Would Christianity still exist if Jesus did not exist?

Question

I have heard of a Lutheran minister who says that yes, it would.

I agree with him. All the major features of Christianity were already in place long before Christianity came along. Jesus was just the figure who became central because he was in the right place at the right time.

Other figures such as Appollonius of Tyana could have filled the post. But Appollonius was not killed. Jesus was killed so like Che Guevara acquired an instant mystique and aura.

It seems we need to get clear on the names. The guy at the center of this discussion is Y'Shua ben Yosef bar Nazr't, whose name is commonly Romanized to Jesus. The word "Christ" is not a name but a title. It means "messiah", and "Christos" is just the Greek for "messiah". His followers were not called "Christians" until their enemies applied the word to them at Antioch. Christianity is a religion centred on the Christ, and Jesus of Nazareth is one human being who filled the bill - when others could well have done so. The religion built around the Christ figure would still proceed no matter who filled the tole of the Christ.

Answer 1

Is this the silliest posting anyone's EVER reported in their life on here to date???

Answer 2

I disagree. And no offense, that Lutheran Minister needs to read the Lutheran Confessions.

Think about it folks. This isn't some kind of political, social or moral system where anyone could have risen up to found the 'movement.' This is the God the Son, coming down from Heaven, being incarnate (fully man and fully God), living a perfect life, being crucified, forsaken and suffering the full Wrath of God for our sins, dying and being Resurrected. His Crucifixion IS Christianity. Without Jesus, there is no Christianity and no Salvation and I would probably still be a Pagan living in my ancestral home, sacking Rome.

I can see why you would think this, because of the way modern Evangelicals, Pentecostals and other modern Christian groups in the United States portray Jesus and Christianity. Jesus is either a good buddy that enables you to be a better person or be more successful in life and Christianity is just the self help moralistic deism that helps you achieve this. Either that or a philanthropic system that focuses solely on serving people's temporal needs. Not that the Blessings from God, nor serving your fellow humans are a bad thing. But focusing solely on these things miss the mark.

Answer 3

"I agree with him. All the major features of Christianity were already in place long before Christianity came along"

Like what? In the beginning, J*sus was the only thing that seperated Xtians from Jews, as the religion was mostly the same until it began to grow. If J*sus had never existed, there would never have been Xtianity, only alot more Jews.

"Christianity is a religion centred on the Christ,"

Exactly. Without him, there is no Xtianity.

Answer 4

You can tell the Lutheran minister that the catholic and lutheran church may have existed but without Christ the Bible as the Word of God would be of no good. The Bible says Christ was slain from the foundation of the world. This means Christ was with God in the beginning so Christ is God just one of the 3 entities of God.

All the pagan religions were in existence and you can thank Noah's great grandson Nimrod and his wife Sermiramus and son Tammuz for that. Ham the son of Noah was cursed by God along with Canaan. The name Nimrod means "Lets revolt."

The oldest religion since Noah was Noah's God who was a portion of the Trinity and since no one has seen the Father then Noah must have walked with God as Jesus. Noah's God is the same as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whose Son is Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ came out of a tomb secured by a legion of soldiers which were 16 of Rome's best soldiers; which was sealed with wax and a string after the huge stone was rolled across the entrance and then the wax was stamped with Pilot's seal or the seal of Rome. All of the above was done to ensure Jesus' body was not stolen from the tomb because rumor had it that Jesus would arise from the grave in three days and the soldiers were to make sure that didn't happen. It happened and the soldiers were petrified because it meant death to them for letting Jesus' body get out of the tomb. Why would they have believed such a story that Jesus would be resurrected in three days if Jesus had not performed all the miracles and more that are written in the Bible by his disciples? Jesus Christ is the most contested and prosecuted and persecuted name in all of history. The reason being that Jesus Christ does exist and Satan is scared to death of Him and Satan knows his time is short on this earth.

The spirit of antichrist is in your words and in the words of the Lutheran minister. The disciples and many Christians died horrible deaths for their belief in Jesus Christ. Men do not die for a lie.

Answer 5

The word Christ means savior. It was not the last name of Jesus. Could another prophet have come along and take on the role of savior? Ever see Monty Python's Life of Brian?

Answer 6

Christians were first called Christians in Antioch which took place after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ so to answer you question No Christian means to be Christ like.

Answer 7

DING DONG, How much ignorance can there be. Do you not know liberal theologians will say anything. Like liberal anything. Everything goes except truth and facts. Regardless of what ever you have heard about His followers, good, bad or indifferent, The Christ is not the same as us. He is both God and Man. With out him there is only The old testament. Paganism and what ever. If there were no Jesus, there is no church. See what i mean about liberals. Weave a smoke screen. "what if"? Well so what? No substance, no meaning, no nuthing. Wake up, at least know what you are arguing about, or discussing.

Answer 8

The Messiah Is prophecied of in the book of Genesis. Jesus is the Messiah / Christ fulfilled. Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of God, is the Lamb of God without blemish.

So, if the Messiah / Christ hadn't come to earth yet, then there wouldn't be Christians.

Answer 9

Perhaps, but then it would have probably formed a religion with a few varying fundamentals. A variation of Judaism could have formed, or you may consider Islam to be a sort of Christianity as it has many of the same fundamentals in its origin.

Answer 10

My suggjestion- read the BIBLE!!!!
I just answered this question 'cause it's abotu the most interesting one out there, but all of them are boring. I think someone needs to ask cool, funny, fun, awesome questions. Well- I'm just bored and that might explane it. Christianity would not come to be without Jesus. He IS Christ. Jesus would have come (and did---and will) NO MATTER WHAT!!!

Answer 11

No Christianity would not exist if Jesus did not exist. Jesus is called the Christ--this is where the name Christian comes from.
Another thing if Jesus never existed the world would be lost and going to hell.