To ask if you think there will be a second coming?

[LuluBellaBlue]

This is inspired by the new Netflix show Messiah, about a second coming.

I really hope this doesn’t upset or offend anyone and people can share their beliefs and thoughts openly and without prejudice or judgement as I know this can be very sensitive for some people.

Following on from —binge— watching this series I did a bit of googling and it seems both Christian and Muslim regions predict this. (Not researched if any others do yet)

I’m not very well informed about different regions but the concept of this programme has really interested me, I find it fascinating that this could, maybe? actually happen!

Do you think there could be a second coming?!

(And what would it actually mean for the world? A rise in consciousness? Mass healing???)

YABU - no don't be so daft!
YANBU - yes, this could happen, why not?!

Not contemporary, nor eyewitness, merely hearsay.

poor old anal Tacitus would be very upset to hear his carefully constructed history as 'hearsay'

Again, it would be awfully strange to find contemporary (extra-biblical) sources about a bloke who thought he was the Messiah in an obscure corner of Judea, and the fact that we have near-contemporary accounts is startling, really.

OK, I'm boring myself now.

The trouble is, is that there were a number of contemporary commentators writing at that time, in that area. But not a single one of them mentions Jesus or any of the events that are supposed to have happened around him...

Obviously, many people will go into the search desperately wanting to find evidence that he existed, and therefore proclaiming every little thing they find as genuine.

I went in to find out what the incontrovertible evidence that I had been told existed was. When I found out it didn't exist, my tolerance for anything "claimed" which doesn't stand up to what I consider to be reasonable scrutiny became very low. The very fact that it has been claimed for centuries that there is absolute proof of his existence, when this is not true, means I am now less likely to consider anything inconclusive, and more, if there is genuine doubt over it's provenance (such as the TF), I will not count it as evidence, merely as evidence of forgery - and likely further forgery as well.

That's a fair enough, rational position, Cardinal. But I also went on that search, in the midst of a theology degree where all my assumed knowledge seemed to be shattered into pieces, and came to different conclusions on the evidence I delved into. Just because there is evidence of forgery in a passage doesn't mean we should discount that passage - that would surely be historically careless - what we should do, and what scholars have done, is to examine the passage in the light of Josephan writings in general and what we know about him and the contacts he would have had. And the majority of scholars agree on an authentic core in that passage - and having looked into it (in more depth than I'd really have liked ) I agree with them.

As for contemporary writers, there were actually far fewer operating in Jewish circles, more in pagan circles. And as I've said, Jesus was one of a number of Messiah claimants - as we know from the True History of the great Life of Brian (well, from other sources, but that one is the best.)

I'd agree with that!

I will admit that I haven't read through the whole of Josephus (there is quite a bit of it!), but I'm not aware of any other paragraphs that so blatantly interrupt between two others that don't make sense because of it. There may be others, but I would have to be made aware of them.

Hi @MadHairDay. Feeling less like a herd of elephants are having a Zumba class in my head thanks. Sorry to hear you are feeling ropey. Please be wary and if no better tomorrow go back to the GP. Its so easy to have it turn into pneumonia which is pretty scary.

@LastTrainEast "might then find yourself grabbing the old pitchfork and torch and yelling "Kill the Blasphemer"

that proper made me laugh. I can't do that, it may involve running which is definitely against my personal religion

Also, I propose that a Slipperwig is a noun to describe a gathering of four penguins or more on the Thames!

Look at it this way:

There really was a Colenel TE Lawrence, and he did play a role in the Arab revolt. But he wasn't half as important as Western Orientalists make out, and he looked nothing like Peter O'Toole.

Gertrude Bell was far more important, but for various reasons is not so famous.

Only if I change husbands, lol :)

@nowayhose

Nope.

I'd agree with that!

Glad we can find some common ground I find that is a general life experience when it comes to Monty Python.

SirChing - don't worry, I'm already on antibiotics. I have long term lung diseases so have all treatment at hand as I'm not a massive fan of pneumonia or hospital admissions (managed to avoid one for a year, so hoping that continues!) Glad you're feeling better.

I like the belief that there is something bigger out there that could save us and give us miracles.

I once asked someone religious why if God exists so many bad things happen in the world. Their reply was because God gave people free will to make their own choices and it’s always stuck with me since.

I once asked someone religious why if God exists so many bad things happen in the world. Their reply was because God gave people free will to make their own choices and it’s always stuck with me since.

How does "free choice" account for earthquakes? Ebola virus? Parasitic infections?

If God willing to prevent evil, but not able, then he is not omnipotent.
If he able, but not willing, then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing, then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

Epicurus - around 300BC

How does "free choice" account for earthquakes? Ebola virus? Parasitic infections?

This is my issue too. The kids with cancer logic - why, why would a God do that to a child? There is no free will involved.

I guess that's where faith comes in, I don't believe in God but if you do there's always a point you can explain things away by saying it's God's will. That's what faith is I suppose.

I'd much rather be atheist (which I am) than believe in a God who watches innocent people suffer from, and because of, things totally unconnected to free will.

I always find it almost offensive, like the "everything happens for a reason" and "what doesn't kill you..."

What's the reason? What if it does kill you? I can't tally in my mind the idea someone meant to be so loving allowing such hateful things to happen.

It’s to do with balancing unpredictable and predictability in that case, free will is more to do with human behaviour. In the only way the world as we know it is possible.

I simply don't get how people can believe in god when he does sweet f all really!

Yasskween your asking why cancer happens essentially. DNA mutations are essential for the life we see all around us. It is impossible for mutations to always be positive.

I simply don't get how people can believe in god when he does sweet f all really!

It is impossible for mutations to always be positive

So god is not omnipotent them?

@LaurieMarlow, God puts on a lab coat and his/her omnipotence apparently disappears. God is shit at science.

@stairway

your asking why cancer happens essentially. DNA mutations are essential for the life we see all around us. It is impossible for mutations to always be positive.

I understand that, that's my whole point. Mutations are necessary and sometimes positive, sometimes negative. Of course I understand that!

I was saying that if God existed then why would he allow negative side effects to happen when they are not related to free will ie a human making a decision they had control over.

God could create a perfect world of peace and love, the world isn't perfect - why would he choose it to be that way and not stop bad things happening? Why wouldn't he create humans who dont get sick? That's exactly my point.

I find the fact that 23% of people think a second coming could happen v concerning