Like Alice, I’d probably think I was going crazy if someone proved their divinity to me. I don’t actively disbelieve (I’m more apathetic than atheistic), but it just doesn’t jibe at all with my worldview, and I wouldn’t accept any of Der Trihs’ explanations either, because they’re just as ludicrous.
Assuming he returns as a Jew, I would have to have a really intensive background in Jewish religion, thought, traditions, etc., etc. I don’t have that background, so I probably could not be convinced.
Well, he could start by turning wheat into marijuana, sugar into cocaine, and vitamin pills into amphetamines. Then he could go for a swim on the land, bake the most delicious cake in the world, and score more goals than Wayne Gretsky.
Not only would that prove that he was the Messiah, but it’d also be way cool.
Maybe if he told me everything there was to know about my past and present, including some of my most private thoughts or things I haven’t shared with anyone.
I’d still be a little skeptical, like maybe I was drugged and questioned, but part of me would most likely start believing as he told me more and more.
What are the defining objective characteristics of the Messiah anyway?
According to the Wikipedia, definitive arbiter of theology in our time, the Messiah:
So there you go. To prove himself, the Messiah would have to:
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be King of Israel,
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persuade all people of Hebrew descent to get along with each other, and
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be coated with oil.
I personally would be fairly impressed by any candidate who managed Step 2.
lay hands on and heal my daughter would probably do the trick.
- Walk across the water in this fountain.
- Now turn that water to wine. Or Cherry Coke.
- Now fix my eyesight and heal any afflictions I have, whether I know about them or not.
Ok, Yup, you’re the Messiah. King of Kings.
And I’m your man.
Why would I need another Messiah? Isn’t one enough?
It’s a pretty easy question to answer, and it doesn’t require any miracles. All he has to do is fulfill the requirements as laid out by Maimonides:
Yeah, fix up all my afflictions without modern medicine, and I will worship whoever. Until then, I will continue to be a godless heathen.
OK, if he (or she) can bring lasting peace in the Middle East, I will take that as a sign of divinity, too. Because I don’t think that anything short of divine intervention will make that happen.
Healing afflictions, working miracles, etc. does not have anything to do with being the Messiah. No matter how many magic tricks you do, the only thing that makes you the Messiah is the restoring the Kingdom of Israel, rebuilding the Temple, bringing world peace, etc. Messiahship is defined by a specific set of accomplishments, not by anything else – not even personal divinity.
Of course not. If we have only an old, obsolete Messiah while other countries acquire newer, more modern Messiahs, it’ll be a disaster. We can’t permit the formation of a Messiah gap.
I’m real curious about why the OP chose the particular term “messiah”. I tend to think of a messiah as a charismatic leader/prophet, and not necessarily an all-powerful god.
Did the OP intend any such distinction, or should the term be considered synonymous with “god”?
To borrow from Captain Picard, he must convince me.
Shouldn’t be too hard for a messiah to do.
I can’t think of any way a messiah could convince me, since there’s no miracle a messiah can perform than a sufficiently powerful imposter couldn’t. Pretty sure hypothetical demons or devils or whatever could walk on water and turn water to wine and make dead people appear to be alive again.
So, the Messiah’s really good in bed? 
World peace.
What if you were taking a dump when that happened? Would you accept a video of it on You Tube?
Nothing. I believe everyone should be their own messiah.
the “messiah” is coming. he’ll be here jan. 20th. except “that one” will be sworn in on the quaran.:eek: