(February 11, 2013 at 10:13 pm)Chuck Wrote: Define "mad"
I think if there was a historic personage some of whose words, actions and circumstances formed the basis of the Jesus myth, then such a person would likely have in many ways resembled Gregory Rasputin. He would have been uneducated, versed in the use of mystical and apocalyptic aspects of the prevailing religion to subvert weak minds, cunningly perceptive of some people's emotional weaknesses and needs, but have only lose grasp of the limits of his power and influence.
Jesus was probably a Rasputin without the good fortune of a czarina or a czarivitsch.
Was rasputin mad?
That is an intriguing resemblance. Rasputin is still widely regarded as righteous in Russia.
I tend to believe everyone has the capabilities of being mad. Perhaps mad is being seen as illogical, but I don't believe humans are logical beings and therefore approaching them with logic does not work. Similarly, if Rasputin and Jesus genuinely believed what is said of them, then I don't think it is cunning of any sort.
I think it is mad that we evolved to believe in god only for god to not exist. I think it is as mad to be a theist as it is to be an atheist. I don't really attach to the significance of madness. It's mad that we are discussing this how we are and probably communicating in miscommunication.
At least it is mad that I am.
(February 11, 2013 at 10:25 pm)Insanity x Wrote: The last few sentences of that quote kinda piss me off. Deliberately making it two options. One involves being aggressive or violent and the other to be overly nice. Wheres the don't give a flying fuck and ignore the daft git option?
I suppose this is what grabbed my attention as well. I know a lot of Christians and I know a lot of C.S. Lewis fans. They are often in the higher ends of society, discussing literature over fine wine. Now if they have the intelligence to grasp the reality of the situation that Lewis presents, they must realise something doesn't add up here.
(February 11, 2013 at 10:25 pm)Minimalist Wrote: IIRC, part of Lewis' routine was Lord, Liar or Lunatic.
I see no evidence that there was any such recognizable person but that did not stop those who concocted the story from being liars.
You don't believe they could have been madmen as well instead of liars?
