Even fiction can be plagiarized.

Right at the top – fiction or truth – I am loving it. Is it not only Christianity that writes about this event. My people go astray because of a lack of knowledge.

The Jewish and Moslem’s have this event also documented. So if you say it is the Christians that have sensationalized this are you wrong buddy.

That’s it rather write on things you know about.

My feeling is the fact that you have revert to an capital Christ – means there’s hope for you.

The man “Jesus” that Christians claim as their savior did, in fact exist. It isn’t too easy to find people to refute that nowadays. The question entirely becomes, was he the Messiah?

Matthew has many references to the prophesies because it was written about 40-60 years after the death of Jesus. His audience was vastly Jews, and what is the Jewish holy book? The Torah: the 5 first books of the Bible, including the Book of the Prophets. In this way he was able to draw in a greater audience to help them relate Judaism to Christianity.

For a couple other refutations:

-Ishmael and Hagar were sent off into the desert and were not seen again. Thus, Isaac becomes, the “only” son. Something you probably already know, Islam claims its “heritage” from Ishmael.

-Your three days statement: I said this on your more recent post: the Bible should not be taken literally. As an ancient people, the writers held great importance in numbers and their significance. Three symbolized a degree of balance, harmony, and holiness.

Remember, the Bible is written to try to convey/convince people of something. Those who edited its contents could have easily added parallels, but they don’t change the core story.

I try to distance myself from those crazy extreme Christians as much as possible because they do more harm than good. You’d have to be a lunatic to believe that (the example I used earlier) that the whole world was all created in seven days. C’mon! And people who deny the existence of dinosaurs because they’re never mentioned in the Bible. Um, are you serious?

Again, just keep in mind that the Bible was written by ancient ancient people and think about the context in which the different parts were written. That usually helps justify (at least to an extent) some discrepancies and coincidences.

Well, like Heather notes, at least to the Reformation.

What’s curious to me is that no one seriously tries to defend the church as a whole. And by “church” I mean “the people who claim belief in Jesus.”

As soon as obvious problems and inconsistencies are pointed out, individual believers will say, ‘Oh, that’s so true!” and go on to a) condemn other Christians not exactly holding the same beliefs or doctrine as them or b) condemn other Christians as individuals who aren’t obeying god, who are falling short, etc.
The finger-pointing starts immediately, I guess because there’s no denying the truth of history.

My question is why don’t these people question the validity of their beliefs if they’re not getting the results promised? If these folks are followers of Jesus, they should be doing some awesome miracles, they should be on the “right” side of historical advances in things like civil rights and good deeds – isn’t that what the bible promises that Christians will do? But when it obviously doesn’t happen, they point fingers instead of questioning what they actually believe.

I can only guess that it’s a defense mechanism, or a denial thing.

The Reformation?

lol, well, I suppose I wrote that rant of mine for no reason. It appears we are in agreement, no?

@ Kim

As a student of religious studies I no longer find much use in theological debates. However, as an ex-evangelical, I would highly recommend limiting the use of fundamentalist rhetoric and power words if you want to have a reasonable conversation. Karen was very patient in answer some of these rhetorical devices, yet you rarely answered any of them. And then, when it came down to it, you simply stated that we were never Christians. Awesome. Are you sure you are not the omniscient Jehovah yourself? Apparently you can see our hearts and minds, past, present, and maybe even future. Quite honestly, if there is a heaven and a hell, I would take my chances with the weeping and gnashing of teeth with others on this blog than spend eternal bliss with arrogant, self-righteous, judgmental evangelicals.If your Christianity is the truth, God help us, than justice does not exist.

“Jesus Christ is the lamb that was sacrificed for us”

“Abraham knew that Lord work it out somehow” [But Jephthah didn't? - Judges 11]

“I love the Lord and would give my life for him in a second. I have this trust, love and obedience that gives my joy even when i go through sorrows.”

“There he hung and bled to death just for you.”

“Then realize how much God loves you and the sacrifice He made to save you from yourself.”

“Does Christ fit into the category of mythology? No, He doesn’t because God punished those trying to reach God by building high places as altars to foreign gods.”

“The forgiveness of sin is through the shedding of innocent blood.”

“When Jesus died on the cross he created a new covenant.”

“Christianity is the only faith that requires only belief. ” [Except that you just said that it also requires repentence]

“The Lord leads me in my life. He called me into the discernment ministry. I did so. He told me not to desire the things of this world. I do not”

“This world is but an evaporating mist that is miniscle compared to eternity. I hope all your decisions are made with the eternal consequences in mind.”

“Just as Abraham offered his Son, I would also offer my child BUT it also says that God will not put upon us any more than we can bear [Again, didn't fair to well for Jepthah - but quite honestly, I would hate to work with Child Services]

“This is not my method. It is scripture from the Holy Bible. It is God breathed.”

“I can only be a living example of what he has done in my life. The joy He has given me. The change in my heart, soul, and attitude has nothing to do with what i can do for myself, but what the Lord has done in me. I kneel in gratitude for how the Lord has saved me.”

“But it is to all his Glory.. How? i do not know. His ways are not our ways.”

“If you truly want to seek God, you will find Him. He wants you!”

“The church has strayed from the Bible and has taken on a world-view of reason and logic. Where is the faith in reason and logic?”

“Satan rules this world. He is the Prince of the Air.” [This was my personal favourite... way out of left field and completely irrelevant, but very poetic]

“All i can say at this point that you may have never been actually saved.”

“I will not preach to you.”

“I do not have the answers to your falling away from Christ except that it was predicted in the Bible and you are fulfilling prophecy.”

**Does this constitute a trend or am I mistakenly picking up on something? It would be interesting to explore this tendency further.** Now that you’ve mentioned it, I think you’re right. Yet, however, those who do witness to us are absolutely correct, even though everyone else is wrong.