I get a lot of emails. I try to answer all of my emails but am increasingly realizing that some of it may not be worthy of a response. For instance, a few days ago I received an email from someone claiming to have listened to a podcast I did. Here’s what he wrote:
Hi Ryan
I hope I’m not taking too much of a liberty by contacting you on this address.
I just watched your excellent four years old interview with TheThinkingAtheist which explains why a lot of people (including me) hate religion.
However, it prompts me to ask you whether or not you believe that Jesus lived two thousand years ago as described in the New Testament scriptures?
Best regards
Chris Needs
I’m not above a little praise. This individual said that my interview was excellent. Since the question seemed reasonable, I responded:
Hi Chris,
Glad you enjoyed the interview.
I tend to rely on experts whenever and wherever I can. On this issue, I side with Bart Ehrman, a Biblical Studies scholar, who has far more knowledge than I do on the topic. He suggests that there was a Jewish reformer named Jesus who lived during the 1st century C.E. who had a following. He didn’t do most of what is claimed in the New Testament and died a failed messiah. But there is sufficient extra-biblical evidence to suggest he lived; it is likely true that he did. The book I would recommend on this topic is: Did Jesus Exist? The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth by Bart D. Ehrman. Ehrman presents the evidence and arguments for this topic in a clear and readable way. So, the short answer is, yes, I believe there was a Jewish reformer named Jesus roughly 2,000 years ago. Was he a savior god or messiah? No. Just a failed revolutionary who was killed by the Romans.
Best,
Ryan
I was trying to be helpful and sincere. Then I got this email:
Hi Ryan
I so appreciated your quick response that I’m feeling guilty about taking so long with mine.
I’ve been carrying such a burden for you and I’ve been asking for ways to reconnect you spiritually.
Please watch this video [NOTE: I’m not providing the link, but it’s to a Christian evangelism video] and the second one in the series; let me know if you need the link.
Blessings Ryan
I look forward to meeting you one day
Chris Needs
I didn’t respond. This same individual sent another email with a link to the second video the next day.
I’m sure, at some level, Chris Needs believes he is doing the right thing. He thinks he is helping a “lost soul” come back to Jesus. But he used deception to begin the conversation. This is dishonest and disingenuous. Chris is not winning me back to Jesus by deceiving me. What he’s doing is showing me that he believes it is okay to be deceptive and dishonest in the pursuit of what he believes is a higher purpose – winning souls for Jesus. What he has actually accomplished is illustrated that he, like many other religious people, is willing to sacrifice morality for ideology.
(NOTE: His email is: chrisjneeds@gmail.com. If he emails you, be prepared for evangelism.)
