Is it possible to be a Christian but believe that Jesus never existed?

Question

One could consider everything in the Bible to be stories like the stories of fiction of nowadays which always have a degree of truth to them. All the miracles or miraculous events that are mentioned violate the rules of Nature and for anyone who does not believe in fairy tales these miracles are quite unnecessary for belief in a supernatural power. But the stories are there to signal the power of the Divine to those who can comprehend it in only such a way. And most believers seem to need this mode of comprehension. Which is fine.

On the other hand even if one does not believe that Jesus existed Christianity offers a framework (church, services, homily, etc) for cultivating a relationship with the divine. It would be something like a Hindu who thinks that Krishna is simply a character from ancient stories.

Answer 1

How can anyone call himself / herself a follower of Christ (thus Christ-ian), if he / she doesn't even believe that He exists?!

It is possible to believe in the person of Jesus and not be a Christian but IT IS IMPOSSIBLE to consider yourself a Christian if you don't even believe in the person you are taking your name after. That is just foolish.

Answer 2

No, and that is one of the things that seperates Christianity from most other religions. Christianity is not about following the teachings of a man, it is about following that person themselves. Many religions you could remove the founder, but if you still had the teachings you could proceed just fine. Without Christ you have nothing. The apostle Paul said that even if just the resurection we're not true that we are lost and to be pitied above all men. Without the work of the cross you have nothing. It's also interesting that you say "the stories are there to signal the power of the divine to those who can comprehend it in only such a way" Exactly how is it that you know this it's certainly not a conclusion you could arrive at from within the accounts. Is it just an assumption that it's impossible for the rules of Nature to be violated. If there is a "supernatural power" as you say something outside of nature, and even responsible for nature why is it impossible that the "supernatural power" is bound by the rules the "power" in motion. That's what makes them miracles.

Answer 3

Not in the true meaning of the word "Christian" which requires developing a personal relationship with Jesus. You can't be a true follower of a teacher that never existed. Sure you can go to church services and enjoy the outer trappings but then you are just practicing religion and not truly cultivating a relationship with Jesus.
Question for you....You mention "the miracles" are quite unnecessary for belief in a supernatural power. How do you reconcile having a belief in a supernatural power that doesn't violate the rules of nature? Isn't that what "Super" natural means?

Answer 4

The term 'Christian' means, "belonging to Christ" and is derived from the Greek noun Χριστός Khristós which means "anointed one," which is itself a translation of the Hebrew word Moshiach (Hebrew: משיח, also written "Messiah"), (and in Arabic it is pronounced Maseeh مسيح).

It is not necessary that you could believe the miracles that has done by Jesus Christ. His teachings are one of the most helpful tips to save the mankind. He is a good example of non-violence theory and He can be considered as the first Socialist.

We don't have any solid evidence that Jesus had done miracles, the only evidences that we got is from the Holy Bible because there is no witness at all, otherwise we have to make a 'Time Machine' that can go to the past life and prove Jesus was existed. So, in my opinion don't bother or argue whether the miracles of Jesus were true or false, instead of that take the fruitful teachings that He has provided is the best solution for this wicked world.

Answer 5

NOPE:

Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Joh 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
By the way if you will take about six month to a year of intent study using the bible along with history books, ect. You will come to the conculsion that you can prove that God does exsit and that Jesus was and is real. However most people refuse to set out on such a long study. Perhaps some are afraid that they just might prove that God is alive and well.

Therefore write to Philadelphia Church of God.
PO Box 3700
Edmond, Oklahoma 73083
Request the following, all the research has been done for you.
Does God exsit?
Proof of the Bible.
The United States and Briton in Prophecy.
Yep we are in prophecy. I challenge you to read the three above.

Answer 6

It is possible to believe as you describe, but that would not be called 'Christian' in the true sense of the word. To be a Christian, the belief that Jesus is the real Living Resuurected Son of the Living God. The Apostle's Creed is subscribed to by all real Christians:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified , died and was buried. .....

As for the idea that miracles violate the rules of nature.. to violate would imply to go against them,,, but they can also be seen as transcending or going beyond them in a kind of fulfillment that fell short before the miracle. The miracle of a withered hand that is healed does not violate nature, but fulfills it in a way that transcends what fell short previously.

I can agree with you about the stories being there to signal the power of the Divine to those who can comprehend it in only such a way,,, since the Divine is unfathomable and incomprehensible in its totality,, and so the total reality of the Divine is more than the stories can convey.

Good question.

Answer 7

Yes, this is certainly possible and I know many who take the approach you describe.

It is possible to adhere to Christian ideals and not believe in a historical Jesus.

As well, the church indeed offers the framework you suggest, although you will find some churches more insistent on actual confessed belief in a Savior. Many other more liberal churches tolerate quite a bit of leeway for personal variations on doctrine.

You might also be interested in the atheist philosopher Slavoj Zizek who writes
" that the subversive core of the Christian legacy is much too precious to be left to the fundamentalists."

This is from a review of his book, The Fragile Absolute, which discusses things that are valuable about Christianity from an atheistic perspective.

Answer 8

Even if Christ did not die on the Cross, the value of the Bible to humanity will remain undiminished. Being a Christian means living life the way the Bible tells you to do.
The Hindus may think that Krishna is a mythological character, but the Bhagavatgeeta will always remain one of the greatest religious books of the world.
What your religious beliefs are is not as important as how religious you are.

Answer 9

If being "Christian" meant nothing more than using the Bible as a guideline for good morals, and then relying on your "righteous" lifestyle to make you acceptable to God....then yes, you could. But that isn't what being a Christian means.

Attempting to make yourself acceptable before God with your own "good" lifestyle is what the Bible calls falling from grace.
It's also the place of living under a curse.

It isn't possible to separate true Christianity from Christ, because it isn't possible for you to live righteously enough on your own to
approach God.

Hebrews 10:19-32 gives the clear answer....ONLY the blood of Jesus and His Priesthood enable us to come to God's throne with boldness. It is only through Jesus we can receive "mercy and grace to help in time of need".

You can try to live by the "higher power" of your good morals and deeds, or you can have ultimate freedom in the Most High through Jesus Christ.

But you will never have Christianity without Him.

Answer 10

Well, I'm not a Christian, but I do believe in God. I do wonder about things like this sometimes. Me and my daughter was having a conversation today when she asked me if god made us who made God. And if God made the heavens and the earth then where did he live before. LOL. Of course I didn't have the answers for her, and I'm sure at some point in time everyone has wondered about things in the bible. That's like it doesn't mention dinosaurs in the bible, yet there's proof of them everywhere. Ya know what I mean? Oh well I guess we'll all know all the answers someday huh?