Very cute! But even in the Koran is states that Jesus was not Gods Son, but a prophet, just like Moses, Abraham and Mohammed.

As for the gospels, I was always believed that theywere written many years after Jesus dies, up to 300 years after. I dont think they were first hand accounts. Maybe it was 300yrs later they were cannonised. I didnt know about the earthquake though!

__________________
We buy things we dont need,
with money we dont have,
in order to impress people
we dont like?
(Ramsey, D)

If God is perfect and all-knowing, and the bible is the true inspired word of God, then anyone who believes in God needs to trust that the gospels don't contradict each other. That's where true faith comes in. You either believe or you don't.

I don't think God wants to confuse us. It's in our own misunderstanding of the written word that may look like a contradiction. Or, maybe, it's our own lack of faith or confusion in what we are reading that makes us think so.

All I know is that I'm more apt to believe the inspired word of God than any book written by a human when it's contents speak of Jesus. I go straight to the source: The Holy Bible.

We can read so many different views about Jesus until the cows come home, but one needs to make up their mind about what they believe to be true, whether it's their own beliefs, the beliefs of another or the bible.

That last part sums it up I think - you either believe or you don't. I believe what the Bible says and that Jesus is God's Son. I don't believe a word that comes out of Sylvia Brown's mouth. I actually watched a few minutes of her this morning on Montel. I guess she is trying to make people feel better about themselves or their lives or something but one woman wanted to know if she'll be married by 30??? Sylvia said yes and she'll only have one child. Whaaat? Also someone was sick with something and Sylvia told her she'll be fine she'll be just fine. How can she give people false hope like that??? Maybe it's just to make people feel better but I wonder in a year if that woman is still sick or even dead, what then?

IMO she's a quack and I choose not to believe her but the Bible, I do believe.

Ok this is from my study bible

Mathew
Date and Composition: Although the first Gospel is anonymous, the early church fathers were unanimous in holding that Mathhew, ONE OF THE 12 APOSTLES,, was its author.
Matthew, whose name means 'gift of the LORD', was a tax collector who left his work to follow Jesus. In Mark and Luke he is called by his other name Levi.
Modern scholars believe it was written in AD 50 - 60 (that is 50 years after Jesus died).

Mark
it was the unanimous testimony of the early church that this Gospel was written by John Mark. It is generally agreed that the Mark who is associated wiht Peter in the early non- Biblical tradition is also the John Mark of the NT. the first mention of him is in connection with his mother, Mary, who had a house in Jerusalem that servedas a meeting place for believers.
Date: suggested taht Mark may have been composed in the 50s or early 60s. Others have felt content of the Gospel and statements made about Mark by the early church fathers indicate that the book was written shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.

Luke
Luke was probably a Gentile by birth, well educated in Greek culture, a physician by profession, a companion of Paul at various times from his second missionary journey.
Date: The two most commonly suggested periods for dating the Gospel of Luke are AD 59 -63, and the 70's - 80's.

John
The author is the apostle John, 'the disicple whom Jesus loved". The Gospel of John has many touches that appear to reflect the recollections of an eyewitness - such a the house at Bethany b eing filled with the fragrance of the broken perfume jar.
Date: AD 85

I am using the NIV Study Bible. As you can see at least 3 are eyewitness accounts, they were there, they are TESTAMONIES, not third or fourth hand accounts.

I have been thinking about this thread for the last few days and this is what I have come up with. Whenever a powerful government or organisation wants to try and diminish the power of something they throw out wild accusations, create doubt. Make people think mmm maybe not. This is not an new trick, in fact it is very old. Yes there may be testimony from people who claimed to have seen Jesus living in France or where ever it was with his wife and child. They obviously didn't have faith or where so searching and mourning for the loss of the Lord Jesus that they 'wanted' to see him. They didn't want him to be 'dead'. How many fans of Elvis have seen him since he died? When someone is loved people don't want them to be gone so they see again?
If this person was Jesus and he was just a great teacher, do you think he would have stopped teaching if he moved to a different country? I don't think so.
The Jews were the ones who had Jesus killed because he was getting too many followers remember. Don't you think that after he died and the Disiciples started testifying to his resurrection that they would have paid people too refute this? After all they paid people at his trial to lie. So what would be the difference here.
In fact
Mathew 28:11 'while the women were on their way , some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large some of money, telling them you are to say 'His disciplies came in the middle of the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' 15 So the soliders took the money and id as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

I could give you many more examples but I suggest that you read the Gospels yourself. If not to answer your questions but to see what the 'others' think why we believe the way we do. Although Lani and I would sit with a bible and koran going over differences I have often though about buying a Koran to understand the muslim belief. I know I am strong enough in my faith to be able to do that but it is a question of how strong are you in yours? Are you asking this question for curiosity's sake or are you asking because you have a niggling feeling 'why do so many people believe in the resurrection?' 'Is there merit in it?

Sorry about typos and spelling mistakes kids driving me nuts.

__________________
"You have to live through the rain before you experience the rainbow"

Okay- I did not read all the posts- but I find Sylvia Browne interesting. I actually have the book- have not had the chance to read it though. Though some people believe she is a quack a lot of her books will have scriptures in it and she does do a lot of research and has people helping her on research- so you know that she had/did put effort into what she writes about. There has always been issues with the ressurection of Christ and it was really not out in the open until the Davinci Code came out with such a huge response (there has been books and articles related to this issue years before).

Seriously- I have always had issues on this subject- I got in trouble over this when I was young (I think I was in 3rd grade and still have issues with it). From what I recall in the Bible when he was resurrected (spelling)- he went to one of his disciples- who did not believe that he was resurrected and believed he was a ghost and Jesus had him feel his wounds- also he said to someone not to touch him (wasn't it Mary Magdeline). The way I saw it as and still see it is that if someone is dead and is walking around letting people feel their wounds- to me and I still think that the person is alive- KWIM? I really got into trouble when I compared this to Night of the Living Dead storyline could come true- I found that comparision humorus for the simple fact that the cemetary scene in the movie was filmed close to my grandparents home and within walking distance of the church I attended.

But I will say this about the Bible- I truly feel that the Bible is open to intrepretation and I feel it is missing some pages (seriously, there is years of Jesus life not acounted for in the Bible).

I beleive very strongly in my religion. I am asking this out of curiousity rather then questioning my own religion. I believe Sylvia brown to be true, since I beliieve what it says in the Koran , that all the prophets were sent down by ONE God. He send Abraham, Moses, Noah, Jesus, mohammed, and all the others I didnt mention.
I f Jesus was a prophet, I am sure he had a life, a family kids, a wife, It is general knowledge all the other prophets had kids and got married and lived noraml lives. I believe Jesus did too, just he had a special trait like the other prophets and a message to deliver. He wasnt anything more than that.
I think when the Church was created Jesus was made out to be a great propphet and Son Of God that he was not. not that he wasnt a prophet, but he was not the Son of God
I have read the bible, as I have said numerous times I have studied Christianity for about 10yrs.

__________________
We buy things we dont need,
with money we dont have,
in order to impress people
we dont like?
(Ramsey, D)

Rakshanda- I have to give you Kudos for trying to get peoples perspective on this and learning about other religions and our thoughts on this !

First of all I believe we are ALL God's children (by what ever name you call him/her).

There was a show I watched- I believe it was around Easter time within the past couple years. It was talking about Jesus life and the Bible. There was many people on this show from priests, pastors, historians, religious scholars and so on. They were discussing a few historical facts- like the "missing" years of Jesus. They were talking about him traveling extensively and learning different religions, learning mysticism (I hope I spelled that right)- I guess there is documentation of this out there, but not in the Bible, they also spoke about the House of David- it was actually a wealthy family and if they were "poor" in those times it was common for the children to stay home and help the family. They also talked about how it was not common for a woman to travel with a man without being married to that person. The one thing that really impressed me was that they said it was common when you were hung on a cross for a crime- after you died they would leave you there- for a good while to teach a lesson- not take you down within a hours of your death. Both the Pastor and the Priest said that the Bible is open to interpertation and that no two people view the same sentence in the same way. I am not saying this to ruffle any feathers or to "stir the pot"- but I thought it was very interesting and if I catch it again- I will have to let you all know what the show is called and maybe someone else would find it as interesting as I found it to be.

thanks that is what I wanted to know, I love having a discussion with someone about the differences of each others faith. I do find it facinating but it is only good if both people are strong in their faiths so noone feels 'ganged up on' or preached too.

I am so glad you mentioned that it is the ONE God, so many people I talk to think that Allah, the Lord and Jehova are different Gods. I always remember there is a verse in the bible (remember I'm not good with verses and chapter numbers) that states there are 'many paths to the Lord', I INTERPRET this as different religions. I believe if you stick to the rules of what you believe then you will reach Heaven. After all Jesus was a Jew. Why do I believe this? Because God is a loving God he wants as many of his children to come to him and to love him as he can. As we are all different, as we have freedom of choice then this is why there have been breakaways from the original Jewish faith.
The missing years... never really thought about that. Jesus was sent down as flesh of man, so I wouldn't be surprised if there is a wife and children. Doesn't change the fact that he was the son of God. What bearing does it have on that point? It doesn't change his teachings or his miricles.

As to him being a ghost or surviving how do you explain the disciples seeing him asend into heaven. Also he wasn't left up there becasue the next day was the Sabbath. See Mark 15:42.

__________________
"You have to live through the rain before you experience the rainbow"

Just a thought, but you may find The Case for Christ by Lee Stroebel an interesting read...

__________________
Stephanie
Mom to: Caleb (8/03), Ian (9/05), & Lucas (11/08)

Whats that about???