But..Butt...un..am....??????????????

you know they can't, so why ask a question that will just get you angry answers, thumbs down, and a bunch of quotes from the bible?

You asked for it. . . .

They way in which historians determine whether a historical even is authentic or not is by the eyewitness accounts from those present when the incidents occurred. In Jesus' case the eyewitness wrote the things they heard and saw Jesus do. These are the Gospel accounts amid other "non-religious" accounts. All historical evidence points to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as being historically accurate.

With that said (that Jesus lived, taught died and resurrected) Jesus claimed Himself to be the Son of God. The eyewitness say that this is so and can be backed up by the miracles with which Christ performed. How do we know that the miracles are true? Well, the same way we determine whether a historical event is true. By eyewitnesses. There is not ONE single piece of historical evidence claiming that Jesus did NOT perform these miracles. So, since Jesus proved He was who He said He was by defying the laws of physics (the miracles) one can only draw a logical conclusion here. Do I believe the historical evidence as being true or false. Was Jesus lying or telling the truth? You be the judge.

Keep in mind that by saying Jesus was not telling the truth you are, in essence, denying all historical events in world history as being false as well. they are all measured by the same method of eyewitness accounts.

You claim that evolution is real. Can you give proof OTHER than textbooks, research, etc? (which, is ALSO written by MAN, and MAN did the experiments, research, w/e). If you don't claim evolution is real, then....

The book of Isiah. God talks to Him, and Isiah prophesies a man coming, a great prophet (I think? I don't know, haven't read, but I think so....) Anyways, that counts as being written by Him.

Ok. Here goes. This is very definitely not the best defense of the faith ever offered just the best I could come up with in 10 minutes or so. But this is a good question deserving an decent answer.

The Imperial Roman civic records of the time record that there was a man brought before Pontius Pilate for various "alleged crimes", but these were found not particularly offensive to the magistrate so the individual in question was left to the crowd, the man was identified as Jesus of Nazareth the crime if I remember correctly was something like "Religious incitement" as raised by the Pharisies, non-state official religious scholars. Since this was not a state matter, it was essentially dismissed but then reversed on a technicality - heh kinda sounds familiar hum.

So the basis of the historical figure is independently verified by nothing less then official state records of the time. The implication based on the charge is that there was some incitement or offense significant enough that the crowd and the Pharisies felt that the punishment of crucifixion was appropriate.

So that strongly implies that whatever Jesus had done/said/preached basically pissed off the religious leaders enough that they voted to hang him high.

The text of the bible itself is simply the resulting collection of "sanctioned" works agreed upon at the Council of Nicea. The most consistent and concordant texts were included, the rest excluded. There is (still) an entire apocrypha of additional works including many different "understandings" of the Christian faith. Further academic work as recently as the 1980's would allow us to significantly expand the cannon of texts were they to be compiled again as a exigent text.

Nobody suggests that God physically wrote / delivered the writings of the bible , but many (but not all) Christian faiths hold that the original authors were divinely inspired.

To respond to your question though. One of the fundamental principles of all three faiths of the Judaeo /Christian/Islamic tradition is free will.

This is also could be considered the very definition of faith and deism of any kind. "Is that God is essentially unknowable and that we as humans have been given free will above all else" As a basic philosophical tennent this is absolutely essential.

With that in mind however, you are asking for something that is empirically not possible. If we ask the question another way, given that free will is considered so very critical.

If for instance Jesus or the Diety him/herself of your choice was to come down in a beam of light and pass out commandments and actually show up in person doing all sorts of festive God-like things, casting people out and smiting them and all that fun stuff.

There is a certain point where it becomes empirical / provable , someone can go to 101 Old Western Wall Way and schedule an lunch appointment to meet with the Almighty. This kind of removes the idea free will, then doesn't it?

At that point you really don't have any - it's time to pony up some alms and get yourself to Jerusalem or wherever and offer some humility up pronto. Or continue to believe - whatever you want, perhaps there's a Star Trek convention at the old Temple tonight.

Besides a Jesus or God ruling in the Eastern/imperial sense isn't really what faith is about, is it, it's about being willing/able to believe - without proof.

However let's approach your question empirically.

What is the essential nature of religion as an invention of humanity? What is it's essential purpose? Originally certainly a secondary method of control of the individual when exersized in the imperial sense.

However that does not explain the component of personal faith among reasoning peoples where the need to religiously express oneself has undeniably been a basic desire of our species - Whether its a religious iconography from 15,000 years ago in a cave or prayer or the creation of Handel's Messiah, or even heretical "rage against the system" of something like NIN's - Heresy, that is to my mind, the more compelling point of modern religious consideration.

In another important way religion serves our selves and civilization as a mechanism of continuity. We feel attached to those who came before us and those who will come after by virtue of a tradition set, this is a fundamental aspect of human culture whether it is naturalism/animism or ancestor worship or polytheism or monothesim and rationalism today.

That combination of expression of creativity and continuity is part of what makes us human it helps to define us as a people. We have struggled long and hard as a species to cope with our environment, so control, creativity and continuity are part of that struggle as well and faith frames the context of those impulses as almost no other human activity does.

These variations in theism are evolutionary milestones in mankind's religious advancement. However divinely inspired religious belief actually may be, clearly like other inventions its expression has it's dark side, the imperial use of religious dogma to justify oppression and acts of destruction, purges, pograms and extinctions of whole peoples in the name of some God or another, against one another persist to this day.

"If I've done my job right, nobody will be sure I've done ... anything at all." - God, Futurama

Well yes it was written by men (and women), who else was going to rite it?

Besides, there are other non-bible sources that confirmed something of Jesus' nature happened. I can't say what or where. but there is also the tradition that Christ started was carried on. Changed yes but never completely lost.

I sure can. let me ask you a few questions.............

Would you Consider yourself to be a good person?

Have you ever lied (even once--fibs, white lies, etc.)? Ever stolen (anything--the value is irrelevant)? Jesus said, "Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery already with her in his heart." Have you ever looked with lust? If you have said "Yes" to these three questions, by your own admission, you are a lying, thieving, adulterer at heart; and we’ve only looked at three of the Ten Commandments. Because God is Holy and Just, he must punish sn, and the penalty for your sin is Hell. In the times of the exodus from egypt, the isrealites were commanded to shed the blood of a spotless lamb to temporarily atone for their sins. God sent his only son, a perfect and sinless sacrifice in order to once and for all atone for your sins. you broke the Law and Jesus paid your fine. if Jesus isnt who he said he was, then there is no hope for you, you will remain in your sins until the day of Judgement when you face God. But, If Jesus is who he said he is, then there is good news, If you will repent and trust in Jesus God will then forgive yu and grant you everlastng life. either its true or its not, its up to you to tke the step of repentance and faith.

God Bless

WDJD

sweetie, it is called FAITH........the evedence of things unseen. This is an important part of any christians life. Yes the bible was written by man, but it is inspired by GOD, it is GOD breathed. He spoke the words to man, and they wrote it down. Oh, and Jesus IS the son of GOD.

Don't need to.

You wouldn't believe anything anyway.

There is a concept that will keep you in the dark forever and win any argument.

That concept is contempt prior to investigation.

Nope. But your belief that it was written by man is true, except you leave out the fact is was INSPIRED by God.

You can post and post till you turn blue in the face, you wont change my mind, and I dont want to change yours.

If only the homosexual midget eskimos in batman suits were here!They know how to live.