2007-01-26 01:27:07 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Zealots who die for their beliefs are just zealots who die for their beliefs... how many zealots have died for their beliefs in many different veins?
2007-01-26 01:31:49 · answer #1 · answered by Invisible_Flags 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋
No. Death does not prove anything in that respect. The fact that someone dies as a martyr for God, proves that they believe in God whole-heartedly, even when threatened with death.
Proof of God's existence comes from creation. It states in the Bible that creation is how we are to know that God exists.
Romans 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
This means that people make a conscious choice to do what they know is wrong, and they ignore what they know is right, so that the plea of ignorance cannot be allowed from any by God on Judgment Day. We have evidence of this through our conscience, which makes us "feel bad" when we do something wrong or sinful, and it makes us "feel good" when we do something right or helpful.
Our Creator's invisible power and Godhead are so clearly shown in the works he has made (through creation), that even idolaters and the wicked sinners are left without excuse.
Many will try to say that they did not know there was truly a God, but God knows all. He knows our hearts better than we do.
2007-01-26 09:50:08 · answer #2 · answered by Christian93 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Does the fact many people in Star Wars died attacking the Death Star prove the Force is true? How do events in a work of fiction prove anything?
2007-01-26 09:43:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
1) Only eleven died a martyrs death.
2) I believe so. They went from frightened men, hiding "for fear of the Jews", according to the N.T. - to boldly declaring the Resurrected Christ to the world. All they had to do to spare their own lives was to say "it never happened" and none of them were willing to do that.
3) Not only that - but they died at different times and in various placed all over the known world. No mass communication or way of hearing immediate news. They all were willing to die...for the truth.
2007-01-26 09:36:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Not a fact. We don't know they really died the stories do not match up and they may have just been story characters that never really existed. If I take it as a hypothetical fact though, then no. Jim Jones wasn't right and neither were the 20,000 that killed themselves in the 1600s to avoid the return of the Antichrist.
2007-01-26 09:46:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Certainly not! If just shows that they believed they were correct or wanted everyone to believe so. There have been martyrs in all religions and martyrs to many causes unrelated to religion, e.g. Nathan Hale. "I regret that I have but one life to give for my country."
2007-01-26 09:35:15 · answer #6 · answered by miyuki & kyojin 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It certainly prooves that they believed what they were teaching others. If they had made up the story of the resurection, it's hard to believe that all 11 of them (Judas the traitor hanged himself) took the lie to the grave.
It's also backed up by non-Christian contemporary records. If Jesus didn't appear to them after his death in his risen body, it's very unlikely that all 11 of them would have died martyrs.
2007-01-26 09:34:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I believe it says something of their faith and the truth of their message.
These men could have saved themselves from untold pain for just saying they were wrong! Yet, they decided to standby their faith.
Andrew: Crucified
Bartholomew: Beaten then Crucified
James Son of Alphaeus: Stoned to death
James: Beheaded
John: Exiled and died of old age
Judas (not Iscariot): Stoned to Death
Mathew: Speared to Death
Peter: Crucified upside down
Philip: Crucified
Simon: Crucified
Thomas: Speared to Death
Mathias: Stoned to Death
These men were not killed at the same time or the same place. They died alone surrendering to no man but for their belief in Christ.
2007-01-26 10:00:06 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No, but their change from a flock of scared sheep trying to hide after Jesus was crucified to people boldly and passionately proclaiming their faith in front of thousands of people does. It means something happened meanwhile to change that. Well, actually it's two things. first, they saw the resurrected Jesus and second, they got filled with the Holy Spirit.
2007-01-26 09:36:33 · answer #9 · answered by petyado 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
If it does, it proves that David Koresh, Jim Jones, and the Heaven's Gate cult was as well.
2007-01-26 09:37:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No...
We still haven't proven that there were 12 "disciples" to begin with.
2007-01-26 09:34:09 · answer #11 · answered by gatewlkr 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋