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Original poster

If, let's say, Jesus was born in 2013 instead of then...what would happen?

42 replies

skratta · 06/04/2013 16:24

So.

Jesus becomes mildly famous in the loal area for I don't know, healing people or something, and saying e is the son of God.

Would you believe him and be a disciple?

And if you HAD been born when you believe when Jesus was alive...would you have been brave enough to a)believe in him and b)follow him?

I'm an atheist btw, born Jewish b converted, and DH is a Hindu so I dont believe in Jesus/Christiniaty but what about Christians?

OP posts:

EllieArroway · 06/04/2013 18:22

We know what would happen - everyone would ignore him and he'd be known as the local nutter.

People quite frequently show up all over the place claiming to be the son of God and/or pretending they can heal people. No one sensible ever believes them - and when their healing claims are looked into, it turns out to be total bull.

The only reason people believed back in 1st century Palestine is because it was a monumentally superstitious time - people believed in the gods and omens to a degree that it's very difficult for us to comprehend today. Even the straightforward histories from sensible writers like Seutonius contain references to supernatural stuff.

Even the most woo-saturated person today is less superstitious than the most rational people back then. It really was a different time so it's difficult to compare.

Of course - if someone showed up who could walk on water, raise the dead and turn water in to wine and could demonstrate that to the satisfaction of scientists, then that would be a different matter.

Still wouldn't prove God, of course - someone with such gifts could be an alien from an advanced civilization - but I think it would be sufficienly interesting that most of us would take notice.

ivykaty44 · 06/04/2013 18:27

what would happen now

well the Daily Mail would attack him first and then keep attacking him for all it was worth

David Cameron would tax him if he was poor

George Osbourne would call him a benefit cheat

The public would blame him for the banking crisis

Pan · 06/04/2013 18:48

I don't think Jesus ever said he was the Son of God. I think that was handed to him later, by others, iirc.

But yes to all ivy said.

And would Moses, or Mohammed have faired any better?

WallyBantersJunkBox · 06/04/2013 18:54

He was a carpenter, why would he be a benefit cheat? He'd be self employed and have to buy his own stamp and get a tax accountant.

He'd spend his spare time laying laminate floors and ramps for disabled access in community centres, and fixing deadbolts and secondary glazing for nice old ladies.

He'd turn down the job offer of an extension to the local casino, and give them a piece of his mind into the bargain.

I think he'd just live among us as a nice guy and volunteer, and give community centre talks about neighborhood watch schemes, and school talks about bullying.

WallyBantersJunkBox · 06/04/2013 18:55

I'd "like" him on Facebook. Does that make me a disciple?

ivykaty44 · 06/04/2013 19:14

Lots of self employed people claim Tax credits Wally

LynetteScavo · 06/04/2013 19:20

I see a lot of similarities between Jesus and Darren Brown.

I'm not so sure about the laminate floor. Its not very environmentally friendly.

seeker · 06/04/2013 19:23

"I don't think Jesus ever said he was the Son of God. I think that was handed to him later, by others, iirc."

He did say "know ye not I must be about my Father's business?"

seeker · 06/04/2013 19:24

Sorry about the "ye"- I am very old and King James-y.

Inthebeginning · 06/04/2013 19:30

I sometimes think of this question. Did anyone watch the second coming with Christopher ecclestone? I hope I would believe someone that honest. ...but there are people who have strange claims......then I think how dreadful to be totally honest about something and nobody listens and they murder you. Horrible.

WallyBantersJunkBox · 06/04/2013 19:38

Laminate flooring can be very ecofriendly, due to the longevity of the product and the fact that it can be made of compressed recycled materials. I live in an Eco friendly house and it's completely laminated.

I doubt Jesus would claim benefits, but perhaps volunteer at CAB telling people what they are entitled to.

hiddenhome · 06/04/2013 20:24

He would be diagnosed as being mentally ill and made to accept monthly depot injections and have a well meaning, but overworked Community Psychiatric Nurse round to his house to make sure he was safe talk about his feelings Everyone would laugh shun him and he'd end up isolated and probably drink too much wine.

If he went to the local church, he'd probably be rejected encouraged to leave (CofE) - told to sit down and be quiet (Catholic) or be regarded as a benign nutter (Methodist).

LaurieFairyCake · 06/04/2013 20:31

It would be exactly the same as back then - just like then he would be mocked and ridiculed and depending on where he lived he would be killed.

We are actually much more superstitious now apparently than back then - I actually only know this as I've just finished reading a book on superstitions given what they knew at the time scientifically it completely beggars belief that in our scientific age we have so much superstition

nightlurker · 06/04/2013 20:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 06/04/2013 20:36

He would be diagnosed with schizophrenia, put on anti-psychotics and probably sectioned.

LeeCoakley · 06/04/2013 20:37

I wouldn't believe him. I'd just assume it was his way of conning a window table for 13 at The Star of India every Saturday night.

crushedintherush · 06/04/2013 20:38

He would be mistaken as Frank Gallagher by the local drunks

crushedintherush · 06/04/2013 20:40

.....and the local drunks (and me) would be happy to have him as a friend as he can turn water into wine

crushedintherush · 06/04/2013 20:43

LOLat LeeCoakley re the table for 13 !!

qo · 06/04/2013 20:46

What a great thread! Despite being interested, I have nothing to add - except that he'd probably listen to the stone roses

AnAirOfHope · 06/04/2013 20:56

If i could not prove him a fake i would be a follower. Im an opptamist and belive in goodness, i would want to help people.

infamouspoo · 06/04/2013 20:59

if he showed up in the US they'd call him a pinko commie liberal

Italiangreyhound · 06/04/2013 22:31

If Jesus showed up for the first time now there would be no churches to approve or disapprove of him. I like the idea of Jesus putting in laminate flooring but my guess is he would work in an office as a lot of people do these days. Yet I do think ge would do something creative, having created the universe and all, so I am guessing designer and maybe designing packag etc.

Italiangreyhound · 06/04/2013 22:35

Then one day ge would get really angry at some evil product packaging and would turn over the printers! Would I follow him now, hope so, expect so. Would I have followed him if I had been around at the time if his arrival on earth? Hope so, expect do. I am a follower now so I would imagine if I heard about him them I would have.

Booyhoo · 06/04/2013 22:37

he'd get his face on the DM front page for a day. be interviewed on this morning. some would buy into him. most would ignore him i imagine.

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