yes the youth leader of that church was very adament about me participateing in everything! she called me on a daily basis and tried to pick me up after school for certain stuff
she came to my house every afternoon to talk and if i said "sorry i have something to do" she would try and convince me to go with her instead

the really bad one was the baptisit church i went to only ONE time and after then it was like they stalked me
came to my house and everything and were trying to like...convert me to their church and have me rebaptized and all that

Well here's what I know/believe (or think I know, having actually studied this topic)

Scientists and ancient historians and classicists have come to the general agreement that jesus did exist. He was the man written about in some ancient documents that came to be the bible.

Some of the things written about him were true, and some of the things written about him were more like folk tales, stories meant to make a point and have a meaning but not necessarily true.

He probably was some sort of social activist. The stories of his miracles, birth, etc., were written long after he lived and are more like folk tales, but based on their nature can give us a clue about who he was and what his lasting impact was.

I'm not christian, so I don't feel the need to argue that Jesus was a great religious figure or needs to be worshipped. But I am a scientist (or scientifically/historically inclined, at least) so I will say that I think he existed and did have an impact on the society around him.

Wherever you go from there has to do with your personal beliefs.

Thanks for the replies. I just wanted to point out that this is the reason that I decided early on that Christianity just wasn't for me. It was never a debate of whether I thought it was true or not, it was a descision not to join a club based on my dislike for the mindset of their leader.

I looked at it literally that it was going to be a personal relationship, a loving friendship... And there was no serious way that I could consider a person like the Christian God for a regular friend were he an actual normal human and acted this way. I would avoid a person like that as a reflex. That kind of personality is an instant turn off.

That's all really, it seemed like new point of view to offer this discussion.

i believe that god and jesus were created so people feel like they have something to live for if they believe in god. because one day they will be invited into gods kingdom and live with him for eternity...

if god and jesus are so real, why do we live in a world where people shoot others, children are kidnapped tortured and killed, women raped, bombs destroy towns....why?

There is no god. There is no Jesus.
We're brainwashed to believe that they exist from the time we're in school, and are told if we dont pray and be good little catholics, we'll go to hell.

gid and Jesus were created so people can talk ("pray") to them when they need guidance, when they cant make up their own mind and do the right thing. They were created so people dont feel alone.

I think most belief sytems have one. My equivilant is "do as ye will an it harm none".

Actually, Jesus does exist. There is a lady in Blue Hill, Maine who legally changed her name to Jesus Christ. HAHA. I swear it's true.

That's great.

Wow, there are about five others, as well. I just put in the name 'Jesus Christ' at Switchboard.com and five or six came up.

A lot of people in Mexio are named Jesus (Hay-zoos).

And in the middle east. Or at least a lot of people in the middle east used to be named Jesus, like in Jesus' time.

Hey, Zeus!!

i think jesus did exist, but he didn't do all of the things people said he did.

i think jesus is overexaggerated.

i think the whole story of jesus is a little too fairy tale-ish.
all the stories in the bible too...i mean come on make it sound a little believeable.

i think some people feel they need to believe that there is a jesus
because they actually believe there's a heaven and hell and if they go against him they wont be accepted into his "kingdom"
if people look around, they'd see that the world we live in today is no different than what "hell" would look like. People dying, homeless...look around.

I am very disturbed to this whole forum. I read what you all had to say and I would have to say I am a little disturbed. 1. How do you think the sun is in the sky? 2. How do you think the birds existed?( they had to come from somewhere) 3. Where do you think we became in existince? (From monkeys I THINK NOT!) I am a sunday school teacher and I am a true Lutheran. I have been baptized and by saying that I have been given the faith to truley believe there is a Father(God), Son(Jesus Christ- Son of God) and the Holy Spirit. One day you will all wish that you never wrote wrote the stuff you did when your soul is burning for eturnity. I will
pray for you all to find in your hearts the true belief that there is only one perfect Man and that would be the man who was nailed to a cross and went through agonizing pain for all you disbelievers as well as believers.

Whenever I hear the word 'Jesus' I always think of grilled cheese on toast.

Mmmmmmm....Jeeeeesusssss.....

For those of you that don't believe that Jesus Christ is our true savior. Maybe you should become mormon they believe that Jesus existed but was just another son of Gods. They have an updated version of the bible called "The book of mormons" I believe in my savior Jesus Christ and I will not convert but maybe some of you would. I have a friend who is mormon so I am learning about their beliefs. Also did you know you can get baptized for your dead relatives that never knew the word of God. It's true ask a mormon that way they can see them in heaven One Day! (PLEASE) the only way to heaven is through JESUS CHRIST!!!

It sounds like you are discounting the Mormon faith. What would your friend "The Mormon" think of that?
They actually hold Jesus in high regard, after all they are "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints".

Oh yeah, save your prayers, you will need them more than I do when you are being judged for judging others!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

also edited because I can't spell worth a poo

I was not trying to offend anyone but when I read all thesse put downs on Jesus I get very offended. By the way my friend knows how I feel abbout her beliefs and she reacts the same way about mine. On the other hand I don't believe you can work your way into heaven by doing good deeds for people. I am sorrry if I offended you mommy35. I have been to different churchs, I was raised methodist, then penicostial and when I married my husband I became lutheran. I meant no harm to anyone. I thought this was a place to say your thoughts I don't want to judge or be judged by others though. SORRY!!!!

Now that's a god I really want to worship. One who would condemn my soul to burn for all eternity.



A really, really, really grilled cheese on toast, apparently.



You can say what you believe.

So can I.

Hence the disagreements arise...

if you don't believe in heaven... what's the point of devoting yourself to Jesus?

I'll answer that, there isn't one.