How do we even know that it is Abe Lincoln in that grave?
We have FAITH that Abe Lincoln's grave contains Abe Lincoln's body. We cannot prove it. Even pictures could have been a hoax. No living witnesses of him are still living today. We believe what the eyewitnesses told us about his assassination. In 50 years, are we going to question the witnesses?
How is this any different than Christ? His witnesses who recorded the events were from all walks of life and there are no contradictions between sources. There was no question of biblical truth 150 years after Christ. Why would Christians at the time sacrifice their lives for a lie? Does that make any sense?
We can say "beyond a REASONABLE doubt" that Abe Lincoln was assassinated.
Why can't we make a good case for Jesus Christ's Death and Resurrection?
His existence has been proven without the Bible.
2007-08-24 11:10:54 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Quirinius's census includes "Jesus Christ of Nazareth". Quirinius existed during Jesus' time, we already know that.
2007-08-24 11:33:23 · update #1
Jesus Christ appeared to multitudes of people(500+) after his Resurrection and before his Ascension, not just to His believers(do you even call Thomas a believer? He doubted)
2007-08-24 11:35:33 · update #2
True, Many were around when the letters were written, and even the gospels. So it there had been any error, it would have been easily caught. And you are correct, as to why disciples that were cowards, and became zealots, suddenly die for something if it wasn't the truth.
2007-08-24 11:17:44 · answer #1 · answered by RB 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
But we take it on faith that the Bible is true, and not an elaborate hoax by the devil for istance. Or more believably - an elaborate hoax on the part of religious leaders who knew a good thing when they came up with it, which made them really rather incredibly rich and powerful.
And how precisely has Jesus' existence been proven without the Bible?
*edit* So can you go to Quirinius' census and point to "Jesus Christ, son of Joseph of Nazareth" can you? Funny how I've never ever heard of that. You'd have thought there'd be a copy of it in every church for all those doubters wouldn't you!
It's also pretty funny that Jesus was pretty definately born in the reign of Herod (as the Bible very clearly states), and Herod died in 4 BC - yet Quirinius didn't come to Judea to conduct his census until 6 AD. Yet another contradiction in the Bible there. They simply can't both be true - unless of course you're saying Mary had a 10 year labour.
As for him appearing to 500 people that is simply not good enough. Do you have 500 testaments? Do you even have TWO testaments? No you have one, the Bible. Well I say that a giant flying pig has landed on the roof of the white house, and there are 200 people outside looking at it. That means it MUST be true. Why would I lie to you?
2007-08-24 18:19:05 · answer #2 · answered by Mordent 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Many people accept the idea of a historical Jesus who was executed by the Romans. The real problems start with his purported resurrection.
According to your own Christian bible there were many contemporaries who questioned Jesus' resurrection. Also, since even according to that text he only appeared to a few (as in less than 20, if memory serves) followers that makes it kind of tough to independently verify.
2007-08-24 18:20:25 · answer #3 · answered by Cathy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Exhume the body and use the DNA of other descendants of his parents, grandparents, etc. Genealogists use DNA research all the time to prove lines both patrilineal and matrilenial. Ask Tom Hanks to provide a sample - he's Lincoln's fourth cousin once removed from Lincoln's mother's relations.
Can you find someone alive today related Jesus of Nazareth that you can do the same with?
2007-08-24 18:18:38 · answer #4 · answered by genaddt 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You are wrong about the "no contradictions" bit.
How many women came to the tomb on Easter Sunday?
1, 2, 3, 5 or more?
Did they get there in the dark or at sunrise?
Who did they see? One angel or two? One young man or two? And were they inside or outside of the tomb?
Was the tomb open or closed?
These questions are asked by someone who has read all the gospel accounts and found several contradictions.
2007-08-24 18:20:09 · answer #5 · answered by atheist 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Amen!! I agree completely, theres a lot of historical proof about Christs life without the bible. thats the information we should use to bring people to Christ. Someone who doesnt believe in the God of the Bible definitely isnt gonna listen to what it says, so we need to know historical facts about the life of Christ.
2007-08-24 18:19:18 · answer #6 · answered by Tasha Marie 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The bible is not proof of anything other than the insanity, and arrogance, of the writers.
2007-08-24 18:18:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
if you dug up jesus' body and did an autopsy showing that he was indeed hung from the cross...that would be awesome...but oh wait...there is no body...
2007-08-24 18:14:56 · answer #8 · answered by . 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
err... since when is Abe Lincoln a religious figure?
2007-08-24 18:14:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋