Why do you believe?

[Gooders1002]

"It would be a opinion if he had not quoted were he got his information from which can be traced and the evidence looked at. I mean why would he stait an opinion on a matter so important as did Jesus really exist. This is my opinion on Jesus, I don't care if he did or did not exist, if he did he happen to be the luck founder of a cult that made him into a god. his was one of the many 'prophets' of that time and he happen to get that break."  
 
On what terms do you say that Jesus could have been a lucky founder of a cult? We both know what cults mean. It is something that his hidden. But was Christ ministry hidden away from the masses? We know the answer to that: christ went from village to village preaching openly about his beliefs also did his apostles. And how was he lucky? Name one man who touched so many people in such short years as Jesus have done. Name one lowly man who spoke with such dignity and grace without violence and thousands of years later had almost the entire population of earth following him. The most famous who'd ever lived was jesus christ amd you cannot refute it. You can blame his reputation on his followers or apostles. But The apostles message was themed around Jesus the Christ. It was the message that saved the people not the apostles. Justification and eternal life is what made there gosple so attractive and this stemed form jesus christ. Men died for Christ not the apostles. They hurd the messege of the chirst the apostles preached but trusted on Christ with there eternal security not the apostles. You may say your not shure what the true message of Christ was. But history proves otherwise and agian this would only be another opinion not fact or historical evidence. 

I try to be fair as work debatable on friendly terms, like you I seek the true, no matter what it really is and as long as its accurate with evidence then I will support it. I hope it keeps being thought provoking .

Continue to seek the truth. I believe in the end you will find it. You have a honest heart unlike a lot of bias atheist I come across. Thank' for keeping it on friendly terms. That's the only way we could find some real truth without ripping each other's heads off. Lol

http://www.comereason.org/cmp_rlgn/cmp005.asp

"I agree to many debate end up with swords at each other throats."

I'm sorry for such a weighty long post. My fingers got the best of me.  I must say you made some great arguments and your knowledge is sufficient. You've stated many facts that wasn't just your opinion and I'm glad for that. Finally a intellectual talk with an atheist without the goofy comments. Ahtiest and christian regardles of beliefs should be able to get along in such a world of dread and darkness. This will be my final post on this subject maybe we can debate some other time. I wish you many blessings keep looking for truth. S.N gotta go the dallas cowboy game is almost on lol.

Firstly cult is defined:
1.
a. A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.
b. The followers of such a religion or sect.
2. A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
3. The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.
4. A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.
5.
a. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
b. The object of such devotion.
6. An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.
Source:http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cult

So yes by that definition Christianity is a large cult. Also saying that "the entire population of earth following him" is incorrect there is what roughly 7 billion people on these planet yet (when you group all the christian sects together) you have what 1 billion max, hardly the entire population, and that's only the one that are on the register (less if people are no longer believing but have not had there name removed). And there was never the entire population under Christianity, I am calling bull shit on that.
Also Saying that Jesus Christ was the most famous person is disputable, how about Thor, Zeus, Hercules, all before Jesus and everybody knows who they are.
Also Jesus being peaceful is only if he us except him as not being a part of God (which some do) as if he is god and that he is not septate entity from God, he is the most violent, cruel sadistic being in the universe (and was peaceful only on earth), again this is depends if you count him separate from god or if he is god.

Also I think you will find most of the Atheists on here what had to contend with alot more arrogant, rude and stupid theists over the years, which has 'hardened' their heart and that really have no time or which to deal with the same arguments over and over again and counter again and again. were as I have not had that many so this is a change to improve my debating skills were they heard it all before, that why they 'rude' it because that have had to deal with alot more stupidity over the years and it takes it toll, and I can't be arse to deal with more arguments like yours as there really have heard it all before.