Is Christianity Worthless?

Question

Paul said, "If Jesus didn't rise from the dead we are to be pitied mor than all men...and your faith would be worthless."

Can you prove that, contrary to biblical & secular accounts, Jesus DIDN'T rise from the dead?

Man from Utopia- You didn't offer any proof that he didn't rise from the dead. Your response is therefore worthless.

READ THE QUESTION!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

I cannot prove that because He did. Here is some evidence!

Blessings
David

Soldiers Verify Jesus' Death

The Jews didn't want the bodies on the cross during their special Sabbath (Passover), so they asked Pilate to have their legs broken to hasten death. When the soldiers came to Jesus, they realized He was already dead. To ensure that He was dead the soldiers thrust a spear into His side.

But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water...These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," and, as another Scripture says: "They will look on the one they have pierced." John 19:33-37


The flow of blood and water from Jesus' side is another factor that substantiates His death. Medical experts have stated that the flow of blood and water indicates a possible ruptured heart.1

Pilate and the Centurion

Certify Jesus' Death

Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. -- Mark 15:44-45

Joseph and Nicodemus

Prepare Jesus for Burial

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took Jesus' body to prepare it for burial.

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. -- John 19:38-39

People of ancient Israel washed, then wrapped the bodies of their dead using linen strips of clothing sewn together. Between the wraps of cloth they placed spices. During the burial preparation process, Joseph and Nicodemus would have had close contact with Jesus while they handled and turned His body to wash it. They would likely be able to note life signs were there any.

A Roman Guard Unit was highly disciplined. Simply to leave your post or fall asleep on duty was punishable by death.

Was Jesus' Body Stolen?

Although some theorize that Jesus' body was stolen from the tomb, this was highly unlikely. The tomb was totally secured for the following reasons:

* · it was hewn from solid rock
* · the tomb entrance was enclosed with a one-to-two ton bolder1
* · a Roman seal was placed on the entrance
* · a Roman guard unit was posted to secure the tomb

Solid Rock Tomb with Two Ton Door

Jesus was buried in a solid rock tomb. This solid enclosure would make robbery impossible without notice. The entrance to the tomb was enclosed with a large disc-shaped rock that could roll along a sloped groove to rest in front of the entrance. It has been estimated that a stone large enough to adequately cover this entrance would weigh approximately one to two tons.1

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. -- Matthew 27:57-60 also see Mark 15:46

The women who came to complete the burial of Jesus the following morning were also impressed by the size and weight of the entrance stone.

"and they[the women] asked each other, 'Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?' But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away." -- Mark 16:3-4

Roman Seal Warned Potential Thieves

The official Roman Seal was placed upon the tomb of Jesus to authenticate it and secure it. The seal could only be placed on the entrance to the tomb in the presence of the Roman guards who would be responsible for securing it.
To break this seal would cause the power and authority of Rome to fall upon you. When caught, you would be punished by being crucified upside down! Someone would knowingly be risking severe torture and their life to attempt to steal Jesus' body.

"Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. Matthew 27:65-66

The Roman Seal probably consisted of a cord suspended across the entrance affixed by a waxy seal at each end into which the official would stamp an insignia identifying their authority and warning potential thieves who dared break it.

Disciplined Guard Unit Secured Tomb

There is division among Bible commentators as to what guard unit secured the tomb where Jesus lay. Some say that a Temple guard unit was used, others say it was most likely a Roman guard unit. The Temple guard and the Roman guard were both highly disciplined.

For example, a Roman guard unit consisted of four to sixteen highly disciplined men. Simply to leave your post or fall asleep on duty was punishable by death!2 Roman guards would make certain no one disturbed the tomb. No Roman guard would dare fall asleep while on duty.

The Temple guards were also highly disciplined. If a captain found a guard asleep, he would be beaten and burned with his own clothes.

Undisturbed Grave Clothes Evidence of Resurrection

Bible commentators state that close examination of the text describing the body linen suggests the grave clothes were undisturbed. Not only did the grave clothes not leave the tomb, as would be expected if Jesus' body were stolen, but they were actually undisturbed!

John 20:5-8 gives a graphic description of Peter and John discovering the grave clothes and head cloth:
"he bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. the cloth folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed."

The disciple "saw and believed." The detailed description by John and the reaction by the disciples to the positioning of the grave clothes suggests the disposition of the grave clothes was significant to their believing in the resurrection.

What did they see to make them believe? Bible commentators relate that by layering spices and myrrh between strips of linen, a type of cast would be formed. This encasement would tend to hold its shape and not become limp. If Jesus miraculously passed through the grave clothes an empty shell would likely remain. Upon seeing this empty shell, the disciples would no doubt be awestruck as to what had occurred. If this is accurate, it would suggest that the body of Jesus was not tampered with in any manner and therefore not stolen. If His body were stolen, the grave clothes would be disturbed. That the material was in the exact position in which it was placed by Joseph and Nicodemus may suggest that the body of Jesus passed miraculously through the grave clothes.

Another interesting fact that supports the resurrection is the disposition of the face cloth used to cover the head of Jesus.

"...The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen." John 20:7

Bible commentators relate that the Greek word describing the disposition of the face cloth, translated as folded-up, actually means to twist or to roll. The face cloth was neatly rolled and separate from the grave clothes. This suggests that there was no hurry during this event. That would preclude grave robbery, as grave robbers certainly wouldn't waste time arranging clothing. It would also suggest that Jesus was purposeful in His placement of the face cloth as another testament of His physical resurrection.

Eyewitness Accounts Attest to Resurrection

Multiple eyewitness accounts do not guarantee reliability, but they do add extremely powerful evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. Indeed, it would be unreasonable to conclude that hundreds of eyewitnesses to Jesus' appearances during the forty day period following His resurrection were lying or were all experiencing the same illusion.

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome Witness the Empty Tomb

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. ...As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him." -- Mark 16:1-6

"When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons." - Mark 16:9

Guards Witness the Opening of the Tomb by an Angel

Matthew 28:1-6 clearly states that the guards witnessed the rolling back of the stone, were frightened and became like dead men.

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:1-6

The Jewish priests had a problem. The Roman guards had witnessed the angel roll back the stone and had seen the empty tomb. If word were to spread of this event, the Jewish power structure might fall. To correct this problem, the Jewish authorities (chief priests) bribed the Roman guards to circulate a false story to explain the empty tomb of Jesus.
While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. Matthew 28:11-15

Some Bible commentators suggest that the Roman guards went to the priests to save themselves since they would be punished severely for letting the tomb be opened. If that is so, why would the priests have to bribe the guards? It would seem reasonable that if the guards were running for their lives, they would be willing to pay the priests to save themselves. It seems likely that the priests were at a disadvantage because they had to bribe the guards. Further, the priests had to offer the guards a large sum of money to lie, probably because the guards would be risking their lives by saying they fell asleep on duty.

The priests were not fools. If the guards returned to their officers and demonstrated their story with physical evidence and eyewitness testimonies, the Roman officers might believe them. The likely result would be that people would believe that Jesus truly was the Messiah and the authority of the priests would greatly diminish.

Jesus Appears to the Eleven Disciples

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared several times to the eleven disciples. What is striking about these appearances is that although He travels through solid objects and appears and disappears at will seemingly independent of geographic location and physical objects, He states that He is flesh. He invites the disciples to touch Him and prove to themselves that it is He in the flesh.

"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" -- Matthew 28:16-19

"Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating;..." -- Mark 16:14

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. -- Luke 24:30-31
"They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.... While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet." -- Luke 24:33-40

"A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." -- John 20:26-29

Jesus Appears to The Women

"When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons." -- Mark 16:9

"So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him." -- Matthew 28:8-9

Jesus Appears to Hundreds of People

It is logical to assume that if Jesus' disciples were fabricating a false resurrection story, they would attest to seeing Jesus, however, hundreds of people witnessed Jesus in the flesh following His resurrection.

"After that, he [Jesus] appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep." -- 1 Corinthians 15:6

Jesus Resurrected Others

Jesus resurrected many others. Following Jesus' resurrection these resurrected people went into Jerusalem and appeared to many people. Their resurrections also testify of Jesus' resurrection and deity.

It is no accident that Jesus rose on the feast of First Fruits because He fulfilled the Spring Feasts of Israel with His life.5 On the feast of First Fruits, it was the obligation of every Jew to offer the first of their harvest to the Lord. Jesus fulfilled this obligation by resurrecting people as His offering.

The tombs broke open and the bodies of many people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people -- Matthew 27:52-53

Answer 2

The burden is on the person making the extrordinary claim.

The person who claims Christ rose from the dead must prove it. Now of course this would be extremely difficult to do considering how long ago it happened. Christians will say it requires faith not truth.

Rationalists will realize that people don't raise from the dead. When in recorded history has their been an example of person rising from the dead (don't say jesus because most of the world would disagree with you there). If you believe that people can rise from the dead you live in a delusional fantasy world and you are making the world a worse place for everyone else.

Answer 3

Secular accounts of Jesus rising from the dead? I think it is an unlikely event right up there with virgins getting pregnant. I mean has anyone ever known of a virgin becoming pregnant? Or someone pronounced dead rising from the dead three days later? I don't know how you either prove or disprove events such as this from so long ago. I mean is it possible for me to prove my neighbor didn't see a real UFO if they swear that they did? The burden of evidence for society though is that we discount the idea unless we receive evidence or verification. Anyway, I'm really not interested in disproving it and if it gives comfort to some to believe then its fine by me so long as they aren't imposing thier dogma on my life. For me it is enough that they are so highly implausible that for practical purposes in my eyes they are fictional events. I know, thumbs down me but you asked.

Answer 4

Christianity is not worthless, I would say there are more good things done in the name of religion than atrocities, but there are definitely both. The worthless pert of Christianity is the idea that they are right and everyone else will go to hell.
As far as proof of Jesus rising from the dead that is impossible to prove and extremely unlikely. If you choose to believe it, more power to you but don't try a shove that belief down anyone Else's throat.

Answer 5

Are you arguing the pro or con side of christianity?

To answer the short question:

No, I don't think it's worthless. I think a lot of good has been accomplished by christianity. And I'm an atheist.

Whether you believe in the central thesis of an omnipotent being who doesn't have to obey the laws of physics, or that the universe started with a Big Bang, and we got here via random mutations that let us evolve into hairless apes in SUVs, you have to admit that churches have done a lot of good. For example:

A lot of charities are run by christians, a lot of people who were in sad, even dire straits have been helped by churches. They sponsor scout troops, they organize food drives, they run schools, they support missions that teach health and safety to many people who otherwise would be doomed to desparate lives. They host AA meetings, they serve as a cultural focus in their communities. They give hope to people who may not otherwise have much to hope for.

It's too bad that they have also led to crusades, priest's sex scandals, entire cultures being wiped out when the natives were forced to convert, and televangelists.

Answer 6

Christiany is a religion. Paul didn't call himself a christian. He just preached about what he had-- a relationship with God, through Jesus. And no, you can't prove it, nor can you prove he did. That's why you have faith in it...

And when you do, everything turns out the way the Bible says it will... from personal expierience... I can't count the times I've done that.

Answer 7

There is no proof that says Jesus did not rise from the dead. In fact, many scientist and historians who have search to find evidence have turned to embrace Christianity. It seems the more they try to proof it face, the more the find it to be true. Jesus' body was never found, the grave cloth was found empty. Despite all effort men have put forward, no evidence against Jesus' resurrection have ever been found. If you are on a search to disprove Christ, I hope you find the truth through it all.

Answer 8

No. If you study the principles of Chiristianity you would see that they have great value. There are so many Christian principles that if all who claim to be Christian followed them the results would be fantastic, and the value of these principles would be obvious. For example: Love your neighbour as yourself; what if everyone did that? Wouldn't that alter the flavor of the planet. How about love your wife as your own body; wouldn't that alter family life?

Answer 9

There were over 500 witnesses to the risen Jesus, therefore Christianity is not worthless.

Answer 10

Dear Worthless,


Not in a thousand years.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Answer 11

Jesus didn't rise from the dead. Christianity works for some people. I am not one of those people.