Is it likely that the Gospels are just historical fiction or that the eyewitness testimony about Jesus is a vast conspiracy? Watch as Frank gives several reasons why these accusations are not plausible.
???? ???????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????
Counter Culture Christian: Is the Bible True? By Frank Turek:
• Mp3 ????????https://bit.ly/3wwgyqo
• Mp4 ????????https://bit.ly/3D9rZpk
• DVD ????????https://bit.ly/3iveWox
???? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????? (????????????-????????????????????????????????????????) ????
? Website: https://crossexamined.org/donate/
? PayPal: https://bit.ly/Support_CrossExamined_PayPal
???? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????? ????
? Facebook: https://facebook.com/CrossExamined.org
? Twitter: https://twitter.com/Frank_Turek
? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfrankturek/
? Pinterest: https://pin.it/JF9h0nA
????? ???????????????????????????????????? ?????
? Website: https://crossexamined.org
? Store: https://impactapologetics.com/
? Online Courses: https://www.onlinechristiancourses.com/
????? ???????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????? ?????
? iTunes: http://bit.ly/CrossExamined_Podcast
? Google Play: https://cutt.ly/0E2eua9
? Spotify: http://bit.ly/CrossExaminedOfficial_Podcast
? Stitcher: http://bit.ly/CE_Podcast_Stitcher
#BibleQuestions #TheBibleIsTrue
FREE Download of sermon I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist!: 👉📱https://cutt.ly/cInI1eo
@actiblizzard Says:
i think luke jaywalker arguments has flaws. in my opinion people in that time didnt think the same way as people do in the modern times. They were superstitious and did not have scientific explanations for many things. a story about a charismatic and giving healer in the old times can become an urban legend ever evolving over years.. centuries. im not agreeing or disagreeing with anything just throwing out thoughts...
@ufpride83 Says:
It’s hilarious he’s pretending made up characters from mythology have zero influence on reality as if the entire Roman Empire wasn’t founded on a mythology and that mythology drove the Roman empires reality for centuries.
Romulus and Remus at the time would have been considered “the most influential people of all time throughput the Roman world
That’s just ONE of COUNTLESS examples of fictional made up characters have real impacts the world of reality.
@AutisticN1994 Says:
I have a theory on the bible.
The bible is one huge collection of historical fiction books that are either inspired by true events or simply wrote down for the canon and the lore of the historical book series all collected into one.
@gi169 Says:
Thank you CrossExamined
@abrahewjincksoln6447 Says:
People who claim the Bible is fiction show, thereby, that they do not understand the nature of fiction. Everyone knows -- and many are ready and proud to proclaim (as though they fancy themselves exceptionally brilliant for noticing it) -- that fiction is not fact/truth. But, unfortunately, most (due to shallow, confused thinking) are ignorant of the fact that, not only is fiction not fact/truth, but fiction is not even _falsehood._ So, by claiming (wrongly) that the Bible is fiction, the Bible-haters are actually (whether they like it or not) admitting their agreement with the truth that the Bible is not falsehood, and that the Bible does not contradict itself. Of course, we know that those same people, out of the other side of their self-defeating mouth, will often (falsely) claim that the Bible is self-contradictory (and thus, that it is partly false).
@nitromnstr4567 Says:
So what christians are saying is Zeus, Hades, are fiction/myth while jesus is real? 😂 The bible was just a comic book back then. Jesus was their Superman.
@nitromnstr4567 Says:
The bible was just a comic book back then. Jesus was their Superman.
@hay_Z2021 Says:
Lets also not forget, back in the day when Jesus rose from the dead, it was WOMAN who were the first to the tomb, and their claims were considered credible! That was unheard of! Back then woman were frowned upon and were not easily believed! Its only in recent years woman have gotten rights and have been treated equally, so to me that REALLY speaks to how true the bible and the ressurection of Jesus is! 💯❤️
@kennywong5857 Says:
All histories invite faith to believe. That's the nature of what history is. The same vessel conveying a truth can be used to convey a lie. Is it Trump won the election or is it Biden. We know clearly that one of them must be a lie, however since both are conveyed in the same type of vessel where a truth shall convey you may choose to believe one by disbelieving another using your faith.
@SavvySavant Says:
I don't know if the bible is 100% historically accurate but fun fact... If the old testament is "The dark side" moralistically speaking and the new testament is it's opposite, Jesus might as well be Luke Skywalker. Just read it...
@TheScoundrelsCantina Says:
Jesus is the true myth 👌
Luke/ Anakin Skywalker are only the christ-like archetypes but definitely inspired by Christ.
@ta3p-theannex3project84 Says:
Written decades after Jezus died, nobody would be mad. Paul mistified Jezus with miracles, he excisted, died, but was no miracle maker. Maybe a Jew who wanted to rise up to the Romans.
@marvenlunn6086 Says:
The only historical figure that is believed in from only one source the bible any other book is considered false
@MAC...007 Says:
So right.👍💙🙂
@justanobodywithabeard Says:
I believe in Jesus Christ, my LORD and saviour!
Peace be with you all.
You can be skeptics all you want, we will all know the truth when we die or we will never know if you're right!❤️
Although, I am 100% sure that God exist!
@TheUreka Says:
Can anyone point me to historical iesus chrestus
@edgarmorales4476 Says:
Just as Jesus came in human body over 2000 years ago, to rescue the Jewish nation from myths and fallacies, so has Jesus returned through the medium of the Christ Letters and A Course In Miracles distributed worldwide, to make it abundantly clear that the "Christian Religion" in no way reflects his true CHRIST message either as he taught it in Jerusalem - or at this present time when the Christ Letters and A Course In Miracles will arouse the fury and condemnation of orthodox "Christians." The Christian religion, as it stands at this time, is only a hodgepodge of the muddled thinking of the disciples' selective recollections and Paul's worthy homilies and other early writings. Much later, when the impact of Christianity lacked the visual effect of the gods and goddesses of the Romans, the Christian religion was adorned with "theatrical" but "expedient" nonsense to impress those whom the Ecclesiastical Empire of Rome desired to draw into their fold. This empire later imposed monetary burdens on the gullible people even more iniquitous than the taxes demanded by the secular Roman Empire on conquered nations. Even Caesar did not demand payment for souls to gain entrance to heaven!
You may wonder why Jesus is so explicit in his rejection of "Judaism" and "Christianity." It is vital to the success of the distribution of his CHRIST MESSAGE that people should fully understand the true nature of religions which held humankind in their grip until the 20th century. Therefore, until Christians do realize the mythical foundations on which they have placed all their convictions, Christians will find it difficult to let go of cherished beliefs. Please understand that when Jesus makes such statements, he is referring to "Christian religion," to the "tenets of faith," to the "dogma and theology." Jesus is not referring to those great spiritual souls who have sought - and continue to seek God and Truth beyond the dogma and beliefs. Jesus knows Christians have received the inspiration of God into their minds and hearts but are afraid to let go of cherished beliefs. Christians are hampered by myths and fallacies. But the time has come for Christians to let them go and grow in spiritual wisdom.
@garrethoien6666 Says:
That genre wasn't knowen at the time....meaningless statement. Wasnt the Bible written 100 plus years after the miracle? Pilot was dead. And why write a fictional story claiming that its contents have the secret to everlasting life hmmm nope cant think of one frank....guess i should buy your 16th book
@maskofsorrow Says:
Brilliant again Frank.
@jonroth8427 Says:
Put quite simply, I would not die in the name of someone who didn't exist - then or now.
@avi8r66 Says:
Yes, Jesus is as fictional as Luke Skywalker, the supernatural jesus at least. It's likely there was actually a popular preacher that got on the nerves of the jews who was executed. Nothing outside the normal about that.
@dozer1323 Says:
Frank is a false prophet
@Antiorganizer Says:
"was not known at that time" - FALSE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"we have evidence that shows that these people really exist" - NO YOU DO NOT !!!!!!!!!!!
Turek is a LYING CON ARTIST ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Antiorganizer Says:
Is the Bible Historical Fiction? Well duh!
@Afluffycookie117 Says:
Technically, God could create the SW universe
But sadly he won't....
@CaptainFantastic222 Says:
Is there any evidence outside of the Bible that Jesus was real?
@michelangelope830 Says:
I saddest I can say is I have lived long enough to know the Nobel Prizes are given to friends and family. Atheism has been exposed as a lie that harms innocent and vulnerable children and atheists remain unperturbed, like if the truth or lie didn't matter, like if life was a joke that was created from nothing. What's the point in repeating the Earth is flat after it was discovered to be spherical? Atheists would not be able to prove their own existence to themselves if the logical conclusion is that the creation was created from the creator and lose their children believing without questions asked that gambling causes a brain disease. Atheism is a logical fallacy that assumes God is the religious idea of the creator of the creation to conclude wrongly that no creator exists because a particular idea of God doesn’t exist. The atheist fallacy would test your IQ and honesty and the error in reasoning is easy to understand being honest and impossible lying to oneself. To put in evidence the fallacy substitute the word "god" for "reality". To end the war in Ukraine the discovery that atheism is a logical fallacy needs to news.
@2l84me8 Says:
The bible is about as accurate as any myth or fable.
@RM-ov8gk Says:
Democrats think biden exists, they think he is God. No one is questioning that? LMAO
@therealdonaldtruth Says:
But the extrabiblical backs up the Biblical (at least in well-documented figures like Jesus Christ {maybe less so for a lesser-documented Moses})?!
When you read the extrabiblical accounts (Josephus, Thallus, Tacitus, Phlegon, Celsus, Pliny the Younger, Bar-Serapion, Suetonious…), you see they are slandering Jesus Christ of the Bible and Gospels.
Extrabiblical Jesus was:
- said to be born of a virgin
- was a magician
- claimed to be the Messiah
- was a wise leader and a learned Jew
- was crucified
- was said to have risen again
- founded ‘Christianity’
- …
You don’t read the extrabiblical accounts and go, “who is this?”.
The extrabiblical evidence is like if, in several millennia, someone were trying to find out about ‘Donald Trump’. So they find first a far-left Liberals writings on him; being a Nazi, abusing women, inciting discord & riots, murdering babies…etc.
Then they find a Times Magazine piece on him; being rich, being a businessman, his presidency, his family…etc.
Then they find a far-right Conservatives writings on him; being the Saviour, being the best President, ‘draining the swamp’, fixing the country…etc.
Despite the differing takes, you would know these are all describing an American billionaire man of status.
To further find out about his true nature you would align them together and judge the intentions of the authors.
So to summarise, in respect to his point, if Jesus Christ exists (as accounts prove) he must be a Jew who claimed to be the Messiah and whom convinced many of that fact through his miraculous ‘magic’ and crucifixion resurrection.
@JoshuaWilliams_ Says:
We are told to love God with all our heart, mind and soul and that we be reconciled unto him... If we do what God hates how yet can we say we love him with all our heart, mind and soul as we were commanded to do.
Jesus and the disciples taught the law of Moses and Jesus even said your thoughts should be bridled and controlled.
If someone pays your fine and the judge frees you it is not so you can continue the crimes that brought upon you the fine. If you are reconciled to the father of whom you were seperated from because of your sinful actions it hardly makes logical sense that you are reconciled to him to continue in those same sinful actions.
We are meant to be dead to sin and not living in it - not following two masters but crucifying the fleshly desires and seeking the spiritual
The second coming of Yeshua (The Messiah, Christ, Jesus) is coming near, Please all who say they are of Christ read these verses below and seek the truth; the truth that all transgression of the law is sin and none of the laws of Moses were done away with, the truth that Yeshua (Jesus) himself states that he does not abolish any of the laws of his father (he himself is the word, the law and so to say you abide in him yet not all the law makes ye a liar). Read the verses below that speak of God unchanging and of how we are meant to walk as Christ walks and hence following the commandments of God given to Moses including the vast expanse of Leviticus (of course Yeshua caused for such as blood sacrifices to be finished as he became the atoning sacrifice).
If you seek to truly love and serve God, Jesus and the holy spirit in full truth I implore you also seek teachings such as those about Sabbath's from 119 ministries, Jim Staley, Rico Cortes, bill Cloud, brad Scott and others... Another vital and important teaching would also be "Truth or Tradition" by Jim Staley.
Any who believe that the words of Paul and others including Yeshua (Jesus) himself change or abolish laws.... I can tell you there are deep contextual understandings required and that many of the verses you have heard have been plucked out leaving the verses that add the necessary context to be sitting in the book - but alongside this there is a deep culture and context in the era the scriptures were written that if you lack the understanding of will cause you to misunderstand the true meaning of the scriptures today with Paul's writing's requiring much of that understanding although if you remember it was false accusations that he was teaching against the laws of Moses and see that it should give you an idea as to how Paul has been misinterpreted by the current churches with many going against the Bible's very verses stating clearly such were false accusations.
Remember also that Yeshua (Jesus) actually spoke that even thoughts are counted as to iniquity (sin) and such makes sense if we are to love God with all our heart, mind and soul... We are implored to hold our very thoughts unto his ways and his standards also.
May God guide and bless those with open and truth seeking hearts that desire to love him truly to allow them to read these words here and these scriptures and to walk in full repentance as God truly desires 🙏🏽
2 Timothy 2:19 CJB
Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, stamped with these words: “The Lord knows his own,” and, “Let everyone who claims he belongs to the Lord stand apart from wrongdoing.”
Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 5:17-22
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
Mark 9:43-47 CJB
If your hand makes you sin, cut it off! Better that you should be maimed but obtain eternal life, rather than keep both hands and go to Gei-Hinnom, to unquenchable fire! And if your foot makes you sin, cut it off! Better that you should be lame but obtain eternal life, rather than keep both feet and be thrown into Gei-Hinnom! And if your eye makes you sin, pluck it out! Better that you should be one-eyed but enter the Kingdom of God, rather than keep both eyes and be thrown into Gei-Hinnom,
1 John 2:3-6
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
1 John 5:2-3
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
John 14:15
"If you love Me, keep My commandments.
Malachi 3:6
"For I am the LORD, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob
Romans 3:31
Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law
Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
James 2:24
You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Matthew 5:48
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Mark 7:8-9
For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition
Luke 17:3 ESV
Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him
Ezekiel 18:30-32 ESV
“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
Messianic Jews (Heb) 6:1-8 CJB
Therefore, leaving behind the initial lessons about the Messiah, let us go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of turning from works that lead to death, trusting God, and instruction about washings, s’mikhah, the resurrection of the dead and eternal punishment. And, God willing, this is what we will do. For when people have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become sharers in the Ruach HaKodesh, and tasted the goodness of God’s Word and the powers of the ‘olam haba — and then have fallen away — it is impossible to renew them so that they turn from their sin, as long as for themselves they keep executing the Son of God on the stake all over again and keep holding him up to public contempt. For the land that soaks up frequent rains and then brings forth a crop useful to its owners receives a blessing from God; but if it keeps producing thorns and thistles, it fails the test and is close to being cursed; in the end, it will be burned.
Acts 3:19 ESV
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out
Matthew 4:17 ESV
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
2 Peter 3:9 ESV
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Matthew 3:8 ESV
Bear fruit in keeping with repentance
Revelation 2:5 ESV
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Ezekiel 18:21-23 ESV
“But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?
Colossians 3:5-6
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
@willievanstraaten1960 Says:
Frank 0:24 basically says this could be a historical novel
Frank 0:36 First of all that genre was not known at that time.
The Bible is not a novel, it qualifies as fiction (novel)
Fiction is defined as: “Fiction is make-believe, invented stories. They may be short stories, fables, vignettes, plays, novellas, or novels. Although writers may base a character on people they have met in real life, the characters and the experiences that the character faces in the story are not real.”
@bio.Luminescence Says:
“But all human efforts, all the lavish gifts of the emperor, and the propitiations of the gods, did not banish the sinister belief that the conflagration was the result of an order. Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judæa, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired.”
Cornelius Tacitus, The Annals, Book 15, Chapter 44
“They affirmed, however, the whole of their guilt, or their error, was, that they were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food – but food of an ordinary and innocent kind. Even this practice, however, they had abandoned after the publication of my edict, by which, according to your orders, I had forbidden political associations. I judged it so much the more necessary to extract the real truth, with the assistance of torture, from two female slaves, who were styled deaconesses: but I could discover nothing more than depraved and excessive superstition.”
Pliny the Younger, Letters, Book 10, Letter 96 to the Emperor Trajan
“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.”
Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, Chapter 3
“Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist: for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism; for that the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away [or the remission] of some sins [only], but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness. Now when [many] others came in crowds about him, for they were very greatly moved [or pleased] by hearing his words, Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion, (for they seemed ready to do any thing he should advise,) thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties, by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I before mentioned, and was there put to death. Now the Jews had an opinion that the destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod, and a mark of God's displeasure to him.”
Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, Chapter 5
“But this younger Ananus, who, as we have told you already, took the high priesthood, was a bold man in his temper, and very insolent; he was also of the sect of the Sadducees, who are very rigid in judging offenders, above all the rest of the Jews, as we have already observed; when, therefore, Ananus was of this disposition, he thought he had now a proper opportunity [to exercise his authority]. Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the sanhedrim of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others, [or, some of his companions]; and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned: but as for those who seemed the most equitable of the citizens, and such as were the most uneasy at the breach of the laws, they disliked what was done; they also sent to the king [Agrippa], desiring him to send to Ananus that he should act so no more, for that what he had already done was not to be justified; nay, some of them went also to meet Albinus, as he was upon his journey from Alexandria, and informed him that it was not lawful for Ananus to assemble a sanhedrim without his consent.”
Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 20, Chapter 9
“AND A HERALD PRECEDES HIM etc. This implies, only immediately before [the execution], but not previous thereto. [In contradiction to this] it was taught: On the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald went forth and cried, 'He is going forth to be stoned because he has practised sorcery and enticed Israel to apostacy. Any one who can say anything in his favour, let him come forward and plead on his behalf.' But since nothing was brought forward in his favour he was hanged on the eve of the Passover! — Ulla retorted: 'Do you suppose that he was one for whom a defence could be made? Was he not a Mesith [enticer], concerning whom Scripture says, Neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou concealhim? With Yeshu however it was different, for he was connected with the government [or royalty, i.e., influential].'”
Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Sanhedrin, Folio 43a
“It was now that he came across the priests and scribes of the Christians, in Palestine, and picked up their queer creed. I can tell you, he pretty soon convinced them of his superiority; prophet, elder, ruler of the Synagogue--he was everything at once; expounded their books, commented on them, wrote books himself. They took him for a God, accepted his laws, and declared him their president. The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day,--the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account. Well, the end of it was that Proteus was arrested and thrown into prison. This was the very thing to lend an air to his favourite arts of clap-trap and wonder-working; he was now a made man. The Christians took it all very seriously: he was no sooner in prison, than they began trying every means to get him out again,--but without success. Everything else that could be done for him they most devoutly did. They thought of nothing else. Orphans and ancient widows might be seen hanging about the prison from break of day. Their officials bribed the gaolers to let them sleep inside with him. Elegant dinners were conveyed in; their sacred writings were read; and our old friend Peregrine (as he was still called in those days) became for them "the modern Socrates." In some of the Asiatic cities, too, the Christian communities put themselves to the expense of sending deputations, with offers of sympathy, assistance, and legal advice. The activity of these people, in dealing with any matter that affects their community, is something extraordinary; they spare no trouble, no expense. Peregrine, all this time, was making quite an income on the strength of his bondage; money came pouring in. You see, these misguided creatures start with the general conviction that they are immortal for all time, which explains the contempt of death and voluntary self-devotion which are so common among them; and then it was impressed on them by their original lawgiver that they are all brothers, from the moment that they are converted, and deny the gods of Greece, and worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws. All this they take quite on trust, with the result that they despise all worldly goods alike, regarding them merely as common property. Now an adroit, unscrupulous fellow, who has seen the world, has only to get among these simple souls, and his fortune is pretty soon made; he plays with them.”
Lucian of Samosata (Satirist), The Death of Peregrinus, Volume 4
@piijay14 Says:
Where's is Shakespeares' DNA....where's Beethoven's DNA!! We all Pick n Choose what we wanna believe and thats cool I'm not disputing that! But if you believe in Beethoven/Shakespeare/Aristotle how dare you question the existence of Christ!!
@hansdemos6510 Says:
I think Star Wars is the wrong example. If we look at the Book of Mormon, or the Quran, or the religious works of L. Ron Hubbard, then it immediately becomes clear that "historical fiction" could very well have the effect that Dr. Turek tries so hard to deny.
@jonathanturek5846 Says:
Sell your cloak n buy a light saber
@jonathanturek5846 Says:
C'mon .. fictional ?! We all know Luke Skywalker is real !
@somerandom3247 Says:
Fictional stories definitely existed at the time the bible was written.
There isn't good evidence for the existence of most people in the bible, including Jesus.
They could have made it up for the same reason every religion has been made up ever. To control those gullible enough to believe it.
Given the other very clearly fictional components of the bible, line genesis creation, Adam and eve, the garden of Eden, Noah's flood, the Exodus, the talking donkey, the mythical creatures, etc. It's fair to say that the story of Jesus, which relies on those clearly fictional stories, is also fiction.
All in all, regardless of whether Jesus was god or not, there is not sufficient evidence to justify believing that he was.
@onwave Says:
Nobody doubts Paul existed. Did Paul persecute a church that followed a guy that never even existed? Give me a break, skeptics. Go to bed.
@Theo_Skeptomai Says:
The bible is definitely a work of fiction. Historical fiction is a stretch. With the exception of a handful of persons and localities, the bible is entirely fiction.
@giron822 Says:
Jesus is too amazing to be made up. Can't make up the times hes saved me.
@imkluu Says:
Plus, the books of the New Testament are known to have been written over a 50 year period. This would be a remarkable novel if it was written, and disseminated, in differernt parts, in different nations, years, even decades apart.
@nothingbutthetruth613 Says:
So first of all, he continuously says how there is so much evidence to Christianity when in fact there is absolutely none. The questioner asked a great question and the real answer is that this is based on blind faith. We have no idea if this is true or not and we have no reason to assume it is. Frank's assertion that Jesus was more influential than anyone in the history of the world is not quite accurate. Of course Moses, Abraham and many others who preceded Jesus were obviously more influential since without them, there was no Jesus. However, what was really so influential was the STORY about Jesus. Whoever wrote the book half a century or more after Jesus died is the one who influenced people. There is no indication whatsoever that this was really based on anyone that really existed. And even if it there was someone named Jesus who lived in the first part of the first century, we have no idea if any of the fanciful stories told about him have any truth to them.
@Thisnoneofyourbuisness Says:
If there was any evidence for Jesus we would have over 5,000 accounts that he exists or he did…. There would have to be real evidence which “ Christians “ say that they do when they don’t
@somethingtothinkabout167 Says:
That is interesting that no one could make such a claim while those who know better were still alive. It was only later that some sort to corrupt their wintness and by then the story was out and impossible to undo.
@Gek1177 Says:
The Bible is mythological history. As in not real events but made up stories about important events and people.
@michelangelope830 Says:
Would you dare to change your mind to save lives because you claim to be rational, open minded, understanding and seek the truth? May I know something that you know? Of course I can because we don't know everything, as that's the way it should be because if we knew everything we would be dead, for ever. We we would be existing, without purpose, without anything to do, all reality would be deterministic, like growing nails on a corpse or stillness. God is perfect for being imperfect and mortal. I was atheist and i know what is atheism, otherwise I would not have discovered that atheism is a logical fallacy that assumes God is the religious idea of the creator of the creation to conclude wrongly that no creator exists because a particular idea of God doesn’t exist. The atheist logical fallacy would test your IQ and is easy to understand being honest and impossible lying to oneself. Atheism is the belief inmune to arguments that harms innocent and vulnerable children in the impossible, that the universe was created from nothing, from absence of existence or that everything has to be created like the creation or universe but it is impossible the existence of an infinite sequence of causes and effects. Nothing that is something can be infinite. Nothing that is something can be God. God is a reality of an infinite nature that created a reality of a finite nature from self from eternal existence, and all is one reality, all is God transforming Self, God is Time and Space transforming, a miracle by nature impossible to understand because we can not comprehend the existence of eternity or infinitude. We are literally an infinitesimal part of infinite God and the war in Ukraine would end when the discovery that atheism is a logical fallacy is news. God is censored.
@valneidesrezende4593 Says:
This is the best analogy I ever heard about this subject. Thanks!!!!!
@nitroxo2821 Says:
Does anyone else feel like the question wasn't answered? And then for some reason Luke Skywalker, already a FICTIONAL character, was used as a comparison... the rhetorical questions were answered by himself. Idk if people doubt Jesus was real... that isn't the real question here lol
LATEST COMMENTS