Ancient Tablet suggests that the resurrection story was not unique to Jesus

[Pawn Power]

Ancient Tablet Ignites Debate on Messiah and Resurrection


JERUSALEM — A three-foot-tall tablet with 87 lines of Hebrew that scholars believe dates from the decades just before the birth of Jesus is causing a quiet stir in biblical and archaeological circles, especially because it may speak of a messiah who will rise from the dead after three days.

If such a messianic description really is there, it will contribute to a developing re-evaluation of both popular and scholarly views of Jesus, since it suggests that the story of his death and resurrection was not unique but part of a recognized Jewish tradition at the time.

My emphasis.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/world/middleeast/06stone.html?ex=1216008000&en=e21dab3a7066ec25&ei=5070&emc=eta1

[RedAnarchist]

Aren't there loads of stories of people coming back from the dead in those days, like the Greek guy who had his liver pecked out by a bird every day?

[Red October]

All the religions are cribbing from each other, it's nothing new.

[Dean]

All the religions are cribbing from each other, it's nothing new.

For the Christian and Jewish traditions, it is. First off, it removes the prophetic character of Jesus' speculation that he will suffer and, as well the implied meaning. Because Gabriel is supposed to have described it, his suffering becomes a heavenly, rather than anthropogenic compulsion.

[KrazyRabidSheep]

Assuming that it was true, that would hurt the "Jesus was the messiah" argument.
If others could do it, then what's the big deal when Jesus did it?


Some Christians will find it shocking — a challenge to the uniqueness of their theologyThis^^

Personally, however, I think the resurrection was probably totally fabricated bullcrap or misunderstood (such as a coma.) It would be plausible that several cases of comatose persons regaining consciousness, not completely understood at the time, were credited with resurrection.

[welshboy]

There was a guy who lived at the beginning of the first century CE who caused the lame to walk, healed the sick, was crucified, rose from the dead and appeared to his followers three days later before ascending to heaven to wait for the day he will return to earth as the saviour of mankind, well the Jews anyway. His name was Apolonius if I remember right.

[Hyacinth]

Quite interesting, and not altogether surprising, though, in the grand scheme of things of fighting religion it is largely irrelevant: sceptics already don’t accept any nonsense such as the resurrection, and believers will ignore and/or rationalize this piece of evidence as they have done with every other. There is a quote, I cannot recall from who at the moment: “You cannot reason someone out of a belief that they didn’t reason themselves into.”

[Red_or_Dead]

Aren't there loads of stories of people coming back from the dead in those days, like the Greek guy who had his liver pecked out by a bird every day?

Yeah, that was Prometheus, I think.

Anyway, there are modern stories about it as well... Like the Dawn of the Living Dead.


Quite interesting, and not altogether surprising, though, in the grand scheme of things of fighting religion it is largely irrelevant: sceptics already don’t accept any nonsense such as the resurrection, and believers will ignore and/or rationalize this piece of evidence as they have done with every other. There is a quote, I cannot recall from who at the moment: “You cannot reason someone out of a belief that they didn’t reason themselves into.”

True. I find it very interesting how believers automaticaly discard such things, but on the other hand embrace any evidence that maybe could imply that at least some of the Bible is correct, no matter how small or irrelevant that evidence is. I remember a guy on the internet who found an article about some archeologists who found a chariot wheel in the Red Sea, claiming that this is the ultimate proof of the whole Moses-Pharaoh affair.

[534634634265]

I remember a guy on the internet who found an article about some archeologists who found a chariot wheel in the Red Sea, claiming that this is the ultimate proof of the whole Moses-Pharaoh affair.
i mean, isn't that OBVIOUSLY proof?:D
who else would be carting chariots about the red sea?
its not like there were a variety of warrior peoples waging constant battle over that area due to its rich resources and critical geographical location...wait.

[Publius]

Theists can just as easily claim this is evidence that Christ was fulfilling the prophecies of Judaism, as he claimed to be doing.

This finding does nothing to help or hurt either side.

Christianity is supposed to be the religion that is based on the fulfillment of the Jewish prophecies.

That's what Jesus WAS, supposedly. The messiah.

[Red_or_Dead]

its not like there were a variety of warrior peoples waging constant battle over that area due to its rich resources and critical geographical location...wait.

Yeah, next theyll be finding AK-47s in Baghdad. Weird.


Theists can just as easily claim this is evidence that Christ was fulfilling the prophecies of Judaism, as he claimed to be doing.


Yeah, I guess so. Thats what believing in fairy tales does to people.

[534634634265]

Yeah, next theyll be finding AK-47s in Baghdad. Weird.


Yeah, I guess so. Thats what believing in fairy tales does to people.
no, he raises he valid point Red.
this stone doesn't prove or disprove either side of the debate. it simply throws more gas on this already raging fire. just what I need, more gas.:laugh:

[Kami]

Yawn. Ressurection story was far from unique long before this. Mithras is number one in the "That sounds familiar" stories.

[Red_or_Dead]

no, he raises he valid point Red.

Ok, Im not sure what do you mean here. I mean, I dont know which point you mean.


this stone doesn't prove or disprove either side of the debate. it simply throws more gas on this already raging fire. just what I need, more gas.:laugh:

That I agree on. It doesnt prove shit.

[534634634265]

Ok, Im not sure what do you mean here. I mean, I dont know which point you mean.

see your other quoted text.



That I agree on. It doesnt prove shit.

[Red_or_Dead]

see your other quoted text.


Ah, ok. In that case, I guess we agree.:)

[Charliesoo]

Aren't there loads of stories of people coming back from the dead in those days, like the Greek guy who had his liver pecked out by a bird every day?

LOL, Prometheus.

That was his "punishment" for giving mankind fire in Greek mythology. For those that believe in a single god or many gods - why do they always have to be so malevolent? That's what I don't understand. They worship nothing but sadists.