What if Jesus hadn't been crucified?
490615
Christianity is a walk in truth, and truth would be truth anyway.
495380
I don't think so.  I don't pretend to know what would have happened had Judas repented and not betrayed Jesus.  But we all have 'free will'.  If Judas was merely programmed to betray Jesus, then his 'free will' would have been negated.  And I don't think Jesus' death on the cross would have been valid if someone had to lose their 'free will' to bring the crucifixion about.\n\nThis is all too confusing for me to reason out.  Jesus was God and knows the past, present and future.  He knew Judas would betray him.  Does that mean Judas did not posess free will?  But if Jesus knew the past, present and future, why did he pray to His Heavenly Father for "this cup to pass from me, but not my will, but thine be done."  He knew the cup couldn't pass.\n\nI'm not smart enough to figure this stuff out.  A friend of mine asked me once if God could do anything.  I said with a very smug look on my face, "Of course he can!"  That's when my friend said "No he can't.  He can't make a rock so big that he couldn't lift it!"\n\nOK, my smug look disappeared in a flash.  My friend is right, God can't make a rock so big that he couldn't lift it.  So God can't do everything.  See why I don't rely on my brain, but rather my FAITH in the Lord?
450229
I'd ask him if he was truly saved by the blood of Jesus.
900850
if Jesus wanted us to take over the world, he would have done it when he was on earth instead of being crucified.
305065
I think that whoever is to be blamed, it makes no difference, because Jesus HAD to die somehow in order for everyone to be saved.  If Jesus didn't die, we would all be condemned to Hell.  It so happens that the Jews did it.  Perhaps they did not get the brunt of the blame.  But does it matter?\n\nTo some of the above posters, yes, there have been many injustices that have occurred at the hands of Christians as well as many other religious folks.  But that does not change the basic fact that Jesus died for our sins and that we are human.  We make mistakes.  But God does not make mistakes.  Everything happens for a reason.  And God knows infinitely more than you or I, whether you like it or not, whether you believe it or not.\n\nTo another poster--Heron By The Sea...your logic is good but some of your facts are wrong.  Yes, Rome did control the land where the Jews lived.  But they knew little about Jesus.  They were the most powerful civilization in the world...and do you really think they feared anyone?  Much less one man (Jesus) and his movement that polarized Jews of His day?  I don't think they really gave much of a d@mn about Jesus, OR the Jews, for that matter.  Pilate basically did not care anything about the trial until the Sanhedrin and the Pharisees said that Jesus claimed to be "King of the Jews."  Once he heard that, if Jesus was really a threat to Rome, do you think he would offer to release Jesus?  I don't think he would.  At that point, the Jews wanted Barabbas released.  So yes, it was the JEWS who wanted Jesus dead.\n\nSecondly, the Bible was NOT altered by Rome or Romans.  The Bible is a collection of books that were selected for the truth and sincerity and accuracy of the faith.  Yes through time there are many different translations today, but I would say the major translations have not been altered to the point where such central ideas have been warped and distorted beyond their original meaning and truth.  I see that you are a religious studies major, so I am not going to fully dismiss everything you say, but based on our Christian faith, God would not allow such things to be distorted (that's where the Holy Spirit comes in).
1094796
I am not a Christian, but I'm willing to lay odds most people would not change their beliefs. Faith is a powerful tool, and if its strong enough, not even irrefutable proof will bend it. There have been many such discoveries lately, lending credence to the fact Jesus was human, had children, etc. About 80% of the world's biblical scholars agree that Talmudic law would have demanded Jesus as a prophet to have a job and a wife. I doubt he would have been married and remained a virgin his whole life lol. Yet even in light of these facts, many christians remain steadfast in their religion. And so what if they do? When they die, they'll know the truth, just like the rest of us.
999968
It was just natural for people who didn't fully understand Jesus' Messianic mission, to run for safety. They could not imagine anything beyond a physical kingdom with the Messianic King in power. Jesus' crucifixion was a death blow to their hopes. But, His resurrection changed the whole thing around. Jesus appeared to them, assured them of His abiding presence, commissioned them to continue His mission of seeking and saving the lost, and empowered them with the His Spirit. He opened their eyes to see the kingdom of God portrayed in the Scriptures, which He taught. That was the turning point. The real touch of the Spirit of God from above transforms people inside out. This is the same thing that's happening even today. However, the substitutionary death and victorious resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ had to take place for this to take effect.
704558
It would have to have been Jesus.\nWith all the happenings in the world,and what he prophesied to his followers,many of the things he preached,have come true.
858497
I'm a muslim, a convert from Christianity (20 years ago). Christians believe that Jesus (PBUH) died by crucifixion & then was raised into heaven.\nMuslims of course believe that he was NOT crucifed, but a look-alike was put in his place & Jesus (PBUH) was taken up to Heaven by Allah (God).
356551
Living or Dead? Well never mind, it would still be Jesus, because he is still alive in millions of people hearts. I am not preaching religion, but its just a fact. More people have heard about Jesus than anyone else.
532388
The Bible theachs there is no one good...all have sinned and falen short of the glory of God that is why Jesus died for us. If we could be good enough then Jesus would not have had to die. so your answer is that if you die without Jesus you die in youe sin.
1092172
as someone who believes in the historical jesus and not the religious jesus, i would have to say that i would be none of the above.  i would simply be glad that it is him on the cross and not me.
756942
If you understood how crucifiction worked you would know that "waking up" three days later from that kind of turture and beatings wouldn't be possible.  Even if by some miracle he did wake up he wouldn't have had the strength to move the stone which estimates say weighed over 10 tons.
1170526
No!  Even secular history has recorded the crucifixion of Jesus.\n\nPontius Pilate wrote a letter to Caesar after Jesus Christ was crucified and rose from the dead.  The letter was found by a man named Rev WD Mahan at the Vatican in Rome, Itlay.  This letter was reproduced in a book Rev Mahan wrote in 1887 titled "The Archko Volume".  The excertps quoted below  are from the Archko Volume on pages 141, 142, 145, 147 and was written in a book titled, "The Genesis Factor" written by Yacov Rambsel on pages 102, 105-106.\n\nExcerpts from Pontius Pilate's letter to Ceasar recorded in the Archko Volume:\n\nDescribing the mob at the crucifixion (pg 141):\n\n"Often in our civil commotion have I witnessed the furious anger of the multitude, but nothing could be compared to what I witnessed on this occassion.  It might have been truly said that all phantoms of the infernal regions had assembled at Jersulam.  The crowd appeared not to walk, but to be borne off and whirled as a vortex, rolling along in living waves from the portals of the praetorium even unto Mount Zion, with howling screams, shrieks, and vociferations such as were never heard in the seditions of the Pannonia, or in the tumults of the forum."\n\nDescribing the great noise and darkness at Golgotha (142):\n\n"A loud clamor was heard procedding from Golgotha, which, borne on the winds, seemed to announce an agony such as was never heard by mortal ears.  Dark clouds lowered over the pennacle of the temple, and setting over the city covered it with a veil.  So dreadful were the signs that men saw both in the heavens and on the earth that Dionysius the Aerogagite is reported to have exclaimed, 'Either the author of nature is suffering or the universe is falling apart.'"\n\nPilate quoting Ben Isham, a sentry at the tomb (145):\n\n"He said that at about the beginning of the fourth watch they saw a soft and beautiful light over the sepulchre.  He at first thought that the women had come to embalm the body of Jesus, as was their custom, but he could not see how they had gotten through the guards. While these thoughts were passing through his mind, behold, the whole place was lighted up, and their seemed to be crowds of the dead in their graveclothes.  All seemed to be shouting and filled with ecstasy, while all around and above was the most beautiful music he had ever heard; and the whole air seemed to be full of voices praising God."\n\nPilate's concluding remarks (146):\n\n"I am almost ready to say, as did Manlius at the cross, 'Truly this was the Son of God.'"
403075
Jesus is not walking around today, He has not returned for his people.  If he were we would not be here on earth today.  As for the Anti-christ, who knows, they could be.  I agree that Jesus is disappointed with our world today, but as the end times come closer than things will get worse.
567659
Yes, Jesus really did die. There are historical accounts of people who died from being scourged, let alone being crucified. Finally, the spear that stabbed Jesus in the chest produced a flow of "blood and water" (Gospel of John). That wound, forensic scientists tells us today would be lethal in itself (the watery fluid indicates that it was near the heart or lung cavity). Roman soldiers were trained in the art of execution. They would know when the person had died. So, yes, he really was dead.\n\nJesus died and was raised to life. It was a physical resurrection. While his body still bore at least some of the marks from the Crucifixion (nails through the hands/wrist & pierced side), it is likely that they were \nin a "healed state". Jesus appeared to over 500 people after his resurrection, and the church grew rapidly soon after. \n\nThere are those who try to offer the "coma" or "swoon" theory. Aside from it being physically impossible given his wounds, he certainly would not have been an inspiring site in claiming to be resurrected! The disciples that Jesus appeared to were transformed from being "scared that they were next", to men that went out and boldly preached the message of his resurrection. Most suffered extremely painful/horrible deaths for their convictions. Christianity grew so rapidly that within 30 years it had reached Rome -- which contained hundreds of believers... extending even into Nero Caesar's household.
510150
the question is- what if there wasn't?