Originally posted by LORD JLRTENJAC
So, Shakyamunison, What is the Nichiren Buddhist take on the Afterlife?
Nichiren Buddhism does not focus on an after life. Nichiren Buddhism has to do with life only. I personal believe in reincarnation, but there is no requirement for that belief in Nichiren Buddhism.
In 1980, in Talpiot (a suburb of Jerusalem), Israel, a construction crew unearthed an ancient tomb. Inside the tomb was discovered ten (or nine) ossuaries (burial bone boxes). Inscribed on these bone boxes were names. The discovery of the ossuaries was not unusual, as thousands of ancient ossuaries have been discovered in ancient tombs in and around Jerusalem. What was somewhat unusual were the names that were inscribed on the ossuaries: Jesus son of Joseph, Maria, Mariamene, Matthew, Judas son of Jesus, and Jose (likely an abbreviation of Joseph). The similarities of these names to the biblical Jesus and His family have led TV director Simcha Jacobovici and movie producer James Cameron to produce “The Jesus Family Tomb” in book form and "The Lost Tomb of Jesus" as a movie / documentary. Jacobovici and Cameron are making the claims that the Jesus Family Tomb is indeed the family burial place of Jesus and His family, and that the presence of Jesus’ bones disproves His resurrection. Is there any validity to the claims of the Jesus Family Tomb?
First, before we examine the question biblically, it is important to understand that no influential archaeologist has come forward in agreement with the Jesus Family Tomb project. The curator for anthropology and archeology at the Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem from 1972 to 1997, Joe Zias, states that the project “makes a mockery of the archaeological profession.” Second, there is evidence that the tomb had been disturbed and vandalized. It cannot be verified what was, or what was not, vandalized or stolen. On an archaeological basis alone, there is serious reason to doubt the authenticity of the Jesus Family Tomb project.
Historically and culturally speaking, there is further reasoning to reject the ideas of the Jesus Family Tomb project. The names “Jesus, Maria, Matthew, Judas, and Joseph” were all very common names in 1st century Israel. Some cultural historians estimate that as many as 25% of 1st century Jewish women were named Mary (Miriam). The New Testament confirms this by mentioning six different women named Mary, including three who were prominent in Jesus’ life (Jesus’ mother, Mary Magdalene, and Mary of Bethany). It would not be uncommon for a 1st century Jewish family to have the names Jesus (Yeshua), Mary (Miriam), Joseph, and Judas (Judah) – as all were very popular Jewish names (due to their background in the Hebrew Scriptures).
Biblically speaking, there are numerous reasons to reject the idea of the Jesus Family Tomb. First, the New Testament consistently states that Jesus’ family was from Nazareth (Matthew 2:13; Luke 2:4,39,51; John 1:45-46). If Jesus’ family had a tomb, it would have very likely been in Nazareth. Second, the Bible describes Jesus and his adopted father Joseph as carpenters (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3), likely making them financially poor and of a lower social status. The tomb discovered in Talpiot is the tomb of a wealthy family. Third, the New Testament states that Jesus’ body was buried in a tomb that belonged to Joseph of Arimathea, and that there were witnesses as to where Jesus was buried (Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:43-47; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:38-42).
The "Lost Tomb of Jesus" documentary advocates the concept that Jesus' disciples stole His body from the tomb, and then buried it in His family tomb. If the disciples were going to steal Jesus' body in an attempt to argue for a resurrection, why would they then bury Jesus' body in His own family's tomb, and even inscribe Jesus' name on His ossuary? That does not make any sense whatsoever. If the disciples wanted to fake a resurrection, the last thing they would do would be to bury Jesus in His family tomb (which other people could easily examine) and write Jesus' name on His ossuary (providing undeniable evidence that Jesus was not resurrected). Without even considering the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, the New Testament account paints an entirely different account of Jesus, His family, and His burial.
Now, let’s get to the crux of the matter. The true motivation of the Jesus Family Tomb project is to deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The subtitle of the book is given as “The Discovery, the Investigation, and the Evidence That Could Change History.” Cameron, Jacobovici, and co-author Pellegrino have a clear agenda. They do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, that Jesus was God-incarnate, or that Jesus was resurrected after His crucifixion. The discovery of the “Jesus Family Tomb” is simply a convenient basis for their argument, due to the similarities of the names on the ossuaries to the names of Jesus and His family. If it could be proven that the “Jesus Family Tomb” was indeed the tomb of the biblical Jesus of Nazareth and His family, the resurrection would be disproven, thus destroying the very foundation of the Christian faith (see 1 Corinthians chapter 15).
None of the suppositions of the Jesus Family Tomb project can be proven. In fact, the archaeological community is nearly unanimous in condemning the Jesus Family Tomb as a hoax, with no basis in history or archaeology. There is every reason to doubt the claims of the Jesus Family Tomb – archaeologically, historically, and biblically.
In regards to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the true heart of this issue, there is much to be considered. Please examine the articles:
"Why should I believe in Christ’s resurrection?"
Simon was crucified in 74 A.D.
Thomas was killed by a spear.
Bartholomew was crucified.
Peter, crucified upside-down.
Matthew killed by a halberd in 60 A.D
Philip was crucified in 54 A.D.
James (Son of Zebedee) was beheaded in 44 A.D.
Andrew, Peter's brother, was crucified.
James (The son of Alphaues) Was poisoned in prison.
Judas Iscariot (According to Christian belifs) Betrayed Jesus, and later commited suicide.
John was not Martyred, He was sent into Exile to an Island where he eventually died.
James (Jesus' Brother who only came to believe after the death of Jesus) beaten to death by a club after being crucified and stoned.
Sources:
http://www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?apostles.htm
I also have a second source on this, however, I can't seem to locate it at this time... 🙁 I am also looking for a few more sources as well.
Originally posted by LORD JLRTENJAC
You know, I have to admit. One of the best arguments that I have found for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the fact that every one of his disciples, the ones who traveled with him and watched him die were Martyrs.
How is that an argument for the resurrection of Jesus? All the fact that the disciples were martyred shows is that they were members of a persecuted group.
Let me help you; these videos are the last 3 of the presentation.
YouTube video
YouTube video
YouTube video
Ah, but if the Jesus hadn't resurected, the diciples wouldn't have stuck with what Jesus said. In Jewish belief there were to be 2 Messiahs. The Kingly Messiah who is to come down and set up his kingdom, and the Suffering Messiah.
The Suffering Messiah is prophecied in the book Isah:
Isaiah 53, 1-12 NIV
Isaiah 53
1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied ;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
Also Jesus himself stated that he would return after 3 days:
Matthew 16, 21-28 NIV
Jesus Predicts His Death
21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"
23Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life[h] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 28I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Had Jesus died and stayed dead, the diciples would not continue to preach that he rose. Human Nature just plain dictates that. There would be nothing in it for the disciples, or anyone, if they followed a dead savior.
Originally posted by ushomefree
Shakyamunison-The videos that I posted on the thread "The Case for Christ" covers that question--amongst other things--in great detail. Why don't you simply watch it? I promise, you will not melt.
YouTube is blocked on my computer. So, I just see a blank post. 😆
LORD JLRTENJAC there is no such thing as a real prophecy. No one can know the future. To believe in prophecy is to believe in magic and the supernatural.
Ah, but that was only an explanation of why the Diciples wouldn't have been martyrs.
su·per·nat·u·ral /ˌsupərˈnætʃərəl, -ˈnætʃrəl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[soo-per-nach-er-uhl, -nach-ruhl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
of, pertaining to, or being above or beyond what is natural; unexplainable by natural law or phenomena; abnormal.
I believe in the supernatural. I believe in a God, which created all things. I believe in life after death, I believe in the human soul. I believe Satan, I believe in Heaven, and Hell. And I believe that God can and has spolen through prophets.
And, if you believe in re-incarnation, as you have before stated, then you also believe in something that is supernatural.
Originally posted by LORD JLRTENJAC
Ah, but that was only an explanation of why the Diciples wouldn't have been martyrs.su·per·nat·u·ral /ˌsupərˈnætʃərəl, -ˈnætʃrəl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[soo-per-nach-er-uhl, -nach-ruhl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
of, pertaining to, or being above or beyond what is natural; unexplainable by natural law or phenomena; abnormal.I believe in the supernatural. I believe in a God, which created all things. I believe in life after death, I believe in the human soul. I believe Satan, I believe in Heaven, and Hell. And I believe that God can and has spolen through prophets.
I don't mean this as an insult, but to me, you are delusional. However, you can still be my friend. 😄
I do not believe in magic, and supernatural is magic.
Originally posted by Shakyamunison
I don't mean this as an insult, but to me, you are delusional. However, you can still be my friend. 😄
None taken. and thank you.
Originally posted by Shakyamunison
I do not believe in magic, and supernatural is magic.
Not neccisaraily. Magic is supernatural, but supernatural doesn't have to only be magic. I don't believe in magic either. Supernatural only has to be unexplainable by natural law.