As a bible scholar, Schonfield is not some quackjob; and the book is very well documented. Many of his sources can provide you other avenues of research.
I have major problems with some basic tenants of Christianity. First, I do not believe that someone who is actually dead can come back to life three days later. This could be explained by Jesus not actually being dead after being taken off the cross but appearing dead to those around him. Like I said, if Jesus really walked out of that tomb three days after being put in there, he was never dead in the first place. Secondly, I do not and will never believe that a human being can be produced without sperm. The idea of a virgin birth just doesn't work for me. We have monitored billions of human births, and every single one of them required an egg and sperm. If your answer is that god's sperm was in there, that makes the story even creepier. There are examples in nature of frogs and plants that have basically impregnated themselves, but this has never been recorded in humans, and we have the most data about human births than any other species. Third, I do not discredit all "miracles" outright. Some, like the parting of the Red Sea *could* have actually happened from gravitational forces (and embellished eye witness accounts). Going back further than Christianity, the Battle of Halys was ended when a solar eclipse occurred during the battle. This *miracle* ended the entire war. Of course, today we can explain exactly what happened in great detail.
I'm not a Christian either, but I do not understand this mindset at all. You're saying you can't believe in Christianity because it posits things that are naturally impossible. But, if all its claims were naturally possible, how would that be persuasive? How would it be worthwhile? Who cares that Christ is God if he isn't powerful enough to save people? If he could be sired without sperm and rise from the dead, then maybe he can be powerful enough to do the other things the Bible says he can do -- damn me to hell, pay for my sins, give me eternal life. If he can't do any of those things, he's not worth my time. A b*stard swooner isn't worth anyone's religious consideration.
Though I'm not a Christian, I'd like to rebuttal your point about the virgin birth, through the Muslim perspective. I do believe in Jesus Christ as a highly revered and honorable Prophet who was a mere man and not divine at all. Through the assistance of God, he was able to perform miracles. Alone he could do nothing. When it comes to the Virgin birth, this is also a belief held true by Muslims as well. But there was no insemination, no begetting nor did God "father" the child. God through his infinite power just needs to give the command and it will happen. Snap your fingers, and Poof! Mary is pregnant. God is capable of doing that, no coitus, sperm or eggs necessary. "The similitude of Jesus before God (Allah) is like that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be". And he was." (Qu'ran 3:59) Regarding the topic of the thread. I see that someone posted Qur'an verses earlier with all the references to the Crucifixion. The Muslim belief is that he did not die on the Cross nor was he captured to even be put on the cross. God saved him before the Romans could nab him and put a doppleganger in his place by one of his disciples who volunteered, basically. God took Jesus up into the heavens while they seized and crucified a man who looked like Jesus. Muslims also believe in the second coming near the end times. Jesus will return to earth and actually live a full life, get married and such. I don't want to get into specifics but that's the gist of it. You can at your own discretion, read up on it when you can.
It's not because I think those things cannot happen (though they can't, but by the power of God), but because I think they did not happen.
I agree. This is a question of faith and not a matter of proof. My own questions to Christians is if you believe you will be redeemed through Jesus' sacrifice does it matter whether it can be scientifically proven that someone can rise from the dead or not?
Well...there are lots of stuff from the bible that are now proving to be scientifically possible. Are you asking if this is the straw that breaks the camels back?
That's the stupid part of what I said? I at least find it more logical than a supposedly divine man (who should possibly know what's coming) allowing himself to get seized by Roman officials and executed...picking up the tab for the rest of mankind. I mean in essence Christian Belief is that God--in order to demonstrate his love for mankind--decides that he wants to go on a top-secret undercover mission as a human being so he ‘manifests’ himself inside of a virgin who gives birth to Him. After that, he lives a pretty mediocre life until he turns thirty when he designs and carries out a plot to get himself killed on a cross.
I thought it was your choice whether you wanted to sin or not, something that causes death as a penalty. Sin is something separates you from the life source (God), and caused the disconnect of the fellowship that was created and intended to be. That's the point I think is missing here.
Lol I said all religions have stupid stories. The one you originally posted put a different but stupid twist on a stupid story. Like I said I'm not trying to bash Islam. Just find the story funny.
Thank you for explaining what it the essence of Christiananity. Pretty damn simple. Ooooh, love the whole top-secret undercover mission thingy you stated. And you used a lot of words of today to project a new narrative on the old. You should teach.
