Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 (USS@Tek, v1.1) based on 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site pogo.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!tektronix!orca!pogo!daveb From: daveb@pogo.UUCP (Dave Butler) Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc Subject: Christian logic (or lack) was Re: one more time Message-ID: <2754@pogo.UUCP> Date: Wed, 24-Sep-86 15:22:34 EDT Article-I.D.: pogo.2754 Posted: Wed Sep 24 15:22:34 1986 Date-Received: Sat, 27-Sep-86 03:42:24 EDT Reply-To: daveb@pogo.UUCP (Dave Butler) Distribution: na Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR. Lines: 72 Recently Kiki Herbst replied to one of my articles (her msg = <302@isieng.UUCP>). One of the things she said had a ring of truth and some things were just plain erroneous. The good thing she said was : >Thank God that we have been given minds so that we can rationally evaluate >what truth and fact is. Just because a large number of people believe >something or have "tons of faith" doesn't make something true. Kiki, from your mouth to Jerry Falwell's, Pat Robertson's, Billy Graham's, and the Popes ears. In fact, from your mouth to your own ears. Unfortunately, she then went on to say: >Jesus was probably the most remembered character in human history. More >books have been written, more songs sung, more paintings painted, more great >drama written than any other figure in the past. Oh wow! Deja Vu! Well Kiki, I hate to burst your bubble, but the most widely remembered and enshrined person in history is Siddartha (also called Buddha). There are more artistic representations of Siddartha than of any other human (Hell, even the game _Trivial_Pursuits_ knows that). Also, Buddha lived over a thousand years before Jesus was born. That's an additional thousand years to be forgotten, but his fame just keeps on growing. In your own words: >Have you ever wondered why? Why doesn't he fade into the past like others? By your own logic we will have to declare Buddha as the true GOD. I think he'd have laughed at this. As to Jesus being remembered, I doubt that even 30% of the world's population has ever seen a picture, read a poem or even heard a sermon about Jesus. Think about it, over half the world's population resides in China and India and the christian population in both countries is miniscule ( I would be willing to bet that most people in either country couldn't tell you two "facts" about Jesus). The next most populous country is the USSR, and it too has a very small christian population. Then there's Africa, and southeast Asia, both of which have a relatively small (proportionately) christian populations (especially compared to the Moslem faith). Suddenly we find that Jesus isn't all that well remembered. One must remember though, that according to christian doctrine all who do not accept Jesus as lord are to burn in hell. That would mean that 98+ percent of the world's population (past and present) are burning, or are destined to burn, in hell for no other reason than they didn't even get a chance (through no fault of their own) to find out who Jesus was. The Christian god is omniscient, he should have seen that one comming. When a christian asks me to join his/her religion, he/she usually gives me 3 reasons : 1. The bible (which is not verifiably more authentic than other religious texts from other religions). 2. The miracles of Jesus which were witnessed by his followers.(Why should I accept the word of christian witnesses that I can't verify (ie: what's their names, where are their statements and where is their proof aside from the bible) over the word of more numerous witnesses to another god's miracle). 3. Jesus loves me (this also is to accepted without proof). All of which adds up to pure faith. And then I find christians who believe that faith in a god without proof is bad (unless its in the chistian god). I am supposed to find the story of Krishna, where he comes to earth in super- human form and kills a demon and has it witnessed by 100,000 people, ridiculous. On the other hand I am supposed to believe the story of Jesus, where he comes to earth in god/human form, has a debate with a demon and has his biggest miracle witnessed by a mere 400 people, is very reasonable and obviously the truth. It is this expectation from christians that I find ridiculous. Enjoyed this Immensely, Dave Butler Remember: Silly is a state of Mind, Stupid is a way of Life.