21 Apr 12
-Removed-Josh McDowell/CS Lewis-type apologetics lives on.
I think it's quite possible for a person to die for something they know is a lie. For example, maybe they thought the lie was a justified means of spreading a belief system that they deemed beneficial to humanity. Also, they had invested their lives in spreading this belief. They had given up their jobs and their families. If it failed, there was nothing left for them.
I believe in the right to self-defense for both nations and people, if there is an imminent threat. There is always the possibility that you will die while trying to defend yourself or others. I would think this is a worthy cause.
22 Apr 12
-Removed-Possibly family or someone I love. Nothing else I can think of.
I am not convinced that the apostles had a direct choice 'declare the resurrection a lie or die'. I don't even know for sure what it was that the apostles preached. None of them left us any writing. All we have is third party claims much of which is based on Paul, who based much of his beliefs on a vision he had.
People are stubborn. Once people convince themselves that a given belief is what they believe in, they will do anything to defend it, maybe even die for it. Look at all the creationists here, or all those who think the Bible is the absolute word of God and must be true word for word. They are willing to look totally ridiculous to everyone else, willing to lie etc, all because they have invested so much into an idea they cannot back out.
22 Apr 12
-Removed-Well, we're just going to have to disagree on this one. The trouble with saying "no one would die for something they knew was a lie" is that it's too simplistic. A belief system may contain a few lies and many truths, in the eyes of the teacher. So, what is he really dying for - the few lies, or the many truths?
I think you mean that Peter 'stepped down from the plate' after the arrest of Jesus, not the death of Jesus. That was when Peter denied him three times, correct?
I would like to know how many apostles were given the chance to escape death by denouncing their faith. Maybe some were not given the option. If they were, I would think that some would have chosen to avoid death out of fear, rather than whether they believed all of their own teachings.
22 Apr 12
1 edit
-Removed-From what I can tell, you think that all the apostles were "brutally murdered for their faith in Jesus Christ and his message" and that they had an opportunity to save their lives by renouncing their faith.
What evidence do you have that the above is true?
I found the following written by J B Phillips which is not in agreement with the above:
http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/CN500APOSTLES%20FATE.htm