I'm interested in truth & what it means for individuals & humanity. This re-vamped blog is dedicated to truth and honest questions about faith in Jesus Christ. It is an effort to engage in authentic dialogue among Christians, Atheists and all points in between. Posts that do not honor legitimate discussion may be removed at my discretion. That doesn't mean that you can't disagree, but it DOES mean that you can't be a jerk. Welcome to the discussion.
You might be asking: There are lots of wierdos and cults who make fantastic claims, how do you know that the disciples weren’t lying about the resurrection?
Briefly, there are two things that I would ask in response to this question: What did this story of Jesus’ resurrection get the disciples? A hard life where most of them met their deaths at the hands of angry mobs or Roman soldiers. What's their motivation unless it was the truth?
But you might argue that lot’s of people die for lies: Jim Jones, David Koresh, Joseph Smith are examples just to name a few. The latest, self-proclaimed messiah, Jose de Jesus, might also fit into this category. Type in his name on Google and see what you get! How do you know the disciples weren't lying like all these other frauds?
That would be a good point, but here is the difference: There are lots of people who will die for a lie that they take as truth, but how many people will die for a claim that they KNOW is a lie? The disciples were in a position to KNOW if what they said was true. And we should cosider that even when facing torture and death, all the disciples had to do to get out of it was say that they lied. But none of them backed down. That should tell us something.
Measuring the disciples with any other cult leader is not a balanced comparisson. Still not convinced? Compare the lifestyles of Jesus' disciples with that of Jose de Jesus, David Koresh, Joseph Smith et al. You will find some stark differences.
Please keep in mind that comments which do not honor the spirit of legitimate dialogue may be removed at any time and without notification. You are free to disagree passionately, but not inappropriately. -CL
Briefly, there are two things that I would ask in response to this question: What did this story of Jesus’ resurrection get the disciples? A hard life where most of them met their deaths at the hands of angry mobs or Roman soldiers. What's their motivation unless it was the truth?
ReplyDeleteBut you might argue that lot’s of people die for lies: Jim Jones, David Koresh, Joseph Smith are examples just to name a few. The latest, self-proclaimed messiah, Jose de Jesus, might also fit into this category. Type in his name on Google and see what you get! How do you know the disciples weren't lying like all these other frauds?
That would be a good point, but here is the difference: There are lots of people who will die for a lie that they take as truth, but how many people will die for a claim that they KNOW is a lie? The disciples were in a position to KNOW if what they said was true. And we should cosider that even when facing torture and death, all the disciples had to do to get out of it was say that they lied. But none of them backed down. That should tell us something.
Measuring the disciples with any other cult leader is not a balanced comparisson. Still not convinced? Compare the lifestyles of Jesus' disciples with that of Jose de Jesus, David Koresh, Joseph Smith et al. You will find some stark differences.
-Corbin