I was baptised and brought up a Christian and I say Jesus doesn't and never did exist what do you say?

Question

Please don't bore me with any more about Josephus, Josephus never met Jesus and he also wrote about almost a dozen different Jesus's.

Reply to ST. JOHN:
It is as I said it was,no more and no less, my family continue to be Christians...it took many years to overcome the indcotrination but once it at last fell away I felt whole for the first time in my life and continue to feel content and whole and the world sits right with me.

Reply to Shaman:
no problem, I am a secular humanist and I take great delight and interest in the world and people, I still have hope and trust in and for humanity but I think religion is the problem not the answer.

Answer 1

You got all wet for nothing.

Answer 2

I say you hit it right in your additional notes - Just as Josephus wrote of many teachers, reformers and radicals that all went by the same name (though the name wasn't Jesus, but that's something we've discussed before), so did many others. The "historical Jesus", according to A N Wilson, was a combination of the tales of at least two men 30 years apart, and probably included elements of many other teachers of the time. Like Robin Hood or King Arthur, these amalgamated tales come together around a core story - the betrayal and crucifixion - which we can assume happened to ONE of these men, given the precision of names, events and so on, around events like the Last Supper, Gethsemane, trial before Pilate and Herod etc etc.

However, the contention that all the things attributed to "Jesus" in the New Testament were actually done by one man is flawed, and as such, basing a faith on the idea that this character is THE son of god is a terribly bad idea. Of course, those of us who don't believe in the Judaio-Christian god have an even harder time believing he had a son, but that's another story...:o)

Answer 3

Flyersbible is right. Check out Josephus (sp?) who recorded information about the Christians some thirty years or so after Jesus is reported to have been crucified.

I'd consider it a foregone conclusion the man lived. What he said and did is another matter.

Answer 4

Jesus was born from Joseph and Mary he was born out of wedlock, back in those days was a big no no you could be stoned to death for it, so in my opinion the story was concocted from that to save the family from embarrassment, people where easily swayed about the coming of the Messiah, I do believe it would have been a tough hard life back then lots of slavery no real freedom, so anyone that could give some hope to them would grasp onto it and that's how gatherings and followers began to grow. Of course all of this is just my opinion.

Answer 5

If you were standing in the middle of a road and a truck is coming to mow you down, but you don't believe it cause you were "brought up" around truckdrivers, trucks and pavement, would you still get run over? It's called wishful think if you think you will walk away just fine. Well, concerning your views on Jesus.... You are wrong and foolish, not to mention playing with fire, but oh I guess you conveniently explained that away too.

Answer 6

I would say that you fall into a group of people that it is most difficult to understand your need for Salvation.

You grew up in a Church, you were hand fed the word of God and while you went forward and accepted him as your personal savior and then outwardly declared this by baptism, you never felt it in your heart.

My suggestion would be to read and re read the bible for yourself. Try to ignore all you have been told and just read it for yourself. When the bibles words conflict with what you were brought up with, go with the bible.

Only God can open your eyes to your need to accept Jesus Christ into your heart and soal. This is a personal experience and cannot just be done for "show"

Answer 7

I have been a Christian for 37 years, and have proved God every day. I know Him personally!

Read Romans 1 v 18 -20
and
1 Corinthians chapter 1 v 18-21

Answer 8

Well I'm atheist, and I say Jesus did exist, but he wasn't the son of god. He was just a religious reformer who was filled with righteous anger at the Jewish religion. I don't think he ever wanted to start a new religion, he just wanted to change the Jewish faith.
All that stuff about his performing miracles and rising from the dead is just a load of bunk.

Answer 9

I would say that you don't believe in Jesus. Being baptized and, or being raised in a seemingly Christian family does not make you a Christian, although millions claim it. I find it difficult that you are smart enough to think and type on a keyboard, and have been raised as a Christian and yet do not believe. Most probably you just "think" you were raised Christian. Maybe you and your parents just "think" they are Christian. Its very common.

Answer 10

Someone didn't do a very good job teaching you or you just ignored them. Probably the later. If you will but listen, Jesus can still help you.
Jesus Christ Is the Only Way To Heaven!

In The Holy Bible, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6. He meant “I am the only way to God the Father and to heaven”, “I am the only truth that you need to know.” and “I am the only spiritual life available to mankind.” In other words, “I am the only true and living God.”
All other so-called gods are false gods. They are not real. They do not exist. No other so-called god has the power to forgive, cleanse and remove all your sins from you to get you to heaven. They don't even claim to.
I pray you will believe this and accept the fact that you are a sinner needing to be saved from your sins (“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23, The Holy Bible.) and accept the fact that the blood Jesus Christ shed for you at Calvary is the only way you can have your sins forgiven, cleansed and removed and is the only way you can get to heaven. I pray you will acknowledge that you are a sinner and ask Jesus Christ to forgive, cleanse and remove all you sins and accept Him into your heart/life to live for Him the rest of your life. (“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” John 1:12, in the Holy Bible.) That is what it means to be born again. (“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 in The Holy Bible.)
God loves you and it is not His will that you perish in hell.
(“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9 in The Holy bible.)
This is my prayer for you

Answer 11

I say you need to look at the facts; if nothing else, secular writings of the time prove the existence of Jesus. You might not agree on who He was or what He taught, but it's ridiculous not to believe in His very existence!