DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
CHAPTER IV
Myths about Christianity, Christians, and Christian Scripture
18. The Four Gospels Are Eyewitnesses’ Accounts of the Life of Jesus
A. If you knew about the Gospels before you read this book, did you think they were
written by friends of Jesus? Why or why not?
B. Read the opening sections of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Does
anything in them suggest that they were written by people who knew Jesus personally?
Does anything in them suggest that they were not written by people who knew Jesus
personally?
19. The Bible Says That When We Die, Our Souls Go To Heaven or Hell
A. As a child, what were you told happens when people die? Did that explanation involve
a soul?
B. If you belong to a religion that is based on the Bible, do you know what your religion
teaches about death and afterlife? Does your religion claim to get that teaching from the
Bible?
20. Jesus Was Born on December 25 in A Stable in Bethlehem
A. Many of the customs surrounding the celebration of Christmas have little or nothing
to do with the birth of Jesus. Can you think of some? Why are they linked to Christmas?
B. How might Christmas be different if it were celebrated on June 25 instead of
December 25? How is Christmas different in the Southern Hemisphere, where December
25 is early summer?
21. Jesus Was a Christian
A. What are some issues on which Jesus would disagree with many of today’s Christians?
B. How does thinking about Jesus as a Jew change your understanding of him?
22. Jesus Preached Family Values
A. Have you listened to any of the Christian radio programs that focus on “Family
Values”? How strong a link do they make between their views and the views of Jesus?
B. If Jesus lived in a modern city or suburbs, how many people would embrace the
lifestyle he preached about?
23. The Image of the Crucified Christ Has Always been Sacred to Christians
A. On the Internet find some images of Jesus Christ that were made before 900. How do
they make Jesus look?
B. Now find some images of the crucified Christ made in the next 600 years, starting with
the Gero Cross made around 970, and including the Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias
Grünewald made around 1515. How do they make Jesus look?
24. The Church Suppressed Science in The Middle Ages
A. Before you read this book, did you believe that Europeans at the time of Columbus
thought the earth was flat? If you believed that, why?
B. Can you find examples today of religious groups suppressing or supporting science?
25. Catholics Are Not Christians
A. What assumptions about Christianity do people make when they say that Catholics
are not Christians?
B. Why have many Protestants traditionally been so opposed to the Pope?
26. The U.S. Was Founded as a Christian Country
A. Why is it important to many Americans to think that the U.S. was founded as a
Christian country? What would happen to their worldview if they stopped believing
that?
B. Find some examples of the idea that the U.S. was founded as a Christian country—in
letters to editor, op-ed essays, magazines, websites, blogs, etc. How strong a case do
they make? Do they mention anything about Deism among the Founding Fathers?