Simple question?

Quote: FrGamble

Do you really think the philosophical, historical, and scientific evidence I have presented amounts to a Nigerian scam?!?

That's not a bad simile. A much more sophisticated one, where the target never even learns they've not been paid off. And I admit with possible fringe benefits.

Quote: rxwine

Maybe he could bring David Bowie back to life? Or Abe Vigoda.

Imagine how many people would convert to Christianity if Jesus came back for a visit. He does a few interviews, gives a few sermons, performs a few miracles, and goes back home, all broadcast on TV and live streamed on the web.

Unfortunately this cannot happen because Jesus died about 2,000 years ago, and like most dead men he remains dead and capable of no significant action.

Quote: FrGamble

People are brought back from the death of sin to the new life of freedom.

In marketing this is called bait and switch.

Quote: FrGamble

Sure you are trying to discredit it as evidence by simply saying it is something you don't understand and seems strange to you. .

No. It's hearsay of the worst kind, that's the
reason. It's like there's a murder trial and
the killer should go free because somebody
testifies the dead guy has contacted him
from beyond the grave and said the killer
didn't do it. No judge or jury on earth
would take that as evidence. Nobody in
their right mind takes somebody elses
religious revelation as real evidence
either. The fact that you think they should
shows how desperate you are.

Quote: Nareed

That's not a bad simile. A much more sophisticated one, where the target never even learns they've not been paid off.

There is zero evidence in the last 2000
years that a single Christian has ever
been rewarded after death for believing
in Jesus. None. That's quite a track record.

Quote: Nareed

Imagine how many people would convert to Christianity if Jesus came back for a visit. He does a few interviews, gives a few sermons, performs a few miracles, and goes back home, all broadcast on TV and live streamed on the web.

I would surprisingly disagree with you. People don't decide to not believe in Jesus because they first doubt the Resurrection. They don't like Jesus and His message and they try to come up with objective reasons to doubt His divinity because of that. Jesus appearing and preaching would be exactly the same thing He did 2,000 years ago and gave the Church the mission to continue to do. It would only force those who don't believe in Jesus to be more true about why they don't believe. That would be a little refreshing and maybe help people get to the real issues they have with Jesus instead of hiding behind thin veils of historical questions and philosophical arguments they have lost hundreds of years ago.

Quote:

Unfortunately this cannot happen because Jesus died about 2,000 years ago, and like most dead men he remains dead and capable of no significant action.

Jesus is not like most dead men, as can be pretty clearly discerned by the fact that no one has or ever will make a more lasting impact on the world and all of humanity. He is very much alive and not only capable but is constantly causing significant action all over the world.

Quote: Nareed

In marketing this is called bait and switch.

Only if the bait is far less important than the surprise switch.

Quote: Evenbob

No. It's hearsay of the worst kind, that's the
reason. It's like there's a murder trial and
the killer should go free because somebody
testifies the dead guy has contacted him
from beyond the grave and said the killer
didn't do it. No judge or jury on earth
would take that as evidence. Nobody in
their right mind takes somebody elses
religious revelation as real evidence
either. The fact that you think they should
shows how desperate you are.

Um...who is it again that believes in reincarnation based on the testimony of young kids who say that they have memories and visions of someone from beyond the grave???

Quote: FrGamble

That is pretty arrogant of you don't you think? While 5 billion people might have it all wrong I would never say it doesn't matter what they think.

Is it too late to make context-dropping a mortal "sin"?

Rxwine, in context, is saying that evidence determines true facts, and what any number of people, be it one or seven hundred quadrillion, think about it is not relevant to the truth.

Quote:

I am only saying that if 99% of all human beings have believed or do believe in God than it is significant and worth noting.

It is.

It's also not an isolated case. There is any number of wrong beliefs which persisted for as long as there have been human beings. Most have been relegated to figures of speech (like the belief that the heart is the seat or source of intelligence and emotion), but many still hang around, some even believed by billions of people.

If we asked every adult in the world whether cold weather can cause flu or the common cold, how many do you think would answer that it does? Or going outside with wet hair? Or, staying with the common cold, that one afflicted with it should take an antibiotic?

Does it matter what they think about the common cold? Will you catch it inevitably every winter? Will you never get better if you don't take penicillin for it?

Let's make it simple, if beliefs could alter reality, we'd all become super healthy and in great shape by lounging around eating nothing but junk food and cheesecake :)

Quote: Nareed

Is it too late to make context-dropping a mortal "sin"?

Rxwine, in context, is saying that evidence determines true facts, and what any number of people, be it one or seven hundred quadrillion, think about it is not relevant to the truth.

It is relevant to the search for truth. While logic would say that just because 5 billion people believe something it is not necessarily true, I think common sense would say that this information is important to know and a good place to begin the search for truth.