# My Amazing Encounters with Jesus Christ **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 2, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774 "2016-03-02T22:47:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 28
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/541 "2016-03-11T14:13:22Z")
a short musical interlude - the Athiest’s Hymnal [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wogta8alHiU) ---
**Author:** ![ScottRP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ScottRP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScottRP)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/542 "2016-03-11T14:26:32Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > He created sin. He should punish himself. He did not create sin. A man or woman chooses to sin of their own free will. ---
**Author:** ![ScottRP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ScottRP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScottRP)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/543 "2016-03-11T14:28:55Z")
> [@simster](#): > > You keep avoiding the question. > > IF we are ‘sinners’ then it is because GOD created us thusly. And then he keeps getting pissed off that we ‘sin’. (so much so that he destroyed the world once and will do it again, ‘soon’) > > If there is a hell for us to be punished in - then GOD created it, and if GOD created it, he must intend for people to be punished there. (Nothing GoD does is without purpose, right?). > > If there is suffering - eternal or otherwise - it is because GOD created it, in order tp prove how GOOD he is and how GOOD he can be to us when he relieves the suffering that HE created. > > So, GOD, created us as sinners, punishes us for what he created us todo, then sacrifices his son to give us a way out — but only if we ‘atone’ for sins we were created to do. > > Seems your god is a bit of a sadist, and a jackass. > > You should reconsider if this is the kind of god that you want to worship, cause, damn - I wouldn’t trust him not to change the rules again. If you do not chose God, you have chosen Satan by default. ---
**Author:** ![ScottRP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ScottRP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScottRP)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/544 "2016-03-11T14:35:39Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Okay, fine. Why did God have to do the big drama act with the self-sacrifice, when he could simply have freed mankind from sin with a thought and a wish? Was he compelled to sacrifice himself? Then he isn’t all-powerful. Couldn’t he manage it in a less messy way? Not all-powerful. > > (Also, why does Jesus never tell anyone anything useful when he speaks to them personally? Platitudes, but no hard facts. Jesus never tells us where missing children can be found, for instance, or how to cure cancer.) The sins of this world are very real and needed a very real sacrifice. More people get feed, clothed and housed in the world on account of Jesus’s life than probably any single person to ever live. ---
**Author:** ![ScottRP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ScottRP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScottRP)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/545 "2016-03-11T14:36:59Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > There is no such website as tsn.au. I heard there is, but it is in another language… ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/546 "2016-03-11T14:37:44Z")
ScottRP, I realize that you are far too invested in your personal belief system, which is some combination of Christianity, New Age fantasy and self-delusion; _You believe what you believe because you believe it_ - despite evidence and reasoned argument to the contrary. But someone posted something insightful earlier. You really ought to give it some thoughtful consideration: > [@Gyrate](#): > > I am genuinely starting to [worry](http://arno.uvt.nl/show.cgi?fid=114836) about the OP. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/547 "2016-03-11T14:54:47Z")
> [@ScottRP](#): > > He did not create sin. A man or woman chooses to sin of their own free will. Thought GOD created everything - if so, he created SIN, and therefore he created man and woman with the capacity to sin. > [@ScottRP](#): > > If you do not chose God, you have chosen Satan by default. well, thats bullshit - I choose pikachu. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/548 "2016-03-11T14:57:00Z")
> [@ScottRP](#): > > The sins of this world are very real and needed a very real sacrifice. More people get feed, clothed and housed in the world on account of Jesus’s life than probably any single person to ever live. ‘sin’ is in the eye of the behoder - what you consider a ‘sin’ may not be considered a ‘sin’ by other believers, etc. You wouldn;'t happen to have a cite for that other bullshit would you? ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/549 "2016-03-11T15:09:15Z")
> [@ScottRP](#): > > It is said that this apparition miraculously appeared on fabric December 12, 1531. Notice the oblong orbital figure surrounding Mother Mary and the angel. > > [Our Lady of Guadalupe](http://i.imgur.com/dMG4EnG.jpg) > > The things of God are living. > > **“NASA has called the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe living”** [Not exactly true.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Guadalupe) NASA didn’t make any statement like that. Phillip Callahan made an infrared study in 1979, and he’s just a NASA consultant, not the entire enterprise. Your source kind of embellished his report - that is to say, they completely made it up. In truth, even though the art is surprisingly well-preserved, there’s nothing about body temperature or heartbeat in the report. > [@](#): > > in 1979 Philip Callahan, (biophysicist, USDA entomologist, NASA consultant) specializing in infrared imaging, was allowed direct access to visually inspect, and photograph, the image. He took numerous infrared photographs of the front of the tilma. Taking notes that were later published, his assistant noted that the original art work was neither cracked nor flaked, while later additions (gold leaf, silver plating the moon) showed serious signs of wear, if not complete deterioration. Callahan could not explain the excellent state of preservation of the un-retouched areas of the image on the tilma, particularly the upper two-thirds of the image. His findings, with photographs, were published in 1981. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/550 "2016-03-11T15:13:47Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > [Not exactly true.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Guadalupe) > > NASA didn’t make any statement like that. Phillip Callahan made an infrared study in 1979, and he’s just a NASA consultant, not the entire enterprise. Your source kind of embellished his report - that is to say, they completely made it up. In truth, even though the art is surprisingly well-preserved, there’s nothing about body temperature or heartbeat in the report. **ScottRP** , could you directly respond to this correction to your erroneous post, please? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/551 "2016-03-11T15:27:12Z")
> [@ScottRP](#): > > What exactly was it that you did or say? > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > “I curse the name of the vile shadow known as Yahweh, I curse his concubine Mary the Whore, I curse her vain bastard son Jesus, and I curse the impotent and vulgar Holy Spirit, which has no power in this world or the next.” And while you are at it, could you comment on whether or not I am damned for all time? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/552 "2016-03-11T19:31:22Z")
> [@ScottRP](#): > > I heard there is, but it is in another language… So it is your belief that such a website exists, despite evidence to the contrary? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/553 "2016-03-11T19:56:36Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > So it is your belief that such a website exists, despite evidence to the contrary? You need some special stones to read it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/554 "2016-03-11T19:59:44Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > You need some special stones to read it. Hey! No need to get personal. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/555 "2016-03-11T21:17:19Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > You need some special stones to read it. More likely , you need to be a special kind of stoned to read it. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/556 "2016-03-11T22:14:59Z")
It was a burning bush that spoke to Moses. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/557 "2016-03-11T22:18:21Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > It was a burning bush that spoke to Moses. They’ve got a cream for that now. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/558 "2016-03-12T00:06:19Z")
A question. Since your God made everything in the universe it follows that he created Evil. Yet you speak of an age-old battle between Good and Evil. Is God then battling against himself? Far be it from me to fathom the mind of this all-powerful deity but it does seem as if he has a severe personality disorder. It would be a rather unsettling thought to imagine we were in a universe ruled by a mad god were it not for the comforting realization that it’s all superstitious nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/559 "2016-03-12T00:20:06Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > It was a burning bush that spoke to Moses. And a burning Branch spoke to Koresh. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/560 "2016-03-12T02:11:37Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > And a burning Branch spoke to Koresh. Does that have the same sexual connotation, though? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774.md?page=29)