Our story on a small cadre of authors challenging the existence of Jesus Christ drew almost 5,000 comments on Easter Sunday, with some upset that we did the story, others objecting to its publication on Easter, and plenty of others defending the article and the run date and debating the merits and implications of the debate.
Of course, most comments had nothing to do with our story, revolving instead around the debate about legitimacy of religion itself.
A sampling of the criticism:
Easter on CNN
You've gone too far.
While I am an advocate of spiritual exploration – by atheists to disprove or by the faithful to validate – running an article questioning the very core of a religious belief system on a holy day is indelicate, to say the least. Will you question that Muhammad received the word of God, running similar articles during Ramadan? Or on Yom Kippur, draw on conjecture to argue that the Book of Life is for fools?
This is not journalism. This sensationalist pander.
edeveryday
I would like to see if CNN would dare run a story saying that Muhammad was a "myth" on the Muslim' s holiest holidays and that Abraham was a "myth" on the Jewish holidays. Go ahead CNN and give it a try and see what happens.
rbsrs
Every Easter?...I mean why a negative story every Easter?? It has become a running joke.
ANGRY AT CNN!!!
CNN: IF YOU READ THIS GO TO HELL FOR YOUR ANTI-CHRISTIAN BIGOTRY THIS EASTER SUNDAY!!!!
Many other readers took aim at the critics:
JHC
To those who are insulted by this article,
If your faith is so weak that it cannot stand up to being looked at from an objective, historical, evidence based perspective, then this article is the least of your problems.
nomdefaitour
It is ironic that so many christians are "offended" at a dialogue about religion sponsored by CNN instead of greeting the opportunity to express their views. Perhaps they are shamed that we all know they are surfing the web when they should be worshipping on Easter Sunday.
Others weighed in on the merits and upshot of the debate over Jesus' existence:
JBOO
I do not doubt that a man named Jesus existed, and that he probably did preach about God. But I believe he was no different than any cult leader today that preaches about their own religious beliefs and gains a small number of followers. The difference with Jesus is that Christianity was already more wide spread, and the general population was very uneducated and easily influenced by a great orator. Do I actually believe their is a God, and Jesus is his son? No. But I'm sure the man existed.
Keith
It is actually more reasonable than not to conclude that Jesus was an actual living person. Whether or not he was "the Christ" is the only worthwhile point of debate. Regardless, many of the teachings of Jesus are worthy of people to take to heart whether they are Christians or not. As an agnostic, I take those things that are wise from any and all religions, and leave behind those things that are destructive.
gimmeslack12
I don't care whether he really existed or not. It's his story that never happened, at least the son of god part and dieing and coming back to life stuff. What matters to Christians is that he is a support system that is able to take the blame for all the bad stuff in your life so that you can move past them and continue living.
I was thinking about it the other day, and I think Jesus really is a great thing, because it allows people to psychologically take pressure, grief or guilt and remove the effects of anxiety and pressure that those feelings create. On the flipside it possible allows someone to conjure up Love by themselves.
I think Jesus is a psychological whipping boy for all things that people don't have or can't (don't want to?) deal with. So I think atheists and non-Christians (heck, maybe Christians themselves) are missing the point about the importance of Jesus to some people.
The Twitter conversation over the article was mostly complimentary:
@JoshTheLink
Interesting debate from CNN's site about whether or not Jesus was a real person: https://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/07/the-jesus-debate-man-vs-myth/?hpt=hp_c1
@CommonDescent
CNN asks: Did Jesus exist? https://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/07/the-jesus-debate-man-vs-myth/?hpt=hp_c2 Honestly, this is a topic I don't know much about. I'd like to learn more.
@TTCNews
CNN interviews two Thoughtful Christian authors for this intriguing question–Craig A. Evans... http://fb.me/1idvhPxXD
Easter is not a holiday. It is a religious observance by Christians who are a huge majority of this country. Unfortunately, non-believers such as myself along with members of other religious beliefs get railroaded by this abusive majority of hatemongers who want to crush all resistance to their religious dogma. The article was presented at the perfect time to elicit conversation and discussion.
This is not a Christian nation and never has been. Incessant Christian pressure to turn this into a Christian nation has resulted in the adoption of Christmas as an official holiday even though it is, like Easter, a religious observance. Be careful what you wish for. Christmas has now been co-opted by non-Christians and various scoundrels such as myself. I like Christmas. It's a chance to see the grandkids and take time off from work. I say Merry Christmas to everyone. Christmas has become commericial with Baby Jesus shoved into the corner of a makeshift manger holding a fistful of dollars and yelling, "Show me the money."
Completely wrong. This Country was established on Christian values and it has always been a Christian country. Just google what our founding fathers wrote in their journals when they were establishing this country. I read a passage from George Washington's journal where he was praying to Jesus to give him the strength to make the right decisions. Christian country all the way.
christian values, jerry? like owning other human beings and lesser rights for women?
Remember that Good Friday is a state holiday in 13 states, which is a pure religious holiday. Look at the U.S. flag days, Easter is on the list. Easter has not been a federal holiday due to falling always on a Sunday, which is a non-working day for federal/state employees.
http://rightremedy.org/tracts/7 <<< READ
Oh, Jerry, another misinformed historian. Please re-read your history book and keep a dictionary nearby so you can grasp the difference between Deist and Christianity. Unfortunately, Christians tend to re-write history as they please... of course, with a pencil.
for most of my life i was never religious, in fact, i was a nihilistic atheist that thought God was a delusional projection of the inner human psyche...but god da mn, I never and still dont understand the hatred for religion. Ok so jesus wasn't real, it doesnt take away from the reality that most of the people that poo poo on jesus have a small d i ck.
for most of my life i was never religious, in fact, i was a nihilistic atheist that thought God was a delusional projection of the inner human psyche...but god da mn, I never and still dont understand the hatred for religion. Ok so jesus wasn't real, it doesnt take away from the reality that most of the people that poo poo on jesus have a small d i ck.
"This Country was established on Christian values and it has always been a Christian country."
Yeah, that's why they murdered so many Indians and stole their land, then try to sugar coat like other atrocities that they have done in human history. They killed more than Hitler so I wouldn't be so proud in trying to make your bogus claim.
The "values" you morons are claiming as "Christian" are not. They existed long before Christianity. The code of Hammurabi lists the same values you ascribe to Christianity, and it existed well before Jesus is supposed to have been born.
There's nothing "Christian" about those values. They are common to many cultures and predate your religion by eons.
Really, don't be so fucking stupid.
Hi, everyone
The big Evidence about Jesus Christ is go visit Jerusalem, especially the church of Resurrecion where he died, and rose from dead. the second evidence, every year, there is miracle happen every year on Great saturday by Eastern orthodox time. the miracle is about the fire of light come from the tomb of jesus on the hand of the Orthodox Patriarch. hope you all go on youtube and search for holy light in jerusalem....you will see the how holy light is acting and acting kinda strange and has little blue in color....it start with Flash first, then blue flash then like fire
Hope you watch this and learn that jesus was in palestine. he was suffered , crucified and rose from dead.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbQYNroAdL0&w=640&h=360]
Nice try
Well, CNN, in order to make yourselves feel good, you have put this option of "Report abuse" as a trailer for every viewer comment.
In reality, if one tries to use it, it goes nowhere.
I tried to use it to report the abuse of Jesus Christ by CNN.
It didn't work.
So much for feeling good.
it only functions when you question israeli actions or the holocaust, silly.
doesnt anybody find it strange that cnn is making an article on user comments?
hmm, very strange.
yea, it makes no sense to write that sort of article on easter when we all know they would never write one questioning muhammed on ramadan or the talmud, but hey, being a writer for cnn doesn't require you to have a spine or even intelligent cogency in your arguements (like at least having a consistent narrative so people actually fall for your lies and dont just laugh at the blatant double standard) Not that anyone takes it seriously (minus the special k and sofa warrior crowd). Everybody knows that CNN is a joke–it writes these things purely for drama and hits (cowardly picking the easiest target for gain, making anything it does meaningless) so who gives a cra p.
What's wrong with abuse of Jesus the Christ? If we don't accept him as anything more than myth/nonsense, are we required to keep silent?
If Christianity was simply a faith, it would be inappropriate for CNN to publish this story on Easter. However now that Christianity has transformed itself from loving respected religion to Republican lobbying group, I don't think there is anything wrong with CNN raising these questions. Christians should have thought about that a little longer before they decided to alienate 1/2 the US population.
Sorry, but as hard as I try, I can't associate Christians with lobbyists.
Can you elaborate?
best comment ever
You're right on the money!
It's pretty amazing to read all of these posts and see the state of people and their anger towards religion as well as their condescending sarcasm. Stop and think for a second about existence and put religion aside. It is the greatest miracle known to man and experienced daily. You have no explanation and will never have an explanation for why there is something rather than nothing. Then understand that there was a man who claimed to be the Son of God and had an answer beyond anything anybody understood. Many people followed this man for a reason. The gospel says that it was because of miracles he performed. Believe that or not people followed him and it wasn't just because he was saying I am the Son of God. Yet when he was crucified even his disciples ran away out of fear for their own lives. Something changed in these men in the following couple of days because almost all of them were killed proclaiming Jesus to be God. They claimed that he ressurrected to them. Jesus preached poverty and sacrifice and brought them sure death. What motivated these men to do this can be debated but it was so profound that we are talking about it 2,000 years later.
So for all of you who are so quick to call christians crazy and sheeplike, is your existence any less miraculous (I'm not saying less likely) than the existence of a higher being? And it if isn't less miraculous is not the claim of these men worth investigating further and at least respected? Please read the New Testament and read the writings of the Catholic Church. Maybe some have but I'm sure most haven't. People are focusing on what christians are doing and forget that there was a man who was tortured and crucified proclaiming this act for your forgiveness and ultimate salvation from death. Unless you can tell me why there is something instead of nothing do not say belief in God is silly, when the stance of who cares or the big bang is the answer to all or a combination of both is a very ignorant rock to base a criticism on Christianity.
The problem that people have with Christians is, that out of the thousands of thousands of religions in the world with their own respective god, Christians are absolutely adamant that their God is the right one and all others are blasphemous. No Christian would come out and say, "Yea Allah and Zeus exist".
Simply looking at the odds, it's a massive gamble betting on Christianity to be right. Then again, fear of eternal damnation sure does sway people into following you.
And lastly, most Atheists have read the bible. The only difference is, we don't think people come back to life after dying.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw7y4bWqcTc&w=640&h=360]
You alone are Lord and we worship you!
Lol
wowsers... Some of these people are your neighbors!
Don't be Upset. The Jews at CNN think Jesus is silly. Of course real Atheists know their silly Talmud is utter racist trash as well.
Im outraged that cnn does an article on outraged comments...outraged, imma go get some bread.
he gets it!
anybody else find it weird that cnn is posting user comments and making it into an article?
i dont know, it seems like a new trend in the drama factory.
The Jews and the Athiests appaarently don't know or don't want to believe all of the facts.
really, lazyace? please, by all means, tell us "all the facts"
Okay Lazyace...
There's a Jew and an atheist and a Christian on a life boat lost at sea. The jew turns to the others and says "I think we should fish so that we have something to eat". The atheist says "I think we should try and catch some rain water so that we have something to drink". The Christian looks at both of them and says "this whole mess is your fault".
Get it know?
@headless: lmfao love it.
Educated Christians expect a great falling away. How could we be offended by something we knew was going to happen? These blogs are a great opportunity for the unbeliever to dig themselves a hole.
LMAO!
Of course christians would be offended by this. Anytime you introduce evidence or facts or history into the religious fantasy, people feel the uncomfortable nudge of reality trying to wake them from their dreaming slumber. People can be grouchy when you try to wake them up.
You yourself just showed that CNN has an agenda to "WAKE" us from our belief.
@Ben, I sure hope so... lazy dreaming time is over... time to get to work on real life.
Nice segway, falling asleep is symbolic of senses that are dulled when one rejects God. Isaiah calls upon the people to wake up before it is too late. The Prophets have all warned us to wake up. One thing for sure if there is a judgement day you will not be able to say no one told me. Worse yet you can see your reflection in the fact of the criminal next to Jesus on the cross that mocked Jesus. The other criminal simply said "you did not deserve this remember me". To one Jesus said today you will be with me in paradise.
I sought reality in the clearest sense of the word. I shook off the fear and trepidation of the unknown and walked into the cold light of day. There waiting for me was Jesus. He had been in the reality all along. Since that moment my life has made sense and I have experienced hope and peace that is truly supernatural. I can see quite clearly. My eyes are finally open. Jesus works, plain and simple. The Bible works, too. He's not a desperate wish. He's not an illusion. Life in Christ is real in every way and quite satisfying, too.
Seeing what you want or expect to see is a classic sign of the dream state. You know you're in the real world when you can provide verifiable evidence. Until then, sweet dreams.
Ashrakay
So, is it logical that Paul, the 500 that witnessed the resurection, the billions that have experienced Jesus, Terry and I are all a bunch of liers? Tell me why do we lie?
@fred, Far more than 500 people have claimed to be visited and kidnapped by aliens. Should we just accept that as reality? Thousands of people talk to imaginary people in their head and are diagnosed as schizophrenic. Is that now our standard for judging reality?
Ashrakay
You are the one really digging deep here. The 500 of Paul’s day was out of a very small population and in a much localized area. That would be the equivalent of 350,000 being abducted over a 40 day period in New York.
Psychiatrists will tell you there is a difference between psychotic events related to voices vs. religious belief
"The 500 of Paul’s day was out of a very small population "
Cite your source.
Ashrakay
I really cannot tell if you are trying to talk yourself into atheism or keep yourself from accepting Jesus as Lord. Either way your chances are better than someone who really could not care less if Christians had faith that allowed them to experience God.
fred, do you have proof that 500 people witnessed jesus' alledged resurrection? Or is this a claim based on The Babble?
"fred, do you have proof that 500 people witnessed jesus' alledged resurrection? Or is this a claim based on The Babble?"
It's the bible and what is funny is it states some of them were dead.
Robert
Read it again paul was saying 500 of which some are now dead. He was referring to many that were killed by the Jews for not recanting their "vision".
@OG-NO
It was Paul and yes the argument is going to be did he lie, exaggerate, mean to say a vision, the Holy Spirit etc.
Either way it was Paul and yes the only source, no evidence
fred, then your point is stupid – you are discussing something that has no basis in fact.
"Of course, most comments had nothing to do with our story, revolving instead around the debate about legitimacy of religion itself."
Not only I was disappointed that CNN posted an article questioning about Jesus on Easter day but the way it continues to handle this matter is unprofessional. Do not think that thousands of Christians would enter a debate about the legitimacy of religion as a result of your article but they will definitely be offended that you posted such an article on Easter day.
How dare they question Santa Clause on xmas and the easter bunny on easter?! Oh, the humanity!
exactly! questioning the existance of Christ is questioning the legitimacy of the religion!
Any religion rightfully deserves to be questioned.
Too darn bad if they're offended. If the faith of Christians can't stand up to scrutiny, then it's mighty weak tea indeed.
And if you're so easily offended, go elsewhere. Find a site on which everyone agrees with you and believes as you do.
How dare they question evolution? How dare they question whether the earth revolves around the sun? How dare they question the composition of the moon? How dare they question the origins of the earth's gravity well?
I believe you atheists have the same sorts of gripes some weaker Christians do.
@GodsPeople, Brilliant argument... Until you take into consideration that all of those things you cited have verifiable evidence to support them. Asking someone "how dare they question reality?" is a far cry from, "how dare someone question my personal opinion?"
Jesus was never a christian. Jesus was never the Jewish christ or messiah. Jesus never meet any Jewish prophecy. Jews abhor a son of god and virgin birth. Jesus was born, lived and died a Jew.
were u there o satan?
Thank you for your eyewitness account...
Just pointing out the obvious.
I'm a Christian I could care less what or when people have a negative thing to say about Christ, the point is that CNN is suppose to be a legitimate un-bias news organization. Running an article on Easter like that, you would expect by a cheap gossip magazine to stir up emotions and cause drama to gain traffic. I think the big point is the double stadards. They don't do similar things to muslims because they know how they are prone to act. The last time a news organization disrespected them there were riots in the streets... But you don't see that from Christians. Christians are easy targets because we take the beatings laying down and dare I say "turn the other cheek".
What is so hard for you people to understand, the article presented both opinions in pretty equal portions, by definition that is not "bias" and it sure wasn't attacking your faith.
You have to admit, Christianity is a pretty easy target. Try to be unbiased here. Imagine this scenario. There's a religion out there that believes in an invisible man who is watching you 24/7 to make you sure only do good. If you ever break his law, you get banished to a place with fire and torture and pain. Finally, if you lived your whole life doing no wrong whatsoever, when you die you go to an invisible place somewhere in sky filled with happiness and millions of other people who believe exactly what you do.
It's more believable Harry Potter is true than that religion. And yes, you probably guessed it. That religion is Christianity.
So, you are fine with it as long as they do it for every other religion?
Godfrey, I don't have intelligent conversations with 10 year olds or adults that are to lazy to work.
Good for you. I have no idea what you're referring to.
I must admit I am a bit puzzled that people are saying CNN has printed an article that "smears" or insults Christ or Christianity. I don't see that anywhere. They presented arguments about whether he existed, not on the quality of the man or his teachings. The insults are in the comments section, as far as I can tell.
then u didnt read the article yesterday
I would say questioning the existence of millions of peoples God on thier holy day is offensive...
Seems to me I did, and I still say it didn't disparage Christ or his teachings.
PS – I went to Catholic Sunday School, grade school, high school and college. I have always been interested in the historic Jesus, the man behind the stories. I considered CNNs report just part of that type of study. I don't think it changed anyone's mind, but it gave me more to read.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzudL_a2_Pw&w=640&h=360]
next weeks story on CNN "The Holocaust-Is It A Myth??"
Stupid comment...
then u have to agree cnns article is the same. Or you're biased.
We have photos of the corpses, the ovens, the skeletal survivors. What do YOU have? There are first-hand accounts of the camps, written during imprisonment. Got any first-hand accounts of Jesus?
Yeah, I didn't think so.
tom that's propoganda. Those bodies were polish people not jews. There were not even 6 million jews in all of europe at the time.
Film, photos and witnesses are readily available to speak of the Holocaust. What do you have for the existence of God and/or Jesus?
fisrt hand accounts of jesus are in the books of matthew mark luke ( a doctor) and John
There's evidence for the holocaust.
anotate you mean the holocaust in PALESTINE done by nazi joos?
yikes.. Do you even know your own religion? those gospels were written from 50 to 200 yrs AFTER the dude allegedly died.. and about your so called "first hand encounters", tell me, do you remember what your mother said on this very date, 30 yrs ago? quit BS'ing for the sake of argument..
Oh, I see, hairnet. So it was no big deal if they were Polish?
You're a friggin' moron.
It's hilarious how many Christians found an article that portrayed two sides of an argument, pretty fairly I might add, offensive on a personal level. All somebody is doing is disagreeing with your faith, an idea that deserves no more respect or special treatment than your political affiliation.
Forgive me for not having an iota of sympathy that the worst the 80% majority in the US ever has to put up with is somebody disagreeing with their faith, or Thor forbid not allowing creationism to be taught in public school or saying 'happy holidays' rather than 'merry Christmas'.
You know what I find offensive? Your faith mucking about in my government – passing laws that curtail the civil liberties or reproductive rights of others, or that force your mythology to be taught in science classes.
D'accord!!!
Accord? Isn't that made by honda?
It figures that you're too stupid to know even a little bit of another language, hairnet.
Bingo – and you win today's kewpie doll for best comment.
froggie this is the USA english is our language learn it or go to cnn france
The USA does not have an official language – fuck off!
the unofficial language that cnn uses sets precedence.
CNN doesn't have any rules about the use of English. Va te faire foutre, trouduc
Theism, if you feel overwhelmed by the 80%, if that is CNN's rational for trying to attack christianity- then they should make the article truthful. I can understand and appreciate a non-christians situation, in an 80% christian country like the US- but that's what the US is, what is founded on. Christianity is too dominant, non-christians overwhelmed by it- I get it- and I understand, this is not the way to address it.
The reason that there is a debate about this in the first place is because there is no direct evidence that a man named Jesus actually lived. No primary sources cite his birth, life, crimes, trial, death, or resurrection. Muhammad and Joseph Smith and the Jews and Buddah can be confirmed to have existed by direct primary source reference. Jesus is a myth, pure and simple, and it's just really hard for xtians to handle it, since their entire belief system is being challenged.
and there is no evidence of your existence.. only words like in the bible.
Flavius Josephus makes reference to Jesus in his works. That's a more reliable source for the existence of a historical figure than those that verify the existence of Siddartha. I can't understand why there is such hostility toward the debate of the historicity of the founders or central figures in many religions. It is a fascinating area of study.
Sorry, but as an atheist, I have to call BULLSHlT.
The overwhelming majority of credible New Testament scholars agree that Jesus probably existed as a man.
JG: Josephus' passage is an obvious interpolation.
There are many other reasons to believe that a man named Jesus existed, however.
In a court of law,witnesses swear to tell the truth and their account is accepted and recorded. Many early Christians died horrible deaths defending their beliefs and accounts of what happened. Most of Jesus's disciples who were witnesses to his life also died a martyr's death. That's pretty strong testimony. Would you die for a lie?
It depends on who you talk to.
You will all know he exists and has existed before the world was created when he calls you!
Ray
Hmmm... apologetics is, shall we say, not your strong suit.
this article and all others that have comments posted, has anyone notice vitriol that people express to their fellow humans?
It's always been, and will always be, that way.
Just tell the atheists that you're praying for them. It really seems to pis 'em off.
Praying for atheists makes them angry? Really?
Praying to something we don't think exists makes us laugh.
Why bother laughing at all? Why not just ignore it? Laughing implies condescension. You enjoy being condescending?
Edwardo.. sadly its because we do not think of our selves as humans first.. most think they are Christian, or Muslim , or Jewish.. whatever..Religions are divisive and always have been. Prayer is considered an action that will change a situation when it is nothing more than a distraction.