Here is a thought for those claiming to be religous. What if a messiah showed up today claiming to be the messiah. What if he denounced everything you believed?
What if he said.
Mohammed was just a enlightened warmaker who led his people to unity and god never spoke to him.
Also god's name is not Allah
Jesus was just a pacifist intellectual, but not the son of god.
Moses was a liberator and a good statesman, but his laws were not the laws of god given to man.
There is no eternal reward or punishment other than the earthly ones.
Would anyone believe him? Would anyone actually see him as the messiah or are people so tied to scripture, ceremony, history, and other learned concepts that they would deride him and treat him like the scum of the earth? Meaning if someone told the truth would anyone listen.
2006-10-19 07:46:58 · 16 answers · asked by The One Truth 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This question is on the assumption that the person really is the messiah.
2006-10-19 07:47:33 · update #1
Wow so we believe in miracles and scriptures more than the one who claims to have the word of god. We are skeptical people aren't we. This is all assuming miracles exist. This coming from people who justify their beliefs on faith alone.
2006-10-19 07:53:34 · update #2
I didn't think that god was only about eternal rewards and punishment. So nobody would believe that there can be a god with out an eternal consequenced.
2006-10-19 07:57:12 · update #3
I am just trying to sample the opinion of modern society of even if someone came would we believe him. Sorry to offend because I am an atheist, but I wonder if people are too attatched to religious scriptures and preconceptions written by man when we will die to say we are right and you are wrong.
2006-10-19 08:02:36 · update #4
The guy brought up a good point. No one should listen to anyone claiming to be the messiah. However if you read the question the question is based on what if he was real and do you really think anyone would actually follow him even if he was the real one. Its a hard concept to accept, but try.
2006-10-19 08:05:13 · update #5
I as well as everyone else would like to think we could see through the man to the truth that he holds. We would like to think that if he were the real messiah we could see and beleive. But honestly I don't expect any of us would. As you said it is programmed in our brains, almost branded in our thoughts of religion and what or who the real messiah is. I dont' think anyone would beleive him. If anyone did they would be called heretics or crazy and denounced by everyone else as a poisoned koolaid swigging loon. I guess I'm saying no one wants to hear the truth. We all think we already know the truth and this is good enough for most. Most don't seek knowledge because they think they have it all. Those who challenge us well their goin to *ell if they don't change their ways, right?
2006-10-19 07:55:33 · answer #1 · answered by summer love 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually, then, he wouldn't be the Messiah, would he?
In any event, I don't happen to believe the Bible to be the holy word of God, nor the Koran. I believe these to be enlightened works, but not the word of God.
As far as the Son of God, I believe we are all children of the Divine. So, somebody coming and saying the things you said above would to some point be echoing what I believe. Still, I do see some errors in your writing.
The Messiah, in Christian terms was literally the son of God, so somebody saying he wasn't, automatically disqualifies the one saying it from being the Messiah.
As to the name of God, a name is the word by which a being is known. It's Allah to one group, Jehovah to another, but still the same. If you had a child you let call you 'Joe', and another who called you 'Joseph' would you correct one in the presence of the other?
Then, no-one calls Jesus a pacifist except those who do not understand him. While he said and practiced "turn the other cheek", he told his disciples that a time was coming when they would need to take up their swords. Those aren't the words of a pacifist.
As far as eternal rewards, we see evidence of the same in the ways that our spirit can linger on, encouraging others through the things we've said, done or written. Some claim psychic contact, and there is evidence of reincarnation. Absolute proof... not yet, but maybe some day.
No, your messianic messenger would be deemed a fraud. Sorry.
2006-10-19 14:57:01 · answer #2 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, there is a passage that says that "I am the good shepherd, & know my sheep & am known of mine.As the Father knoweth me, even so I know the Father & I lay down my life for my sheep." But I believe that's how it will be, if you couldn't believe in the real messiah, you must not be a REAL faithful follower of God. I would like to think I would believe Him, as their intentions would be clear~ do they declare peace as did Jesus? Is He looking for $$? Is He kind, caring, and tolerant the way Jesus was? But as for me, no tradition or scripture would keep me bound to a book when God's will is here, & willing to be persecuted for us (cuz that would inevitably happen).
What if it was a woman? What if next time -He sends a daughter to die for us? Wrap your head around that one! U know almost NOONE would believe her!? :o]o;
2006-10-19 15:07:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know that the Anti-Christ is already here.
The Bible tells us that he will bring world peace and be worshipped by many.
That we will be marked with numbers.
That his mark is 666.
If the messiah shows up, it will be Jesus, not just some random person.
I know this because the Bible tells us so.
IF it were not true God would not have said so.
I have NOT read all of the Bible, I am currently skipping through story to story, I believe you can find this in the book of Revelations.
2006-10-19 15:27:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think two things about a possible messiah.
1) A messiah would not be passing judgement on anyone's present beliefs. "Judge not, lest ye be judged and found wanting"
2) A messiah gives his followers an actual inner experience that convinces a follower of the truth of the messiah's words. "many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them."
2006-10-19 14:55:57 · answer #5 · answered by kindricko 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When Jesus comes back I think it could be hard to believe at first with all the wacky things and hype we have today. Somehow if you are a believer after seeing him and listening if your a true believer in short order you would believe it was actually him. But he was hated in his days while here and in some cases still hated and despised and when he comes again no doubt it will be the same.
2006-10-19 14:56:56 · answer #6 · answered by Scott 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd be bummed out! No eternal reward? This life is all there is? That's depressing. I probably would NOT believe the messiah in this instance.
2006-10-19 14:52:23 · answer #7 · answered by Scotsman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if he was the messiah, at the same time he was saying there is no eternal reward,then there would be no god to send a messiah , so your question is a paradox, and therefore couldnt even happen, lol, when you think about it. but your right, no one would believe him anyway.
2006-10-19 14:52:40 · answer #8 · answered by Jeanniegirl 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
So… you're saying anyone claiming to be a messiah should be listened to?
2006-10-19 14:59:04 · answer #9 · answered by luvwinz 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was on a city bus once years ago where a scruffy old man shouted "I am Jesus and I am telling you that January 1st of 2006 the world will end." It was not until this year that I knew for sure he was not Jesus. LOL ;-)
2006-10-19 14:49:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋