Does this sound like a sensible thing to say to your atheist friends?

Question

If Jesus Christ was not who he said he was, and who his followers thought him to be, and if there is no God, then surely humankind would have got over it by now. By now we would have faced the facts and given up on religion and spirituality.

But we have not.

Why?

Because there is clearly something to it. There is truth it in. Within our faith traditions there are Revelations from a higher power.

Please understand that I also use this argument in the broader context. I think you could make this argument about "God" in general, therefore encompassing all monotheistic religions.

Also, please understand that I this is not a stand alone argument in confronting atheism. It is merely one argument among many. But it is likely true if my God really exists.

To the poster who said there is no physical evidence of Jesus Christ. I whole heartedly accept that. One cannot prove that Jesus Christ is who Christians say he was with logic or science. Anyone who seeks this above all else should consider their faith and their relationship with Christ. A child generally does not try and check the credentials of its parents. And God is truly our father. I do not require evidence of the historical Jesus. I have him here with me at this moment. He exists now. Today. And I have an experience of Him that goes beyond anything which requires scientific verification. I hope that others - especially those who have no faith whatsoever - can have this experience one day.

Sure, my argument might not stand up well to logic and reason. But it is equally illogical to unequivocally say that there is no God, and that the religions of the world have no meaning.

Answer 1

Society has gotten over many other god myths throughout the history of mankind. Just because an idea has been "around a very long time" doesn't mean it's true.

For instance, the ancient Aztecs believed in Quetzalcoatl. They believed he created the world, all of humanity, and that following his wisdom will send you to "Middle Heaven" while refusing to follow his wisdom will send you to "Mictlan", the lowest of the 9 levels of the underworld.

That belief has been abandoned. It'll happen with Christianity... it just hasn't happened YET.

Answer 2

Only this is not a good argument, because it can be accounted for by other plausible explanations and counter examples.

People still believe in astrology. Belief in astrology predates Christianity. Does that mean that there must be some truth to astrology?

When you say that "humankind would have got over it by now," you have to understand that billions and billions of people don't believe that Jesus Christ was God or are Christian.

Christianity dominates in areas of the Western world. In the East, this is not so. With the continued expansion and growth of Islam, which is on track for becoming the largest worldwide faith, this is even more so.

There are many reasons why people believe in the religions they do. I think it's mostly for social reasons and various other psychological reasons.


It makes no difference if you're arguing for monotheism vs. a specific religion. The problem with your argument is that you're equating the majority opinion with truth. There is no good reason to believe that what the majority of people think is true is in fact true. Majority opinion is still only a collection of opinions. The majority of people do not understand a great many things, and have many stupid opinions.

Answer 3

Have you ever heard of Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple.

Jim Jones convinced 910 people to drink Cyanide laced Kool-Aid and this included mothers giving it to their children.
Never underestimate the insanity of the human race.
Now Jim Jones was a fringe preacher of a small group.
How much more powerful in controlling minds do you think a full scale religion is with all of the resources it can muster.
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So you are claiming that if something lacks evidence it is logical to claim it exists. Really. Have a big Gulp of Kool-Aid.

Answer 4

Fact is not subject to vote, nor does the age of a belief lend it credibility. There is zero evidence for the existence of any god or gods.


Did a historical Jesus exist?
http://www.nobeliefs.com/exist.htm

ALL CLAIMS OF JESUS DERIVE FROM HEARSAY ACCOUNTS

No one has the slightest physical evidence to support a historical Jesus; no artifacts, dwelling, works of carpentry, or self-written manuscripts. All claims about Jesus derive from writings of other people. There occurs no contemporary Roman record that shows Pontius Pilate executing a man named Jesus. Devastating to historians, there occurs not a single contemporary writing that mentions Jesus. All documents about Jesus got written well after the life of the alleged Jesus from either: unknown authors, people who had never met an earthly Jesus, or from fraudulent, mythical or allegorical writings. Although one can argue that many of these writings come from fraud or interpolations, I will use the information and dates to show that even if these sources did not come from interpolations, they could still not serve as reliable evidence for a historical Jesus, simply because all sources derive from hearsay accounts.

Hearsay means information derived from other people rather than on a witness' own knowledge.

Courts of law do not generally allow hearsay as testimony, and nor does honest modern scholarship. Hearsay provides no proof or good evidence, and therefore, we should dismiss it.

Answer 5

The ***PRAYNOGRAPHER***has something to say about this silly statement or yours. Once upon a time most believed that the world was flat, but just because they all believed it , Didn't make it so did it. How long do you think it took them to come to their realization. The future looks bright ahead. We will all soon stumble onto reasoning. Just because you believe in a god does not make it so. The wisdumb of the ***PRAYNOGRAPHER***has been written.As it has been written, so it shall be. Now go back under your rock like a good little xristian.

Answer 6

I don't think that will fly very far.

It is possible, it could be argued, that religion is a natural and normal response to fear, uncertainty and doubt. Also, human beings have evolved in situations where it was much better to have support groups. Religion is an excellent source of grouping. Also, it can be difficult to get people to agree on rules of conduct or laws. Again, religion could be a good engine for maintaining rules an regulations because people believe that they are being enforced.

Answer 7

do you think that before the advent of God or call (such super humans) by any name (real or fictions) divinity did not exist in the hearts/minds of people however primitive (or worse than that )they could have been ?If they did not believe in some super power why then the relics ( now discovered and labelled as legacies!)left here and there by our ancients at far far ancestral?

Answer 8

They'd think that you are less intelligent than they thought. It sure is sensible, but it's not exactly the best thing to say as it may possibly affect you negatively.

Human beings are not smart as we seem unless we are forced to learn to a level where we are able to have complex thought.

Many countries lack education and the United States is actually one of them.

If you looked at countries with high education standards, you'd see that they don't take religion as seriously.

Answer 9

Well, I dont think that you would offend your friend if that is what you want. At the same time, I think that your friend will probably have some type of comeback and you will get into an argument.

Answer 10

There are older religions than christianity so how does your argument apply to them?