Speaking as a devout atheist, I think I can shed some light on some of the points made. I have no problem with this post here...people who aren't generally interested in this subject might not otherwise see it if it was posted on topic, even though it would probably do them good to read it.
I do not believe Jesus Christ died for my sins, nor rose again on the third day and ascended into heaven. In short, let me explain why:
1) The act was unjust. If your son commited a murder and the judge sentenced him to death, would you tell the judge, "Put me in his place, let me pay for his sin"? Of course not, because no matter how much you loved your son, you know that isn't just. Jesus Christ "paying" for everyone's sin was an act of love, but as it says in Leviticus, (paraphrased) Each man shall pay for his own sin; no man should pay for the sins of their sons, nor the sons for the sins of their fathers."
Some Christians say that Christ had to die because we are unable to pay for our own sins in God's eyes. Why not? Who set that up? Did God make it so that man could not redeem himself? If so, it's his fault we "needed" Christ, which is closer to blackmail.
2) There is a Muslim sect called the Ahmadiyya who believe Christ did not die, but rather slipped into a coma on the cross. They use a strange dental argument:
Dentists notice that patients tend to slip into comas in their dental chair when they faint for whatever reason if the chair is not leaned backl this is why they lean your chair back (among other reasons): If you faint, blood will go to your head easier and you won't slip into a coma. Some patients in the early years of dentistry slipped into comas after fainting while under anethesia and "rose again" days later. the Ahmadis (and I) believe this is a rational explanation for what happened to Christ...if he did slip into a coma, it would explain why he was taken down early, and also how he "rose" on the third day...think about it..how ELSE would someone of that time be able to explain a person coming to from a coma? The only RATIONAL explanation at the time is that such a person really did rise from the dead. But we know better.
3) I use Hume's argument: Is it more likely that the laws of physics have been broken, i.e., a man has risen from death, or a man turns fish into loaves of bread, or that something else is going on, and you have yet to find the explanation? Which is more rational?
4) As far as a hoax, it's quite possible to mislead people about a person's holiness: obsever the Mormon case, or the many cases of droves of Catholics deeming a rock or a wondow or a picture as Holy because blood "they think" drips from them. It is VERY easy to start a cult of personality and have it spread...look at Scientology!
5) The Bible is not to be trusted. It is full of holes and contradictions. The supposed prophecies are false, could easily apply to other people, or came true in method's completely different than what was said, especially in Isaiah 52-54, the best supposed prohpecies.
6) The Koran is very interesting, because the very things Christians say the Bible is which separates it and elevates it above the Koran, the Muslims say the same thing. Take salvation...Christians say, "Believe in jesus, all you have to do to be saved is believe he did for your sins!"
Muslims say Christ didn't die for man's sins, and even if he did, who cares, because there is already a means of Salvation through Allah. Do good works, and if you sin, beg Allah for forgiveness, and if you are truly sorry, he will forgive you. If your heart is good you will be let into heaven. To be a good person, follow the word of Allah (the Koran.) There is no doubt as to the word, because unlike the Bible, (which was "inspired by God and fit for reproof and instruction" (2 Tim 3:16)) the Koran *IS* the literal word of God...Mohammed was the vessel through which Allah wrote...basically Mohammad was "pencil life support" for God. This is what the Muslims believe.
That's my opinion...so ptptpptthptpthththt!
Xevioso------------------