If Jesus is not the way and the truth, why did his eyewitnesses allow themselves to be killed over a lie?
90326
The nay-sayers (above) have made reference to military situations - that doesn't really apply.\n\nThrowing one's life away on drugs or other vice-lifestyles does not compare the eyewitnesses of the Truth.\n\nIn the theological realm, the extremists who willingly become a human-killing bomb are not on the same level - they are self-martyrs [oxymoronic?]. The followers of The Way were peaceable, but knew that their message would enrage Satan to get minions to do the dirty work. Yet they boldly proclaimed the Gospel.\n\nYou are right that they were unique!
373893
because they received not the love of the truth  that they might be saved and for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie. 11 Thessalonians 2:10-11
385667
To the Mainstream Christians, Jesus the Christ sacrificed Himself for the sake of removing the Original Sin off humanity, and in so doing Jesus the Christ opened a pathway to Eternal Life by His Salvation for humanity.  This is, of course, the view point of the Christians in general.\n\nTo the Gnositic Christians, such as the Cainites and Sethians, the Death of Jesus is viewed in ways very different from the Mainstream Christians; many of these gnostical views are termed as heretical and blasphemous even as far as to consider them satanic by many Mainstream Christians.\n\nThe view of the Gnostic Christians on the Crucifixion of Jesus is that, Jesus of Nazareth chose Death in order to release the Spirit within; in other words, he died for the sake of showing there is an Eternal Life by following his methods (of spiritual practices, not in the attempt on death), and not as an offering to the Eternal Life: "Pick up YOUR cross, and Follow me."\n\nOf these two very different, and might even opposing, views; each individual is entitled to select which to believe by his or her own choice.  The Scriptures, after all, can be read in more than one way -- let the Holy Spirit guide you or let the Divine Grace bestow you, the choice is always a personal one.\n\nPax et Amore Christi vobiscum,\nLux Mithrai ex Tenebras Crucis.
1009173
Where people miss this is, Jesus is not "condemning" their answer. They got the answer right. But because they did recognize who did the fathers will, then they are able to recognize their Father's will. Basically, Jesus took the, "we didn't know" excuse away from them, and corrected them, so they would repent.\n\nJesus was helping them, by showing them the errors of their way. They were human, just like me and you. We all need help, don't we?
295795
Every now and again some version of Christianity accuses someone of being the Anti-Christ.  Usually it is someone who stands in their way or causes them grief.  Everyone likes to blame the horrors of the world on someone.  Based on their track record I doubt they'll ever get it right and the real anti-christ has probably had a long fruitfull life and is now retired somehwere where they serve cocktails on the beach.
760038
You should continue reading the book. But I thought your question was sincere. You are saying that the martyrs were twisted and un-enlightened. That is your opinion.\nThe same people that killed the Martyrs were saying "Where is your God to save you". They said that to Jesus too. \nThe Martyrs weren't necessarily "willing" to be killed. But they were very very aware that they would be with the Lord in heaven. \nMartyrdom was a way to proove how strongly they believed.\nIn the Roman Empire everyone was pressured to worship the Ceasar. Nobody really believed he was a god, but they all went along with that to avoid getting killed. How much more convincing would it be that Jesus is real, and that what the Christians believed is real if they were willing to die for what they believe in?\nIf they weren't willing to die, then Christianity was just like any other fad religion that was happening. At that time in history it was crucial that Christians show the importance of what they believe. That's why Paul was willing to appeal to Ceasar in Rome knowing that he would be killed by Caeser. He had an opportunity to escape, but he felt his whole purpose in appealing was to see Nero at any cost. He was beheaded. How strong of a message is that that someone is willing to die for it?\nIf they didn't really believe, they wouldn'd die for it.  \nAnd to the Christians death meant nothing, because they knew that they would be ressurected. You are seeing the picture from your own world view. God doesn't see it that way. He has a plan that has to do with eternity, not our short lived lives. We only live just a short time compared to eternity. Which is more important? Eternity, or just a number of years which are uncertain?\nWhy would God need to save them? He already did save them.
350830
Pharisees now come to Jesus and say: “Get out and be on your way from here, because Herod [Antipas] wants to kill you.” It may be that Herod himself started this rumor to cause Jesus to flee from the territory. Herod may have been afraid of becoming involved in the death of another prophet of God as he was in the killing of John the Baptizer. But Jesus tells the Pharisees: “Go and tell that fox, ‘Look! I am casting out demons and accomplishing healing today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be finished.’”\n\nAfter finishing his work there, Jesus continues his journey toward Jerusalem because, as he explains, “it is not admissible for a prophet to be destroyed outside of Jerusalem.” Why is it to be expected that Jesus would be killed in Jerusalem? Because Jerusalem is the capital city, where the 71-member Sanhedrin high court is located and where the animal sacrifices are offered. Therefore, it would be inadmissible for “the Lamb of God” to be killed anywhere but in Jerusalem.\n\nThe fox is well known for its craftiness, and perhaps with reference to this characteristic Jesus Christ spoke of King Herod as “that fox.”
857136
people in watergate could not hold a lie together for a matter of weeks\n\nthe apostle eyewitnesses went to thier deaths holding that Jesus died for sins and rose from the dead\n\ncant make this stuff up
284591
Although Jesus was not crucified but Christians want to believe that he was, because it is the easiest way to enter heaven without exerting any effort, any Christian can do what ever he wishes, killing, raping, cheating multiple illegal sexual relationships, homosexuality, lesbianism, gambling, robbing, …etc, and at the dooms day he will be treated equally with the decent people who obeyed God, for sure not all Christians are alike, there are some descent Christians particularly among Catholics, who still stick to the original teachings of the Bible and follow strictly the ten commandments but they are few compared to the total number of Christians in the world, and this Cruci-Fiction was invented by the Jews to mislead Christians from the straight path of God and they DID succeeded.    \nJesus was not crucified. When the Jews tried to kill him he escaped inside a cave and one man followed him inside but Jesus was lift to heaven alive and God made the face of the man who followed him similar to Jesus' face and when he came out of the cave the Jews captured him and crucified him thinking he is Jesus.\n\nCh-4,V-157\n"That they (the Jews) said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.;- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him no".\nEven though cruci-fiction was mentioned in the Bible, but was it the words of Jesus or did God say that he will crucify Jesus for the sake of their redemption?\nThe answer is NO, but some one after the alleged cruci-fiction said that God has sacrificed …etc. the story you know.\nI hope my answer didn't offend my Christian friends, because I can't help but to tell the TRUTH.
224027
Whatever you do don't "beat around the bush" to say cause it can hurt to not know the truth. Just asked anyone who has ever been lied to.
2478
The book of Romans in the Christian bible answers this question pretty well. Humans were created with a natural sense that there is a God. But because of their rebellious nature against Him, they are alienated from Him in their hearts, minds, and consciences. So, being spiritually dead, they are blind to the truths about Him. Therefore, their corrupted minds invent false beliefs about Him. How do you know which one is right? It starts in the heart. Like I've said, it is the prideful and rebellious heart of human kind that is the problem. It is not impossible for you to know the truth, in fact it is so easy that it's heartbreaking that most people miss it. The only people who can find the truth are those who sincerly want it. I will give it to you, but I can't make you accept it. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He came to be put to death for your sins. You can't justify yourself before God because you, like all humans, are imperfect. What you can do(indeed the only thing you can do) is humble yourself before God and confess that you are a sinner worthy of death, but that you now believe that Jesus has taken your place and removed your sins and guilt forever, never to be brought up before God again. Ask the Lord Jesus to enter your heart and make it new. Then trust that you are pardoned by God and be at peace with Him. Do this and you will have your "evidence" in your own heart and mind and life.
171515
I agree with your statements. \n\nMost people like to believe everything others accept as truths - it is so much easier that way. Not everyone has the intellect or time or truth seeking characteristic in them to make them want to find out the absolute truth (if it exists!). \n\nHere are some other things I question:\n\n1) the book of Mark was the first recorded version of the synoptic gospels (the other books follow mark) - however, early versions (about 50 AD) ended at mark 16:8 and did not include anything about the resurrection.\n\n2) I suppose you are discussing the literary christians - have people really looked at the teachings of the gnostics? Their interpretation makes a lot more sense to me. Perhaps jesus was married to Mary Magdalene....and Saul/Paul was a woman hater....\n\n3) isn't it strange that Paul ursurped the new testament (his teachings take over from those of the apostles after the gospels)? Does this make sense to anyone else - if paul was the right person to expand the religion, why did Jesuah ben joseph (Jesus to most) not accept him as an apostle? Oversight?\n\n4) Popes through the ages have committed incesteous acts, organised murders, led crusades against Christian parties (Saracens were Christians), meddled in politics, made huge errors in scientific terms (earth is flat and all that)...and people still believe that they would not edit the bible to suit their own needs?\n\n5) Most of what Christians believe today were decided at the Council of Nicea (Apostle's creed, Holy Trinity etc etc) - does this make sense? A group of old men telling future generations what to believe rather than letting them make up their own minds?\n\n6) Everything is based on faith. If you wanted to buy a stereo but you could not try it (you have to pay upfront of course), would you do so? You have to rely on faith that it is good and it works....Does this make sense? Can faith be described as ignorance and acceptance of what people tell you without being able to find out the truth? if Thomas can ask questions, are we not allowed to do so as well or is he just an exception?\n\nWhat irks me most are the bible loving people who have not read and have not bothered to do more research on the basis of their beliefs and yet come around and preach to others. isn't it a case of "blind leading the blind", and perpetuating the infallibility of the bible?\n\nI remember a Jehovah Witness telling me that he believes the bible to be true so I should as well. I asked him if a madman genuinely believed he was Napolean Bonaparte, does it make him Napolean? Of course not, this is a subjective belief. Perhaps this is it: we will never find objective evidence to prove religion either way and can only decide subjectively if we want to believe. \n\nBTW, for every example of a scholar who converted to Christianity after doing research, there are also the opposite cases, where scholars have given up their beliefs due to their findings. To quote one or the other as irrefutable evidence of the truth/untruth is probably naive.\n\nHowever, in my search for the truth, I have not come across the indication that the First Holy Roman Emperor removed all references to reincarnation. I question this quote from you.... \n\nUltimately, I ask if the teachings have harmed humanity and I think that my answer is no. The teachings of the bible are in essence good but only intellectual flyweights would believe it wholeheartedly and as literal truth.
76713
Because sometimes the truth isn't what people what to hear, but it is always best to let the truth be know.  If a person chooses not to believe the truth then maybe they are the ones at a lose.  Regardless of what the person thinks if you truely believe what you are saying is the honest answer then give it a little time and say it agian.
1125891
This is real and the fact is you don't have any evidence to think otherwise than what was fed to us by so called thinkers who seek to explain the sinful reality we live in. Jesus came to this reality to save us and we should believe that and accept it or else you will have to excuse to say why you didn't believe in the reality that you knew and had the facts about.
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did JESUS belong to a 'mainstream church'?  no, the truth has been past down thru the remnant.\n\nour church has a tv ministry in 100 million homes, even china.  we learn to study in the original languages.  that is the only way you can beat satan's lies!\n\nyou were almost correct about the 1827 date.  the rapture theory was dreamed by a sick woman in 1830 and grabbed onto by some so called ministers.\n\nthis discussion is very lenghthy.  if you are really, really interested in knowing the truth, i can give you sources to study this in depth in the original languages and in documented history--called 'the great cover up'.\n\nasa far as the left behind theory, i don't think you've really thought this thru.  now if parents are 'raptured' and leave their children under the age of accountability, what is wrong with this picture?\n\nthis, above all makes me the most angry, because it is meant to scare little children to death in fear of losing mom and dad, and their security!\n\nJESUS said,'let the little children come unto me, for such is the kingdom of heaven' if rapture was true, and it is not, wouldn't the little ones be the first to go?  \n\nit's all lies, lies, lies!\n\nit's good that you asked before leaping, contact me, you need some scriptures and historical documrnts to help you!\ni am dottii!  i'm weary, gotta move along.\n\nread mainworry-he's got the truth and he's younger than i am!
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i believe what "wants.." said. \n\nif they dare to kill Jesus, you think they can't mess with his book? \n\ni think they change the words of God to sell it with little bit of money to the people. i believe this is what happend. and ofcurse they change the words from its place so it can fit what they desire. \n\nit's sad all those people following a Bible that has been changed by few liars. !\n\ni wish all of them see the truth like how God showed me the truth. love you Islam.
552784
It would have to do with what they believe to be true... Christianity is the same way... The Bible says that Jesus is the way the truth and the life, and no man comes to the father, but through him. I am a christian by the way, and I think that Bible is clear on how we are to be saved, and how we get to heaven, so I would not be able to believe that there are many ways to heaven if Jesus is saying he is the only way. I can say that Jesus is only a good teacher (muslim teaching) and the bible say that is his the king of kings and the Lord of Lords... the Messiah savior of the world. so I think all religion or most religion have a "line in the sand" some where.