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Xian

Joined: 08 Jan 2006
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Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 4:26 pm Post subject: Jesus, Lord, Liar or Lunatic |
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Josh McDowell is known for some of the best books in Christian apologetics.
This article comes from the book, 'A Ready Defense', which covers many Christian Apologetic issues, including science, God, the Bible, other religions and reason. The book can be found at http://www.greatcom.org/resources/areadydefense/default.htm
It would be an interesting read for those interested. It is a great book for answers on major Christian topics that are often discussed here and elsewhere.
Anyway, this topic is from that book. Basically it challenges the reader to answer the question, was Jesus Lord, a liar or a lunatic. No other options.
The link for the article is:
http://www.greatcom.org/resources/areadydefense/ch21/default.htm |
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laogaiguk

Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea
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Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 4:59 pm Post subject: Re: Jesus, Lord, Liar or Lunatic |
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Xian wrote: |
Josh McDowell is known for some of the best books in Christian apologetics.
This article comes from the book, 'A Ready Defense', which covers many Christian Apologetic issues, including science, God, the Bible, other religions and reason. The book can be found at http://www.greatcom.org/resources/areadydefense/default.htm
It would be an interesting read for those interested. It is a great book for answers on major Christian topics that are often discussed here and elsewhere.
Anyway, this topic is from that book. Basically it challenges the reader to answer the question, was Jesus Lord, a liar or a lunatic. No other options.
The link for the article is:
http://www.greatcom.org/resources/areadydefense/ch21/default.htm |
Yep, definitely Christian
Quote: |
I cannot personally conclude that Jesus was a liar or a lunatic. The only other alternative is that He was the Christ, the Son of God, as He claimed. |
I believe this sentence is enough to sway intelligent readers not to bother wasting the few minutes I did.
There are many other options. One is he was brainwashed by his parents and people who were trying to fulfill the prophecy back then. One is he was completely sane and knew the only way he could really effect change was to use this story. He could have also been an alien sent to keep our people in the fricken dark ages until they could build up a strong fleet and come here to wipe us out.
Personally, he was just a good man in very superstitious times and probably believed everything, no different than most people back then.
Didn't the Americans kill him though 
Last edited by laogaiguk on Sat Apr 08, 2006 6:22 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Troll_Bait

Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: [T]eaching experience doesn't matter much. -Lee Young-chan (pictured)
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Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 5:07 pm Post subject: |
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I, for one, do not like being forced to choose from a limited list of options.
I do not like the "You're either with us or against us" way of talking to people.
There's at least one option missing: a mythical figure. |
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Teufelswacht
Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Location: Land Of The Not Quite Right
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Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 6:20 pm Post subject: Re: Jesus, Lord, Liar or Lunatic |
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Xian wrote: |
Josh McDowell is known for some of the best books in Christian apologetics.
This article comes from the book, 'A Ready Defense', which covers many Christian Apologetic issues, including science, God, the Bible, other religions and reason. The book can be found at http://www.greatcom.org/resources/areadydefense/default.htm
It would be an interesting read for those interested. It is a great book for answers on major Christian topics that are often discussed here and elsewhere.
Anyway, this topic is from that book. Basically it challenges the reader to answer the question, was Jesus Lord, a liar or a lunatic. No other options.
The link for the article is:
http://www.greatcom.org/resources/areadydefense/ch21/default.htm |
Xian:
It appears McDowell is doing nothing more than repackaging the ideas of C.S. Lewis. If you are really interested in this topic, I would suggest you spend some time reading Lewis and forget about McDowell.
In my opinion, McDowell is just a small step up from the "The Bible says it, I believe it, and that settles it" crowd.
Take care.
Teufelswacht |
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igotthisguitar

Joined: 08 Apr 2003 Location: South Korea (Permanent Vacation)
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Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 2:14 am Post subject: |
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Troll_Bait wrote: |
I, for one, do not like being forced to choose from a limited list of options.
I do not like the "You're either with us or against us" way of talking to people.
There's at least one option missing: a mythical figure. |
You're right to be suspicious Troll.
"Lord, Lunatic OR Liar" constitutes a "TRI" - lemma FALLACY.
Yes, coined i believe by C.S. Lewis in "Mere Christianity".
Tricky tricky  |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 2:33 am Post subject: Re: Jesus, Lord, Liar or Lunatic |
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laogaiguk wrote: |
Xian wrote: |
Josh McDowell is known for some of the best books in Christian apologetics.
This article comes from the book, 'A Ready Defense', which covers many Christian Apologetic issues, including science, God, the Bible, other religions and reason. The book can be found at http://www.greatcom.org/resources/areadydefense/default.htm
It would be an interesting read for those interested. It is a great book for answers on major Christian topics that are often discussed here and elsewhere.
Anyway, this topic is from that book. Basically it challenges the reader to answer the question, was Jesus Lord, a liar or a lunatic. No other options.
The link for the article is:
http://www.greatcom.org/resources/areadydefense/ch21/default.htm |
Yep, definitely Christian
Quote: |
I cannot personally conclude that Jesus was a liar or a lunatic. The only other alternative is that He was the Christ, the Son of God, as He claimed. |
I believe this sentence is enough to sway intelligent readers not to bother wasting the few minutes I did.
There are many other options. One is he was brainwashed by his parents and people who were trying to fulfill the prophecy back then. One is he was completely sane and knew the only way he could really effect change was to use this story. He could have also been an alien sent to keep our people in the fricken dark ages until they could build up a strong fleet and come here to wipe us out.
Personally, he was just a good man in very superstitious times and probably believed everything, no different than most people back then.
Didn't the Americans kill him though  |
The problem with the Christ or Crazy argument is many of the tests used to prove Jesus was the Christ can also be applied to Mohammad, L. Ron Hubbard, Charles Manson, etc.
It also depends on accepting that the gospel writers didn't spin the story to their own post-Jesus world view. Since we have nothing written in Jesus hand, we only have claims he had "the purest and noblest character known in history". |
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seoulunitarian

Joined: 06 Jul 2004
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Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 5:29 am Post subject: re: |
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Jesus was an alien. |
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cwemory

Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Location: Gunpo, Korea
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The Man known as The Man

Joined: 29 Mar 2003 Location: 3 cheers for Ted Haggard oh yeah!
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Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 12:35 pm Post subject: |
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I happen to believe Number 2 of your options-however, limitting it to those 3 is just ridiculous and counter-productive.
Far be it from anyone in the history of the Christian Chruch to misrepresent themselves or their message.
Shakespeare wrote _The Merchant of Venice_ for a reaston, tard. |
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Saskatoongirl

Joined: 03 Dec 2005
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Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 3:25 pm Post subject: |
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i think josh mcdowells stuff is pretty good to read, really well founded, i think anyone who sat down and read it with a open mind would at least have to do some hard thinking about it, even if your not convinced by the arguments i think it wold leave you wondering about Jesus's role in history and all the proffecies that came true. |
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laogaiguk

Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea
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Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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Saskatoongirl wrote: |
i think josh mcdowells stuff is pretty good to read, really well founded, i think anyone who sat down and read it with a open mind would at least have to do some hard thinking about it, even if your not convinced by the arguments i think it wold leave you wondering about Jesus's role in history and all the proffecies that came true. |
like I said, he wrote this
Quote: |
I cannot personally conclude that Jesus was a liar or a lunatic. The only other alternative is that He was the Christ, the Son of God, as He claimed. |
If this article is a taste of his writing, I don't think so. You believe that is well founded?
"I cannot personally conclude that my parents were liars or lunatics. The only other alternative is that the Easter bunny hid those eggs in my room."
or read this
http://www.greatcom.org/resources/areadydefense/
Was Jesus born of a virgin?
His argument is just that since there are no previous mythological stories about virgin births and a bunch of quotes from CS Lewis then there must have been a virgin birth. This guy is sh!t. Take out all the Christianity and rate this guy on his writing (or should I say CS Lewis's writing) and his arguments, and he doesn't deserve a cent. I atleast respect CS Lewis even if I totally disagree with a lot he has to say.
While I don't normally nit pick spelling mistakes, this is not your average typo or normal mistake (your, you're). It's "prophecies". What's your degree in?
PS, the nanny filter got updated. I can't spell "sh !t" as one word anymore.
Last edited by laogaiguk on Sun Apr 09, 2006 4:12 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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Saskatoongirl wrote: |
i think josh mcdowells stuff is pretty good to read, really well founded, i think anyone who sat down and read it with a open mind would at least have to do some hard thinking about it, even if your not convinced by the arguments i think it wold leave you wondering about Jesus's role in history and all the proffecies that came true. |
Errr it's easy to make a "prophecy" come true when you write about the accounts half a century after the fact and hammer details into place that make no sense... different genealogies to comply with the messiah ancestry, born in Bethlehem, etc. |
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Xian

Joined: 08 Jan 2006
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Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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I reviewed a section of this book in college. While the parts I read were really good, I thought the section on the virgin birth could have done with a bit more to it.
I realise many don't accept being limited to these 3 options, but logically, there isn't a lot of other clear options. I would love to hear some more suggestions from those people.
Obviously I don't think it is possible for Jesus to have been lunatic or liar, evidence from the article and some of the other chapters are too strong for those.
Brainwashed is an interesting point, but (and this is obviously a Christian point of view according to my belief system) it is said that the likelihood of all the prophecies about Jesus that were fulfilled in Him, being fulfilled in one man is virtually impossible. Even if it were done in a person, many of the prophecies that were fulfilled could not have been fulfilled by a flesh and blood human being, eg: resurrection. Of course this is in dispute with many. That is another very interesting read within that book. |
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laogaiguk

Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea
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Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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While I haven't read it all, I have read enough to know there most likely isn't a single fact in this guy's writing. All I see are bad analogies, his interpretation of what people think and should think and of the Bible. He hasn't proven or disproven a single thing yet.
If you take this book as his opinion on things, fine. But to take anything in there as fact and to cite it (instead of citing his professional opinion) as fact is incredibly inaccurate. |
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Saskatoongirl

Joined: 03 Dec 2005
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Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:14 pm Post subject: |
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laogaiguk wrote: |
Saskatoongirl wrote: |
i think josh mcdowells stuff is pretty good to read, really well founded, i think anyone who sat down and read it with a open mind would at least have to do some hard thinking about it, even if your not convinced by the arguments i think it wold leave you wondering about Jesus's role in history and all the proffecies that came true. |
like I said, he wrote this
Quote: |
I cannot personally conclude that Jesus was a liar or a lunatic. The only other alternative is that He was the Christ, the Son of God, as He claimed. |
If this article is a taste of his writing, I don't think so. You believe that is well founded?
"I cannot personally conclude that my parents were liars or lunatics. The only other alternative is that the Easter bunny hid those eggs in my room."
or read this
http://www.greatcom.org/resources/areadydefense/
Was Jesus born of a virgin?
His argument is just that since there are no previous mythological stories about virgin births and a bunch of quotes from CS Lewis then there must have been a virgin birth. This guy is *beep*. Take out all the Christianity and rate this guy on his writing (or should I say CS Lewis's writing) and his arguments, and he doesn't deserve a cent. I atleast respect CS Lewis even if I totally disagree with a lot he has to say.
While I don't normally nit pick spelling mistakes, this is not your average typo or normal mistake (your, you're). It's "prophecies". What's your degree in?
PS, the nanny filter got updated. I can't spell "sh !t" as one word anymore. |
hi laogaiguk sorry about the spelling mistake, i have a bre, i'm glad you like c.s. lewis hes one of my favorite writers to, have you seen narnia? i think people would like josh mcdowell if you heard everything he has to say, he makes some great videos, this is his website = http://www.josh.org/ my youth pastor used to show lots of his videos and hes a very good speaker, More than a carpenter is a good book to start with. |
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