(July 9, 2011 at 8:22 am)Rhythm Wrote: It's just too much to even consider isn't it. The idea that people are either too lazy, or too busy to invent a religion entirely out of nothing, and instead rely on the religious concepts and narratives of those that immediately precede or surround them. Perish the thought. Our ancestors are also apparently too ignorant to write fiction. To top it off, we know for fact, that no one ever fabricated anything for personal gain, least of all the religious.
In all seriousness, if anyone had a reason to research the concepts found in the NT, the traditions that led to what we call christianity, it would be christians. There is an immense body of knowledge on the subject there for the taking if one were so inclined. Some of these narratives have value regardless of the divinity of christ. Insisting that every story be a prop, or somehow proof of a single concept robs them of the greater value they have as metaphor. Aesop's fables have value even if there were no Aesop (which may be the case). Similarly ( to me) the NT has value even if there were no christ. Why is it that I, as an atheist can see this, and yet believers somehow feel the worth of the NT is entirely dependant upon the historical accuracy of jesus' existence?
GC, wanna field that one for me? If there were no christ, would the NT have any value? What is the value (if any) of the NT in the absence of christ?
No and none. The value is Christ for without Him there's no hope.
God loves those who believe and those who do not and the same goes for me, you have no choice in this matter. That puts the matter of total free will to rest.
