Do you agree with the following statement?

[Prodigy54321]

txag..

we are in a discussion that is largely about whether or not the bible is true..

yet you are assuming that things happened the way that the bible says they do...

wtf

[txag007]

No. Read the OP. This discussion is not about whether or not the Bible is true. This discussion is about whether or not the Bible could be false without the occurence of a widespread conspiracy. Plus, many of my sources have been non-biblical.

[txag007]

[ QUOTE ]
Who knows why Christianity flourished?

[/ QUOTE ]
Isn't this something you should try to answer before you decide that it's false?

[ QUOTE ]
But the fact that it did, lends nothing to your claim.

[/ QUOTE ]
How can you say this without knowing why the growth of the early church occured?

[chezlaw]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Who knows why Christianity flourished?

[/ QUOTE ]
Isn't this something you should try to answer before you decide that it's false?

[ QUOTE ]
But the fact that it did, lends nothing to your claim.

[/ QUOTE ]
How can you say this without knowing why the growth of the early church occured?

[/ QUOTE ]
tag, you've played this game before. You present a false dilemma and attempt to force people to give up or do a ridiculous amount of pointless research.

Religous beliefs are independent of the truth of the beliefs so all the success of the idea means is that it appealed to people. We already know that religous beliefs are very fit and some of yuou love to believe them.

Asking why is was a succesful idea has no more bearing on the divinity of jesus then asking why some pop group sells millions of records.

chez

[RJT]

[ QUOTE ]
…End of rant. I'll be nice for a month now.

[/ QUOTE ]


Who will watch the time clock? If this happens, then we will have witnessed a miracle. David S., for sure, will very readily convert. Others, who are a bit stubborn and illogical, will need to be educated how this would surely be a miracle.

[benjdm]

[ QUOTE ]
No. Read the OP. This discussion is not about whether or not the Bible is true. This discussion is about whether or not the Bible could be false without the occurence of a widespread conspiracy.

[/ QUOTE ]
Easily. A few questions:

How widespread and routine were miracle claims in biblical times ? How skeptical were people ?

Answer: Not very much at all. If you were to be intellectually honest, you would believe that Jesus was the son of God, Mani was the comforter promised by Jesus, Apollonius of Tyana was divine, etc.

Were the gospels written by eyewitnesses, independently, shortly after the events they portray ?

Answer: No. They were written in Greek, by unknown authors, >30 years after Jesus died. They have been appended, edited, and were copied from each other.

People are gullible and will believe anything. They have demonstrated their willingness to die for no good reason repeatedly.

I'll give you an example how ridiculous you sound. Resources: 10 people + boxcutters. That's it. Without divine guidance and blessing, there is no way 10 people armed with boxcutters can take down the World Trade Center. Therefore, Allah.

[Prodigy54321]

[ QUOTE ]
No. Read the OP. This discussion is not about whether or not the Bible is true. This discussion is about whether or not the Bible could be false without the occurence of a widespread conspiracy. Plus, many of my sources have been non-biblical.

[/ QUOTE ]

I know, but you are asking questions that assume that what is said in the bible actually happened...

like your question about the 500 people who saw Jesus....

[Lestat]

<font color="blue"> Quote:
Who knows why Christianity flourished?


Isn't this something you should try to answer before you decide that it's false?
</font>

It's not important for ME to answer, because I'm not predisposed towards putting significant weight into ancient writings by people who still thought the earth was flat, and didn't even know what caused things like tsunamis. This is what I meant by you putting the cart before the horse.

<font color="blue"> Quote:
But the fact that it did, lends nothing to your claim.


How can you say this without knowing why the growth of the early church occured? </font>

For the same reason why you insist on ignoring the question of why there are over ONE BILLION Muslims in the world who are just as sure their beliefs are correct as you are of yours!

Why do you suppose Islam has flourished for so long and continues to grow to this day? I'm not sure, but it might even be outpacing Christiantiy.

I'd like to hear you answer your own questions in this thread, only about Islam? Care to give it a shot?

[txag007]

I'm not asking anyone to assume the Bible is true. I'm asking for theories, if it is false, as to why that may be and how christianity grew in spite of that. So far nobody has come forward with such a theory.

[txag007]

I'm asking for theories. Simple as that.