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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]N.T. Wright argues that the early Christian movement could *only* have emerged if Jesus actually rose from the dead. He claims that the sudden belief in a bodily resurrection, the transformation of the disciples, and the rapid spread of the faith can’t be explained any other way. This is the basis of the evidence presented by some of the faithful posters.

Let's do a thought exercise and compare with Jediism.

We know 100% it is based entirely on a fictional story, and yet it has inspired thousands of people around the world. There are Jedi temples, codes of ethics, spiritual practices, and people who identify as Jedi as their religion.

If Jediism can become a religious movement with followers and even rituals—all without anything “historical” behind it—then why couldn’t the same have happened in the first century? Or, any other century for any other religion?

Wright insists that people wouldn't invent a resurrection story and stake their lives on it. But people today are building real belief systems around a myth they *know* is fiction.

Across history, religions have taken root and spread through factors like charismatic storytelling, community-building, shared rituals, and cultural adaptability. The rise of Christianity does not require a literal resurrection—just a compelling story that people believe in and are willing to build a community around.

It's made up - just like Jediism. 
[/quote]

Some people just want to believe.  So they do.  And some of  them look for good reasons to believe.  I think they'd be better off just believing, instead of trying to convince people how right they are.[/quote]

This should also apply to the non-believers as well...they would be better off just "not believing", instead of trying to convince believers how wrong they are.[/quote]

When believers leave non-believers alone and actually respect separation of church and state, then maybe. Until then, I will preach against the harms of the brainwashed masses. [/quote]

Separation of church and state is your motivation for trying to convince believers that there is no God?[/quote]

As PP wrote, "(w)hen believers leave non-believers alone"...  I will list out for you all the ways that the faithful keep interfering = abortion and reproductive rights, same sex marriage and LGBTQ+ rights, public education (evolution vs creationism, school prayer, religious displays, etc), healthcare policy including access to contraceptives and end-of-life decisions, Blue Laws, etc.[/quote]

Then argue those things.  Debating the existence of a God with a believer is a separate issue.[/quote]

The underlying problem is that they believe in the first place. If you had people making public policy decisions that affect your life based on belief in Santa, the Force, or unicorns, how would you react? [/quote]

Convincing someone that there is no God does not guarantee that he/she will change his/her mind on a public policy issue.  There are atheists who are pro life.  [/quote]

Yes, that is true. There are no guarantees. However, it is a fundamentally different debate. Next time there is a bill in a statehouse or in Congress, watch the debate. 99% (my view, not hard data) of the time, its believers using their beliefs to justify their positions. [/quote]

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