(January 2, 2019 at 4:28 pm)Der/die AtheistIn Wrote: A lot of atheists, myself included, believe that Jesus might've never existed, not even as a regular human. I'm pretty sure that it happens in most if not all cases of coming out to unsopportive friends and family, that the outedt person is asked whenever they believe that Jesus existed as a person and was a good man. What should they respond? Should they tell the truth or change the subject?

Here in Ireland "I don't believe Jesus existed" is satisfactory enough. But then again I live in a country where "I won't put in or out with your beliefs if you don't put in or out with mine" is the general rule.

I dunno, I am an atheist and I think Jesus in some form or another probably existed as a human, then the story got really, really out of hand. That being said, I don't know. And that's what I would say.

I have gotten really good at keeping my hand to myself and turning the question around so the other person starts to talk about Jesus and forgets all about finding out my opinion. I don't share that with the vast majority of people, and when pressed, (which I haven't been), I'd make my escape by saying I find it to be a really private thing that I don't want to talk about.

(January 2, 2019 at 6:57 pm)Mermaid Wrote: I dunno, I am an atheist and I think Jesus in some form or another probably existed as a human, then the story got really, really out of hand. That being said, I don't know. And that's what I would say.

I have gotten really good at keeping my hand to myself and turning the question around so the other person starts to talk about Jesus and forgets all about finding out my opinion. I don't share that with the vast majority of people, and when pressed, (which I haven't been), I'd make my escape by saying I find it to be a really private thing that I don't want to talk about.

I'm surprised you haven't been pressed

I like being cornered by folk who want an answer... Their faces when they get an alternative view is priceless.

(January 2, 2019 at 7:07 pm)IWNKYAAIMI Wrote:

(January 2, 2019 at 6:57 pm)Mermaid Wrote: I dunno, I am an atheist and I think Jesus in some form or another probably existed as a human, then the story got really, really out of hand. That being said, I don't know. And that's what I would say.

I have gotten really good at keeping my hand to myself and turning the question around so the other person starts to talk about Jesus and forgets all about finding out my opinion. I don't share that with the vast majority of people, and when pressed, (which I haven't been), I'd make my escape by saying I find it to be a really private thing that I don't want to talk about.

I'm surprised you haven't been pressed

I like being cornered by folk who want an answer... Their faces when they get an alternative view is priceless.

I'd lose my job, so I keep it to myself.

(January 2, 2019 at 7:22 pm)Mermaid Wrote:

(January 2, 2019 at 7:07 pm)IWNKYAAIMI Wrote: I'm surprised you haven't been pressed

I like being cornered by folk who want an answer... Their faces when they get an alternative view is priceless.

I'd lose my job, so I keep it to myself.

What's your job? Some jobs are worth losing

(January 2, 2019 at 7:25 pm)IWNKYAAIMI Wrote:

(January 2, 2019 at 7:22 pm)Mermaid Wrote: I'd lose my job, so I keep it to myself.

What's your job? Some jobs are worth losing

It's one that pays the mortgage.

(January 2, 2019 at 7:22 pm)Mermaid Wrote:

(January 2, 2019 at 7:07 pm)IWNKYAAIMI Wrote: I'm surprised you haven't been pressed

I like being cornered by folk who want an answer... Their faces when they get an alternative view is priceless.

I'd lose my job, so I keep it to myself.

This is one thing that genuinely scares me. In college I was an officer for the SSA group, so a google search of my name brought up that fact through the school’s clubs page. Guess how many hits on my resume I got while that was up. I went in and deleted that and most of my social media stuff, setting the rest to private and expunging any mention of the SSA from my name in public areas. All of a sudden my resume started getting takers.

My company is large enough to where I probably wouldn’t get fired (although my political views might convince some to find a reason), but this is a very real concern. It could stall my career, especially since I still need referrals for continuing education credits.

I couldn't care less. There probably was an individual who matches the description, but he certainly wasn't the magic offspring of a virgin.

He was every bit as real as Brian of Nazareth.

But, Brian was more likable, and Brian liked women.....


Got any other questions bignose??

(January 2, 2019 at 5:55 pm)AFTT47 Wrote: Honestly, the question is irrelevant outside of academia. My own knowledge of history is almost non-existent so I don't even feel qualified to have an opinion on whether or not there was a real person who inspired the fiction of the New Testament. Nor does it matter to me.

But what if the others insist on it, how do you respond?