(March 13, 2016 at 5:26 am)Huggy74 Wrote:(March 13, 2016 at 5:01 am)robvalue Wrote: You can teach people about the fictional character Jesus portrayed in the bible, that is perfectly valid. It's telling your child that this is an accurate account of real events, which has some relevancy to real life (beyond perhaps some useful messages), which is indoctrination.
Telling your child that many historians believe there was a historical figure around that time at which the stories were based on, is also accurate, and that would be teaching. Telling them Jesus was real beyond doubt, and still is real, is indoctrination.
If you want to believe the way Jesus was portrayed was fictional, fine; the funny thing is you all ask for proof, and what's more proof than God himself condescending himself down to being a human? Stop being so full of yourselves, People didn't Just start being skeptics in the 20-21 centuries, they have ALWAYS been skeptical, Which is why Jesus had to start almost every sentence with "truly, truly I say to you".
"If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” - John 10:37-38
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. - John 14:2
*emphasis mine*
As far as historical figures go, there are plenty that aren't portrayed accurately in the history texts, do you consider that indoctrination? Where are you going to draw the line?
It's very, very possible that the entire character of Jesus was fictional. Oh yeah, there was probably a Jewish street-preacher they built the (very old) mythology on --
God condescending himself down to being a human? Now that's funny - since humans created god. Disagree? Fine. Have god show up and prove me wrong. He's god, he doesn't need your help.
"The family that prays together...is brainwashing their children."- Albert Einstein
