Expert: Brenda Martin - 6/29/2008

Question
QUESTION: I am an Atheist, have been for years, i was never sure if Jesus was just a man or if he never existed. lately there has been lots that Jesus was nothing more than a sun God
example Born on the 25th of Dec of a virgin, a star in the east signaled his birth, had 12 disciples, preformed many miracles, was known as the lamb of God , alpha omega,  was betrayed then ressurected after 3 days. The example was horus the sun god 1 one many, Attis, Dionysus, mithras, etc
with those same attributes  check out the link
http://paganizingfaithofyeshua.netfirms.com/  Was wondering if you want to comment on this

ANSWER: "NEVER SURE IF JESUS WAS JUST A MAN OR IF HE NEVER EXISTED?"

The historian H. G. Wells said that a man’s greatness can be measured by ‘what he leaves to grow, and whether he started others to think along fresh lines with a vigor that persisted after him.’ Wells, although not claiming to be a Christian, acknowledged: “By this test Jesus stands first.”

Alexander the Great, Charlemagne (styled “the Great” even in his own lifetime), and Napoleon Bonaparte were powerful rulers. By their formidable presence, they wielded great influence over those they commanded. Yet, Napoleon is reported to have said: “Jesus Christ has influenced and commanded His subjects without His visible bodily presence.”

By his dynamic teachings and by the way he lived in harmony with them, Jesus has powerfully affected the lives of people for nearly two thousand years. As one writer aptly expressed it: “All the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully.”

A Historical Person

Yet, strangely, some say that Jesus never lived—that he is, in effect, a creation of some first-century men. Answering such skeptics, the respected historian Will Durant argued: “That a few simple men should in one generation have invented so powerful and appealing a personality, so lofty an ethic and so inspiring a vision of human brotherhood, would be a miracle far more incredible than any recorded in the Gospels.”

Ask yourself: Could a person who never lived have affected human history so remarkably? The reference work The Historians’ History of the World observed: “The historical result of [Jesus’] activities was more momentous, even from a strictly secular standpoint, than the deeds of any other character of history. A new era, recognised by the chief civilisations of the world, dates from his birth.”

Yes, think about it. Even calendars today are based on the year that Jesus was thought to have been born. “Dates before that year are listed as B.C., or before Christ,” explains The World Book Encyclopedia. “Dates after that year are listed as A.D., or anno Domini (in the year of our Lord).”

Cornelius Tacitus, a respected first-century Roman historian wrote: “The name [Christian] is derived from Christ, whom the procurator Pontius Pilate had executed in the reign of Tiberius.”

Suetonius and Pliny the Younger, other Roman writers of the time, also referred to Christ.

In addition, Flavius Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, wrote of James, whom he identified as “the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ.”

The New Encyclopædia Britannica thus concludes: “These independent accounts prove that in ancient times even the opponents of Christianity never doubted the historicity of Jesus, which was disputed for the first time and on inadequate grounds at the end of the 18th, during the 19th, and at the beginning of the 20th centuries.”

Was Jesus Christ simply a good man?

Interestingly, Jesus rebuked a man who addressed him with the title “Good Teacher,” because Jesus recognized not himself but his Father to be the standard of goodness. (Mark 10:17, 18) However, to measure up to what people generally mean when they say that someone is good, Jesus surely must have been truthful. Indeed, even his enemies acknowledged that he was. (Mark 12:14) He himself said that he had a prehuman existence, that he was the unique Son of God, that he was the Messiah, the one whose coming was foretold throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. Either he was what he said or he was a gross impostor, but neither option allows for the view that he was simply a good man.—John 3:13; 10:36; 4:25, 26; Luke 24:44-48.

JESUS WAS NOTHING MORE THAN A SUN GOD EXAMPLE BORN ON THE 25TH OF DEC?

Aha but you see Jesus was NOT born on the 25th of Dec—

“Jesus was not born on the fake date of December 25 nor about the time of the winter festival of Hhanukkah (Dedication), which began on the 25th day of the lunar month Kislev. (John 10:22) According to calculations based on Daniel 9:24-27 concerning the appearing, the public career and the cutting off of the Messiah, Jesus was born about the 14th day of the lunar month of Tishri. This was one day before the beginning of the week-long festival of Sukkoth (Booths, Tabernacles), during which festival the Jews would dwell outdoors in booths and the shepherds would be out in the fields guarding their flocks during the watches of the night. (Leviticus 23:34-43; Numbers 29:12-38; Deuteronomy 16:13-16) Since Jesus lived for thirty-three years and a half and he died on Passover day of 33 C.E., or Nisan 14 of that year, this locates his birthday toward the beginning of the autumn of the year 2 B.C.E., or about Tishri 14 of that year.

The date of 25 December was chosen by the Church of Rome in the fourth century. This date in pagan Rome was dedicated to the Sun god . . . Although Christianity had already been affirmed in Rome by an Edict of Constantine, the myth of . . . the Sun god was still widespread, especially among soldiers. The festivities of the 25th of December, were deeply rooted in popular tradition. This gave the Church of Rome the idea of impressing a Christian religious significance on the day by replacing the Sun god with the true Sun of Justice, Jesus Christ, choosing it as the day on which to celebrate his birth.”

HORUS, ATTIS, DIONYSUS, MITHRAS, WITH THOSE SAME ATTRIBUTES

Christmas is the modern-day version of festivals held to worship the false pagan gods Mithras and Saturn, but as I’ve said Jesus was not born at this time. So there is no connection.

Al the best
Brenda



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your quick reply,

Well as far as his birthday i get 50 different birthdays from 50 different people. I knew the 25th for the pagan holidays

But about all of the other similarities like virgin births having disciples some sun gods had 12 disciples they were betrayed killed or crucified then resurrected after 3 days, turning water into wine, just to name a few similarities. They seemed to live Jesus' life before Jesus  So even if Jesus did exist considering the length of time that Mark ( first book ) was written could some of the sun god stories ( which we know the early Christians knew about)  been written into the Jesus story?  I think it is reasonable. just trying to get your point of view about these specific similarities.

Answer
"COULD SOME OF THE SUN GOD STORIES BEEN WRITTEN INTO THE JESUS STORY?"

As mythology expert Joseph Campbell wrote: “Several scholars have suggested, therefore, that there was never either John the Baptizer or Jesus, but only a water-god and a sun-god.” But we need to remember that many of these same scholars are atheists and thus reject totally any belief in God.

As a Christian I believe the bible to be inspired of God, so I would not think for a minute that the writers wrote a mixture of truth & legend, God would see to it that what was written was truth & accurate.

There are over 300 prophecies written about Jesus & they all found fulfillment in his life, death & resurrection.

All the best
Brenda