From: goff@intruder.navo.navy.mil (Victoria Goff)
Subject: To All Truth Seekers!
Reply-To: goff@pops.navo.navy.mil
Organization: POPS Facility Managment
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 15:07:35 GMT
Nntp-Posting-Host-[nntpd-10336]: intruder.navo.navy.mil


A Quote from Alt.Athesim Frequently Asked Questions:

     "Most atheists put truth first.  If searching for truth causes you to
      become uncomfortable, that's too bad."


I assume that this implies that they evaluate objectively both sides
of a topic. If this be the case, then if they are correct, then there
must be a sound, reasonable explanation as to who Jesus Christ was.

If there are any other theories the atheist community can offer, please
post them! 

JESUS WAS A MYTH-
   Question: The bible, as a history book, is astonishingly correct when
	     used to understand archeological remains and ancient writings.
	     All we have to validate the existance of any person who has
	     died and all those who knew him personally have died is
	     a written record of his life and times or pictures. If
	     the bible is not a reliable account then how do we know
	     that long dead people, for example, Alexander the Great 
	     really lived and was not just a made up myth? 

Assuming Jesus is not a myth, that he really lived:

BIBLE ACCOUNT IS INCORRECT:
   Question: If the account is incorrect, then many people have participated
	     in the writing of a story that certainly would have required
             very wicked hearts to produce. This devious plan would have
             had to perpetrate a course of at least 8 centuries and I
             suggest this because of the book of Isaiah where the
             prophesies of Christ's birth circumstances, purpose and
             so forth are so clearly described. All told, around 250
             detailed prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus. For this
             to be true, this is a scam of enormous proportions and
             where is the explanation of how such a scam could be
             carried out?

BIBLE ACCOUNT IS CORRECT:
   Question: Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh. The creator of the
             universe became man as was planned before the creation.
             The scripture states that man was created in the image
             of God and that knowledge of good and evil is something
             only God can handle, man would sin and God knew it. He
             planned a way to help man gain this knowledge and yet
             be brought back to a state where there is no sin and
             a relationship with God is restored. Jesus claimed that
             his death would insure that justice be done in that
             payment for sin is made. God required judgement on sin
             because without judgement, there can be no justice.
             Was Jesus really the promised Messiah?

JESUS LIED:
   Question: Then he lied? This is pretty warped. He would have to be
             mental to make up such a thing. And the deception would`
             have to include the disciples and his family. What about
             the miracles? Remember, this is assuming the account is
             correct. If position is that the miracles were made up,
             then see BIBLE ACCOUNT IS INCORRECT.

JESUS HONESTLY THOUGHT HE WAS THE SON OF GOD BUT HE WASN'T:
   Question: This is the viewpoint of those who were responsible for
             crucifying him. Jesus was accused of performing miracles
             by the power of the devil. You know Jesus's answer, a
             house divided can not stand. Doesn't the perfect logic
             that Jesus used to answer the accusing questions leave
             those of us who think we are so logical, intelligent and
             so very educated, just a little uneasy??

THE BIBLE IS CORRECT AND JESUS IS THE MESSIAH:
   Question: Then there really is a heaven and a hell and judgement of
             sin will place us in one or the other one of these days.
             How could anyone believe this and not turn to God? I suspect
             it is because deep down inside, they really don't believe that
             this is truth therefore, they must have some reasonable 
             explanation..??? (Select other explanation now)

AND NOW- THE FINAL POSITION THAT NO INTELLIGENT, UNBIASED, TRUTH SEEKING
COMMITTED ATHEIST WOULD NEVER TAKE (or would they)

I don't care if Jesus did or did not exist. I don't care if the bible
is true or not. I don't want to believe in God and I don't have to if
I don't want to so you can take your self-righteous, ignorant arguments
elsewhere. Gee, you christians are all alike (and if you misspell anything,
you are son of quayle) and why don't you study up on religious wars and
then tell me where God is. This world would be a whole lot better if
there weren't these bible thumping christians around. You believe a
book that says in the last days, God will remove the christians before
some kind of so called tribulation period. I'm sick of you trying to
save my soul...LEAVE ME ALONE!


-v.goff

Disclaimer: My opinions are my own.