(September 9, 2013 at 2:46 pm)Minimalist Wrote: And, john, with its fantastic claims seems to have been written for a Harry Potter audience!
I know you're kidding but John does seem to be written for a specific audience: the Trinitarian audience.
If you read the Synoptic Gospels only, you'd have no clue that Jesus was supposed to be "one with his father". Search Matthew, Mark or Luke in vein for any support for the modern Trinity concept.
The Synoptic Jesus was clearly a lesser being, utterly subservient to and separate from his father-god. This includes rebuking a compliment "Why do you call me 'good'? There is none good but God." It includes claiming to not be as knowledgeable "no man knows the day, not even the son, but the father only" and having a separate will "not my will but thy will be done". Throughout the Synoptics, Jesus and his dad speak to each other in second person and of each other in third.
John was clearly a later Gospel, probably much later than the 1st century, written to advance a story consistent with orthodox theology.
Atheist Forums Hall of Shame:
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
