The Philosophy Discussion Forum

How important for Christianity is the belief that Jesus is going to return to Earth? I mean, if Jesus never returns, does that mean Christianity is not the true religion?

What about the resurrection of the dead? If the dead are never resurrected, does that disprove the validity of Christianity?

Or will there always be the option to say, "X hasn't happened yet, but that doesn't prove X is not going to happen"?

What if Christianity is wrong? Does it even matter if it is? If faith makes people happy and gives them hope, and not being happy or having hope are inherently bad things, then does that make it bad to believe something wonderful that isn't true instead of believing something tragic that is true? Isn't it better to be deluded if truth is harmful?

If people are happier believing in something that isn't true than in believing something that is, what would be the point of believing in the truth? What good would it bring anyone?

One would have to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of believing the lie/falsehood.

phyllo wrote: ↑Fri Mar 27, 2026 5:43 am One would have to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of believing the lie/falsehood.

And what if there are only advantages to believing the falsehood? Is there any reason to embrace the truth?

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Fri Mar 27, 2026 6:29 pm

phyllo wrote: ↑Fri Mar 27, 2026 5:43 am One would have to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of believing the lie/falsehood.

And what if there are only advantages to believing the falsehood? Is there any reason to embrace the truth?

That never happens.

There is always some advantage to truth.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Fri Mar 27, 2026 3:36 am

If the truth were harmful it would be a source of revenue for government licensing, regulation and taxation, e.g. alcohol, tobacco, weed. Unharmful gets a tax exemption. Of course, misuse of unharmfuls such as truth can cause harm, e.g. water, food, fun, air, shelter, freedom, and daresay religion.

LOL --- there actually s a section of the Talmud that discusses this. Starting with the topic "lying" (thou shalt not lie) the sages get into the topic of what we call "white lies". Situations where the truth would be hurtful, at least temporarily, disturb the peace, etc.

MikeNovack wrote: ↑Sat Mar 28, 2026 3:03 pm LOL --- there actually s a section of the Talmud that discusses this. Starting with the topic "lying" (thou shalt not lie) the sages get into the topic of what we call "white lies". Situations where the truth would be hurtful, at least temporarily, disturb the peace, etc.

Bio-implants must complicate that gray area of truth when the lady asks if a new garment makes her butt look big. One misstep and the eggshells could break with a burst of tears if the unwary says no, not big at all. Preferred pronouns add further challenges to the polite patronizing of another’s sensitivities that have caused many a simple, unskillful soothsayer to retreat into inoffensive silence rather than utter a well-meaning truth.

Should all things be disclosed of the after life and God?

Suicide is shooting up due to lack of security in the self in our young. I do not see lies about Gods and an afterlife as helpful.

If I knew that the after life was better, and was believed, many more would choose death over life.

If I knew that the after life was worse, and was believed, many lives would be ruined due to worry about their pending after life.

My disclosure would cause a lot of death and misery in both camps.

Seems like the best end for the greater number of people would be to keep it all unknown and kill, as Buddha suggested, anyone who has a provable claim of some God or afterlife.

Like God, the afterlife is best kept in the mystery and secret file.

We collectively should not want to know, and not telling anyone the truth, in these cases, may be the right thing to do.

Life is too precious to waste thinking of death and some unverifiable and unknowable mysterious God and afterlife.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Fri Mar 27, 2026 3:36 am If people are happier believing in something that isn't true than in believing something that is, what would be the point of believing in the truth? What good would it bring anyone?

Anyone saying it is always good to know the truth is assuming they know what would happen if they knew all the possible truths out there that would affect us emotionally.

There's the issue of pacing yourself also.

It would likely be too much to realize a large number of truths about ourselves all at once.

The truth without love is not the truth.

Greatest I am wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2026 10:28 pm
Like God, the afterlife is best kept in the mystery and secret file.

It cannot be otherwise. Uncertainty is an advantage of human birth and life, which as far as I know about Christian tradition, God did not directly experience, however Jesus did and left breadcrumbs behind.

Walker wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2026 9:12 am

Greatest I am wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2026 10:28 pm
Like God, the afterlife is best kept in the mystery and secret file.

It cannot be otherwise. Uncertainty is an advantage of human birth and life, which as far as I know about Christian tradition, God did not directly experience, however Jesus did and left breadcrumbs behind.

A God who can die is not much of a God.

As to a supernatural Jesus, don't be a fool.

Greatest I am wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2026 3:26 pm

No resurrection, no Christianity.

You would not believe anything that Jesus said about God and morality if he was not resurrected?

Question for AI:
AI: what does no resurrection, no Christianity mean?

AI answer:
The phrase "no resurrection, no Christianity" emphasizes that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a central tenet of Christianity. Without this belief, many Christians argue that the core of their faith is undermined, as it is essential for the hope of eternal life and salvation. The Apostle Paul states that if Christ has not been raised, the preaching of Christianity is in vain (1 Corinthians 15:14). This belief is so fundamental that it is often considered the defining characteristic of Christianity, and without it, the faith itself becomes meaningless.


(Something new to discover every day, eh?)

phyllo wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2026 6:05 pm You would not believe anything that Jesus said about God and morality if he was not resurrected?

Jesus was The Christ.
Jesus was not a Christian.
Christians are not the Christ.

However, was Jesus the preternatural human, perceived as being supernatural, and who eclipsed the father with mortal understanding of doubt?