James was his half-brother. They had the same mother but different fathers.Do you agree? - Jerry Royal

Jerry, what does it matter? Seriously, of all the things to ponder, why would that matter? - Austin

He also appeared regularly to a lady on a farm in Conyers a few years ago. He appeared on a waffle once. Also on some burnt toast. His mother appears on the sides of buildings, in oil stains, pizza pans. The list of appearances is endless. - Erik

Nope, sorry that was the Virgin Mary that the Conyers woman claimed :-) Anyway I always had a good laugh at all that too just as much as you. Most of those cases were motivated by money. The disciples actually died for their claims horrible deaths. Two different motivations. - Becky

Once again I will say it: the idea that the disciples were martyred for their beliefs is a fraud. It's an urban legend that began in the early Catholic church and has been elaborated on ever since. There isn't any credible evidence that the disciples ever existed in the first place. - Erik

QUOTE: "There isn't any credible evidence that the disciples ever existed in the first place."

What do you consider "credible"? If you're not going to use someone's evidence that is trying to justify Christianity, then you can't use someone's evidence that is trying to condemn Christianity.

If you really don't want to believe, then don't. It's your life. In the end, we will see who is right. If you're right, we will be in the same boat (i.e. dead). But, I feel sorry for you if I'm right.

Also, if you don't believe, why are you reading this material? Why are you posting here? Are you trying to convice us that you're right or yourself? - Troy

Erik, don't forget about Elvis! People still see him also. I saw him at the Memphis airport last year on his birthday. I haven't seen Tupac though. But I hear he is still making music. - Austin

Erik, just for the record, there used to be no evidence for a lot of the things in the Bible. No evidence for the existence of Pilot, the town of Nazereth, the fact that Romans took a census, certain roads, etc. All those things reported in the Bible have been recently shown true by archeology. It seems every time someone tries to discredit the Bible, they end up eating their words. Also, there is plenty of evidence for the existence of the disciples, particularly Thomas who was martyred in India. BTW, if you died today would there be any evidence that you existed? Take away all the modern technology. Evidence that would last 2,000 yrs? I think not. Well, maybe something written about you... - Austin

Erik, the Catholic Church are pros at making stuff up! They are flirting with polytheism towards runaway inflation. First we have the Trinity, joined by Mary, who surely runs God himself as a close second target of prayers. The pantheon is further swollen by an army of saints, who are demigods with their own area of speciality. The Catholic Community Forum lists 5,120 saints, all with their own area of expertise. It's all just shamelessly invented as they go along.

Troy, chances are you are completely wrong, and Erik could be partially wrong, but I'd say he's mostly correct. I'll never understand the crazy presumptuousness whereby religious people KNOW, without ANY evidence, that the faith of their birth is the one true faith, all other being aberrations or dowright false. If all of you had of been adopted at birth by Hindu families, you'd all be Hindu, arguing against Christianity.

That's how you think. I might be wasting my time here, but you are all wasting your time reading and worshiping ancient text and verse, which is now known (to those who think) to be outdated. - Jonathan

Austin- excellent point about Elvis. People wanted to believe he was alive and the next thing you know...he was. How much more powerful the need to believe in a savior.

Jonathan- I agree completely on Catholicism. I said something similar on my blog, which can be found at http://www.allenhuntshowsucks.com
- Erik

You know because of the difference in your own life if you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior. I think you're mostly getting confused by the people that say hey are Christians because they're not Hinu, Muslim, etc. and believe that there is a God and Christ lived. I once was that way and even Satan believes. The difference is when you make it personal. You'll never ever ever understand that unless you sincerely ask Christ into your life. I've seen addicts give up their addictions overnight after they've done so and never even want to do it again. Sorry that's just not something that any of us can adequately explain to you. It's something you would have to experience for yourselves, so all the arguing in the world is not going to change that. There is no comparison to other religions because none of them offer that. And you can keep denying the existence of Christ all you want it won't change the fact some of us know Him. I suppose the holocust never happened either?
- Christ Follower

Erik, when I said you were "partially wrong", I meant that even atheists do not have all the answers, no one does. (Thus I'm 'partially wrong' as well!) If we, colllectively, as humans know say 1.4% of all there is to know, I'm not going to fill up the remaining 98.6% with organized religion, invented by ignorant humans a few thousand years ago. And only invented to a) control the ignorant masses (which it still appears to be donig); b) convert people to a religion; and c) explain our enironment. Well today a) is not needed; b) conversion is not necessary; and c) biology, physics, math and chemistry provide an infinitely better understanding of our world.

Why no mention of bacteria, DNA, viruses, (other various small things!) in the Bible? Because, my friends, the writers didn't know they were there. The cows they could see, thus mentioned.

Science knows they are there. - Jonathan

Christ Follower, of course the Holocault (if you are referring to the Jewish one), happened. The Jews have gotten the bad end of the stick for a long time. As much as I detest blind faith, what has happened to the Jewish people throughout time is nothing short of horrific. A massive and disgusting tradegy.

And just because some ill person "accepts Christ" into their life and they get better, does not prove the existence of Jesus. There are many many scientifically documented psychological reasons why that would happen. The human mind is a powerful thing. I can just think about a pain in my finger, and all of a sudden it starts to hurt. It doesn't mean that Christ exists.

Christ Follower, other religions all offer something similar - you are deluded. Buddhism offers a plethora of such things, all of which, maybe more powerful than Christ in terms of the 'healing effect'. You my friend, don't know what it's like to be a Buddhist, until you try it - why not give that a shot? Or are you only going with this Christ thing, because that's the brainwashing you received as a child? I'm willing to bet money you didn't stumble onto this later in life because to the clear-thinking mind, none of it adds up. - Jonathan

Jonathan, again I ask, what brought you to this website? Are you completely content with your life and your beliefs? - FCE

FCE, I'm mostly content with my life, and completely content with my beliefs (or lack thereof). - Jonathan

Jonathan, you've obviously given this a lot of thought.

You mentioned "you are all wasting your time reading and worshiping ancient text and verse". My thoughts are 1) it's my time to waste and 2) you seem to have "wasted" your time reading this as well. My excuse is that I believe it. Why have you? Why do you feel the need use your time to convince me that I'm wrong?

Your last 3 points about controlling the masses, converting people, and science providing a better understanding really are opinions. You say Christianity is not needed, I say it is. You say science offers a better understanding of our world, I say it offers a better understanding of how God created our world.

And don't forget, that there's a lot of things scientists don't know and have been wrong about. For instance, we go around the sun, the earth is not flat, gamma-ray bursts actually occur outside of our galaxy. I really could go on for quite a while. What you said about humans only knowing a small fraction about what is true is correct. That's why their is faith. We all have faith in something, whether it be God or something else. None of us will KNOW the truth until we die, but by then it will be too late.

I choose to waste my time believing in a God who wants me to help and love others and not just think about myself.
- Troy

But Jonathan, WHAT brought you to this site and WHAT keeps you here? - FCE

Could there be any significance to the fact that Jonathan came onto this site during Holy Week? To everything there is a season and it is time to be in revernce of God and Jesus. God reveals Himself to some and not to others. I do not know why that is the case but if you have been in His presence you know it and would never speak irreverently of Him. There is such a lack of the fear of the Lord among many in our culture. I pray for revival. - Janice

Janice, there is no significance to me being here during "Holy Week". That is purely conincidental, I'll assure you. And I also don't mind speaking irreverently of God, because I, like Erik, do not believe there is a God. We believe that Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, are all human inventions. Shadows, illusions, non-truths. They are not real.

FCE - you're right. I am wasting my time here. What brought me here is boring and inconsequential I'm sure, so I won't delve into that. But this will be my last post, I promise, for at the end of the day, I don't give a sh*t if you believe in the Invisible Pink Elephant and pray to him daily. I only hope that something I have said will give you all something to think about.

To those that say science has been proven wrong - YES, this is EXACTLY THE POINT. Scientific thinking evolves and changes over time. Scientists are not 'stuck' in their beliefs. Physicists gladly tossed out Newton's laws of Motion in favour of Relativity. And they would toss out Relativity too, if a better body of evidence came along that was a better model for how the world works. Scientists will, and have many many times, changed beliefs in favour of new and better theories. Religious people will never do that. They continue to cling on to ancient outdated texts that in today's world, have no relevance.

As for evolution. It's a theory that's been tested over and over. For those that say it's "only a theory" do not understand the scientific definition of "theory". A theory is not something that pops into a scientists head after he's had too much coffee and slips and hits his head on the toilet bowl. A theory, is a large model, a body of work that has been shown time and time again to stand up to vigorous testing. Such is the case with evolution.

The only reason deluded religious people care about evolution is becase it contradicts Genesis. But thank God hey no one mentions quantum mechanics in the Bible or the Law of Gravitation. You people then intead of the Newton's theories on gravitation would choose to want to teach "Intelligent Falling" in schools. Things fall right, not because of F = Gm1m2/f^2, but because God is pushing them down.

Whatever. Yes this is my last post and please people, pick up some good books on the way our world works instead of wading around in ancient myth and legend. - Jonathan

Jonathan: An assertion is not an argument. You have to be able to back it up. From your comments you obviously do not understand scripture, history, theology, or even science, which you try to make an appeal to. It's not worth responding to you, because you don't even present valid arguments for atheism, let alone against Christianity.

You can believe what you want. That's your choice. But, you should probably lurk on this site and learn, and not waste our time posting indefensible garbage. You're making Erik look bad. - Rick Y

As far as viruses etc., like I mentioned before scientists are just now beginning to realize certain foods and herbs actually will kill bacteria and viruses and the different colored plants all do different things for the body.I suppose that all happened in the big bang. Anyway funny that most of the foods mentioned over and over in the bible that God said to eat are the ones scientists are just now seeing the healing properties in and that they are even more effective than some man made drugs that can have horrible side effects. I read that there are more liver transplants from medication complications than any other reason. Before you go there, I'm not saying there isn't a place for medication, just that they're just realizing some of the healing properties of God's natural medicines. You're so hung up on the end all be all of science. I subscribe to several Web Md newsletters each day that come to my email and am very interested in the newest findings, BUT if there's is one thing I've noticed from checking them out each day is how confused they are about their so called findings. Each study seems to have an opposing study that has a different outcome. They are just now acknowledging some common sense things passed down by our mothers and grandmothers. So sorry if I don't get too hung up on wishy washy ever changing science studies. Oh and no I wasn't a child when I became a believer and didn't really got to church to speak of. It has nothing to do with what your mother, father, sister, brother, whatever believes. It's a personal decision. It's like the saying goes you can lead a horse to water, but can't make them drink. You have to make your own decision to accept Christ. I certainly don't mind answering any legitimate questions, but the Bible says not to engage in arguments with people for the sake of arguing, so I for one am not going to just argue with you to argue. Like I said don't mind sincere respectful questions though. Good luck and I'll be praying you make the right decision. - Christ Follower

Excellent devotional, what would make it better is including the book, chapter and verse of where you got the info. - clint

Erik & Jonathan: Just read Paul's commentary in 1Corinthians15, particulary verse 19. Then consider what that "great philosoper", Lewis Grizzard, said: "Never argue with a pig. It's a waste of time and it iritates the pig!" It really isn't worth arguing with you. No one ever came to faith by argument. It's something that can only come by the grace of God. We'll be praying for you both. - Grant

Clint, I did not use the exact verses for 2 reasons. First Erik and Jonathan don't believe the scriptures so I was just explaining my position for not arguing with them. So I was not actually trying to convince them of anything, just explaining my position. Second the verses in proverbs that I have in mind are not very complimentary to the person you are arguing with and I did not want to stirr up any more strife than necessary. - Christ Follower

Clint, sorry I reread your comment and I guess I've been used to having to explain things that I automatically thought it was another dig. So sorry I thought you were referring to my comments and the fact I didn't give the specific scripture. Again sooo sorry. - Christ Follower

I think most all of us don't mind answering questions as long as they are sincere and not just being asked to be annoying. So Eric and Jonathan feel free to ask questions in a respectful way and we'll do the best we can to answer them. - becky

Hey everybody, Guess what Jesus said "because I live, you shall live also." Praise God just think because I trusted Jesus as my saviour that means I will live forever with him in glory. That is enough to make an atheist shout amen for Jesus. I love him but the best of all is He loves me. Folks lets get back to what this forum is all about, that is finding out more about him, not arguing with people about things that won't change. Lets tell the good news to those who we come in contact with and if they won't hear it well just remember there was those who wouldn't listen to the Lord either. I have been in the ministry 29 yrs and I have come upon alot of folks that wouldn't hear and there will others to come. We did the best we could do with Jonathon but now lets move on. Jesus is still on the throne so lets celebrate and worship him.
God bless all. - Jerry

Thank you Lord Jesus...for you eternal, everlasting, and infinite LOVE!!!!! Thank you for your sacrifice! What a powerful message. Amen. - Kevin

Thinking and speaking in absolutes seems to close off intelligent enquiry. I agree with a number of people here that, if you have for instance Muslim parents, chances are that you believe that the Muslim faith is the only true one. Experience shows, without exception, that miracles occur only in times and in countries in which miracles are believed in, and in the presence of persons who are disposed to believe in them. (Ernest Renan).

Many miraculous feats have nothing to do with God, however, but rather with the respective religion's efforts to demonstrate the power and sovereignty of its ideal of God.
There probably is a Supreme Intelligence, called God in our culture. Think of this: if there is only one item in the Bible that cannot be taken literally, such as Jesus saying: " I am the vine...", then by definition, other parts in the Bible can be interpreted differently too. For instance, the second coming of Christ could be interpreted to mean that people finally find the Presence and their connection to God.

I note that arguments in this forum tend to get personal. Don't fall into that trap. Just state what you believe and how you see it. I wish you all a very happy Easter, which by the way is actually a Pagan custom. - Frits

If you have Muslim parents, particularly a Muslim father, then in most places in the world, you better be a Muslim or they can lawfully kill you. Matter of fact, it is the family's duty to kill you. Such a peaceful religion... - Austin