Since we’re on the topic of Jesus and his supposed greatness, I’d like to point you to a great article (and site in general) that deals with quite an embarrassing prophecy that Jesus spoke of during his time. It deals with how Jesus prophesied that he would return about 2,000 years ago, but as you know, nothing has happened yet. It’s an interesting read indeed: http://www.ebonmusings.org/atheism/2000years.html

But anyway, I agree with orDover. I noticed that you skipped over my rather large post dissecting your arguments up to that point, which I didn’t really appreciate, because I took a few minutes to type it up. You really should glance over it mate, you could stand to learn a few things about debating.

I love how you ignored my ACTUAL criticism of your post, the fact that you were using a logically fallacious argument, and focused on the small detail I used to illustrated how unstable your line of reasoning is. You wrote:

Come on. You’re using Dionysius as an example? Where in the heck are the worshipers of Dionysius? Christianity has been around 2000 years, and the religion it sprang from, Judaism, for thousands of years before. Christianity is one of the top 3 beliefs in the world——Dionysius? LOL–Ok go that road if you want to—but it is actually quite silly.

Alright then, let me defend my answer. I chose Dionysus for several reasons:
1. He can be dated back much further than a Christian or Jewish god
2. He was worshiped for nearly 4 thousand years from 2700 BCE until around 1000 CE when Christianity worked to blot out all of the old cults. 4 thousand years is long that Jesus has been worshiped, and even longer than Judaism has been around (ignoring the fact that, according to archaeological data, the Jewish religion actually grew out of much older Mesopotamian religions, merely changing a few letters of the god’s name.)
3. Modern cults to Dionysus are still in existence today. It’s even thought that Free Masonry descended from a cult called Dionysiac Architects. Currently there is even a sect of Free Masonry called the Revived Order of Dionysus.
4. Even if you argue that he isn’t worshiped as a god, he is RECOGNIZED (and has been since way back in 2700 BCE), which is the word that I used, and also the word that you used.

Logical fallacies don’t cut it. I’m sorry. Several of us have pointed out which ones you’ve made, and you are ignoring our criticisms of your reasoning.

…why would someone all the other religions accept as a great teacher make a statement like that?

I rather doubt that most other religions accept that part of his teaching as valid. Believe it or not, it’s possible to think a man is good and wise in general, but still believe that a few of his teachings were off the mark (I’m sure most other religions reject the notion that Jesus was God).

–Joe

To me Joe, that only reflects poorly on Jesus.

Actually, it only reflects poorly on Jesus if what he is claiming isn’t true. If all that came before him WERE thieves and robbers (as he definitely says in John 10–read it for yourself) then he is merely stating the truth, and that would not reflect in any negative way whatsoever.

I point it out Obi, not to “laud it” as you say, but to make a very important distinguishing difference. Everyone recognizes Jesus as either a great man or teacher or Avatar in the other religions, but he does not recognize any of THEM. Nowhere, in his teachings does he talk of “another teacher”, or another man of wisdom to follow. He says “I AM the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but BY ME”. That statement only reflects poorly on Jesus if it isn’t true–but why would someone all the other religions accept as a great teacher make a statement like that? I think it is because He IS the way, the truth and the life.

I don’t really respect that.

“I have chosen you twelve meatheads, I mean, meatballs, to take my message to the rest of the Italian culinary community. After that you are sprinkled from above with parmesan, you will go by twos to each pizza oven and spread the message of garlic and onions to all. If they will not receive you, shake the very olive oil off of your feet. And you, who do you say that I am?” “You are Sapghetti, the son of Baked Zitti” said Luigi, who is called Pepperocini.

Sorry—-couldn’t resist.

I guess we could go in circles here forever. :>) But as I pointed out on another thread recently, Jesus said “All that ever came before me were thieves and robbers”(speaking of the past), and then warns in the future that there will be many saying “I am Christ” but not to believe them (speaking of those who come after him).

So, in effect, he is saying that Hinduism and Zoastrianism(before him) were founded by thieves and liars, and that Isalm and Buddhism and Flying Spaghetti Monsters(after him) are false religions.

He denies all of THEM, yet they all ACKNOWLEDGE HIM as a great teacher, great man, or incarnation of former great teachers. I know this does not prove anything to you—but it is extremely interesting to note that THEY revere him, but he calls all of them FALSE. (perhaps the Flying Spaghetti Monster does not acknowledge him—I’ll give you that LOL)

Joe! You mean that people predicting the future can be wrong? Oh my goodness! That changes everything!

((my own attempt at humour, there))

Come on now. You can’t laugh that off all that quickly. It is not that Votaire predicted it and was completely wrong, it is the sarcasm and true belief he held that the Bible was “bunk” and would just “fizzle away” in a hundred years that is in play here. Voltaire is greatly respected by atheists, and many others too. But he was in the end a scoffer, and his scoffing was so far off the mark it is incredible. Those who believe the Bible is nothing but a book written by man will most likely continue to make such statements and show that though they are peceived as wise men they are really fools. (“The fool hath said in his heart their is no God”)