non-believers..what would it take to convince you

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   janesixposted 11 years ago

   That Jesus is Real?
   Please, only serious answers. I'd really like to know.

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      nightwork4posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      it's hard to answer such a question because you are trying to base it on a fact that is a myth. jesus is nothing more then a name and i wish people would realize this. there isn't some guy who once lived that was the son of some god.i doubt anything could convince me otherwise. even if the story was real, nothing would make me worship such a thing, nothing.

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      jomineposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      A blow on the frontal or temporal lobe, or three extra large whiskey. Seriously!

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         Peelander Gallyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Complete removal of the frontal lobe, and you have a deal.

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      A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Unfortunately, that is not a valid question to ask considering there is no evidence for the existence of Jesus, hence there is nothing to convince anyone Jesus is real. And, the fact that there are folks who believe Jesus is real have not been convinced because of evidence, so we must first acknowledge how it came about that they were convinced and go from there.
      
      Start with indoctrination, as that is the most widespread and common reason why people believe Jesus is real.

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         janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I was not indoctrinated, I was raised atheist.
         
         God Himself proved His existence to me.

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            Sapperposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Unfortunately, that means you were never an atheist. No true atheist ever has nor ever will "become" religious. Any that say otherwise are full of it.
            
            Nothing short of "god" showing himself and breaking a law of physics.

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               janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               I was definitely atheist.

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            A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Since the latter statement is an obvious fabrication, the former most likely is, too.

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               janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Sorry, but it's true. Just because something doesn't seem real to you doesn't mean it's not.

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                  A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Your fabrications are very real.

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                     janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                     If you are going to insist on making fun of me and accuse me of fabricationg things, that is your choice.
                     
                     I expect it. It only bothers me slightly.
                     
                     What I've experienced is very real to ME.

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                        A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                        But, not real to anything or anyone else. That's called using ones imagination.

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                           janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                           That's fine.
                           
                           I don't expect it to be real to anyone else. I have only said what my experiences have been. I totally understand that people think it's all in my head or whatever. I don't think so, but I can see how other people would think so.
                           
                           I am not really even trying to convince anyone of anything. I know that is impossible.
                           
                           But there are other people out there having the same experiences as I am, and I hope to help them figure out what is going on. And that God can be found if you look.

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                              A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                              No gods have ever been found, no matter how much or where we look. The god in your head is just your imagination, like those others who have the same experiences as you.

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                                 janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                 We are just going around in circles here:)

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                                    A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                    That's all that can be accomplished when one searches for gods, it's like a dog chasing it's tail.

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                        Peelander Gallyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                        I can't decide if you're a very successful troll possibly looking to increase your rating by inciting these discussions. What experience did you have this week that made you suddenly and completely believe in God, the Bible, and devote yourself to Jesus?

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                           janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                           Increase my rating? I don't even know what that means. I have transfered many of my Hubs to other sites, I don't make any money here.
                           
                           I was saved by Jesus. It was a physical and spiritual experience. I can't explain it to you.
                           
                           I don't care if you think I'm trolling. I expect nastiness from you people. I don't care what you say or think of me, but I do care for your soul.

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                              Peelander Gallyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                              Oh I wasn't necessarily talking about money, just the little number in your profile picture. And I'm not being nasty, either, it just seems a little odd that you were suddenly saved this week after having been an atheist, and I was hoping you could explain just what you experienced.

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                                 janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                 Have you read revelation? It's kind of like that, only internally.

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                                    Peelander Gallyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                    Not cover to cover. So, you had one or a series of prophetic visions/realisations that revealed God's existence, plans and intentions to you personally? Was it an instantaneous thing or did it happen gradually, and were you awake or asleep?

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                                       janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                       Sort of. It was more like God opened all of my chakras, one by one. That took 8 hours and I was mostly awake, except for the end part where I don't remember anything. God didn't let me in on any intentions or plans. More like gave me "feelings" that certain things were true. The only pleasant part about it was my 4th chakra, the heart. The rest was scary, mostly because I didn't know what was happening. I could feel the holy spirit in my body. I still can sometimes. I only heard a voice once. No prophetic visions, but plenty of other visions.

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                                          A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                          Here we have the typical 'walk, talk and quack like a duck" syndrome.
                                          
                                          Janesix claims to feel the holy spirit in her body, without ever having seen this spirit or know what it is comprised, yet automatically invokes it because of a feeling and 'plenty of other visions.'
                                          
                                          Most mental health care workers would suggest  you seek professional help immediately with answers like that.

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                                             janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                             You can rest assured that I have.

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                                                A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                There is no evidence of that, quite the contrary.

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                                       Peelander Gallyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                       I think I'd freak out if that happened to me. Were you meditating the whole time? Can you give an example of one or two of the visions that made you feel so sure it was a single, all-powerful Christian God (because that's so specific) contacting you?

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                                          janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                          It was more of a feeling than anything else. The visions were personal.
                                          
                                          I did freak out.

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                                       Peelander Gallyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                       So you sought professional help? A popularly held belief is that Jeanne d'Arc and a number of other saints were epileptic. What were you told?

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                                          janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                          I spent a week at the psych ward, just got out. I had a ct scan, no seizures or tumors or anything. They say I'm bipolar. I take antipsychotics and anti anxiety meds.
                                          
                                          I still feel the same, it's just toned down a lot.

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                                             A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                             Then, we can conclude the visions and voices you experience are a result of that. Thanks for confirming.

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                                       Peelander Gallyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                       Ah, there we go. I've known a few severely bipolar people very well. Were you made aware that severe episodes of mania can be accompanied by hallucinations and delusions of grandeur that have no basis in reality?

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                                          janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                          yes, I know.

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                                          janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                          yes, I know.

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   Emile Rposted 11 years ago

   I would think the only way would be an understanding of how. And a clear explanation of why. So many believers say God speaks to them. Jesus speaks to them. But, that is the extent of any agreement. It's very clear that no one is being guided by anything more than personal desire. With Christianity already splintered and each believer growing further and further apart in their personal interpretation, is it any wonder that skepticism is on the rise?
   
   Jesus was, in my mind, an incredible figure who truly believed in the good in humanity. An inspirational figure who displayed a love of all. But Christianity has used his name to attempt to spiritually enslave its followers and condemn any who won't agree. The institution is so far removed from the man it's very existence denies it's claims of divine guidance and a living spirit. Every believer who doesn't allow the spirit of love that was the impetus of the message to shine through, while insisting that their words are the product of communication with the Holy Spirit, must accept their role in tarnishing the good name of Jesus to the point that good people can find no way to conceive he ever existed. And that is a shame because, if nothing else, he was a good man worthy of being heard.

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   Beeladyposted 11 years ago

   I accept Jesus as a real historical figure, but I'm guessing you mean 'real' as in a divine being.  I do not think there is anything another human could 'say' to convince me of that. 
   
   It is possible, I suppose, that I could undergo a life-changing experience that leads me to discover a faith of some sort. (Not necessarily Christianity.)  I believe that faith can help individuals, and indeed whole communities, to live through adversity.  For that reason I would never disparage it. 
   
   I'm not sure whether in such circumstances, however, my belief would be genuine,or simply a useful emotional crutch.
   
   Other than that, I think you're looking at a direct, well-aimed and unequivocal bolt of lighting from
   God (or whoever) himself.

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   huckelburyposted 11 years ago

   When you say "nonbelievers" I assume you mean non-Christians. Since the earliest gospel is Mark (ca. AD 65) the most recent account of Jesus' life was written decades after he was executed by the Romans. Mark and the other two synoptics (Matthew and Luke) contain much of Mark verbatim and were included, along with John and the rest of the New Testament, simply because the church got to decide what went in and what got excluded. Given such a lack of objectivity, the events described are difficult evidence upon which to place a firm belief. Faith is therefore the key, but I think most nonbelievers required a good deal more than that, even if Aquinas insisted that in matters of conflict between faith and knowledge, faith must rule. I've lived too long and seen too much to believe that a benevolent, omnipotent, and omniscient deity would allow the carnage inflicted on innocent lives. The return of Jesus? My guess is that he's glad to be away from here and would be really upset if God tried to send him back.

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      janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I meant non-Christians.

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   pisean282311posted 11 years ago

   i am convinced jesus was real man who lived 2k years back...like many in his era , he too believed that god would intervene soon...god didnt and jesus died for his conviction...his barely literate disciples made him something which he never was and started new religion ...some say it is insult to jesus because jesus was sincere jew who wanted original judaism back...christians must worship paul instead of jesus...he made jesus what he is today...
   
   now coming to ur question if jesus is real in divine sense , i doubt he would need sales agents to sell him as saviour....so people stopping their sales pitch and jesus himself taking the task would be better...

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      janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm certainly not doing a sales pitch. That is for the 144000 during tribulation.

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   Paul Wingertposted 11 years ago

   It was Paul (who never met Jesus) that founded Christianity 30 years after Jesus died. Paul combined Christianity with a touch of Roman paganism and Judaism and combined a number of so-called messiah’s into one - Jesus. This is where we get the virgin birth, miracle worker, and son of god stuff. But Paul was pushing faith, not historical fact.

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   austinhealyposted 11 years ago

   When I see less human misery in this world, less hunger, less suffering of innocent children, less wars, less greed, less stupidity, maybe I will start asking myself if there is a God after all. Until then, I'm not sure anything else will convince me of anything. Sorry !

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      janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      If everyone followed Jesus Christ, there would be no misery in the world that is caused by humans.

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   quildonposted 11 years ago

   janesix, you posed this question to non-believers, but I think as a believer I ought to say what I believe and why I believe it. I believe that Jesus was a historical figure but He was and is the Son of God.   Someone pointed out that the most recent accounts of His life were written 30 years after His crucifixion. Not true! The whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation is about Jesus. He was with God before the foundations of the world. In the Old Testament there are countless references to Jesus' coming to this earth, His ministry, His death and His return. This continues in the New Testament when John the Baptist preached about His coming until He actually appears in the Gospels. The book of Acts and the Pauline epistles also show the persecution that the church suffered because they chose to follow the Way (another name for Jesus). You can also read historical accounts of this.
   And finally, we have the testimony of God the Father, "And lo a voice from heaven, saying , This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," Matthew 3 : 17.
   It's very interesting to me that most people will say they believe in God, but they have a problem believing in His Son. Fact is, you cannot believe in the Father and reject the Son because they are one.

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      janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree. I would never reject Jesus who gave me salvation.

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   Mom Katposted 11 years ago

   Nothing ~ nothing would convince me to convert to any form of Christianity. 
   
   I was raised in a Christian home, force fed the bible for 18 years and no one, not one single person in any of the churches I went to could answer the simple questions I had.
   
   I found my true faith and belief in the religion I've been practicing since I turned 18 and didn't have to do what my mother told me to.
   
   No one and nothing can pull me from my faith, just as no one and nothing should be able to pull you from yours....
   
   I don't need your religion, I have one that works perfectly well for me.  I dislike anyone who tries to force their beliefs on others from any religion and feel that it is a sign of extremely poor character.  If you are secure in your beliefs you do not need to gather masses in order to "prove" that you're right. 
   
   I don't need anyone else to believe along side of me to make my religion valid.

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      janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I have tried to force no one to believe the way I do.
      
      I do like to discuss it, as I believe your soul is in jeopardy if you do not find Christ and ask for salvation.

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         Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         You have the right to believe whatever you want to.  My spirit is just fine & I would rather not discus a one sided argument. 
         
         See, you already have your mind made up.  You feel that I should believe the same way you do and if I don't see it your way then I'm damned to an eternity of hell....
         
         You've already made this clear by everything you've posted thus far.  Your belief is the only one and all others need to convert or "your soul is in jeopardy"
         
         I made a choice over 17 years ago NOT to follow religious practices that use scare tactics to obtain followers.  And if you would hear what I said in the first place, I studied your bible for 18 years!  There is NOTHING you can say that I haven't already heard multiple times.
         
         Thanks, but no thanks.  You're just going to have to accept that there are other religions in the world and not everyone want to be a Christian.

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            Mom Katposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I'm sorry for being rude.  I'm tired and crabby.  Normally I'm not this blunt. 
            I don't take back any of the meaning behind what I've said, I just could have said it nicer.

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               janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               I don't feel that you should believe the way I do. I just hope you will someday. That's all.

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