What if Jesus had failed?

[Faith No More]

The Jews were the first fully monotheistic civilized culture on Earth (though the ancient Egyptians tried it for 20 years). So while the story of Noahs Ark derived from the Epic of Gilgamesh it talks about Gods relationship as creator of the Earth, all living things, the environment and also the subjects of human sin and new beginnings, Gods wrath and Gods forgiveness are covered. You don't really get all this in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Killing practically every living thing on Earth accept for what was on the Ark was a little bit harsh yes but in the supplementary Jewish literature (Book of Enoch) he was trying to cleanse the Earth of the Nephilim who were the result of the fallen angels breeding with humans and corrupting their bloodline/DNA or whatever. Ascension of the Metatron is a pretty good video game based on the Book of Enoch if you ever played that.

In other words, special pleading.

They're all achievements of mankind in union with the ultimate reality and source of all being and all that exists that is God. Christianity just gives you the full picture in Christ. No-one approaches the father accept through him, who is also himself God of course, the genuine article you could say. Jesus himself made this bold claim himself so if you're a Christian this is what you believe.

In other words, yes, you are claiming all other religious achievements as your own.

Evidence wise you have the Bible, the Biblical prophecies, the resurrection of Christ and the empty tomb and the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. As far as scientific evidence is concerned you have absolutely nothing at all, not that there is any scientific evidence to support the bold claims of atheism either so there isn't really much for you to complain about.

Stop right there. You are creating a straw man of atheism. Atheism needs no scientific evidence. It is merely the stance that you, and all other believers, have failed to meet the burden of proof that your god exists.

I'd say Christians have a little bit more evidence to go on if anything, something is better than nothing at all.

If that something is not true, not, it is not better than nothing at all.

Christianity as a faith may be mistaken but the claim that God doesn't exist or there is no good reason to believe God exists could also just as well be very mistaken indeed. If you want to compare Christianity to the other religions I think it more than holds its own in distinction, rather than it being a copy or rip-off. One of the central themes is that salvation is through the grace of God given as a gift rather than solely through your own efforts and works. You get that in no other religion.

Despite its differences, it is still derivative of previous religions, such as a savior that resurrects from the dead was a well-worn theme by the point that Jesus' story came along.