Dear all: Here below is a list of 49 questions about the christian faith, I ask everyone to read and think about them: 1.If Jesus's mission was to the lost sheep of Israel,why was it confined to Palestine where only two of the original tribes had settled? Did that mean that Jesus had failed in his mission? 2.Why should Jesus specifically forbid, on the one hand, preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles Matthew 7:6,15:24,26) and yet on the other, tell the disciples to teach all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost? (Matthew 28:19) 3.Why did Jesus prohibit the Gospel from being preached to the Gentiles during his ministry (Matthew 10:5, 7:6,15:24-26) but after his 'resurrection' tell them to preach the Gospel to the whole world? (Mark 16:15) If Jesus really had made the latter statement, why was there such a fierce debate within the early Church (and particularly between Peter and Paul) as to whether the Gospel should be preached to the Gentiles? (Acts 15:6-30) 4.Out of all the signs that Jesus could have given about himself, he chose to give the sign of Jonah: This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah. (Luke 11:29, Matthew 12:39, Matthew 16) Jonah was swallowed alive by a whale and remained in its belly alive for three days. For Jesus to have properly fulfilled the prophecy, he would need to enter the tomb alive and come out alive. Why should Jesus give this, of all signs, if he was to die and be resurrected? 5.If Jesus's message was for the whole of mankind, why did he forbid his disciples to preach to the Gentiles? (Matthew 10:5-6) 6.When Jesus was asked what the only way was to true salvation,he replied: keep the Commandments (Matthew 19:17). The first of the Commandments was to believe in the Oneness of God (Exodus 20:3). Why did Jesus answer so if he believed in and was part of the Trinity? Why did he not refer to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost? 7.Jesus said that he had not come to change the Law of Moses (Matthew 5:17). The Law of Moses teaches that there is one God (Exodus 20:3). If Jesus was introducing the concept of Trinity, why did he not say that he was changing the Law of Moses or introducing a different ? 8.Jesus prophesied that men of his generation would not pass away without witnessing his second coming and the falling of stars (Mark 9:1, 13:30). Why was this prophecy unfulfilled? Why was it that Jesus did not return within the lifetime of his generation? 9.Why did Jesus forbid the disciples from calling people fools yet called the Jewish leaders with names like vipers and children of adultery? Is it conceivable that a Divine Being would behave in this way? 10.According to Luke, when the Jews tried Jesus they asked him Are you the son of God? Jesus replied you say that I am (Luke 22:70) which could mean: you say that I am but I do not. If his divinity was something he came to tell the world, why did he not plainly say yes instead of couching his answer in ambiguous terms? 11.In the Old Testament, the term Son of God was applied to David (Psalms 89:27), the nation of Israel (Exodus 4:22), the children of Israel (Psalms 82:6), and Solomon (1 Chronicles 22:10). Jesus also used it for the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). If Jesus was referring to himself as the Son of God in the literal sense, why did he not make it clear that he was differentiating between a symbolic reference and a literal meaning of the term? 12.Jesus was the Messiah, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. He frequently made reference to himself as the suffering servant foretold in the Book of Isaiah (Matthew 8:17 & Isaiah 53:4; Luke 2:30 & Isaiah 52:10; Luke 22:37 & Isaiah 53:12). The Messiah of the Old Testament was, however, promised by God that he would not be killed (Psalms 34:19, Isaiah 53:10). How was it, therefore, that the Jews had succeeded in killing the Messiah if Jesus died on the cross? 13.If Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray him, why did he continue to permit him as a disciple? Why did he not tell the other disciples so that Judas could be excluded from his closest circle of followers? 14.If Jesus knew that one of his disciples would betray him, why should he say that all twelve disciples would sit upon twelve thrones? (Matthew 19: 28 ) 15.If Jesus knew that he was to die on the cross, why did he spend all night praying in the Garden of Gethsemane seeking deliverance: Father if it is possible may this cup be taken from me? (Matthew 26:39) 16.Jesus had taught that man's prayers are answered the Garden of Gethsemane? What effect would this incident have on the faith of his disciples and followers to see that a prayer had not been answered contrary to what Jesus had taught? 17.If Jesus believed that his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane would not be heard, why did he tell his disciples earlier that prayers are answered?: Would any of you who are fathers give your son a stone when he asked for bread (Matthew 7:9-10) which means that God hears the prayers of man more than a father answers the wishes of his children and Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be openedtoyou. And whatever you ask in your prayers, you will receive, if you have faith. (Matthew 21:22; John 11:41,42) 18.If Jesus's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane was not to be heard, why was it something that he wanted the disciples to witness? If the prayer was not to be heard, what useful purpose does this story serve? 19.Why should Matthew, Mark and Luke all report (Matthew 26:39, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42) that Jesus asked for the cup of suffering to be passed if possible yet John (John 18:11) reports that Jesus hastened for the crucifixion saying shall I not drink the cup the Father hath given me? 20.Why did Pontius Pilate just simply ignore his wife's plea to have nothing to do with Jesus on account of her bad dream? (Matthew 27:19) If the very mission of Jesus was to suffer death, why should God Almighty show a dream to Pilate's wife which would cause her to try and persuade her husband to release Jesus? Would not that appear to counter God's own plan? 21.If Pilate really wanted Jesus to die on the cross, why would he fix the crucifixion on a Friday evening knowing that the Jews would have to take him down before Sabbath and that such a little time on the cross was insufficient for him to die? 22.If Jesus knew all along that he was destined to be crucified to death (indeed if that was his purpose in life), why did he exclaim on the cross Eli, Eli Lama Sabachthani meaning my God my God why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46) 23.If Jesus was about to die, how was he able to say in a clear loud and audible voice that he was thirsty? (John 19: 28 ) Sabachthani (Matthew 27:46) reported in their original Aramaic form? Could it be that Jesus's helpless cry left such a vivid impression of a man seemingly bereft of hope that anyone who heard them would remember the exact words? 25.Vinegar is often considered to have a stimulating effect,rather similar to smelling salts. Why, in Jesus's case, did it suddenly lead to his death? (John 19:29, 26.How could an onlooker tell the difference between a man on the cross who had died and a man who had fainted (Mark 15:39) particularly when it is reported that it was dark at that time? (Mark 15:33, Matthew 27:45, Luke 23:44) 27.If Jesus was dead when he was removed from the cross, why did his body release blood and water, since blood does not flow at all from a dead body? (John 19:34) 28.Why did Jesus die before the other two who were crucified with him even though the legs of the other two were broken to hasten death? (John 19:32) 29.It is reported that dead saints came out of their graves and made themselves known to many (Matthew 27:52). When the Jews saw this, why did they not immediately profess faith in Jesus? Where did these saints go? Who did they see? Why is there no account of this story elsewhere other than in Matthew's Gospel? 30.If the above story of saints rising from the dead is not based on an actual historical event, what other statements there in the Gospels which are not baon actual historical facts? 31.Jesus said that the killing of prophets ended with the killing of Zacharias (Matthew 23:35-36). How was it, therefore, that the Jews had succeeded in killing another prophet? 32.Crucifixion was meant to be an accursed death (Deuteronomy 21:23). If Jesus was crucified, did that mean he also suffered an accursed death? 33.Why was it that a Roman soldier was so readily prepared to allow Joseph (a subjected citizen) to take down Jesus's body from the cross without checking and without Joseph having any apparent lawful authority? 34.Why is there is no direct account by Joseph of Arimathea or Nicodemus that Jesus was dead when he was account would have settled the matter beyond dispute? 35.Why should Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus take so much trouble to recover the body of Jesus when this would have been the duty of the nearest relative? 36.Why did Pilate agree to release the 'body' to Joseph of Arimathea (a known Jew and follower of Jesus) if he was not sympathetic to Jesus? 37.Crucifixion was a slow death. It usually lasted several days. Death followed from exhaustion, inability to respire property as a result of being in an upright position or attacks by wild animals. Why did Jesus, who was a fit and healthy man used to walking the countryside for long distances, die so quickly in only a matter of a few hours? 38.If Jesus really was expected to die in such a short time, why did Pilate express surprise at Jesus's death? (Mark 15:42-44) 39.Why would the Jews bribe the soldiers to say that Jesus's disciples had stolen the corpse whilst they (the soldiers) were asleep? If the soldiers had truly related this story, they might have been asked how they knew that the disciples had stolen the corpse if they were asleep? 40.Why did the Jews not go and check the tomb themselves? They had put much effort into getting Jesus crucified. A friend of Jesus had been allowed to take the body away. Why did they not visit the tomb before Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus did? 41.Why did Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus not stay with Jesus in the tomb after taking down his body from the cross to witness the resurrection? Jesus had apparently told his followers that he would die and rise after three days. (Matthew 16:21, 17:23, 20:17-19) This report had even reached the Jews (Matthew 27:63). Why did not Joseph and Nicodemus remain with Jesus to witness the event? 42.Did the Jews really believe that Jesus had died? If so, why did they ask the Romans for a guard to be placed outside the sepulcher? Matthew says the Jews explained this by saying that Jesus's disciples could spread false rumors about him rising from the dead. However, if the Jews really believed this to be the reason for the request, why could they not have asked the disciples to produce the risen Christ as proof? If the disciples had then done so, the Jews could then presumably rearrest Jesus. 43.Why were the Roman authorities so disinterested about the apparent removal of the body if this is what the Jews were claiming? 44.Why was the stone moved from the tomb (Matthew28:2) if it was a supernatural rising? 45.When Mary Magdalene and Mary the Mother of Jesus saw him, he was wearing gardener's clothing (John 20:15). Where did Jesus get these clothes from? His own clothes had been taken by the soldiers who had divided them drawing lots (John 19:23). It was not through Joseph of Arimathea or Nicodemus because they are only reported of having taken in herbs, aloes and a linen shroud (John 19:39, 40). What was the significance of Jesus wearing gardener's clothing (as opposed to normal clothing)? Was it meant to be a disguise? If so, for what purpose? 46.Why were the women who visited the tomb terrified if Jesus was dead (Mark 16: 8 )? What did they have to be terrified of if the Jews had succeeded in killing Jesus? 47.If Jesus could conquer death and rise from thedead, why did he fear seeing the Jews afterthe crucifixion? particularly as death had no more power over him? (Romans 6:9) 48.Why did Jesus disguise himself after the resurrection and appear only to the disciples? Surely, this was the great manifestation of his power and the fulfillment of the purpose of his creation. What was the purpose in keeping it all a secret now? 49.If Jesus was the risen Christ, why did he meet his disciples behind closed doors and not in the open as he used to? (John 20:19)
welcome moonlight, I like your post, however, I dont think you will ever get the 49 answers. I cant contribute, as I am an atheist, and believe the bible to be a work of fiction. and yes I have read it, this is why I am an atheist, inconsistencys.
well, thanx audible... you see i just hope people will read it and think about it they won't find an answer anyway.
Question 1 This is the easiest so. Jesus didn't come to die for the Jews. In case you don't remember from Sunday school, He came to die for the WHOLE world. Where He lived/died, doesn't mean He died for the people of that location alone.
Question 7 Because the law of Moses (which I actually don't know that much about) wasn't actually changed at all. The concept of Trinity is still only one God. God doesn't change. God is God is God. Jesus and the spirit and the Father. God is love. Maybe the spirit joins them? Maybe the spirit is the essence of love? However, we don't know enough to say for sure what is and what isn't.
Question 47 The Bible never said Jesus feared the Jews before/after resurrection. Question 48 Matthew 28:19-20. It was obviously no 'secret'. Question 37 Read the accounts. Matthew 27:50.
And I ask everyone taking shit from other websites to at least cite it, and hopefully provide some kind of independent, maybe even intelligent commentary.
Actually another question that puzzles me is the death of Judas (he isnt a nobody but definatly an important figure in Christianity) because in the Bible we have two seperate accounts: Matthew 27:3-5 When Judas, his betrayer, saw that he was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, "I have sinned in betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself." And throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. Acts 1:18 Now this man [Judas] bought a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. Not only is his death different in each account but notice one says he bought a field with the money from his"deceit" and another says he repented and gave the money back Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Hey, To the one about when Jesus said that the men of his generation would witness the second coming of the lord, well they did and some of your questions (if they even are yours?) controdict it. When Jesus died on the the cross his soul is gone? so then when the dead prophets come back to life and rise from the grave and they here of Jesus not being in the tomb he was sealed in, that means that they heard of (not seeing) the second coming of Christ? None the less WHO THE HELL CARES IF THEY DIDN'T WITNESS IT, IF YOU WERE DEAD FOR SEVERAL DAYS/WEEKS/YEARS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ROSE FROM YOUR GRAVE WOULD THAT NOT BE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO YOU????? Also go and visit you local mortuary and you'll find if you stand a dead body upright and jab a blunt spear into its side it will bleed water, then blood....any mortician will tell you that. Also in the time there has never been a state of Palestine only until recently, so you find even though jesus did settle on on what would be known nowadays a PALISTENIEN LAND back then it wasn't so his missian wasn't failed. Another thing is that if his mission has failed, TELL ME HOW MANY CHRISTIANS ARE THERE IN THE WORLD TODAY???
How many of those Christians are following what JESUS taught? I don't care about Paul. I want to know about Jesus's teaching. How many of the those Christians follow Jesus's teachings? Peace be unto you Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Wrong sir I suggest you look at some ancient maps: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/palestine_1020bc.jpg Thats Palestine in 1020 BC Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
§our§tar: Question 1 This is the easiest so. Jesus didn't come to die for the Jews. In case you don't remember from Sunday school, He came to die for the WHOLE world. Where He lived/died, doesn't mean He died for the people of that location alone. ************* M*W: What an anti-Semitic statement! Jesus was a Jew. He was rabbi. His only interest was for the Jews. He was an enlightened Jew, most likely from the wisdom MM taught him. She was the more enlightened one -- The Apostle of the Apostles and The Beloved Disciple. There are so many discrepancies surrounding Jesus' death on a crucifix. Friday was the Sabbath, and crucifixion would not have been attempted as late as 3:00 PM on the Sabbath. Furthermore, crucifixion was only used for the most heineous of criminals, not mere rebel rousers. In considering that Jesus was hung on the cross at 3:00 PM, he would have had to be taken down before 6:00 PM. In three hours time, it was not likely that he even died. After all, to hasten his death under the Sabbath time crunch, they would have broken his legs. A mere stab wound will not kill a person necessarily unless they hit an artery. If Jesus was already dead, he wouldn't have bled from the wound. Only live people bleed. MM and the BVM were under his cross. This would have never been allowed by the Romans. Joseph of Arimathea was a high-ranking and wealthy land owner (hence his personal tomb). He cut a deal with the Roman soldiers to let him take Jesus down (that is, if Jesus were even on the cross). So Joseph, Jesus' uncle, took him down from the cross. Most likely, Jesus was never even placed in the tomb. Joseph had also arranged for a boat to transport Jesus, MM, their child/ren, Jesus' mother and himself to safer territory. The boat was leaky and had no oars. As soon as Joseph got Jesus down, they sailed away to France. Researchers believe this is where Jesus is buried. Joseph of Arimathea went on to Glastonbury in the British Isles. Jesus may have died on the boat. This hasn't been discovered as yet, but there are some villages and towns in Septimania (seven heads) that have peculiar names. Arques (Ark), Carcassone (body of the son), and some others I can't recall just now. The area of Septimania and the Languedoc were originally Jewish settlements as sea travel on the Mediterranean was already well-established by Jesus' time. So, in answer to your comment, Jesus didn't come to die for the whole world. In fact, he didn't die for anyone. Most likely he lived to a ripe old age and died before MM died. Go to your local art gallery and view as many paintings as you can depicting MM with the skull. Who else's skull could that be? More than one artist has captured this setting from time immemorial. Or, go to your local bookstore and look at the books in the religion section. Look on the Internet. This information is published EVERYWHERE! You can believe whatever you want, but nobody died for you, nor anyone ever will.
ViRuS: "Also in the time there has never been a state of Palestine only until recently, so you find even though jesus did settle on on what would be known nowadays a PALISTENIEN LAND back then it wasn't so his missian wasn't failed. ************* M*W: First, welcome to the wonderful world of sciforums, ViRuS! You are correct when you say Palestine wasn't even in existence in Jesus' day. We know that today, Bethlehem is a town in Palestine as are other towns associated with Jesus. I mostly wanted to comment on Jesus' mission. If Christianity was once the most predominant world's religion, Jesus' mission did FAIL. ************* ViRuS: Another thing is that if his mission has failed, TELL ME HOW MANY CHRISTIANS ARE THERE IN THE WORLD TODAY??? ************* M*W: Of the total world population today, Christianity has about 25% adherents. The remaining 75% include Islam, Judaism Non-Believers, and so on. Statistic analyses indicate that the current total population of the world's Christians can be stretched to 33% implying an 8% of the world's population 'claim' to be Christian for lack of a true religion. In other words, people who never attend church nor have a religious belief who are calling themselfs 'Christians' because Christianity was the religion of their parents, etc. When census takers come around every ten years, there has been a constant decline in the number of Christians. Also, people may prefer to 'call' themselves 'Christian' on record. The decline of Christianity in Europe has been declining at a much faster rate (even in Italy!). Australia is another rapidly declining Christian population. So, if you look at the world's population statistics, you will see that Christianity will soon become a thing of the past.
Somehow you totally misconstrued my statement... Matthew 28 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations (NOT just Jews), baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." He did not die for non-Jews alone. He died for both Jews and Gentiles. There are other statements He made in support of this. He did not say the good sherperd died for the 'Jewish sheep', or for the 'Gentile sheep' alone. This statement is so shamefully untrue that even the most passionate critics of Christianity would blush with embarassment. To France? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
§our§tar: This statement is so shamefully untrue that even the most passionate critics of Christianity would blush with embarassment. To France? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! ************ M*W: You have got to be the most ignorant of all the xians on this forum. Books have been written claiming this, and I don't mean novels like The Davinci Code. You don't know anything about the true life of Jesus. You believe what Paul taught, Pauline Christianity. That's not what Jesus taught. He taught Judaism, but he was enlightened with the help of MM. BTW, you've indicated on several posts that the worst critics of xianity blah blah blah. Just who are these critics. NAME THEM! [/QUOTE]
MM you know your my buddy Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! but there WAS a Palestine at least 1000 years before Jesus(pbuh) check out some of these maps of the "old world" http://g.msn.com/9SE/1?http://www.l...7bf1a4742f5bd0c51586435cf88&POS=2&CM=WPU&CE=2
surenderer: MM you know your my buddy Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! but there WAS a Palestine at least 1000 years before Jesus(pbuh) check out some of these maps of the "old world" http://g.msn.com/9SE/1?http://www.l...7bf1a4742f5bd0c51586435cf88&POS=2&CM=WPU&CE=2 ************* M*W: My bad! I could have sworn I read that recently! Sorry, buddy!
Jesus Christ`s mission is to fulfill the law and the writings of Moses and of Psalms and of the prophets. He did not fail his mission. That`s what we call as orders. He did not prohibit. Is debate bad?
