Why oh why would someone die if it was just a hoax?

Question

James killed by the sword.
Thomas was impaled with a lance.
Simon died along with Jude from arrows, spears or crosses
Someone gave Bartholomew a skin-removal process
Some of them were stoned alive like James the son of Alphaeus
A lot of guys were crucified for calling Him Messiah
Philip died and Andrew did and possibly Matthias
Peter's was a most unpleasant death for being Christian
They would turn him upside down and then go through with crucifixion
Paul he was beheaded probably Matthew did the same
Well, they threw off of the temple top the other guy named James

And their story didn't have a chance but none of them were doubting.
Why oh why would someone die if it was just a hoax?
Why then take the awful risk to tell us Jesus raised?
Simple men from Galilee would not have spoken lies
To get enrolled in history books as martyrs for Jesus Christ

Answer 1

Because they falsely believed it, of course.

Surely you're not naive enough to think that only true beliefs inspire people to kill and be killed, right?
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Joel, eyewitnesses are often mistaken.

I'm afraid that those of you who believe this to be some kind of evidence that Jesus rose from the dead are being awfully naive.

Many people sincerely and deeply believe that they have seen - with their own eyes - things that are simply not true. People would preach it even under penalty of death because they sincerely believed it to be true. That doesn't make it true - it's not even evidence that it's true, any more than it is in the case of Jim Jones, the Branch Davidians, the Raelians, the Mansonites, the Communists, the Nazis, the countless Islamic suicide attacks, or any of the other death cults.

Answer 2

No, you are NOT the sharpest knife in the drawer if you think this sort of reasoning will convince anyone who doesn't already believe. As is abundantly clear from the answers you've gotten.

And frankly, for me, who DO believe as you believe, it's boring. Except that you seem to have attempted some rhyming, and missed, which is irritating.

There's a reason why the very first DON'T in the Community Guidelines is what it is, namely:
1. [Don't] Use Yahoo! Answers as a soapbox to vent your frustrations, rant, or otherwise violate the question and answer format. If you prefer to have discussions or chat with others, please use one of Yahoo!'s other community services, such as Yahoo! Groups or Yahoo! Messenger Chat Rooms.

If you want to witness, don't phrase it as a question.

Answer 3

Ever heard of Jonestown, and Jim Jones. All those people thought that they were "martyring" them selves for their "messiah." Indoctrination makes people do rather silly things. Suicide bombers "know" they die as martyrs. Just cause someone is willing to do something that will have lethal effects on their well being doesn't prove that their cause is worth revering. How about Evil Kenevil, he willingly performed dangerous stunts that could kill him, just for applause, does that mean that the motion of slapping ones hands together should be revered and worshiped.

Answer 4

I agree....if I made up a big joke and I got in trouble, I would be confessing that it was just a joke, and not take the punishment.

So why would they die for this? And no...not because they falsely believed, because in order for them to falsely believe, Jesus would've had to have had a secret twin who could fly, because once Jesus died, His twin would've had to taken the body out of the tomb, put holes in his hands and feet, and then fly to heaven....

Hmm, that is some MAJOR special effects.

Answer 5

Add to that, please, the powerful argument by George Rawlinson, eminent scholar and archaeologist, who wrote:

“The early converts knew that they might at any time be called upon to undergo death for their religion. They preached and taught with the sword, the cross, the beasts, and the stake ever before their eyes. . . . and every early writer advocating Christianity, by the fact of his advocacy, braved the civil power, and rendered himself liable to a similar fate. When faith is a matter of life and death, men do not lightly take up with the first creed which happens to hit their fancy; nor do they place themselves openly in the ranks of a persecuted sect, unless they have well weighed the claims of the religion which it professes, and convinced themselves of its being the truth. It is clear that the early converts had means of ascertaining the historic accuracy of the Christian narrative very much beyond ourselves; they could examine and cross-question the witnesses—compare their several accounts—inquire how their statements were met by their adversaries—consult Heathen documents of the time—thoroughly and completely sift the evidence. All this together—and it must be remembered that the evidence is cumulative—constitutes a body of proof such as is seldom producible with respect to any events belonging to remote times; and establishes beyond all reasonable doubt the truth of the Christian Story. In no single respect . . . has that story a mythic character.”

I just love that.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 6

By my count you listed 12 names. It was a fast count.

Weren't there 19 hijackers on 911???

I guess that makes their belief stronger than the 12 you listed.

It is your math, not mine...

BTW, I was born, raised, trained and ordained in a Christian based denomination. I am now an Atheist.

Answer 7

Paul they were eye witnesses. They weren't as I and other Christians who have to have faith that all those things happened, they saw them happen.

To answer the question. I feel that that is one of the biggest supports for Christianity. Why would people preach the name of Christ in the face of sure persecution and possible death.

In Jesus Name

Answer 8

So TRUE!

So many Native Americans were killed by Catholic Missionaries. There backs whipped, their bodies broken, put to the sword if they refused to convert.

Praise Quetzalcoatl!

Answer 9

James the Just was killed by stoning, not the sword !

Answer 10

Good question. Why would someone die if it was just a hoax?

Either these men were totally crazy and had a death wish or that JESUS really rose for the dead.

I believe that JESUS was Messiah. and HE Did rose on the third day.

k1