Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but all other religions in the world have just as much ground to back up their beliefs as Christianity. There is no more evidence for the existence of Jesus (excluding Biblcal accounts - not a third party source) than Allah, or Buddha, or any other religious figures.
There is some historical truth to the Bible, but the same could be said for the Koran, or Bhagavad Gita (Hindu holy book), which claims to know the path to unity with god.
So why should I treat Christianity as any more "real" than other religions? It seems as though the only reason most people are Christian is because they were brought up by Christian parents, not because they acutally believe Christianity has any more truth to it than Hinduism, or Confuciusm. In fact, Christianity was adopted by Roman culture in Europe ONLY because they "liked" the idea, and it suited people well.
2007-10-27 04:20:06 · 30 answers · asked by Uliju 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Joe: did you even read the question? WHY should I take your quote seriously, when other religions say THEIR path is the truth?
2007-10-27 04:25:47 · update #1
TruthSeeker: you know very well that's true. I don't have to do a study to see a trend like that. It's obvious that most people stick with the religion of their parents.
2007-10-27 04:27:29 · update #2
AAHG!! Why does everyone keep quoting John 14:6?? That's not evidence - you're using your own book to prove your own religion.
2007-10-27 04:28:57 · update #3
I'm glad you said, "correct me if I'm wrong", because you are.
First off, here is a site that can show you other historical accounts of the existence of Jesus, outside of the Bible: http://www.creatingfutures.net/birth.html
Second, there is no part of the Bible that has been shown to be anything other than accurate. As a matter of fact, archeology is constantly unearthing more evidence of the veracity of the Bible.
Third, the difference between Christianity and all the other religions you mentioned is simply this: Only Christianity is based on the direct teachings of God, our Creator. He presented these teachings through His prophets. In the person of Jesus, He presented His teachings in person.
Christianity spread through the Roman Empire as a result of Rome's failed attempts to wipe it out. People began to see that there was something more to Christianity than to any other belief system.
I am a Christian because of my own rational decision, made at the age of 39. I have been jailed for my faith. I have attempted to live my faith. I have the assurance that my salvation is secure due to Jesus Christ being my Lord & Savior. I could not have achieved that assurance by believing in minor idols, such as Allah, Buddha or Confucious.
2007-10-27 04:34:10 · answer #1 · answered by †Lawrence R† 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The existence of Paul is documented in many historical documents. Paul talked to many people who followed and knew Jesus, and some who witnessed Him alive following His resurrection.
Do you know anyone else whose ministry was only 3 1/2 years, but whose impact is so tremendous 2000 years later. The resurrection, and over 500 people seeing Him alive afterward was something so awesome that regular people, as well as the apostles, spread the word. Even our dates are based on the life of Jesus.
Paul and many others of that time suffered execution for the cause of Jesus. Not too many people will die for someone imaginary. Paul's life was one of persecuting and killing Christians, but his life was totally transformed by Jesus, and he became the greatest evangelist of all time.
The historian Josephus wrote about Jesus.
Read the book "More Than a Carpenter" by Josh McDowell. It gives lots of historical data and evidence.
2007-10-27 11:37:01 · answer #2 · answered by Faye 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are quite right, and Lawrence is wrong to correct you. There is NO evidence of the existence of Jesus (the Bible does not count because it is polemic; his other sources have all been academically discredited as referring to Jesus, including by the Catholic church itself). It is plain arrogance, and as you say many (but by no means all) religions would make the same arrogant and false claim.
The one point on which I would correct you is Buddha. Buddhism has no deity, and the term buddha simply refers to anyone who has attained enlightenment. It is often taken to refer to the founder of the religion, SiddhÄrtha Gautama, and there is most definitely independent historical evidence that he lived, and did so some 600 years before the Jesus myth.
2007-10-27 12:21:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I know. Don't you love when they qoute a book that you don't believe in to convince you of something you don't believe in? Does that mean if I qoute Harry Potter it proves magic?
The Christian followers have an eliteist complex. They keep thier god small and thier faith smaller. Thier way or no way. And even worse, they don't even SEE how hateful and ugly they are to other people becuase they are SO convinced they are right. "Is it rude to tell someone the truth?" is my favorite argement. Um well, yeah sometimes it really is! You don't tell your friends they are fat do you? Point being, they seem to be happy in thier little box. Which is cool with me. Just don't expect ME to be happy there.
2007-10-27 13:28:01 · answer #4 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well lets look at the last 400 yrs of our young country's existence. Our fore fathers where of a very strict christian faith and it has been here ever sense. Even with immigration from the other European country most that came to America were of a christian back ground. Europeans moved Christianity all over the world and the only people they didn't convert where the ones they failed to conquer.
You only treat it the way you where taught. But lucky for us here in America you have that choice, the choice to believe in what ever you want to......You shouldn't treat any faith more real than another but you need to be true to yourself and believe in what you want to.........as far as I'm concerned you can worship the moon and dance till your hearts content.......
But the choice is your .......Oops!! Why so? majority rules!!! simple enough for you?
2007-10-27 11:44:58 · answer #5 · answered by thebaked 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Because everyone believes they are worshipping the Lord the way he meant. The truth of the matter is that God is coming back for a 'people' not a specific religion. If people could keep sight things might be different for them.
2007-10-27 11:41:01 · answer #6 · answered by Indya M 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-7FH8t3w8Ypkfc2MU_plWA0wYPlqvnEUt.g--?cq=1
"We believe that all religions are basically the same-
at least the one that we read was.
They all believe in love and goodness.
They only differ on matters of creation,
sin, heaven, hell, God, and salvation."
http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/divine.htm
The Divine Inspiration
of the
Bible
by Arthur W. Pink
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table of Contents
About This Book
Title
Introduction
Chapter One: There Is a Presumption in Favor of the Bible
Chapter Two: The Perennial Freshness of the Bible Bears Witness to its Divine Inspirer
Chapter Three: The Unmistakable Honesty of the Writers of the Bible Attests to its Heavenly Origin
Chapter Four: The Character of its Teachings Evidences the Divine Authorship of the Bible
Chapter Five: The Fulfilled Prophecies of the Bible Bespeak the Omniscience of its Author
Chapter Six: The Typical Significance of the Scriptures Declare Their Divine Authorship
Chapter Seven: The Wonderful Unity of the Bible Attests its Divine Authorship
Chapter Eight: The Marvelous Influence of the Bible Declares its Super-Human Character
Chapter Nine: The Miraculous Power of the Bible Shows Forth That its Inspirer Is the Almighty
I. The Power of God's Word to Convict Men of Sin.
II. The Power of God's Word to Deliver Men From Sin.
III. The Power of God's Word Over the Human Affections.
Chapter Ten: The Completeness of the Bible Demonstrates its Divine Perfection
Chapter Eleven: The Indestructibility of the Bible Is a Proof that its Author Is Divine
Chapter Twelve: Inward Confirmation of the Veracity of the Scriptures
Chapter Thirteen: Verbal Inspiration
Chapter Fourteen: Application of the Argument
I. We Need to Seek God's Forgiveness.
II. It Is the Final Court of Appeal.
III. It Is the Ultimate Standard for Regulating Conduct.
IV. It Is a Sure Foundation for Our Faith.
V. It Has Unique Claims Upon Us.
2007-10-27 11:35:33 · answer #7 · answered by Martin S 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
It seems that its because that the objective of Christianity is that their God accepts living with man. No other religion actually has that. For Buddhists, its to attain Nirvana, for Muslims to attain Paradise (I do not know much about their version of that other than that there are a lot of virgins) and so on.
Another aspect is that Christians believe their God is perfect and again that is unique. Combine the tow of having a perfect God living amongst you and that would sum it up from their viewpoint.
2007-10-27 12:53:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You ask why Christianity is different. I asked this myself one day. The answer is forgiveness.
I believe that I have sinned and it makes sense that God cannot be in the presence of it b/c He is holy.
So, Jesus died for our sins (became the Lamb which was the sacrifice in the Old Testament) so that we could have a personal relationship with God.
I know I need forgiveness and that I need to forgive others and that is why, after I tested my faith, that I stuck with Christianity. It is a personal journey. Religion is how we choose to worship our Lord and Saviour.
I don't have enough faith to believe in a block of gold.
And Allah is the Arabic name for God isn't it?
2007-10-27 11:44:13 · answer #9 · answered by I don't know 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Considering that the rise and fall of Jesus took place in the East would be of some significant value 'yes and though, most religions sought out were not through Christianity, but through their beliefs in their God.
The bible speaks of false profits and not to idol images of animals and such and perhaps this is why Moses came down from the mountain to find just that.
To this day getting every living human being on earth to believe in one God is far fetched and hardly reasonable for guidance to the truth.
The U.S. has freedom of religion, but when religion becomes a tool to beat the crime committed then the burden of truth is relied upon assigning blame to their religious beliefs and sometimes when murder has been committed, even though, they acted upon their beliefs...the Supreme court will not buy that as an excuse because God doesn't;t appoint us to kill he tells us it is wrong to kill.
Where do you draw the line?
That is why you must act alone to your own belief and strive to perfect it in such a manner as to Christianity beliefs and do your best to the best you can toward love and honor to God and what he hath set forth for you.
It's all up to you and no books or teachings will make you change your mind. That is sole your prerogative.
Jesus dies and we are so ever thankful for this gift to remove us form sin?
Something to think about.
2007-10-27 11:31:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋