Does it really matter…

[AnimatedDirt]

If it does away with Jesus and his claims, you're absolutely correct that it says nothing about the existence or non-existence of God.  This actually comes close to answering the question, but not totally.  Would you still consider yourself  to be a Christian under these circumstances?  Not what other people would consider you to be, not what others think, but what would you consider yourself to be as a result?  Would it radically alter your way of thinking about the New Testament, or how you've interpreted the ministry of Jesus? How about your moral code?  Or would you simply shrug, say "I was mistaken about the specifics, but I still believe in God, though not in his son"?

A "Christ"ian?  Didn't I say we'd (or *you) would have to come up with another name?  Which part of, 'I don't base my faith on Men's evidence' does not sit well with you?  

[AnimatedDirt]

Furthermore, that Atheism exists to the extent it does (making fun of Christians)

Don't take it too personally - I, for one, mock everybody who believes the extraordinary without credible evidence to support it.

I rest my case.

[statichaos]

If it does away with Jesus and his claims, you're absolutely correct that it says nothing about the existence or non-existence of God.  This actually comes close to answering the question, but not totally.  Would you still consider yourself  to be a Christian under these circumstances?  Not what other people would consider you to be, not what others think, but what would you consider yourself to be as a result?  Would it radically alter your way of thinking about the New Testament, or how you've interpreted the ministry of Jesus? How about your moral code?  Or would you simply shrug, say "I was mistaken about the specifics, but I still believe in God, though not in his son"?

A "Christ"ian?  Didn't I say we'd (or *you) would have to come up with another name?  Which part of, 'I don't base my faith on Men's evidence' does not sit well with you?  

Oh, it's fine.  So you wouldn't call yourself a Christian, is what I'm getting from that.

Don't get me wrong:  I'm a theist.  I wholeheartedly believe in God due to personal experience.  I appreciate much of the ministry of Jesus as portrayed in the synoptic gospels, though I'm skeptical regarding his divinity.  I even believe that there's enough smoke out there to indicate that the fire of his existence occurred at some time, though I have no doubt in my mind that his words and teachings were modified over time due to the telephone game of oral tradition, and the various political and cultural issues involved when what we know of as the Bible was compiled.  

[Asmodean]

Furthermore, that Atheism exists to the extent it does (making fun of Christians)

Don't take it too personally - I, for one, mock everybody who believes the extraordinary without credible evidence to support it.

I rest my case.

Yes, yes... You don't buy the "men's evidence". (Defined as "evidence, developed by humans. Correct me if the definition is wrong or incomplete")

The thing is though, that's the only kind available in the known universe. Until we get in touch with a sufficiently advanced alien race (Herein, supernatural beings from hypothetical alternate dimensions/universes/planes of existene) or discover other highly intelligent life forms capable of complex communication with us on this planet, there is no evidence aside from "men's evidence"

[AnimatedDirt]

Furthermore, that Atheism exists to the extent it does (making fun of Christians)

Don't take it too personally - I, for one, mock everybody who believes the extraordinary without credible evidence to support it.

I rest my case.

Yes, yes... You don't buy the "men's evidence". (Defined as "evidence, developed by humans. Correct me if the definition is wrong or incomplete")

The thing is though, that's the only kind available in the known universe. Until we get in touch with a sufficiently advanced alien race (Herein, supernatural beings from hypothetical alternate dimensions/universes/planes of existene) or discover other highly intelligent life forms capable of complex communication with us on this planet, there is no evidence aside from "men's evidence"

Thanks for further establishing my point exactly.  It only shows that I did answer the question at the very beginning...plainly.

[Stevil]

Wow, such a long convoluted way to get to a simple answer.

As I understand it,
You do not accept human evidence with regards to gods or offspring of gods, therefore you have faith in an unverifiable god theory.

If somehow you were convinced that Jesus was not god's offspring then you would still believe in god but could not consider yourself to be a Christian hence you would be a deist or other theistic label.

[Tank]

Furthermore, that Atheism exists to the extent it does (making fun of Christians)

Don't take it too personally - I, for one, mock everybody who believes the extraordinary without credible evidence to support it.

I rest my case.

Yes, yes... You don't buy the "men's evidence". (Defined as "evidence, developed by humans. Correct me if the definition is wrong or incomplete")

The thing is though, that's the only kind available in the known universe. Until we get in touch with a sufficiently advanced alien race (Herein, supernatural beings from hypothetical alternate dimensions/universes/planes of existene) or discover other highly intelligent life forms capable of complex communication with us on this planet, there is no evidence aside from "men's evidence"

Asmo. It's hardly fair to ask AD questions after I posted this http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=9354.msg155434#msg155434
I assume you haven't got that far through the thread yet.

[AnimatedDirt]

Furthermore, that Atheism exists to the extent it does (making fun of Christians)

Don't take it too personally - I, for one, mock everybody who believes the extraordinary without credible evidence to support it.

I rest my case.

Yes, yes... You don't buy the "men's evidence". (Defined as "evidence, developed by humans. Correct me if the definition is wrong or incomplete")

The thing is though, that's the only kind available in the known universe. Until we get in touch with a sufficiently advanced alien race (Herein, supernatural beings from hypothetical alternate dimensions/universes/planes of existene) or discover other highly intelligent life forms capable of complex communication with us on this planet, there is no evidence aside from "men's evidence"

Asmo. It's hardly fair to ask AD questions after I posted this http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=9354.msg155434#msg155434
I assume you haven't got that far through the thread yet.

I didn't see that at all...

[Tank]

Furthermore, that Atheism exists to the extent it does (making fun of Christians)

Don't take it too personally - I, for one, mock everybody who believes the extraordinary without credible evidence to support it.

I rest my case.

Yes, yes... You don't buy the "men's evidence". (Defined as "evidence, developed by humans. Correct me if the definition is wrong or incomplete")

The thing is though, that's the only kind available in the known universe. Until we get in touch with a sufficiently advanced alien race (Herein, supernatural beings from hypothetical alternate dimensions/universes/planes of existene) or discover other highly intelligent life forms capable of complex communication with us on this planet, there is no evidence aside from "men's evidence"

Asmo. It's hardly fair to ask AD questions after I posted this http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=9354.msg155434#msg155434
I assume you haven't got that far through the thread yet.

I didn't see that at all...

Even after I have sent you a PM about it!

[Asmodean]

I assume you haven't got that far through the thread yet.

Sorry... Baiters gonna bait.  

Back to the other threads, I go.

[AnimatedDirt]

Even after I have sent you a PM about it!

Sorry Tank, I don't normally take notice of my inbox at every post.  I'll try and be more aware of this in the future.

[AnimatedDirt]

Ecurb and AD this is a question to you. As Christians if information came out tomorrow (with considerable empirical evidence supporting the fact that neither one of you could deny) that no Jesus figure existed and there wasn't any other person claiming to be the son of god during that time would that be the end of Christianity for you?

If you mean as a religious affiliation/name, yes.  If you mean as my beliefs on the whole, no.
However if pressed for a definitive answer, no.

[statichaos]

Ecurb and AD this is a question to you. As Christians if information came out tomorrow (with considerable empirical evidence supporting the fact that neither one of you could deny) that no Jesus figure existed and there wasn't any other person claiming to be the son of god during that time would that be the end of Christianity for you?

If you mean as a religious affiliation/name, yes.  If you mean as my beliefs on the whole, no.
However if pressed for a definitive answer, no.

I'd consider that to be a simple, straightforward, and reasonably definitive answer.

[Will]

Friendly reminder: If you disagree with a moderator action on HAF, PM another moderator/admin, such as myself, and we'd be more than happy to offer the most objective arbitration we can muster to come to a fair and just resolution/compromise. Please don't simply report the moderator for trolling, though, even if you believe it to be the case. It's not that HAF isn't a community of equals, we are, but issues with moderators can be more problematic than issues with non-moderators because we've got the power to do things like ban and delete posts, making moderator problems potentially more dangerous.

Back to our regularly scheduled discussion...

[AnimatedDirt]

Ecurb and AD this is a question to you. As Christians if information came out tomorrow (with considerable empirical evidence supporting the fact that neither one of you could deny) that no Jesus figure existed and there wasn't any other person claiming to be the son of god during that time would that be the end of Christianity for you?

If you mean as a religious affiliation/name, yes.  If you mean as my beliefs on the whole, no.
However if pressed for a definitive answer, no.

I'd consider that to be a simple, straightforward, and reasonably definitive answer.

The answer seems to have stifled the discussion...