Dateline Hit Piece on NOW - 'How did Jesus really die?'

Dateline ^ | 2/20/04 | Dateline NBC

[timydnuc]

I don't watch NBC, nor do I watch CBS, and ABC is a totally foreign network, so I don't watch them either.

Christianity has taken blows from nonbelievers and heretics for centuries. The basic faith of Christians has stood the test of time and critics. The one thing that non believers can't grasp is the faith that we have. They separately want to have that faith in the pathetic things in which they believe, but the depth of our faith doesn't match what they need. They are shallow, our faith is deep.

There is that one fact that they deny. There is a God, and He is the ruler of the Universe. He makes the rules, and He enforces them. He is a benevolent God, but He can strike you down with a breath if He wants. He can also forgive you, for any, and all sins that you have done against Him and His people. Why? Because He gave you Jesus Christ, His son, to erase all the sins of your past, from now and until the end of time. He gave His only Son to save the souls of the people He created. All He asked is that you believe in Him. That's just the most simple thing that I have ever understood. "He who believes in me, though he be dead, shall live forever"!

[teletech]

I have one question for all my fellow FReepers. If Jesus was as unimportant as THEY say he was, why are they obviously so afraid of Him?

[LWalk18]

What is the need on both sides to suppress infomation? I watched tonight's program, plan on going to see the movie next week, and I have read and will read again the Gospels themselves. I can determine the difference between articles of faith and a secular view of what happened- I think most people can as well. I also hate how Christians are being portrayed as stupid animals who will go on massive pogroms upon seeing a movie. Why can't we discuss anything in this country involving religion without such venom on both sides?

[jstolzen]

I'm just wondering WHO this show is marketed to.

IMHO, the Dateline piece was marketed to the vast majority of Americans who are not too firm in their beliefs one way or the other. Those who were probably brought up to believe (basically), but who have gotten too busy with day to day activities and interests to pay much attention to anything religious.

The battle is for these people's hearts and minds. If Dateline or any of the other attack pieces can chip away at these folks, keep them out of the theaters or reinforce the idea that the only people who believe in God are "far right extremists" and a minority (I loved the line in the Dateline piece about Jesus having "maybe" a couple of hundred followers!), then they win.

Failing to stop the movie, they (the liberal elite) want to chip away at it, put doubt in people's minds, and - most of all - try to get people to stay home.

We're going as soon as we can get our hands on tickets, and will probably go more than once. I seriously expect this to be a life altering experience for many people - myself included, as I am reminded exactly what was done for all of us, and the unbelievable pain & suffering borne by Jesus. (Yes, I believe he exists - unlike those "scholars" who seemed intent on debating the accuracy/validity of the Bible. Unbelievable).

[TomServo]

I don't know of any Freepers who's said he was unimportant, nevertheless - every knee will bow. :-)

[new cruelty]

I noticed there was no mention of Herod.

[commish]

If Jesus was as unimportant as THEY say he was, why are they obviously so afraid of Him?

Because they know that if they are wrong, thier entire existance is a lie.

[rwfromkansas]

I bet they were from the "Jesus Seminar."

[Revelation 5]

Ehh... the Jews didn't kill Jesus. Politics did.
Actually I did. I admit it. I killed him. He died for my sins. I am guilty.


Me too!!

[jstolzen]

Why would someone want to be a Liberal Theologian?

Actually, before tonight (OK..I'm naive in this area, I guess), I had no idea there was such a thing.

Now, liberal JUDGES..You'd have to be living in a cave somewhere to not see that - DAILY.

[Cvengr]

Good point on the sins of mankind being one reason for his death, namely to provide salvation from condemnation for all who believe. Propitiation of God towards mankind and redemption are two others.

I heard Mel Gibson had the scene removed where a Jew says 'Christ's blood would be on their heads'. Considering the significance of Pentecost and Jewish tradition of dousing the door lintels with blood to protect them from Judgment ever since Egypt, I find the accusations leveled at Gibson as anti-Semitic especially poignant when it is calmed by that scene's removal. Go figure where the real insult now stands.

[Revelation 5]

I don't know of any Freepers who's said he was unimportant, nevertheless - every knee will bow.



Yup

[commish]

Actually Mel did not remove the scene. he removed the subtitle. The Scene is still there and the statement is made in Aramaic. (this is according to the interview with Gibson on ABC)

[madison10]

They are afraid of the TRUTH:

1) All have sinned (moral absolutes ie THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, That there is a right & wrong)

2) There is a God and I am not He
(In spite of what we humans may think, we do NOT run the universe)

3) Answering to #2 for #1 (Someday...)

[Young Rhino]

Because they know that if they are wrong, thier entire existance is a lie.

The same could be said about Christians. Isn't interesting that those who rely upon alleged revelations to third parties of the acts of purported deities turn into modern day Torquemadas every time anyone suggests that there ought to be objective facts upon which to base belief rather than raw emotion?

[Swordmaker]

The battle is for these people's hearts and minds.

I think that the battle is more serious than that! The battle is for their souls.

If they convince a person there is nothing there, that person will die forever... if we convince them to at least look at the possibilities, then there is a chance they will live forever!

[arjay]

The network is egregious because it denies Scripture. If one chooses not to believe the Bible, that is his or her choice. However, I accept Scripture over what the liberal "scholars" on this show say.

[Snuffington]

Dateline NBC just now running an hour long special, asking "how did Jesus really die".

If it involves a spontaneous explosion, you might want to be a bit skeptical.

[Qwinn]

"tell me who dies!!"

You seriously want to know? Stargate's going to get replayed again in like half an hour.

Qwinn

[commish]

The same could be said about Christians.

You are correct. But, there is one major difference. if I (Christians) am wrong, I die and I no longer exist. If they are wrong, they will be privy to that knowledge in a most horrifying way -- and that is what scares them.

I go forward without fear. My belief tells me I shall live on in the Lord's glory, and that is my comfort. I will never know the fear of being wrong no matter what.