The greatest hoax ever pulled?

All credible historians agree that Jesus Christ was put to death for claiming to be God 2000 years ago. It's sad but some people have been lead to believe this is not a historical fact. Since we are still worshiping him today this should put you in one of two camps.

Either you believe Jesus Christ and his 12 disciples (all common folks with out any special status on earth) pulled off the greatest hoax in the history of the world (and 12 out of the 13 of them took this lie so far that they sealed it with their death), or He was God. Please examine which camp you are in, and make sure you have done your homework on a decision so important.

Romans10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

	Jessie	That was written with, I think, a little too much confidence towards such a black and white view. Posted by Jessie on Thursday, May 03, 2007 at 6:34 AM [Reply to this]

	Paul	I invite all comments, but please give me some reason behind your view. Back it up with a point, or some facts, or some reasoning, or logic. Thanks! Posted by Paul on Thursday, May 03, 2007 at 6:39 AM [Reply to this]

	Jessie	The proof that Jesus was God, or the Son of God, is the the only debatable point in this entire thing. Give me proof of that. Posted by Jessie on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 2:24 PM [Reply to this]

Paul

Ok I will, of course Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, that is why He was put to death. The most convincing point to me is that He sealed it with His blood. When he was being scourged to near death, he could have said "Hey wait I was just kidding, I am not really the Son of God". They would have paraded him around to tell everyone and get the order back in place that was there before He came and turned Israel upside down. Surely during the crucifixion he would have stopped it. That is a very slow and painful death, and if indeed he were lying he would have nothing to gain by dying for that lie. After his death, the apostles were sad, they thought it was fun while it lasted and they were ready to call it a day. Christianity would have been done right there if He had not defeated death. He came back and showed Himself to the apostles, and to hundreds of other people. He stayed on the Earth for 40 days after His death. Of course only the Son of God could do that, and with out that happening Christianity never would have went anywhere. Lastly 11 of the 12 apostles were also put to death, very gruesome deaths. Of course any one of them could have said they were lying and had been spared. They sealed it with their blood! The only reason they did this because they knew what they were dying for was true. They saw Jesus defeated death and they knew they would too. You know while they faced their death, if they had any shred of doubt in their mind they would have recanted and stated Jesus was not the Son of God, but not one did. 2nd Peter 1:15 & 16 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.