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[User]

Would it make a difference to you if Jesus was not born to a virgin and did not come back from the dead? If there was no Heaven or hell?

I’m a believer but came to faith as an older individual. My faith has given me a lot of peace and comfort. It’s become self evident as well. God and I interact on a daily basis. I can see Him working.

I don’t think about Heaven or hell. I’m not looking forward to anything for believing in Jesus or following Him. I’m rewarded greatly already. Whether he was born to a virgin or not or came back to life or not isn’t something I think about much. I question sometimes. I tell myself it doesn’t matter. I’m not working for a reward. The work is worthy of the work itself. The work is the reward. The comfort, peace, and understanding is enough.

Do many Christians follow Jesus in hopes of a reward they don’t believe they’ve been given yet?

Are you expecting anything or do you find living the teachings of Jesus is reward enough?

[jimwalton]

The Gospels mention the virgin birth, but it is never mentioned again. It's important because it shows that Jesus is not ONLY human. If Jesus didn't come back from the dead, then Christianity is worthless. If there is no Heaven, then there is no afterlife where we enjoy the relationship with God, which is what Christianity is all about. If you toss out these three items, it makes all the difference in the world.

Our relationship with God is not about inner peace and comfort. Rather, it's about being forgiven for one's sins so that death is conquered and one may have a relationship with God. Whether you think about these matters much is irrelevant. Whether they are true or not makes all the difference in the world.

I'm not working for a reward either. Who cares. What I'm after is knowing God and enjoying a relationship with Him forever.

[Pepsi]

What if Christians got it wrong, but just slightly? Like what Christians think of Mormons or Jews? What if everyone has it just slightly wrong?

Maybe there is a god and that is it, there is no special message, and everyone goes to heaven?

From an outside perspective if God is ever demonstrated to exist I bet all major religions have it wrong, even slightly.

[jimwalton]

> What if Christians got it wrong, but just slightly?

We have to consider the evidence and use reason to determine this. Given the information we have, there is no compelling reason to think Christians got it wrong. We can talk about it more if you want.

> What if everyone has it just slightly wrong?

It makes sense to perceive that no one person has everything right, but that's a vast difference from saying Christianity got it wrong. As far as Mormons, there is no evidence for anything they claim, and that's a big complication for their entire faith system. Regarding the Jews, we continue to have conversations about the legitimacy of Jesus as Messiah.

> Maybe there is a god and that is it,

I see that you're an atheist. If there truly is a God, the ramifications of that are most profound. The scenario where it's just a shrug of the shoulders and "that is it" is unrealistic.

> there is no special message

Again, if there truly is a God, and it is possible to know God (what would be the point otherwise?), then of necessity there has to be a "special message." If any knowledge of God is possible, there has to be a special message.

> ...and everyone goes to heaven?

While this may be a nice sentiment, it doesn't square with reality. It's a total denial of evil and a contravention of any sense of justice.

> From an outside perspective if God is ever demonstrated to exist I bet all major religions have it wrong, even slightly.

I appreciate you expressing your opinion. The major religions are in extensive contradiction to each other. It's not possible that several have it slightly wrong. Either all but one are radically false, or all of them are false (not slightly). So we examine the evidences, which is why I subscribe to Christianity.

[Impossible]

But you only need to read this forum to see that different Christian denominations, and even Christians within those denominations, are in extensive contradiction to each other. Including on important questions, like how does one go to heaven.

I think the key thing all Christians have in common, which they don't have in common with the other religions, is that a man called Jesus rose from the dead after being crucified. The only evidence we have for that as far as I know is anonymous bible authors (not eye witnesses) writing years after his death about what they have heard - please if you have further evidence on this I would love to learn about it.

[jimwalton]

> But you only need to read this forum to see that different Christian denominations, and even Christians within those denominations, are in extensive contradiction to each other

Denominations are really only in mild contradiction to each other. Christians widely agree on the basics. Our differences are in the non-essentials.

> Including on important questions, like how does one go to heaven.

There is vast, probably 99%, agreement on how one goes to heaven.

> I think the key thing all Christians have in common, which they don't have in common with the other religions, is that a man called Jesus rose from the dead after being crucified.

This is correct, and again, on this 99% of Christians agree.

> The only evidence we have for that as far as I know

This is not the only evidence. The evidence reaches beyond the record of the Gospels.

> anonymous bible authors (not eye witnesses)

The case that the authors of the Gospels were eyewitnesses is far stronger than the case against. The bulk of material points to the traditional authors of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Three of those were eyewitnesses.

> ... writing years after his death

You seem to be implying that 30 years is too long a time to get reliable information. 30 years ago Bill Clinton was the US president. It's not hard to get accurate information about his presidency.

> about what they have heard

They clearly say they were eyewitnesses. Jn. 21.24; 1 Jn. 1.1; 2 Pet. 1.16