I hadn’t thought about the one sided nature of not commenting about other’s Christian beliefs. I’ve only started speaking out, but more and more believe that it is crucial to do so.

When I look at the structural advantages of atheism vs. religion, religion wins every time. Religion gives people forgiveness and hope. Churches give people communities of support, comfort, and belonging.

Ironically, while some religions were founded in the idea of enlightenment, I think Christianity today has evolved into a tool to manipulate people for power and money. I do see a rebirth of spirituality and enlightenment beginning again in the atheist community.

Just a note on the site, I am openly supportive of gays, blacks, fathers, vegetarians, buddhists, and liberals. However, it’s overwhelming to have to deal with all these issues when I come to a web site that isn’t about these issues. Personally, I don’t like to think of sex, unless I’m searching for it, which I don’t. I find images of male genitalia, even clothed in underwear, a turn off. I won’t refer this site to people because of the it. I’m not saying you should hide who you are, but you don’t have to slap people in the face with it either.

I’m commenting on this because I think that your are very articulate, and you have pulled together a combination of ideas that are important, while avoiding the polemics and stridency that usually accompanies these ideas. This is beautifully written. It would be wonderful for you to reach a larger group of people. The site would be more accessible to more people if you structured it to contain material that is relevant to the point you are making.

Perhaps you could have a parent home page that points to all the things that are important to you, and then break it down into topics that are focussed and specific.

Please forgive me if I have worded this improperly, or am even in error in my thinking. You have my full support and appreciation.

1. If Jesus was born of a virgin from where did his Y chromosome originate?

2. I assume the body of Jesus is still fully human….and has fully functioning bowels and genitals..does he ever become sexually aroused, …we know he ate fish after the resurrection….so did he evacuate his bowels..does he eat and eliminate now..does his hair and nails continue to grow… or is his body in some kind of “hyper holy state”…..

3. What was Jesus’ birth language and do you think he understands American English or other modern languages and idioms. If he speaks in heaven what language does he use.

Some new heresy comes out just before Christmas and Easter. This is not new. It is garbage, and all too obviously designed to call attention away from the truth that has changed millions of lives.

Yes, unlike many other claims and teaching systems, it DOES matter that Jesus is alive. He is the one that taught “no one comes to the Father (God) except through me.” If he doesn’t exist, guess what? No one comes to God. If he were dead — it would be kind of hard for him to guide anyone to God, wouldn’t it?

You see, there is much more historical evidence from many sources that Jesus rose from the dead than that Julius Caesar even lived. So why would people question the resurrection and not Caesar’s life? Because in 2007, it doesn’t matter if Caesar lived or not. He’s dead and has no effect on us today. But Jesus — that’s a different story. If HIS claims are true, we must do something about them, and quite frankly, many folks are afraid of the unknown — or afraid they won’t like the changes Christ will make. Let me assure you, there is nothing to fear about following Jesus.

Back to the tomb … the family of Jesus the Christ was from Galilee and would have been buried there. Was the Christ known as “Jesus of Jerusalem” or “Jesus of Nazareth” ?? James Cameron, whose agenda is radically anti-Christian, is behind this. We can comfort ourselves with the fact that if Mr Cameron is looking for Jesus, sooner or later, he WILL find Him. Hopefully before he passes away and stands before Him in shame, but most assuredly, he will find Jesus. For every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, as the Bible tells us.

The ‘new’ claim is also based on old research – 27 years old to be exact – and Cameron is pretty much ignoring the experts.

Bar-Ilan University Prof. Amos Kloner is the Jerusalem District archaeologist who officially oversaw the work at the tomb in 1980. He has published detailed findings on its contents and dismissed the claims. “It makes a great story for a TV film,” he told The Jerusalem Post. “But it’s impossible. It’s nonsense.”

Kloner, who said he was interviewed for the new film but has not seen it, said the names found on the ossuaries were common, and the fact that such apparently resonant names had been found together was of no significance. He added that “Jesus son of Joseph” inscriptions had been found on several other ossuaries over the years.

“There is no likelihood that Jesus and his relatives had a family tomb,” Kloner said. “They were a Galilee family with no ties in Jerusalem. The Talpiot tomb belonged to a middle-class family from the 1st century CE.”

Yes, Yeshua is probably the closest pronunciation of the name the Greeks called “Jesus”. One great teacher in our area that commonly uses His correct name is David McGee, whose teachings are available free online at http://www.reachthetriad.com — if you’re interested to listen.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I first want to know and follow the truth. I continue to study and learn more all the time. If the truth is different that what I believe, I am obligated to change that belief. This laughable attempt to change that by a talented but misguided TV producer certainly doesn’t come close. The core beliefs that led me to a faith in Jesus have only been reinforced over the many years of study, but have never been disproven.

Hello Terrance and all,

Very good article, easily the best I’ve read so far…

The most interesting aspect of this Jesus Tomb story revolves around the actual names on the bone boxes compared to what is being asserted in the effort to make a profit. Pay special attention to the tortured explanations of how names like Jesus, Mary, Matthew, Joseph, and others were “translated” (interpolated) from inscriptions that actually say otherwise. Most specifically, both Christians and those who are promoting this “Jesus Tomb” discovery and its associated assertions are profiting from the very same long-term process of obfuscation and meticulous misdirection. For anyone, whether Christian leaders and adherents or James Cameron to keep a straight face while claiming that the name Jesus was one of the most common in Second Temple Israel is highly instructive. The name that is commonly translated as Joshua was very common, but the name Jesus is a very unique and narrowly targeted construction of recent centuries that simply cannot have truthfully appeared anywhere in the ancient Near East. Likewise, many are writing that Jesus is instead the english form of Joshua, as if the millions of english speaking Christians and Jews named Joshua have foreign names. Furthermore, does anyone know of any person named Joshua who would seriously assert that the English form of their name is Jesus? These deceptive assertions are beyond absurd.

This long-term charade about a name that simply could not have been written or pronounced in Aramaic, Hebrew, Greek, or even Latin, which is now being touted as one of the more common names from ancient Israel/Judea, serves as an illuminating microcosm for the entire New Testament and the many dubious assertions and activities that have accompanied it and Christianity throughout their entire existence. As Christians rally to “prove” that this archeological find can’t be the tomb and bones of the “Jesus” and “Mary” of the New Testament, they too should honestly answer questions about why it is correct to interpolate those names in such a unique way to support the veracity of the most profitable story in history, but not to interpret an archeological discovery. Christians must truthfully answer the question of why it is wrong for the “Jesus Tomb” crew to use Christianity’s own methodology to arrive at the names now being asserted as appearing on those bone boxes.

Read More …

Here is Wisdom !!

http://www.biola.edu