c20H25N3o: Are you calling me a liar?
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M*W: If the shoe fits, wear it.
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c20H25N3o: I tell you that I know Jesus Christ first through the Holy Spirit and that the teachings of the Bible confirm what I already know to be true.
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M*W: I just think it's astonishing that you actually believe you know Jesus Christ when biblical scholars aren't sure he ever existed!
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c20H25N3o: Tell me M*W - Did Jesus Christ come as a human being? Yes or No? Just Yes or No according to your faith?
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M*W: For the record, I still believe somewhat that there was a Rabbi named Yeshua ben Joseph who lived in the first century, but I don't believe this man to be anykind of savior nor crucified nor resurrected. The only reason I tend to believe in this man's existence is because of the research I've done on Mary Magdalene. IF MM existed, and there seems to be enough proof that she did, then I would assume she was in love with the Rabbi, and to be a Rabbi, the Jewish Rabbi was required to be married and, hopefully, with a family, as was the Jewish custom of the day.
Archeologists and biblical scholars who have interpreted the Dead Sea Scrolls have found a gospel written by MM among others written by Philip, Thomas, Thecla, etc., and these researchers also believe MM is the true author of the Gospel of John and Revelations. If you check your Bible, you will find that the disciple John always appeared to be in every place where MM was found to be. Also, in those days, the patriarchy didn't take lightly to a women, especially MM, who held any power or authority. The early church patriarchs suppressed these gospels who speak of knowing Jesus personally. It was the Pauline epistles of Paul and Peter who knew MM personally and did everything he (Peter) could do to shame her, call her a liar, and was jealous that Jesus loved MM more than them. Paul never knew MM either, but he wrote and influenced the later gospel authors to describe her as a prostitute. However, the word 'prostitute' in the ancient Hebrew-Aramaic-Greek was 'a woman of independent means -- one who served the temple and its members on a domestic-type basis. The word 'prostitute' in that ancient language, however, does NOT mean 'whore' as in current English.
According to 'my faith,' I used to be a devout christian. I've visited many holy sites in Europe, and I made sure to constantly 'reinforce' my christian beliefs. That was because I had a 'need' to belong then. Then, while in Rome and The Vatican, I lost the 'need' to belong. I saw Rome and The Vatican as being very pagan, and I just couldn't get that out of my head. Then I started reading everything I could about christianity, and I realized Jesus wasn't who christianity was about. It became very clear that christianity was about Peter and Paul. They were good buddies until they got to Rome. Then Paul, being the fickle character he was known to be, wanted to become the first pope, but Peter was the first pope. I cannot remember how long Peter was pope, but they both met their demise in the dungeon of Nero's Circus. Peter was crucified upside down (which is symbol of Satan), and Paul was beheaded after he set Peter up. And these are the two jerks who basically invented christianity! If they were so holy (yeah, right), then how did they end up the way they did? Jesus never knew Paul, yet Paul was the prolific author of everything Jesus. Peter knew Jesus, but it was Paul who wrote "thou art Peter, and upon this 'rock' I will build my church. Again, not Jesus' own words, but Paul's. Additionally, the 'rock' was not referring to Peter, but to God. Look up the biblical definition of 'rock,' and you will see the references to God and not to Peter.
Christianity is nothing more than a facade for Paganism which was the religion of the day. This is not what Jesus was about, but it's what christianity is supposed to be about.
The only faith I have today is in myself and my family and humanity. Humans created the God concept and then the idea that we needed someone to die for our salvation, because we are totally worthless creations. I don't buy that anymore. When I came to sciforums in 2001, I still believed in the idea that there was a God-figure who created everything and dwelled within the universe in the body of humanity, but since then, I have learned the error of my 'needy' faith. I'm glad you're a member of sciforums, too. Maybe you will eventually see the light.