Question for Christians & ex-Christians

[Desert Snake]

Do you believe that Jesus actually existed, or do you think it is just a 'mythos'? Do other Christians you know believe in the NT as fact or myths just to relate stories?

This question has been raised in another thread, what is the majority view of the NT by Christians, fact or mythos

cheers

 

[Desert Snake]

Opps wanted to add a poll to differentiate between the other Jesus thread..

 

[dgirl1986]

I believe that Jesus existed, but whether he did everything that was reported in the bible is unkown to me.

 

[Desert Snake]

I believe that Jesus existed, but whether he did everything that was reported in the bible is unkown to me.

Thanks, this topic came up in another thread and my argument/guess is that most Christians believe in the actual history of the NT.

 

[Tarheeler]

Do you believe that Jesus actually existed, or do you think it is just a 'mythos'?

I think that he existed, but I don't think he was what Christianity teaches.

Do other Christians you know believe in the NT as fact or myths just to relate stories?

Both.

For example: My mother, a Lutheran, does not take it be a literal telling of history, while my sister, a Baptist, does.

 

[Desert Snake]

I think that he existed, but I don't think he was what Christianity teaches.



Both.

For example: My mother, a Lutheran, does not take it be a literal telling of history, while my sister, a Baptist, does.

Thanks for responding

cheers

 

[Alceste]

I think Jesus existed. I draw that conclusion from similarities in various aspects of the Gospels, particularly in the speeches and parables attributed to him, and the consistency of the philosophy underlying each speech or parable.

I also think that almost everything in the Bible is myth, and has little, if anything, to do with the teachings of Jesus. If you were to boil the Bible down to the sayings and stories consistently attributed to Jesus and put the rest in the shredder, you'd have a volume in your hand that is roughly equal to the Tao te Ching, or to the Prophet (Kahlil Gibran). You could read it in a day, reflect on it, and go on about your business.

 

[Ingledsva]

Do you believe that Jesus actually existed, or do you think it is just a 'mythos'? Do other Christians you know believe in the NT as fact or myths just to relate stories?

This question has been raised in another thread, what is the majority view of the NT by Christians, fact or mythos

cheers

Actually I think there are two questions there; aren't you asking about Jesus as Deity? - and belief in the NT?

Jesus the special human prophet could be real. I don't believe he was God.

As to the NT, as with the OT, parts are probably correct, and parts are wrong, teaching stories, myth, etc.

The Jesus story in the NT doesn't have to be read as him being God.

I have Christians friends that are on opposite sides of the issue.

 

[Desert Snake]

I think Jesus existed. I draw that conclusion from similarities in various aspects of the Gospels, particularly in the speeches and parables attributed to him, and the consistency of the philosophy underlying each speech or parable.

Yes, I think Jesus was real, also. There are Biblical scholars who put a lot of time and research into the history and validity of the NT, I'm going with their opinion.

 

[Shiranui117]

Do you believe that Jesus actually existed, or do you think it is just a 'mythos'?

He existed. I see no reason to doubt that.

Do other Christians you know believe in the NT as fact or myths just to relate stories?

Every Christian I've met IRL will tell you that it is indeed fact.

This question has been raised in another thread, what is the majority view of the NT by Christians, fact or mythos

Fact.

 

[Desert Snake]

Actually I think there are two questions there; aren't you asking about Jesus as Deity? - and belief in the NT?

There are two questions however the primary one was if jesus actually was a real person.

Jesus the special human prophet could be real. I don't believe he was God.

As to the NT, as with the OT, parts are probably correct, and parts are wrong, teaching stories, myth, etc.

The Jesus story in the NT doesn't have to be read as him being God.



I have Christians friends that are on opposite sides of the issue.

Ah, so some think jesus was real, some don't, similar to what other people are stating.

 

[Desert Snake]

He existed. I see no reason to doubt that.


Every Christian I've met IRL will tell you that it is indeed fact.


Fact.

Pretty much what I figured. It doesn't seem to be that clear cut, though, read the other comments on the thread.

 

[Shiranui117]

Pretty much what I figured. It doesn't seem to be that clear cut, though, read the other comments on the thread.

True. However, I think those who doubt the historicity of Jesus and/or the NT are an overwhelmingly small minority.

 

[Desert Snake]

True. However, I think those who doubt the historicity of Jesus and/or the NT are an overwhelmingly small minority.

Not so on RF...I don't attend a church so I'm not really sure what the 'standard' opinion is on a lot of these subjects.

 

[Shiranui117]

That is true. I suppose I should have been clearer: I think those Christians who doubt the historicity of Jesus and/or the NT are an overwhelmingly small minority.

 

[Brickjectivity]

True. However, I think those who doubt the historicity of Jesus and/or the NT are an overwhelmingly small minority.

Those who believe in him often doubt from time to time. Doubting is what real people do. Abraham doubted, yet he is counted as trusting. Even Jesus upon the cross seems to doubt for a moment. Its easy to find people who are afraid to tell you they are doubting, because the current church culture discourages honesty about that.

 

[I r Baboon]

First I would have to say that I like the fact that you use the term "mythos" and thus differentiate what you are asking from the commonly misused term "myth". Secondly, I assert that what we know of the historical Jesus has been skewed by centuries of translation and interpretation. Was a man akin to the literary figure of Jesus a real being? Yea prolly, but was this dude supernatural, for whatever that actually means...those stories are better left for the young and tender-at-heart.

 

[NIX]

I see ('popular') christianity as a mainstream mythology of our own day.

The 'Jesus' of this mainstream mythology... is an integral and central character in this mythology.
The 'Jesus' OF THIS MYTHOLOGY, exists within the mythology itself--
--and as such- within the people who 'temple' (or embody) the mythos within themselves.

 

[Shiranui117]

Those who believe in him often doubt from time to time. Doubting is what real people do. Abraham doubted, yet he is counted as trusting. Even Jesus upon the cross seems to doubt for a moment. Its easy to find people who are afraid to tell you they are doubting, because the current church culture discourages honesty about that.

Oh, believe me, when it comes to doubting, I'm a regular pro at that(just take a look at my religion tag). And, increasingly, so are most Christians, and many churches and denominations are starting to realize this, if they haven't realized it for hundreds/thousands of years.

Believing that a Jewish man named Jesus of Nazareth lived 2000 years ago and was crucified isn't hard. He could have just been a Jewish peasant man. He could have been a great teacher, a social revolutionary, a misguided but well-intentioned guy, a lunatic, a Prophet, a Messiah, or the Son of God. Knowing which one of those things to label Him as is the challenge, and that's where the doubting comes in.

 

[Desert Snake]

That is true. I suppose I should have been clearer: I think those Christians who doubt the historicity of Jesus and/or the NT are an overwhelmingly small minority.

That's really what I'm wondering.. are many people who attend church and call themselves Christians just going through the motions, perhaps they feel obligated to have a "religion" or are simply calling themselves Christians because it's easy and convenient.