James Cameron To Terminate Christianity

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1. Ginette Says:
   February 26th, 2007 at 14:00

   What I find interesting is that the documentary claims that it is the crypts from Jesus' family by saying that DNA had proven it. How can we compare DNAs ?
   We might be able to say that such and such bodies were from a certain period but that is about it.
   
   We know Jesus from stories that people wrote about him and from our faith in what he believed & what he did.
   
   

1. The Atheist Jew Says:
   February 26th, 2007 at 14:00

   Paul invented Christianity and most likely the character of Jesus was based on real names. There is no contemporary historical evidence that Jesus ever existed.......the Jesus portrayed in the NT that is.
   This Jesus they may have found, might have preached a bit, and he didn't do anything extraordinary....the extraordinary attributions came after and used many of the myths and beliefs of the time, the the story of Dionysus, etc.

1. Tuco Ramirez Says:
   February 26th, 2007 at 14:01

   How much proof was anyone ever presented that the resurrection actually occurred? Very little for such an extraordinary claim. The possession of even a small amount of physical evidence to contrary outweighs the "visions" of the ancients. However, the followers of Christianity need not worry. Even the most thorough scientific evidence, logic, and reason wither before a zealot with blind faith.

1. Brian Sass Says:
   February 26th, 2007 at 14:02

   James Cameron is obviously trying to captialize on the success of the fictional Davinci Code with his own fictional story. There is no doubt that James Cameron knows how to make sensational films, but he knows nothing about Science or history. In jewish history from that time - the body would not be burried in a coffin as that was not their tradition. Further to that, the name on the coffin would have been jesua ben pantera as that was what he was known by to the officials and others.

1. b white Says:
   February 26th, 2007 at 14:03

   This is an old story and will not change anything. There were at least 500 witnesses to the resurrection and surely if the body was present at that time the Jews would have discovered it and that would have ended the whole story. One interesting thing that does not appear to be mentioned anywhere are the signs of the crucifiction on the bones of this purported Jesus. If in fact these were his bones, there would be signs of damage where the nails where driven through his feet/ankles and perhaps through his wrists. I’ll bet that Mr. Cameron will never point out this fact in his documentary.
   
   

1. Michael Says:
   February 26th, 2007 at 14:03

   It would seem to me that this is neither a "blow" nor a Christianity "knock out". This documentary, as most documentaries on Discovery, will in the end prove nothing. First 1.5 hours will be on the history of Jesus with the last thirty minutes showing what they have discovered and how it could be the body and family of Jesus. The last 90 seconds will be an announcer or even Cameron himself stating “does this disprove Jesus, no. But it is another question in the history that is Christ.” This is a publicity campaign that the media will wrap there arms around as it will sell. It will be one of the most watched events on Discovery. It will allow Discovery to charge high advertising rates for the Documentary. Wouldn't surprise me if they aired it opposite of Desperate Housewives. So let’s keep it in perspective and not get caught up in the hype.

1. kiviniar Says:
   February 26th, 2007 at 14:03

   A finding cannot shake a religion...

1. David Plyler Says:
   February 26th, 2007 at 17:24

   Ultimately the proof of religion is in the mind of believers. Christianity says everything is either "of Christ" or "of Satan". If so, true believers in Christianity are indwelled by the Holy Spirit and are given supernatural revelation of the truth by God Himself (an example: 1 John 4:13 "We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit." See more of 1 John for other such passages).
   
   If Christians are really given tangible revelation by God's Spirit, then people of other religions have "the spirit of Antichrist". The Apostle Paul said in 2 Thes 2:10-12 "They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." Wickedness is defined as rejecting Christ's Spirit, ultimately the only unpardonable sin.
   
   So, if Christianity is true, all believers know it is true because God tells them by His Spirit, while all non-Christians are sent a powerful delusion to believe whatever they believe that is not Christian: Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Atheist, Agnostic. All firmly held beliefs that are "not of Christ" are a powerful delusion sent by God (also see 2 Corinthians 4:4, Romans 1:18-32). IF that is the case, then no evidence of any kind is valid that attempts to controvert the Biblical case for Christ. And the only way anyone can know the facts is to be a Christian and receive God's revelation of Himself via the Holy Spirit.
   
   It's a powerful religious theory which accounts for the fact that Christianity remains the only religion that even atheists contend "could be true" (see former atheist Antony Flew for such comments). As for Cameron, it's just about turning a powerful delusion into a few bucks.
   

1. Richard Says:
   February 26th, 2007 at 17:25

   Just because Cameron and his team may have found Christ's body, doesn't mean he is attacking Christianity. If he is right, should he have kept his mouth shut? Why is there an assumption that the people who made this discovery did it with the intent of attacking Christianity? If they really discovered that Jesus really was married and really had a kid, and really died, that doesn't mean that they did it with a some kind of dark intention. If it turns out to be true it's the people who want to block it that are perpetuating a lie. No one should fear the truth, whatever that turns out to be.
   
   As for the comments about what he is comparing the DNA to; we don't know what he compared it to until the documentary airs. Lets not make a judgement about how accurate this is until we've seen the show. Reserve judgement until you have all the facts. Hear what he has to say, then make your decision about what to believe.

1. Jesua Christ Says:
   February 26th, 2007 at 17:47

   Those in fact are not my bones, being that I have risen yet again... Though, you probably won't see me on many TV specials anytime soon, since I've been plagued with 2007 years worth of rigor mortis and I really don't look that good... but if you'd like to worship me and give money to a church that suppresses women's rights and protects child molesters, than please, visit one of my many churches located all over the USA, soon to be seen in a Wal-mart near you!! :D PRAISE JESUS!!

1. Paul Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 01:29

   The world was flat

1. Simon Norman Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 01:29

   This is a topic I studied heavily in film school. In my many philosophy classes, it was brought up as the #1 example of a paradigm : Should the body of Christ ever be found, it would uproot not only Christianity but a large portion of Modern World View. A common arguement is simple - what type of evidence would disrupt a common belief system? The very evil that belief system was built on in the first place. In other words, the idea of faith shows there's good and evil, yin and yang. Who would be shocked if Satan himself planted the bones 2000 years ago so that this would be a discovery and "shake" people's faith? He's the one who's supposed to pull the wool over our eyes and lure us away from the truth after all. Point is, all the ways of the world exist in a margin of error, and therefore paradigms are challenging MWV all of the time, but those paradigms just sit in line for another one to take it's place. Science developed cars and industry. Science discovered a hole in the ozone due to those developments. Milk's been on and off the Essential Food groups and we're not sure if it's healthy or not anymore. Long story short, the evidence could show that this is infact Christ's body. It's a presentation on how much we consider our modern resources reliable, and every piece of evidence presented, even if more likely correct than incorrect, has a pretty good chance of being incorrect. Who's going to believe Cameron any more than The New Testament? I'm willing to believe by what people have to go on - this being the idea that "shocks Christianity to it's foundation" is just as likely to be proven wrong by a discovery of more "factual" information from the Bible. It's impossible to know the truth. Only to ask questions that raise more questions.

1. Joe B. Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 01:30

   Is this the man known as Jesus? I dunno. But I do know this -- James Cameron doesn't need the money. You can take that argument off the table right away.
   
   I'm sure he believes that those remains are those of Jesus and family. I'm also sure that there are lots of people who won't ever believe that because it destroys the arguments of their faith.
   
   You're not going to change anyone's mind, even if God came to Earth with an ID card and a notarized dossier and told some people that man was not his son most people have too much an investment to deny their faith.
   
   I just don't think it makes a never mind in the life of this particular guy.

1. Evaristo Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 01:31

   I just have a question. Who is Mr. Cameron from the moral pint of view? He has been married 4 times (Ask his ex wives about the quality of this man), he belongs to a anti-Christian organization (Mars Org), You can find what is inside of his mind by looking at his movies, What about the life of his sons and daughters (Just ask about what kind of citizen they are). And son on...“Good fruits come from good trees”

1. Justin Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 01:31

   Wow, a ploy that Cameron will benefit from greatly. There has never been historical, physical, or legal proof of Jesus' life on earth. He would have been a backwoods evangelist, like his cousin John, and died without realizing his dream of the coming kingdom of heaven, like so many before and after him. Seeing as how historical records do not support gospel account and chronologies I would find it almost impossible that a tomb of Jesus and his entire family would be found. The name of Jesus (Jesua, Joshua) on a burial chamber or tomb would be like seeing a grave stone with the name John or Robert, plus Jesus and his family were no where near wealthy enough to afford such lavish accommodations for death. Everyone of the names is a Jewish name that was popular and the fact that there was a grave with the names in them should not surprise us. We should certainly doubt the existence of Jesus and this goes to show how far people will go to either prove an absurd religion wrong or to make a quick buck. I look forward to watching this but I would not give it any more historical credibility that the Davinci Code or Indiana Jones

1. David Booth Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 01:32

   Whatever this guy comes up with will be fake / fraud just because he has money and power the bible tells us in the last days people will try to decieve us and they will come in all ways it is satan oh and if jesus isnt real tell me why people today are being raised from the dead and where our church goes to india people are being heeled from comas etc. Watch the videos on our chuches website James Cameron maybe you can put them in your next film i got it wrong jesus christ is real
   

1. LAS Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 01:32

   I am sitting here shaking my head and how ridiculous this seems to me.
   Learned archeologists who have studied this area for years say that this is not uncommon there are many tombs where the same names are used. Besides as one pointed out.. if the family members of Christ were buried together it would have been in Nazareth.. something that I think Mr. Cameron probably never even thought of.
   
   Christian tradition has that Mary was buried in Ephesus I believe ... I could be wrong about that..
   
   And to the Athiest Jew??? isn't that an oxymoron? an Athiest Jew???

1. Josh Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 01:33

   I just want to take a moment to thank David Booth, for making my point for me.
   
   Well done DB.

1. Richard Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 04:00

   James Cameron's attempt to contravene genuine Christianity will not succeed. But then again, Jesus Christ Himself warned His 12 Disciples in Matthew 24 about not being deceived. The Apostle Paul even warned in his Epistles about certain ones trying to deceive about Jesus Christ. Yes, the "spirit of the AntiChrist" is raging now, but the victory is Jesus Christ and His Second Coming......
   

1. Annamarie Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 05:07

   I find it suspicious if not ridiculous that it took more than 20 years for the inscriptions on the ossuaries to be translated.
   Many good remarks here by the way,especially that Jesus would not have been buried as 'son of Joseph' because he was not known as such and that many people were named Jesus , Joseph and mary etc in those days.
   
   It is also highly unlikely that Jesus would have remained in Jerusalem after having caused such a stir ! What- the 'greatest deceiver of all time' as those who refute his life and works as recorded by his disciples would surely believe, remains or returns in Jerusalem and this was never discovered, or reported..lol. Cameron and friends have no idea how stupid they make themselves look and actually defeat their very own purpose as you cant have it all ways...
   
   
   What the DNA is compared with as we are not told. A discovered descendant of Jesus and family? Or maybe from the discovered bones of James the halfbrother of Jesus. Yes go ahead and prove their connection
   At least they will have to admit they existed!
   -for the skeptics there are in fact many reports outside of the Gospels
   also by noted Romans at the time about Jesus and his works.
   Cameron and ilk are just jumping on the 'Da Vinci code' bandwagon (maybe thats why they all waited 20 years )hoping as desperate athiests always do to disprove Christianity and the creator.
   

1. Rainbowfeather Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 11:26

   They found a tomb. It has names and boxes. They are trying to do DNA testing. Match it to Veronica’s veil, or the blood that comes from Eucharistic miracles. I would be interested in knowing more of the truth. I read once a story that the Jews drove out of the Holy Land, 14 years after Jesus’s death these people. These people were put into a boat without sails or ors they were:Mary Magdalen her brother Lazarus, St. Martha, her sister and St. Maximim who baptized her and St. Sidonis ,”the man who was born blind,” and her maid, Sara, and the body of St. Anne, the mother of the Mother of God- and were sent drifing out to sea. The boat landed on the southern shore of France. St. Mary Magdalen lived the whole rest of her life in France as a contemplative in a cave known as Sainte-Baume. This cave is near a town named Saint Maximin. It says that she died at the age of 72.
   I was raised believing Jesus was resurrected. He is alive and the way he lived his life is a perfect example of how we should all live. We should all honour and love God and love our neighbors.
   Mary, his mother was assumed into Heaven. I can find also that it says that St. Joseph was risen from the grave when Jesus resurrected. And he too is in heaven.
   For me the bottom line is this….The only thing that matters is that we have perfect role models in these people who lived here on this earth. We need to examine in our consciousness what kind of lives we are living and what good examples we are as humans on this Earth. Peace to all.
   

1. Buddy Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 11:27

   James cameron has taken the bull by the horns. All these names were just pretty common names, and may just be a coincidence. If there were something there that said Joseph the carpenter, or some histroy of these people and not just names, he might have something, I don't know, I guess we'll have to see the documetary. If he can prove this is the body of Jesus it would be really big.

1. Martha Lucia Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 11:27

   The Reality of Jesus as the son of God and the Saviour of man kind is the only truth and the only way of Salvation. Satan who tries to destroy his purpose for man kind has raced to destroy Christianity and it faith, In Matthew:16:6. Says: But whoever causes one of these little ones who believes in me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Jesus always had and has had enemies to deceives and mislead Christians, Mr. Cameron doesn't and will not have proof of this infamous lie, he might of found names and bones together but it doesn't prove nothing to me, but a well desing story, there is not DNA that can prove this antichrist lie.

1. Wayne Howard Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 18:45

   
   There is some evidence that Jesus exsisted and the likelyhood is he did and was a self proclaimed teacher of the word of god. Paul didnt invent christianity, although he played a large hand in it.
   
   The words of the bible and the preachings of Jesus do not repsresent the teachings or atitudes of Jews at that time. Jesus's teachings are very simular to that of Hinduism in the way they were presented.
   
   The bible was written 200 years after the death of Jesus but from stories written by disciples, only the most popular were used.
   
   Was Jesus the son of God, who knows, that's a matter of belief. Are these bones his remains could be. popular names but all the right names there.
   What is amazing is the fact that you can't question religion without be demonised by the religious.
   
   Everyone should have the right to question religiion.
   

1. Bean Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 18:46

   Its so easy to discard this that I can't but help to laugh. James Cameron obviously didn’t do his homework. Jesus is the name on his little tomb huh? Well guess what, Jesus was a Jew and his name wasn’t Jesus. His name was yehoshawa (meaning Joshua). Later the Greeks to separate him from others because his name was so common –as is Mary and Joseph, renamed him “Iesous”. The English name “Jesus,” which later employed the letter “J”.
   This name “Jesus” commonly used in Christianity today did not exist and would not be spelled with the letter “J” until about 500 years ago. James Cameron is a fool.
   

1. Josh Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 18:48

   Perhaps you should read more carefully before throwing the word "fool" around. The name on the tomb is "Jesua" not "Jesus".
   
   

1. Paola Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 20:11

   "Fool" is too mild. Bean is a gentleman.

1. Josh Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 20:12

   Perhaps. But Bean is also wrong.

1. Bean Says:
   February 27th, 2007 at 21:23

   No Bean is not wrong. I know perfectly well what the tomb says. I am well aware that it doesn't say "Jesus" but the Hewbrew meaning of Jesus which is very close. The point I am making is that the name is not the REAL name of our lord the savior, but the name that was given to him long after he was on this earth. And yes I am a Gentleman but a lady Gentleman. lol. Sorry, the name Bean is just my favorite character from my favorite book. Oh, and yes, James Cameron is a fool.

1. trishann70 Says:
   February 28th, 2007 at 00:35

   I for one will only believe in Jesus no matter what I hear. In the Bible it says in the end of times many will be decieved by false missleading claims, and there will be all sorts of lies going around. So just hold on to your faith and don't be decieved by someone else.GOD BLESS you all.

1. daniel Says:
   February 28th, 2007 at 02:50

   You can find articles ranging from liberal to conservative dismissing this 'find' as clearly bogus. What's most fascinating is to see the dogmatists of the science of religion who will zealously take up claims based on even the most shoddy scientific process.836187

1. Stuart Says:
   February 28th, 2007 at 03:34

   Blind faith in religion or science or anything is a road to nothing but trouble.
   
   Blind faith in religion gives us suicide bombers and abortion clinic bombers and shit.
   Blind faith in science gives us nuclear bombs and shit.
   
   Woo! Go Humans!
   
   *shrugs*

1. Annamarie Says:
   February 28th, 2007 at 03:34

   Oh yes religion should be questioned. As a Christian I agree totally,but inspite of all the many attacks upon the faith in 2000 years there has never been any foolproof evidence proving the Gospels void.
   Just as there have never been any missing links found in which to prove that one species evolved into another.Theories abound, oh yes, but foolproof evidence?
   
   I am interested and curious Wayne Howard, in how Hinduistic the teachings of Jesus were presented. Please give some examples if you will
   Thanks.

1. Peter Barach Kuany Says:
   February 28th, 2007 at 03:58

   There is a time ,when Satanic will decieve many!! And here we go, they have turn the body of our Christ the King into materialistism.Therefore, what this group of people are selling is a thrist of money.And that message was sent by Satanism. But, nevertheless, Christianity is the only religion with potential of all good, true living, and mercy which offer mankind a true divine .
   Peter Barach Kuany .

1. MOJO666 Says:
   February 28th, 2007 at 19:21

   When they get the DNA test results back they'll see that Jesus is related to AL SHARPTON AND STROM THURMOND. There's a story for ya!

1. Justin Says:
   March 1st, 2007 at 01:41

   By the way Annamarie, there is no documented proof, Roman or otherwise of Jesus the man. The amount of executions performed by the empire was too much and of too little importance, especially in the remote land of Judea, to be recorded. I am assuming you a referring to Josephus' passage in the"Antiquities of the Jews" (XVIII iii sec.3) about Jesus. This has been shown by every scholar to be a forgery, Josephus, being a devout Jew, would never refer to Jesus as a son of God or the messiah how was wrongly executed. Plus there dozens of Jewish and Roman historians who we know lived in the area and time before, during and after Christ was supposedly on earth. Justus of Tiberius was in Galilee when Christ was supposedly ministering but makes no mention. Philo lived in Jerusalem around the supposed time of Jesus' execution at the hands of the Roman authorities but makes no mention of earthquakes, the dead rising up and walking or a resurrection of any kind and Jesus, once again is not mentioned. I can give you a list of another two dozen historians with similar conditions. The image of Jesus in the New Testament is not a historical one but a combination of multiple savior-redeemer figures (which were plentiful at the time). If Jesus, as a person, ever existed all we could say is that he was part of a preaching group of prophets in the Galilean desert. The Jerusalem image of Christ has no historical basis, much less that the Galilean tradition. Hope this helps

1. Healed Says:
   March 2nd, 2007 at 00:55

   Well I am not a Theologian, but I do know this. I was diagnosed with Terminal (and incurable) Brain Cancer and given 3-12 months to live. I didn't grow up in church but I had always believed in God. After my diagnosis I prayed to Jesus many, many, many times and asked Him to heal my body, mind and spirit. I didn't call out to any other name. It is now over two years later and there is no still no sign of cancer and I have zero deficits even after two major brain operations including the removal of an entire lobe of my brain. Now there are 7 of the best doctors in the US all shaking their heads in amazement. I believe that Jesus is the Messiah and that God has specific laws governing where we will spend eternity. If I am wrong those that don't believe the same have nothing to loose (there are no religions that I am aware of that speak of condemnation for such beliefs) BUT if I am right those that don't believe may have everything to loose eternally! May your spiritual eyes be opened, tomorrow isn't guarenteed to any of us. May God continue to bless even those that don't believe.

1. AtheistHealed Says:
   March 2nd, 2007 at 00:57

   HEALED:
   
   I AM AN ATHEIST. I WAS ALSO DIAGNOSED WITH TERMINAL CANCER. I DIDN'T PRAY, I DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD, AND NEVER WILL.
   IT HAS NOW BEEN FOUR YEARS, I AM STILL ALIVE, AND CANCER FREE AFTER A LONG FIGHT. DOCTORS DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING. THAT IS NOT PROOF OF GOD, IT'S PROOF THAT DOCTORS CAN MAKE MISTAKES.

1. Healed Says:
   March 2nd, 2007 at 13:43

   My MIND, AND SOUL were healed, not just my body & only the God of Abraham, Issac & Jacob can heal the mind and soul.
   
   There was certainly no mistake on behalf of 7 doctors about my diagnosis or the prognosis. It was a base-ball sized Glioblastoma (GBM) Stage IV Brain Tumor. All are welcome to do the research for themselves on the prognosis for a GBM Brain Tumor.
   
   Futher on the prognosis-there are at least 50 people in just the last two years since my diagnosis that I know of that have died of GBM including Jonnie Cochran. It proves deadly to more than 50% of it's victims in 3-12 months.
   
   As for the healing of an non-believer. God is not a respector of persons according to Romans 2:11. For God does not show favoritism. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. What does or doesn't happen to us, regardless of our beliefs doesn't change who He is!
   
   If I am wrong about God you have nothing to loose. If I am right you have everything to loose for eternity. As for me that's not a chance I am willing to take, the stakes are too high!
   
   

1. Informed Says:
   March 2nd, 2007 at 13:45

   The story of Jesus is just another telling of the story of the cosmos and the great cycle, aka the precession of the equinox.
   
   Know your onion.

1. Annamarie Says:
   March 3rd, 2007 at 14:22

   There were more Roman writingsof Jesus , Justin.
   Tacitus and seuphineus I believe , and if I am not mistaken a Phlineus.
   Furthermore there are more documentation of the NT (thousands in Greek and Latin alone) than there are of other historical recorders such as herodutus ,Tacitus and Livy
   etc. yet no-one doubts their historial authenticity do they ?
   
   To me the very idea that the apostles were willing to die for a lie they KNEW to be a lie whilst spreading the Gosples based on their experiences (their fervour mainly based upon the resurrection of Jesus from the dead)is ludicrous to say the least. WHo in their right minds would be martyrd for such??

1. Jamie Hata Says:
   March 4th, 2007 at 15:49

   James is just preaching to the crowd...his crowd. The only people who will believe he found Jesus' bones are the ones who *want* to believe, and *already* believed that Jesus was just some legendary but human dude. And the ones who *didn't* believe aren't going to stop believing because Mr. Titanic found some name matches on a gravesite. Either way, the publicity makes him a ton of money, which he needs if he wants to have the independence to make films about whatever he wants. In the end, everybody gets what they want.
   
   Christians will benefit from this as much as atheists, just like they benefited from the Da Vinci Code. It will drive as many people to church looking for answers as it will drive people away from church. In the end, it's probably a net win for church, because at the end of the day, religion is all about psychosocial health, and being in a religious community has more benefits than not being in some meta-community.
   
   Atheists will benefit from this by having "evidence" to point to when someone is trying to convert them, so they can say "Aha! But it's all lies! Don't you see?!?!?" And, of course, nobody will really "see", because A) everybody has already made up their minds on both sides, and B) it isn't really ironclad evidence to begin with. But it will make them feel good, and build solidarity within their areligious clique (which is just as important as religious circles, except for the fact that atheists tend not to build communities around atheism, and so miss out on much of the benefits of being religious).
   
   At the end of the day, we all get to talk more about religion, but it will blow over the same way the Da Vinci Code and The Last Temptation of Christ and the 16 Jesuses all blew over.
   

1. Justin Says:
   March 5th, 2007 at 00:04

   Annmarie, your mention of Herodotus and Livy are very eye opening. True, they were historians, but not modern historians. Most of their accounts border on mythological and numbers, places and events are either exaggerated or made up from second hand sources. Just because an ancient document says it does not mean that it happened (like Herod's massacre of the babies or Noah's Flood, or the Trojan War). Historiography has advanced today where scholars can accept that historians from antiquity were no accurate or even truthful in their recollection of events, usually for personal or political gain (and that would never happen today, right?)
   
   Second I thought it would be implied that the apostles, for the most part were handed down legends and oral traditions like their mentor. If the apostles existed in their small close-knit group described in the NT they certainly would not have thought it a lie or died proving themselves correct. Mystical followers of cults and personalities were rampant and believed that their person or god was correct without even questioning historical accuracy. Even Paul, who ministered only a few decades after the supposed death of Christ, makes no mention of Jesus of Nazareth. Paul's Christ resembled the cult figures that developed out of lore. Don't you find it odd that Paul never mentions any of Jesus' actual minitstry recorded in the NT. We could assume that Paul would at least have been familiar with some of Jesus' most popular and wide spread maxims (like love your enemies as yourself and the sermon on the mount) especially when these sayings would have been extremely valuable in his arguments in Romans and Corinthians?
   
   All I am saying is that our modern standards of history are very different from that of antiquity. This can cause some confusion and even discomfort when we realize that our religious beliefs might not be based on actual historical events but legends and traditions. This is not to say religion and faith are irrelevant or useless but we must be very careful in assuming that certain things that we have believed our whole life are correct when they may not be. I am not trying to destroy your faith, I have two B.A. in Biblical Studies and History from a conservative Christian college, and I have had to struggle with this too. I hope you are inclined to question and doubt what you believe because it is very rewarding.

1. Annamarie Says:
   March 20th, 2007 at 06:31

   This thread has I noticed died, but anyway-Justin if you are still around- hmm-have you perchance been reading Marshall J.Gauvin?
   I have also read his works.He has some good points but also makes mistakes in dates and often only gives us insight into his own thought-process and opinions, yet all the while claiming he is factual and scientific!
   
   Paul BTW was writing to already established churches. The Christians would have already been aware of the life and teachings of Jesus. He was
   not evangelising in the Epistles.
   
   Anyway, Christianity would have to be seen as even more of a miracle if it was based on a mythical person! Also, the personality and sayings of Jesus are amazingly in character throughout all Gospels .His parables being the most amazing of all.Huh, 'someone' just thought these up and decided to attribute them to a mythical non-existant person for-well ?the sheer fun of it ?! To fabricate a religion for no gain ?? -only torture , imprisonment and death -! This is what you believe obviously (it is one or the other ) so at least give praise where it is due to these clever mythical writers for having been instrumental in giving birth to Christianity.!
   
   
   You also make assumptions about me that clearly belong to your own experiences , as you know nothing about me at all apart from the fact I am a Christian as I have given no further info. about myself. So the 'we have to be very careful....' cannot necessarily apply to me or others but seemingly to yourself.
   Congrats on your BA and your rewarding life as an athiest-I am not trying to destroy this for you....-smile-Each unto his own.

1. John Kelt Says:
   May 3rd, 2007 at 14:14

   When I first heard about the documentary in March, I thought it was wonderful to see historical and archaeological evidence being provided to show that Jesus indeed was historical and was real.
   
   What I found instead in the documentary and in the supplemental book, was a significant amount of conjectures and very little evidence supporting the conclusion. So much so, that upon further reading, I've found only one scholar supporting the conclusion publicly. This creates a problem, out of thousands of scholars, why is it the only scholar that believes in the hypothesis is the hired consultant for the film? Recent books released by academia like "The Jesus Tomb: Is It Fact or Fiction" where both secular and Christian scholars review the film, have found some glaring issues:
   
   1. The authors deny the validity of the Bible when it does not support the conclusion, but uses the Bible if it supports the conclusion (double standard).
   
   2. The DNA evidence shows that Mariamne and Jesus were not related by the mother side. They use this to conclude they were married, but in actuality, the scientists that did the DNA evidence stated there were other possibilities: father and daughter, paternal cousins, half brother and sister, or grandparent and grandchild. To jump that they were married means they already assume on the onset that this was Jesus' tomb rather than look at the facts objectively.
   
   3. Mariamne is assumed to be Mary Magdalene yet no historical work suggests this connection. They utilize a Harvard scholar, Dr. Bovon, and suggested that his work on Acts of Philip is proof that you can connect Mariamne as Mary Magdalene. Yet Acts of Philip does not even mention Mary Magdalene at all. In fact, Acts of Philip is a fourth century work; hence, it was created hundreds of years after the historical Mary Magdalene died. Dr. Bovon himself stated his opinion on the Mary Magdalene connection should not be taken historically and he considers the documentary's conclusion as science fiction.
   
   4. The statistical analysis so dependent on the Magdalene connection that once it is taken out, everything in the statistical probabilities falls apart.
   
   5. The authors suggested that the Talpiot tomb was 'hidden' or have fallen off the cracks in the world of archaeology. Yet numerous scholarly discussions and publications in 1981, 1994, 1996, 2003 already have reviewed the tomb and considered the hypothesis as unlikely. The only reason, it seems, to claim it wasn't heard of before would be to create a media hype.
   
   In short, I wished that this documentary was researched better. What seemed like at first an interesting archaeological find is actually recycled speculation from the 1990's.
   

1. chris kendall Says:
   August 8th, 2007 at 01:48

   It's very faith affirming to realize that after more than 2000 years this is the best the enemy's of the Gospel can come up with.

1. gareth tillery Says:
   May 4th, 2008 at 04:06

   the point is this many people try to exploit christianity as a comercial empire. making people pay to see relics that are considered holy but the very archeologist whom study the relics as a career and historians will tell you the dates of the so called holy stone caskest that hold the remains of a guy name jesus,mary etc. are hundreds of years apart from the times of jesus christ. the very study of civilization and their burial practices are always consistant with the times there of. if it doesnt match then itis not real and it was popular to use holy names and they became quite common. ofcourse many of the names were common names ofthe times anyway. so i say with great pride thanks for the intrest in this subjest and i hope it brings you closer to god . i look forward to seeing the outcome of this endeavor. i will keep watching with great intrest

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