Then why have we had christianity for over 2 thousand years? Why do we have billions of people beliveing in him? Why does everything in the bible seem to make sense? Why does christianity work so well if he never existed?
2007-07-03 12:24:13 · 7 answers · asked by Nikita K 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Because Christianity was a religion that gave hope to the poor and rich alike. So the few Christians grew and grew. Then they started forcing their religion on people. Christians would take over other people's lands and convert the people into Christianity. The Crusades was another way they forced religion down people's throats. Even today, they are going to different countries to "save" the people, by spreading the word of Jesus, to make their religion grow. And who wouldn't want to join a religion that tells you that you are damned to Hell if you don't believe what they're telling you?
Cricket... First, great observation (regarding the fact that other religions also still exist)! If I could, I would give you a thumbs up! Second, I'd like to answer some of these... I can't answer all, because I don't feel like taking the time to research right now, but I'll answer what I can from the gut...
If Jesus never existed:
Q. Why did Christianity EXPLODE within the first thirty years after Jesus's (so-called according to some) resurrection?
A. From what I've read, Christianity started off as a small group of people, but didn't grow strong until, I think it was Julius Ceaser(?) became a Christian and had his people follow the religion. Then the crusades, and the conquering and forcing of religion on people of the lands they took over...
Q. Why were so many of the earliest Christians so willing to die?
A. Probably the same reason all religious extremists are willing to die and kill?
Q. Why did so many people leave the lives they had known to follow Jesus?
A. Because he was a very convincing man if he existed. And if he didn't exist, then they're just stories, and the fact that people left their lives for him, are just as much stories as the story that he existed... I don't know though, I believe he existed, so I believe he was an extremly convincing man.
Q. Why did no one protest the earliest Christians, by saying that Jesus didn't exist? If He didn't exist, you'd think that they'd SAY He didn't!
A. In fact! According to the Bible, even while he was alive, people protested that he was really not the son of God. As convincing as he was, he couldn't convince every one while he was alive, and not surprisingly, a lot of people are still not convinced 2000 years later. OK, but to answer the question "If he didn't exist", then I say this.. If he didn't exist, then I'm sure they did protest that he's not true. Why wouldn't they? How sure are you of the way people protested back in the day? I heard that the stories of Jesus were not written while Jesus was alive, that it was written later... If this is true, then I would believe Jesus did not exist. And I'm sure many people during that time protested the same thing.
2007-07-03 12:29:46 · answer #1 · answered by word 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, I'm a Christian, but...okay, here goes. Please don't hate me for this:
1. There are other religions that many Christians consider to be false that have been around the same amount of time, if not longer.
2. Those other religions ALSO have billions of followers.
3. The Bible makes sense to you and me, but it doesn't make sense to others.
4. Again, Christianity works well for you and me, perhaps, but not for everyone. And there are MANY various reasons behind this.
The better question would be:
If Jesus never existed:
Why did ALL of his disciples except one die a horrible death?
Why did secular contemporaries mention Jesus, even if the mention was brief?
Why did anyone bother writing about Him within the lifetime of other witnesses?
Why did Christianity EXPLODE within the first thirty years after Jesus's (so-called according to some) resurrection?
Why were so many of the earliest Christians so willing to die?
Why did so many people leave the lives they had known to follow Jesus?
Why did no one protest the earliest Christians, by saying that Jesus didn't exist? If He didn't exist, you'd think that they'd SAY He didn't!
And there are MANY more questions.
2007-07-03 19:32:31 · answer #2 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus did exist however Christianity is a religion with so many lies weaved in it I don't know how much truth it has left.
Back in the day the Roman empire made it law that everyone practice the Christian doctrine..and to make a long story short, if something is passed on from generation to generation that's how it could last for 2,000 years. It's been passed on for so long, that ppl don't even question it.
2007-07-03 19:31:50 · answer #3 · answered by jitterbug 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The concept of Jesus, the perfect human, is what matters to most people who follow Him. The religion has been great at molding itself to different cultures- that's added to its success. However, the fact that it is the largest religion in the world and has existed so long tells me that it is a good thing, generally speaking.
2007-07-03 19:30:19 · answer #4 · answered by Joe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is overwhelming evidence for the existence of Jesus Christ, both in secular and biblical history. Perhaps the greatest evidence that Jesus did exist is the fact that literally thousands of Christians in the first century A.D., including the twelve apostles, were willing to give their lives as martyrs for Jesus Christ. People will die for what they believe to be true, but no one will die for what they know to be a lie.
http://www.gotquestions.org/did-Jesus-exist.html
Suggested Reading
The Case for the Real Jesus By: Lee Strobel
http://www.christianbook.com/the-case-for-the-real-jesus/lee-strobel/9780310292012/pd/292012?product_redirect=1&Ntt=292012&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP
Non Biblical evidence as proof for Jesus Christ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrRQqYGf4O0
'Did Jesus Exist?' A Historian Makes His Case
http://www.npr.org/2012/04/01/149462376/did-jesus-exist-a-historian-makes-his-case
Refuting the myth that Jesus never existed
http://bede.org.uk/jesusmyth.htm
Did Jesus Really Exist?
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/philosophicalfragments/2012/08/29/did-jesus-really-exist/
What do we know about Jesus - from non-biblical sources?
http://www.provethebible.net/T2-Divin/D-0201.htm
Did Jesus Christ Really Exist? Proving Jesus Without the Bible
http://beginningandend.com/jesus-exist-historical-evidence-jesus-christ/
Archaeological Evidence for the Biblical tale of the Execution of Jesus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL-hSwWjSZw
Is There Any Proof of Jesus Other Than the Bible? (1of2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HknelAk8_S8&feature=related
2014-10-28 18:12:01 · answer #5 · answered by The Lightning Strikes 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"because Christians are idiots, we are the enlightened ones!! There is no great mystery to life, only evolution! Who cares that 10% of people throughout history believed God doens't exist. We still are smarter than everybody else!"
2007-07-03 19:29:53 · answer #6 · answered by Ryan K 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People don't want to believe that he's not real.
2007-07-03 19:29:12 · answer #7 · answered by CBlackfire 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋