Why do People believe in Jesus and Christianity when it was all MADE-UP?

Question

There are Unicorns in the Bible. UNICORNS!!!!!!! How could anyone in thier right mind believe any of this stuff. It's all made up. Not just Christianity but all religions. IT'S MADE UP- its fake and will not lead you towards any truth. Is it because people are expecting an afterlife to make themselves feel better? Jesus himself probably never existed as he never left any writings. Plus instead of using his supposed "powers" to cure many of the diseases during his time he used his "powers" to curse a Fig Tree. What a douche-bag Jesus was!

Seriously, how could anyone actually believe that they are important enough, out of all the animals in the animal kingdom, to warrant themselves an "afterlife"? Talk about stupid! Those "near death experiences" we hear about are/were just hallucinations of a dying asphyxiated (choked) brain! It amounts to no evidence at all for an afterlife! So why? - Why do people believe in this unnecessary religious garbage?

The Book of JOB - 39:9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?

Answer 1

When I read your question, I thought: "who is this person". I bet it all that you were an academic. You are probably in first year or are at least still an undergrad. I agree with much of what you have to say and I think we may have much in common. I too am an agnostic (for reasons different than your own) and I am also an academic (PhD, actually). I beg you to consider, however, whether you may not be as closed minded as those who you deem closed minded or as those who adopt soley religious perspectives and explanations.

I can't write a book here, so I'll just offer the following:

From an empirical standpoint: have you ever read the "Discussion" aspect of an RCT (i.e., random clinical trial). Contained within are future hypotheses, most of which are conjectural. These types of studies have also actually functioned to increase religiosity. You might want to check out Micheal Persinger's work.

Do you also realize that statistical analyses do not "prove" anything, but merely demonstrate things within (usually) a 95% confidence interval. Have you not heard of qualitative studies?? The RCT always trumps a qualitative study, however, when dealing with issues that can not be quantified, a good qualitative study will always trump an RCT. They are gaining recognition to measure the unquantifiable.

I have read the same research as you have and you've quite accurately regurgitated the material. As a fellow agnostic, empiricist, and academic, I know that you are also selling your brain short by not entertaining the possibility of the unmeasurable. Perhaps you are more interested in being controversial, judgemental, and right??

Answer 2

Those near death experiences don't have anything on an afterlife. When you die, you die. People in near death experiences have also seen pixies, leprechauns and many bizzare unbiblical things.

Why are unicorns so hard to believe? The root word for unicorn in the Bible is re'êm re'êym rêym rêm; which also means a conspicouos wild bull, the unicorn is never described.

Perhaps you should look at history, and compare it with Bible prophecy, its sad that so little Christians circles today teach Bible prophecy. Sire Isaac Newton, one of the brightest men of his time spent 15 years studying the Bible and he believed it to be fact - all due to Bible prophecy.

As for the fig tree, it was an acted out parable. It represented Israel. Israel claimed to be Godly, but they didn't ever act that way, they looked like they bore fruit, but in reality they didn't. The gentiles are represented by a leafless and fruitless tree. God is dissapointed with lukeworm Christians; they draw near with their mouths, but their hearts are far from him.

If you truely want to answer if the Bible is reliable, look at the prophecy's of daniel and revelation - there is a link to some on this site down here.

Answer 3

how do u know it was all made up? do u have psychic powers? maybe there are aspects of all the religions that are myths, but in all the religions there are aspects that are true, and have been proven.
don't forget that a lot of words in the bible are metaphors, and whether u believe Jesus walked this earth or not is irrelevant, he may not have left any personal writings, but he traveled far and wide, and people he spoke to left writings of the person called Jesus, from many different places.
there was no TV news or Internet back then, and no cars or cell phones, so how could so many people have heard of him?
he had to have existed and traveled around, leaving his message.
religion isn't garbage, people's mis-interpretations of religion is the garbage.

Answer 4

There are unicorns in the bible? What bible are you reading? Oh, let me guess, you've never actually READ it, or any part of it, or you would know that there are no unicorns in it. Since you haven't read it, any argument against it you make is moot, since you only received your flawed knowledge through another source. At least know your subject a little bit before you try to argue it.

By the way, why does what I believe piss you off so much? How does it have any bearing on you? You get mad when others tell YOU what to believe, what makes you think that we'll toss out our beliefs because some random person on Yahoo Answers, who doesn't even know the basics of what's in the bible, tells us we're wrong?

I pray that God blesses you and that you find the happiness you're looking for, Friend.

Just because you don't believe in God, doesn't mean He doesn't believe in you.

Answer 5

The bible is a compilation of books written by many different authors. These authors life many years apart, some 100s year or more. The thing to marvel at is that these book do concur with each other.

Some of these book were found and displaced in London Museum.

I have meet research scientist try to do a research to proof that Christinity is not true, after many years of research, he was not able to find any proof - he became a Christian.

Do not just read the bible a bit here and a bit there, you have to understand the whole story. Just like a friend, you have to understand his whole personality and character....not just those little minor things he/she does.

May I suggest you read like a story book for a start....

Answer 6

I don't know what is worse. the fact that you say there are unicorns, or that only 1 person called you on it. And some of the people responding claim to be believers. It is expected that you have no clue, why should you be any different today than any other day. But the fact that so few people actually read their bibles is sad.

On the plus side, I guess it shows that a lot of people who hate the bible, really don't know anything about it. If you do ever take the time to learn for yourself. maybe you will change your mind.

Answer 7

First of all, what exactly does it say about unicorns?
Secondly, even Jews who don't view Jesus as the Messiah, acknowledge his existence. It is well documented. In fact according to the Talmud, one of the reasons Jesus was crucified was he was "practicing magic, that he learned in Egypt".
Thirdly, and lastly due to your total ignorance of this historical event, he did reportedly "cure" diseases--as is mentioned several times in the Bible. I could refute everything you have said, but you're apparently so closed-minded you wouldn't acknowledge the truth if it hit you in the face.
And you shouldn't mock Jesus by calling him names, however you feel about his followers.

Answer 8

What "Bible" have you been reading? I promise you there is no mention of unicorns in the real Bible. Jesus used his authority as God to heal many people, and he cursed the fig tree as an example of what happens to a Christian who does not "bear fruit". We are special enough because God loves us and made us DIFFERENT then the animals. Do animals debate theology? Politics? Sure, they can be intelligent, but not to the extent that we are! What "near death" experiences? I am a diehard Christian. I have never been close to death, but I am going to heaven some day and unless you repent you are going to hell. It is never too late, but you need God. You are a sinner, as am I, but God forgives and washes away our sin. Stop pushing Him away!

Answer 9

The believers KNOW that the fairy tales are just made-up stories that cannot be proved, but they have to pretend to be holy and to have great faith in a god who can do impossible things. That's due to all of the brain-washing that they have lived with. Plus, the fear that hell might be real, so even if a lot of their beliefs have no substance, they won't take a chance.

It's like having a black cat cross your path, or breaking a mirror and then having 7 years of bad luck. Big superstitions!

Answer 10

People believe for several reasons.

It's traditional: most people grow up in religious families and simply would rather not question something so sacred. Certainly not the smartest thing to do, as humanity's greatest asset is its ability to ask questions.

It's comforting: usually pertaining to death, but this can cover other areas. People are afraid of what they don't know, especially when they don't have a choice about it. So, instead of having to face death head on, people find comfort in the idea that "hey, maybe there is something else. It's not so bad after all."

It makes sense to them: this is hopefully the biggest reason. A person may hear about Christ, or Allah, or Moses, or whichever prophet or deity (or deities) they believe in, and it strikes a chord. It makes sense to them. Somewhere, in the back of their mind, they say "Yes. I believe that's correct." You can't really control this one.

I hope I've shed some light on it. There are probably other reasons, but I don't know them (or cannot think of them).