What if jesus had never been born

While He was dying, his executioners gambled for His garments, the only property He had on earth. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend. Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today He is the central figure of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one solitary life [ The Real Jesus Philadelphia: Judson, , p.

But what if Jesus had never been born at all? With apologies to Jimmy Stewart, what difference would it make in the world if Jesus had never lived his wonderful life? If Jesus was never born, what a difference it would make in politics. Our representative form of democracy rests on explicitly Christian principles of church and state.

So do our principles of free speech and religious tolerance. In fact, the very founding of this nation was motivated by the goal to establish a Christ-centered community. If Jesus was never born, what a difference it would make in education. The same is true of nearly every one of the first one hundred colleges and universities in America.

Eventually people would have developed institutions of higher education, but there would be no Oxford, no Harvard, no Yale, and no Princeton. Furthermore, Christians have always been pioneers in promoting literacy and universal education. To this day, linguists are working all over the world, in the name of Jesus, to put native languages in written form and teach people to read the Bible. If Jesus was never born, what a difference it would make in literature, music, and the arts.

There would be no Messiah for Handel to write into his famous oratorio—no Christmas music at all. There would be no Gospels and no New Testament, and therefore no story of the prodigal son, no parable of the good Samaritan, and no Sermon on the Mount. If Jesus was never born, what a difference it would make in science and medicine. Ironically this was just mentioned in the media and so found it to be very ironic the timing and all.

Interestingly enough the witch hunts were stopped by two Christian men. But to that story there's more than we may ever know. The book was a very thought provoking and well written. I would highly recommend this book. Nov 13, Meg rated it really liked it. A fascinating look at Christianity and it's effect through the centuries. Really amazing book! It is so incredible to see all the ways the Jesus has made an impact on the world in ways I had never even thought of!

Feb 23, Nathan Albright rated it really liked it Shelves: challenge This book was not quite what I expected it to be. I expected, and would have preferred, a book that gave a general positive defense of Christianity as a whole [1], perhaps with a hint of counterfactual history, and to be sure, this book had some of those elements. This book, although short at around pages, would have benefited in addition by subtraction, or at least in going in a different direction, since throughout the book it is apparent that not only does the author laudably wish to defe This book was not quite what I expected it to be.

This book, although short at around pages, would have benefited in addition by subtraction, or at least in going in a different direction, since throughout the book it is apparent that not only does the author laudably wish to defend Christianity from its detractors but specifically wishes to promote an unbiblical and often uncharitable Calvinist worldview that is far less laudable [2].

At many times this book moves from an excellent defense of Christianity which I support to a far less acceptable promotion of Calvinism, and so this book is not nearly as worthwhile as I thought it would be upon beginning it. To be sure, those among my acquaintances who enjoy reading encomiums of Calvinism, but I have enough books to read that I would prefer not to waste my time in such efforts if I had not already committed myself to reading it as I had done in this case.

This book is made of sixteen relatively short chapters that average around fifteen pages apiece and they cover a wide range of topics, including: an overview of Christ's impact on world history, Christianity's impact on the value of human life, science, economics, sex nd the family, health and medicine, morality, and arts and music, Christianity's contribution to helping the poor, education, and civil liberties, Christianity's impact on the founding of the United States, accounts of lives changed by Jesus Christ, some negative aspects of Christianity in history, what happens when Christian restraints are removed, and how Christians can fulfill our purpose in the twenty-first century, something we are not doing very well at present.

Even when the author acknowledges the sins of Christianity, he does so in a way that attacks secularists, in comparing the deaths due to Christianity over the entire course of its history against the deaths due to Communism and Fascism in the twentieth century. Even where, as in this case, the author manages to be correct, his attitude can be rather injudicious, lacking in compassion and subtlety, and showing himself to be an all too typical polemical Calvinist.

It is unfortunate that the author himself harms the worth of this book rather than helps it as he would want to do. Ultimately, this is a book that could have been great and ends up rather more mixed.

The achievements in this book are largely due to the positive effect of God's ways on human society, ways that are so obvious that a case can be made for them even by such an author as this. This is a book that would have been far better written by someone who was not interested in promoting a sectarian view of Christianity and was more interested in defending Christianity as a whole. Then again, for whatever reason this was a book urged by the publisher, who for some reason did not see the author's perspective as potentially alienating the a large amount of the book's target audience.

This sort of tone-deafness is not too surprising given that the book was published in the 's, given the fact that Calvinists are still nominated for major offices and regularly make gaffes because they do not realize how offensive their worldview strikes other people, even those who are devoted and public Christians. Mar 10, Tintinrulz rated it really liked it Recommends it for: Everyone - Christians and non. James Kennedy is a very worthwhile and comprehensive book.

It looks at many different issues within history and how Christianity improved them for the better. For example, for the first time, children and women were honoured as equals to men, as were the elderly. Christians were the first to help the poor and provided education to everyone. Christians brought slavery to an end and minimalised cannibalism as a practice. Christians created the first true universities and hospitals and set a foundation for religious freedoms and fundamental human rights.

Christians led the charge in science in creating the scientific method. Christianity made a positive impact on economies and in building on the Jewish model of the family unit as holding together society.

Christians led the way in healing the sick and in civilizing barbarians most of the world, at some point. And finally, Christianity has impacted art, architecture, literature and music in massive ways, especially in the West. But it does prove that the world would be a much more evil place without Christ Jesus. All because Christianity recognises that mankind are sacred creatures made in the image of God.

And this alone gives us incredible value and purpose. But I would've liked to see more of a global approach. Highly recommended reading for both Christians and non-Christians. It is heavily focused on the reality of no Jesus however Jesus is not the only part of God. Before Jesus came there was still God the Father and the holy ghost. There were still good people before Jesus including the Israelites but also people who followed totally different religions.

The same holds true for now. There are many non-christians who do amazing things. Jesus was the hope, but that didn't instantly fix everything. I enjoyed this book beca 3. I enjoyed this book because it broadened my perspective and made me think about my own views on some matters. However, you need to take it with a grain of salt and know your views and your bible before going into this.

I think that it could be potentially harmful to a non-christian that is curios or a new Christian for several reasons. One is that it has a very Mightier than thou mannerism to the writing. That doesn't endear people to Christianity and it can make you feel really bad about yourself. You have to remember that everyone sins and that no one is better than you. On the other end of the spectrum, it could make someone that follows those old testament rules relatively strictly feel like they are the most awesome person to ever live which is also untrue.

My biggest problem was how one-sided it was. Overall I would say don't read this unless you know your bible and your stance on many controversial topics as well as take it with a grain of salt.

It's a great book to make you think and question some things that you've maybe taken for granted. Jan 11, Adam Calvert rated it liked it Shelves: christian-living , history. Chapter two shows that it was Christianity that elevated the value of human life or maybe better stated - re-elevated it to what it was originally created to be. It is the Christian faith that gives dignity and meaning to every human, whether in or outside the womb, whether fully functioning at maximum health or suffering some debilitating disease or harm brought on by the fall.

Chapter three concentrated on Christianity being the major driving force in history to helping the poor through charitable acts of mercy. When written language was there, they would translate the Scripture into that language. Chapter five gave an overview on the affect Christianity had on the founding of America.

Chapter seven showed the great impact Christianity has had on the advance of science contrary to what secular media and public government schools might otherwise advocate. Chapter eleven showed the impact Christianity has had on morality in general.

Chapter twelve showed the influence Christianity has had on the fine arts although, as the authors point out this has certainly been waning for a while now. Chapter thirteen told of the many lives changed for the better because of the Christian faith. Chapter fifteen explored a little of counter-Christian philosophies and what the world would look like - and indeed does look like - when Christian restraints are removed.

Chapter sixteen is a concluding chapter and a call to action. And I must certainly reiterate what I stated above - that this book is indeed a great contribution to the subject of what Christianity has done, can do, and should do in impacting the world. But to be completely honest, I have to say that this book is not the best read. The style goes back and forth between polemic, rhetoric, sermon-esque, and middle school textbook.

It also makes great claims whether historical, research based, or otherwise without citing sources. When it does cite sources they tend to be only secondary at best. But the reader does have to go into the book with the assumption that the secondary sources are truly reliable.

So I have no reason to doubt the reliability of the secondary sources they cite. Nonetheless, secondary sources will not be that convincing for the more scholarly minded. In conclusion: as a book for Christians to read to help them have a better understanding for what Christianity has done for mankind, and even give them a broad-scope range of talking points with their casual unbelieving friends, this would be a great book!

And the Holy Spirit has greatly built on the ministry down through the ages by means of using the corporate body of Christ - the church Eph. Jul 03, Nicholas Lewis rated it really liked it Shelves: church-history. James Kennedy's book is an exciting and intriguing topic that showcases the depth of Jesus' influence in the history of the world. If ever anyone doubted about the great strides in civilization due to the work of Jesus Christ, this book surely puts away all that doubt.

Lots of good information but ran through things very quick at times, that is, made a statement and moved on. Felt it did get better later in the book but just was not a book that I just had to get back to keep reading.

Jan 30, Genezy Ilolahia rated it liked it. Good read. Very bias though - American, Conservative, White view. Very good read. Made me, a Christian since the age of 8, think deeply about what life would have been like had Jesus not been born. Apr 30, Weisgerberbre1valleyschools. Very good read! Every American should read this! Hardcover in X Well researched and written. Shelves: bible-christianity. An historical overview of the positive contributions Christianity has made to world history in twelve areas: value of human life, helping the poor, education, the founding of America, civil liberties, science, economics, sex and the family, health and medicine, morality, arts and music, and changed lives.

The bible teaches that humans are made in God's image, and that each one of us possesses an eternal soul, so Christians believe in the sanctity and value of human life.

This belief has led to gr An historical overview of the positive contributions Christianity has made to world history in twelve areas: value of human life, helping the poor, education, the founding of America, civil liberties, science, economics, sex and the family, health and medicine, morality, arts and music, and changed lives. This belief has led to great improvements in the social status of children, women, and the elderly; and also to the abolition of abortion, slavery, cannibalism, and suicide.

As examples, the Christian emperors Constantine and Justinian granted increased legal protections to slaves, prisoners, mutilated men, women, and children.

They also created hospitals and orphanages to take care of foundlings. Justinian made infanticide and abortion illegal. William Wilberforce, a member of the British Parliament and an outspoken Christian, worked tirelessly to end the slave trade from Africa to the West Indies, and this led to the abolition of slavery in the British territories. May the Lord forbid that anyone should be so narrow-minded as to overlook the event because there is an uncertainty in regard to the exact time.

Let us do what we can to fasten the minds of the children upon those things which are precious to everyone who loves Jesus. Let us teach them how Jesus came into the world to bring hope, comfort, peace, and happiness to all.

Then, children and youth, as you celebrate the coming Christmas, will you not count up the many things for which you are to be grateful, and will you not present a gratitude offering to Christ, and so reveal that you do appreciate the heavenly Gift?

My friends, we should praise the Lord with trembling! ANN and Adventist. Submit Clear search. Seventh Day Adventist Logo. Learn More: Adventist. The birth of Jesus is the genesis of our hope! Earth would be destroyed, and we would be doomed to death! Exodus ,29 AD 31 was a tipping point for the human race and Jesus stepped up in our greatest moment of need. Because… 1. God did!

Angels did!