

Answer 10

Do me a favor before reading anymore. Take your right hand, make a fist, knock on you head(that thing between your shoulders) Now repeat these words, Hello, hello, is anyone there. The little man in your brain has gone to sleep. Wake him up and then go read your Bible KJV.

Answer 11

I agree with much of what you say, but I think Paul was the architect of Christianity and it was a ground-swell movement that the Romans DID adapt to their own use.