What is the historical evidence that Jesus Christ lived and died?

[Humpy]

Many Christians reject the practical application of The New Testament and prefer the Old one.
For instance Christ's stand against the orthodox Judaism at the Temple where he upset the money changer's tables. He certainly would have objected to today's greedy capitalists.
He advocated forgiveness of one's enemy when most people would rather bash them.
Revenge is mine etc...........It hardly ever works out that way. The villains just get away with it.
Pampering criminals in prison is another mute point.

 

[OddTrader]

I learned the gospels were written later than Paul's letters. I believe so.

The western countries and their overall culture and laws have been greatly influenced by the values and principles of the old testament and gospels, according to some writers nowadays. My paraphrase. I agree.

They say every person living today is actually affected directly and indirectly by this same whole framework. I agree.

Elimination of slaves practice and providing education to females were two outstanding examples that were initiated by progressive Christians. I think they were/are truly remarkable.

 

[stu]

I would say a lot of problems still around today are due to culture and laws being influenced by Christian values.

Indeed many Christians used the Bible to defend the institution of slavery. Many still very much use it today to marginalize and discriminate against others.

Equality, inclusiveness and progress usually occur despite Christian values, not because of them.

Christian values like Islamic values and pretty much any other religious values can be used in part to present a benign appearance, but on the whole offer up an ugly picture.
Old Testament is a classic manual for hate bigotry and malevolence matched only by Mein Kampf.

It's empathy first, not Christian values, which brings good into the world. There is no good thing that cannot be achieved without religion.

 

[OddTrader]

For most western countries, there were a long period of time they were ruled by kings implementing theocratic system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theocracy. The kings and his spiritual guider followed the Christian bible.

Many times even the spiritual guider who had better knowledge and wits was the actual ruler, rather than the king, especially youth king who has no time to study the bible which contains a number of conflicting information for people to make diverse and confusing decisions differently, without clear answers.

That's why the king needs to consult the spiritual guider for answers on various subjects/issues, and this guider sometimes also the kings teacher since he was a boy. That's why the guider was often the real king. ...

It's a long time tradition in various cultures. Even nowadays,

Who's Who of Trump's 'Tremendous' Faith Advisers | Christianity Today
www.christianitytoday.com/.../whos-who-of-trumps-tremendous-faith-advisors.html - Cached
22 Jun 2016 ... Following his much-anticipated confab with nearly 1,000 evangelical pastors and leaders, Republican candidate Donald Trump has released a ...


Paula White: who is Donald Trump's spiritual adviser, the mega ...
www.telegraph.co.uk/.../2017/.../paula-white-donald-trumps-spiritual-adviser-mega-church-tv-prosperity/ - Cached
Rachel Ray, Washington. 16 April 2017 • 6:00am. The Easter holiday ranks as the most important holy day in the Christian faith. Its celebration an affirmation by ...

The king's words were laws in a theocratic system. Rather than based on science, logic, rationality, statistics, and/ or human nature/behaviour.

Many of the modern democratic countries were also having a long period of time defining laws based on the same bible, which then became the source of arguments and settlements.

When most the laws makers in these democratic countries were wealthy Christians with powers and owning lands, the laws were based on so-called Christian principles and values according to the 'knowledgeable' Christians in order to protect the wealth, lands, principles, values. etc.

The laws defined in that way by those makers were actually unfair laws in today's standards where seeking equality, liberty and inclusiveness. That's why almost every country they need to have a committee for updating their old laws that are still applicable and effective nowadays. Too many are pending to be updated.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft_Acts

The Witchcraft Act of 1735 remained in force in Britain well into the 20th century, until its eventual repeal with the enactment of the Fraudulent Mediums Act of 1951.

The Fraudulent Mediums Act 1951 was repealed on 26 May 2008[10] by new Consumer Protection Regulations following an EU directive targeting unfair sales and marketing practices.[11]

Other related acts

The Witchcraft Suppression Act, 1957 of South Africa, which is still in force,[12] was based on the Witchcraft Act 1735.[13]

 

[OddTrader]

For most western countries, there were a long period of time they were ruled by kings implementing theocratic system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theocracy. The kings and his spiritual guider followed the Christian bible.

After reading that " When religions have a "holy book," it is used as a direct message from God. Law proclaimed by the ruler is also considered a divine revelation, and hence the law of God. As to the Prophet Muhammad ruling, "The first thirteen of the Prophet's twenty-three year career went on totally apolitical and non-violent. This attitude partly changed only after he had to flee from Mecca to Medina. ..." from the above link, I searched for its source then found the following relevant page.

Looks quite informative to me, as I have been thinking to learn a bit about this topic.

A. Sajid: Peace in Islam: Reflections on Original Sources

Written by Abduljalil Sajid, Chairman, Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony, UK

Thursday, December 26, 2002

Delivered at conference on “God and World Peace: An Exploration of the Significance of God for a World in Crisis,” December 26-29, 2002

http://www.upf.org/resources/speech...eace-in-islam-reflections-on-original-sources

To appreciate how Islam approaches the question of peace, one has only to consider a few elementary facts about Islam. Peace and Islam are derived from the same root and may be considered synonymous. One of God’s names is Peace. The concluding words of the daily prayers of every Muslim are words of peace. The greeting of Muslims when they return to God is peace. The daily salutations among the Muslims are expressions of peace. The adjective “Muslim” means, in a sense, peaceful. Heaven in Islam is the abode of peace. This is how fundamental and dominant the theme of peace is in Islam. These values cannot fail to make our world a better world, to regain human dignity, to achieve equality, to enjoy universal brotherhood, and to build a lasting peace.

... ...

Peace and Human Dignity

I will give an example from Islamic history. One day, in Medina, the Prophet of Islam noticed a funeral procession passing along the street. The Prophet stood up in deference. A companion of the Prophet remarked at this: “O Prophet, you know it was the funeral of a Jew, that is a non-Muslim.” The Prophet replied: “(alaisat nafsan) Was he not a human being?” It shows that in the Prophet’s vision everyone was a human being. The Prophet saw everyone on an equal plane. Thus, according to Islam, everyone deserves equal respect. Everyone is a creature of God. One can say therefore that according to this brief description, the formula for peace according to Islam is mutual coexistence.

...

Also:

Imam Dr Abduljalil Sajid: Civil Law and Shariah Law

Written by Jonathan Bond

http://www.uk.upf.org/ukupf/bawp/134-imamabduljalilsajid

When the Prophet entered into Medina he created the Covenant of Medina. There were 52 clauses. All within the boundaries of Medina were equal under the law. The principle of the city state all living in Medina there was equality and mutuality under the law. If a Jew was involved in a dispute the Prophet would ask him under which law he would want to be judged. If he said Torah then he would be judged under the Torah. There was no question of religious law being applied on non-believers.

...

 

[Humpy]

If there really is a God then people ask why the heck is he doing allowing the Hitlers and Stalins of this world.
The evasive answer has to be on the lines that He lets humans work out their own destiny.
My answer is that the theory of God plays a useful part in human life but is man made.
Has anyone been able to prove Gods existence ? NO
Ditto with ET etc. People seem to need more than just facts.

 

[OddTrader]

There are two schools of definition of God that I understand.

One is man-making God, as the Stoics would think. But we don't fully understand the man-making process yet. Maybe one day our scientists can find out more details about the man-making process. The Stoics also call this God other names including Nature, Universe, Reason, Logos, Nature Law, etc. - All in one! The Stoicism has a whole set of ethics based on law of nature according to human nature and behaviour. Everyone is an individual and equal. One of the leading Stoic in his era was once a slave. Another one was an emperor. Most people don't like this God concept because their teacher always tells them to be an independent thinker, just like the Real Jesus. (my paraphrase) Too hard! Eternity is nothing more than what a man would contribute to humankind while on earth.

Another is man-made God, as many man-made religions would think. They individually define their God as what they want/like the God to be. And they would like to do many things in the name of God. Most often they don't really like science, whenever any science is against their theory/theology according to their old-time history. Some of the extremists believing they can kill others in the name of this God concept, because sometimes they can even hear clearly what their God tells them what to do. Many people prefer this God concept because they just follow what their teacher tells them to do. Fairly simple! Besides, believers are promised to have eternal life in heaven!

LOL

 

[OddTrader]

There are two schools of definition of God that I understand.

One is man-making God, as the Stoics would think. But we don't fully understand the man-making process yet. Maybe one day our scientists can find out more details about the man-making process. The Stoics also call this God other names including Nature, Universe, Reason, Logos, Nature Law, etc. - All in one! The Stoicism has a whole set of ethics based on law of nature according to human nature and behaviour. Everyone is an individual and equal. One of the leading Stoic in his era was once a slave. Another one was an emperor. Most people don't like this God concept because their teacher always tells them to be an independent thinker, just like the Real Jesus. (my paraphrase) Too hard! Eternity is nothing more than what a man would contribute to humankind while on earth.

Another is man-made God, as many man-made religions would think. They individually define their God as what they want/like the God to be. And they would like to do many things in the name of God. Most often they don't really like science, whenever any science is against their theory/theology according to their old-time history. Some of the extremists believing they can kill others in the name of this God concept, because sometimes they can even hear clearly what their God tells them what to do. Many people prefer this God concept because they just follow what their teacher tells them to do. Fairly simple! Besides, believers are promised to have eternal life in heaven!

LOL

The Stoicism God, AFAIK, is a Scientific God that is based on evidence and statistics, therefore this Scientific God is observable in our daily life, with a universal spirit of Nature that exists orderly and systemically in everything and all things of that each is equally part of God, especially living plants and living animals including humans such as the Real Jesus, who was/is also part of God. Who also had/has shared the same God spirit with all others/things alive, humans, animals and plants.

Furthermore, this Scientific God in Stoicism is about not only ethics, but also physics and logic. These three streams are not completely isolated nor unrelated. To certain degree, they relate to and support each other among them. A bit amazing, if not unrealistic. Stoics are not only independent thinkers, but also systems thinkers.

That's what I know. LOL

Video: Hero dog saves drowning baby deer - News.com.au
www.news.com.au/...dog...save-baby-deer...drowning/.../162f0dc5df2f72ccf5f76b172e...
Jul 18, 2017 - Heroic dog swims to save baby deer from drowning. ... UKRAINE: Dog Saves Injured Companion From Train December 250:49. FOOTAGE has been captured of a drowning baby deer being rescued from the ocean by an unlikely hero, a golden retriever named Storm.


Watch This Superhero Dog Save A Drowning Baby Deer | TIME ...
Video for dog saving a drowning baby deer
▶ 0:37

Jul 18, 2017 - Uploaded by TIME
A new video shows the incredible moment when a dog rescued a drowning baby deer, bringing it safely to ...


This video of a dog saving a drowning baby deer is the sweetest thing ...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/.../this-video-of-a-dog-saving-a-drowning-baby-deer-i...
Jul 17, 2017 - A dog pulled a baby deer from the water off the coast of Long Island this past weekend in New York. Owner Mark Freeley told CBS New York he ...


Meet the Dog Who's Going Viral for Saving a Drowning Baby Deer ...
insider.foxnews.com/.../dog-saves-baby-deer-drowning-viral-video-owner-explains-w...
Jul 18, 2017 - In a video going viral, a heroic dog ran into the Long Island Sound and pulled a drowning baby deer out of the water.

 

[OddTrader]

The Stoicism God, AFAIK, is a Scientific God that is based on evidence and statistics, therefore this Scientific God is observable in our daily life, with a universal spirit of Nature that exists orderly and systemically in everything and all things of that each is equally part of God, especially living plants and living animals including humans such as the Real Jesus, who was/is also part of God. Who also had/has shared the same God spirit with all others/things alive, humans, animals and plants.

Furthermore, this Scientific God in Stoicism is about not only ethics, but also physics and logic. These three streams are not completely isolated nor unrelated. To certain degree, they relate to and support each other among them. A bit amazing, if not unrealistic. Stoics are not only independent thinkers, but also systems thinkers.

That's what I know. LOL

Based on evidence and statistics, science hence is developed/deployed/used as a tool to understand/know/investigate systematically and methodically more and more about God. Most likely a never finishing process.

Logically, there would be no absolute timeline defined for how soon, how much, how fast, and how far humans should develop advanced and more advanced science by utilising unlimited resources. Therefore, a bit slowing down of science advancement and weaponry research and development may be a good thing if the resources could be alternatively allocated for helping more humans for better well-being.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arms_race

 

[OddTrader]

We’re all made of stardust… from a galaxy far, far away, scientists find

Sarah Knapton, Science Editor

27 July 2017

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/07/27/made-stardustfrom-galaxy-far-far-away-scientists-find/

According to US astrophysicists up to half of all matter in our Milky Way galaxy comes from distant areas in space, driven here on strong interstellar winds, created when stars explode in spectacular supernovae.

When Carl Sagan, the late American astrophysicist, made his well-known comment that ‘we are made of star-stuff’ he meant that all the elements on Earth were once produced in the heart of stars before being flung out into the universe in giant explosions.