One of the largest and most influential religious belief systems is based on the short life of a Jewish man named Jesus, a messianic figure said to have lived some two thousand years ago in Roman Palestine. People of the Christian religion believe that he is the anointed Christ, sent by the Jewish God, to be a human sacrifice to the same God who sent him.
Jesus’ suicide mission (John 10:17-18) is thought to have erased Adam’s "original sin", committed by disobeying God at the beginning of time which fundamentalist believers say started just about six thousand years ago. The Adam and Eve story of the “fall from grace” is told in Genesis, the first book of the Bible. Religious traditions say the spiritual blot of the first created man, Adam, casts a shadow of sin over all humanity, preventing each person from communing with God. But through the shedding of Jesus’ sinless blood, modern people have been reconciled with God and could now approach Him to seek forgiveness for their personal sins. Such faith guarantees believers a place of eternal bliss after death; a place in heaven. Alternatively, being skeptical of the Jesus story is assurance of an eternity in pain and torment in a fiery hell.
There are billions of people of other religious faiths who do not believe themselves tarnished by an "original sin" and still others who see the man Jesus as a prophet of God, rather than the Son of God or God Himself in human form. There are even more who say a story such as Jesus’ is simply a traditional Jewish recasting of early astro-theological beliefs.
Outside of the supernatural and religious arena, scientific researchers have provided evidence showing that humans evolved over millions of years from apelike creatures.
This means there was no physically instantaneous creation of Adam and his female companion, Eve; no Godly ban against eating a certain fruit and therefore no original sin committed when the first couple, on the advice of a talking snake, ate the fruit. If there were no original sin then mankind would not need a redeemer, or a Christ, to reconcile them to God.
(Click here for a documentary on how life began)
What we learn of Jesus’ life is exemplary and for the most part the religious traditions named after his title of Christ have given hope, comfort and peace to many. The varying forms of Christianity, as practiced by his followers, have many highly regarded moral principles. It should also be noted that Christianity, and other religious faiths have caused many devastating wars and civil conflicts throughout much of history. Often, such belief systems spawn fundamentalist movements and cults that corrupt human intelligence and impede social progress.
Recently, the Catholic Church has been more accepting of science. The late Pope John Paul II said, “we will all be able to profit from the fruitfulness of a trustful dialogue between the Church and science.” Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, the Vatican City's governor, says, "Science will help our faith to purify itself. . . The Church never fears the truth of science, because we are convinced that all truth comes from God." Many modern evangelical believers say religious fundamentalism is an unwelcome aspect of faith and do not reflect the true teachings of Jesus Christ.
The views expressed on this site are not unalterable truths; ongoing research could provide new information at anytime and so alter or nullify current beliefs, theories and analyses. This site is merely a collection of various notions regarding the life and times of the historical Jesus. Readers should form their own conclusions. This site is not meant to disparage any religious faith. Please see our disclaimer below.
Observers point out that certain religious sects oppose progress and rationality. Recently, fundamentalist Christians have embarked on a campaign to undermine the Theory of Evolution, insisting that their God created the universe and mankind exactly as recorded in the Book of Genesis.
In earlier centuries Christians of the Roman Catholic denomination went to great lengths to punish scientific and independent thought. The list of Catholic atrocities against “heretics” is long. In one instance, Giordano Bruno, an Italian philosopher and scientist, was executed by the Church for the crime of heresy. He was taken from his cell in the early hours of the morning to the Piazza dei Fiori in Rome and burnt alive at the stake. In a peculiar twist to the gruesome affair, the executioners were ordered to tie his tongue so that he would be unable to address those gathered.
jesus a man of God
