Puzzle for Christians

Got an interesting present recently - a religious 2 DVD set by a well known evangelist. I knew he was an evangelist - he had the classic signs of completing Evangelism 101 at an approved Evangelism College.

I estimated there was about 4 hours viewing time but instead of looking at every minute, I flicked through it and then did something more interesting.
I sat on the front veranda with a port and a cup of coffee and watched the grass grow.

This DVD set gave a detailed description of the historical, archaeological, written and oral traditions to prove that Jesus Christ existed.

It always amazes me that Christians are hell bent on proving that Jesus Christ lived and that he was an actual person. They will bend over backwards to "prove" this. Misquoting, quoting out of context. You name it.

I've got news for Christians. A very large number non-christians believe he did exist!
So why keep proving something we already know?

Bart, Lisa. I'm going to teach you something very important.
The world is NOT flat.

I know the world isn't flat. I've known that since .....

Don't interrupt me when I'm talking,
I'm your father.

Dad, everybody knows the world isn't flat.
It's an oblate spheroid.

Lisa, show some respect. I intend to prove to you the world isn't flat. Even if it takes all night.

Judaism.
Many Jewish people do not have a dispute with an historical Jesus character, but religiously he is no more relevant to Judaism than Buddha is to Christianity.
As a general comment, many - even most Jews have no problem accepting or believing that there was a Jewish religious person, probably a rabbi, by the name of Jesus. Also, he had a zealot following as many have had before and since.

Islam.
In the Quran Jesus is mentioned at least twenty five times.
He is also addressed with respect as: Ibn Maryam, meaning "The son of Mary"; and as the Maseeh (in Hebrew it is the Messiah), which is translated as "Christ".
He is also known as Abdullah, "The servant of Allah"; and as Rasul u Allah, the messenger of Allah.

Buddhism.
Buddhists believe the historical Jesus. The sayings of Jesus and Buddha show a large number of similarities. And Buddha lived 5 centuries earlier!

So, major religions believe in the historical Jesus. Then why isn't everybody a Christian?

The reasons are obvious.

Firstly, what Jesus taught is vastly different from many of the current practices of Christian religions.

Mahatma Gandhi summed up Christianity rather well.
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

Voltaire was a tad more unkind. He agreed that Jesus existed and was a teacher but declared Christianity (both Catholic and Protestant) was cruel and inhumane and said. "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd, and bloody religion that has ever infected the world."

Secondly, many magical stories have been added to the historical Jesus in order to transform a "teacher" into a "God". (virgin birth, resurrection, miracles, etc..)

Albert Einstein not only believed Jesus existed, he was complimentary about his sayings. He said. "No man can deny the fact that Jesus existed, nor that his sayings are beautiful. Even if some them have been said before, no one has expressed them so divinely as he."

However Einstein dismissed Judaism, Christianity and Islam when he said.
"For me the Jewish religion like all others is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions."

Einstein also said. "The word god is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this."

For some quotes about Christianity by American Presidents and others, click here.

Just for interest check out (Wiki/Google) how many non christian religions have virgin births, miracles and resurrections. It makes interesting reading.
(Buddhism, Hinduism, Greek and Norse mythology, Islam, Mithraism, Babylonian, etc..)