Atheists: Why do you think Jesus was/is so popular?

Question

Do you think he was better than Houdini or do you think it was more like a Santa thing or something else perhaps?

Answer 1

1. Constantine's Edict of Milan granted tolerance to christians in Rome.

2. Emperor Justinian declared christianity the must-have religion in the Eastern Roman Empire, closing down schools of philosophy, art, and science. In two generations, people were back to being idiots.

3. By the time the Dark Ages came to an end, the only literate people were religious heads. The Dark Ages is the only time in history that the church had as much control as it did. Notice it's the Dark Ages, not the "Super intelligent, really enlightened and progress-making Ages".

4. People either bought the dogma or were killed.

5. Thus, the whole "don't think too hard about it" mantra that christians have. It stuck around.



In the end, Jesus' cult won the messianic lottery of all the different cults that existed at the time.

Answer 2

The character of Jesus sort of rolls Houdini and Santa into one package. Walks on water, feeds five hundred with a couple of fish, heals the sick... Pretty cool tricks. Anyone who could do all that would be a hit at any time.

Answer 3

Read your history. Early Christians were persecuted by the Romans until the 3rd century when Emperor Constantine converted. From then on anyone not Christian was persecuted.

The promise of an eternal life made the peasants, particularly poor ones believe.



Recently the wave of snake oil salemens aka preachers in America ready for a quick buck bought TV and megachurches. It's all about money.

Answer 4

Well, assuming he existed, just a little tidbit for you... He was NOT very popular while he was alive, which was very obvious to see when you read about all the jews who came to make sure he would be killed. Kind of says something when he was a jew also. He had a small group of followers and that was it.

He was probably perceived as a huge threat by the higher up jewish religious men. He was probably also considered a threat by the romans. And the jews couldn't stand him because he was hanging out with prostitutes & doing things that jews considered wrong.

But, I do not believe he existed since there is no evidence of it.

Answer 5

Fairy tales are always popular!



There is not one single mention of Jesus in the entire Roman record - that is right - not one! At the same time as he was supposed to have been around there were a number of Jews claiming to be the messiah - all of whom are well recorded!



There is not a single contemporary record from any source and even the bible mentions of him like all other references were not written until many years after his supposed death!



He was supposed to have been a huge problem to the Romans and produced wonderful miracles but still not one contemporary record?



Even the bible mentions of him like all other references were not written until many years after his supposed death!



Pilate is recorded in the Roman record as a somewhat lack luster man but no mention of a Jesus, a trial or crucifixion that would surely have been used to make him look brighter!



At best he was an amalgam of those others but almost certainly never existed!

Answer 6

Like Santa, Jesus has a naughty and nice list. Except that Jesus' "gifts" are more extreme and he requires obedience & belief in him. He offers the "nice" mindless believing sheep Heaven, and offers everyone else Hell.

Answer 7

Constantine

Answer 8

The 'jesus' story appeals to basic selfishness.

Most people fear death.

The 'jesus' story promises life eternal if one does nothing other than believe.

It's a remarkably effective scam.

Answer 9

Everyone loves mythical stories, especially one with a gory ending.

Answer 10

I dont think he existed so I can't answer your question. I think he's about as real as robin hood.

Answer 11

Because his followers had armies that would torture you to death, rape your priestess, poison your sacred wells and burn you sacred groves if you did not convert.

Answer 12

Mass programming on the basis of fear - believe in him or burn.