My pastor was the godliest, kindest man I ever knew, but is quitting the ministry because he has learned that Jesus never existed, as well as other things wrong about Christianity.
He was a faithful and loving Christian for sixty years!
How is one supposed to keep believing in something, even when the evidence against it is overwhelming and conclusive?
That seems like intellectual dishonesty! Is a "relationship" with Jesus all the proof we need? I've been telling people that for years, but now I'm not so sure.
People sincerely believe many things that are just plain wrong: Jim Jones, Muhammad, Paul, Joseph Smith, The Flat Earth Society... are they all right because of their perceived relationships with their God?
Believing things that are unfounded seems, to me, to be potentially dangerous, or at best, it slows down progress!
I know about the parable of the sower, but it seems like a convenient explanation/addition to scripture to cover their bases/to just provide any answer
2007-12-21 08:50:15 · 18 answers · asked by John Galt 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
mom3,
He was studying (PhD program) so he could become a better Christian apologist.
All I know is that he used source documents (biblical and extrabiblical historic records) to translate the scriptures from the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic, when he found serious discrepancies with the gospels and with many scriptures.
Historically, he says that he fought tooth and nail to resist the evidence that Jesus never really existed as an historic figure.
I don't know of any secondary sources, but I remember one website that he said showed a few things, but that it was not necessarily valid for sound scholarship (as he only referred to original documents) i think it was
www.jesusneverexisted.com
2007-12-21 09:05:37 · update #1
Where are you getting this "Jesus never existed" stuff? There are plenty of extra-biblical accounts of the person of Jesus Christ.
Your pastor... well... God have mercy.
http://www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/library/extrabiblical.htm
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkicYN2xHlWcAxLVXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTExZWpwZHBqBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMgRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkAwRsA1dTMQ--/SIG=11ss4q7fd/EXP=1198360728/**http%3a//www.probe.org/content/view/18/77/
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkicYN2xHlWcA17VXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyZ3YyZHJvBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMTAEY29sbwNzazEEdnRpZAMEbANXUzE-/SIG=12el62bg1/EXP=1198360728/**http%3a//www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1304954/posts
2007-12-21 08:56:37 · answer #1 · answered by Thrice Blessed 6 · 4⤊ 4⤋
The four gospels are the historical books in the New Testament. Each of these writers gave a historical document of the happenings in the days of Jesus. They each gave their rendition of what happened from their own point of view. Historians do this. Mark and Luke may not have witnessed the actual events, but like most historians they gathered the information from the best sources available. Since these four books are the closest to the actual events, they are the most reliable sources as to what actually happened. There are also pagan historians that have made references to Jesus. It sounds like your pastor has had some kind of mental break down. It happens.
I am 80 years old. I am a college graduate. I am a scientist, I have analyzed the scriptures as historical documents, and found them reliable. I believe in the theological accuracy of the bible, but remember that the bible is also a work of literature. Some times things are stated as facts, sometimes a saying is meant to be sarcastic, or ironic in tone.
The bible in a human document inspired by God. God expects us to use our brains because he made our brains.. That is why understanding is so difficult. I am praying for you on your journey.
2007-12-21 09:30:31 · answer #2 · answered by Bibs 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not sure if I believe your story, as in the previous post you said he had found Christ didn't exist. Historians do accept his historicity. Seems like you were overdoing it a bit about what he had found. OK some have suggested the reference to Jesus in Josephus was possibly a result of tampering. He probably didn't have a real relationship with God. Thats lots of people in the church like that. People can easily put on an act. If he had been pursuing God, God would have revealed Himself to him in a way that he couldnt deny. Possibly he's just an intellectual type man. And he doesn't realise that a lot of the 'experts' have no faith in God, and write off anything supernatural as bogus, so are actually lousy guides. But they can be intellectually convincng because they have spent their lives developping skills of argument and analysis... their conclusions look logical. I can tell you that miracles do happen.
2016-05-25 08:24:17 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My life closely parallels your pastor's.. I was a very devout believer in Jesus.. I began to study for a deeper relationship with him, and in doing so, I found that there is absolutely no historical evidence whatsoever for the existence of this Jesus.. I believed with my whole heart up until that point.. no matter what anyone else says, I know what I believed.. but with that and other information, my view was changed. I can never believe in him again.
2007-12-21 09:28:39 · answer #4 · answered by Kallan 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I was reading a book the other day by a Christian theologian, he explained that he had struggled with his faith for many years until finding confidence in it. Many people struggle with their faith. Perhaps something happened to him that shattered his faith and it will take awhile for him to come back to it. I struggled with mine in many ways until God came and pulled me out of a very bad situation. I began to study and learn more about the bible both from the bible and outside sources. You must remember your pastor is only a man. He is subject to the same demons that we all are. As far as the evidence being over whelming and conclusive, well that would depend on who wrote the evidence. I bet you could not prove tome George Washington ever existed. How can you show me all the documentation was not made up by a group of people starting a new country. Early history forged. You could not prove it to 100%, yet we both know he was our first president. We both know he really exisited. Study these things by authors on both sides of the platform, then decide If Jesus is our lord. I bet you will be quite surprised at what you will learn. There are 7 outside scorses that tell Of Christ rising from the dead besides the bible. Explore and learn.
2007-12-21 09:20:32 · answer #5 · answered by Jethro Bodine 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Jesus is real, the Bible believable.
The former Pastor was a fallible man.
The Bible says that there would be a time when people would fall away.
As for you, keep paying attention to your own walk. Do not faint as so many have done.
I suspect the man grew deceived by skillful lies, and did not exercise discernment.
2007-12-21 09:23:44 · answer #6 · answered by Jed 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Isn't it amazing how these people dismiss the experiences of others because they don't conform to their own preconceived notions about what is and isn't supposed to happen if you're a believer? Your pastor sought truth and found it. Truth is not always what we want to see or believe, it just is what it is.
2007-12-21 09:43:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Too bad for him. That is one decision he will regret for an extremely L O N G time indeed. All I can testify too is there is absolutely NO evidence "conclusive" about Jesus being non-existent. All B.S. like that too me is just trying to tell me the world is really flat like their empty heads.
2007-12-21 09:08:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
No - I'm sure he probably did believe. However, religion is not a one size fits all and he has to be honest with himself, doesn't he? Would you feel right having a pastor preach to you if he didn't really believe what he was preaching? The belief has to be there or the religion falls on its face.
2007-12-21 08:59:37 · answer #9 · answered by swordarkeereon 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
we stand before God alone. no one except Christ can intervene for us.
your pastor's walk is not yours to understand, but feel encouraged that he was honest enough to step down from leadership when his faith became broken. too many in leadership refuse to see themselves and continue to lead in hypocrisy.
all you can do is pray for him and love him as you always have. but understand that he cannot provide you with spiritual guidance at this time and cut him a break.
the bottom line is that we follow God, not men. man will fail you...God is eternal and unchanging. if no one comes with you, will you still follow? that's the question each Christian must ask themselves...
2007-12-21 08:58:19 · answer #10 · answered by chieko 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
He (the Pastor) just gave in to Satan and wordly influences - worn down probably. Very sad.
Jesus is real - the Pastor changed, not Jesus. Jesus is the same as the day he became a Pastor.
We all question at times.
2007-12-21 08:53:59 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 5⤋