(March 24, 2016 at 6:31 am)robvalue Wrote: It is written as absolute at some points, and not in others. The book is a mass of contradiction, as evidenced by Christians not even agreeing on what exactly you have to do. There is no possible way to find out what Jesus "really meant", if he existed at all, or said any of the things attributed to him if he did.
There doesn't seem to be any indication in the book as to when he's talking literally and when he isn't. So I think you might be filtering it in order to make sense of it. However, maybe you do have other good reasons to suspect a certain part isn't literal.
I meant you seem to be doing the same kind of things theists do, when they we convinced a character must have something good to say; so if it sounds not so good they can't have meant it how it is written. I'm suggesting maybe what the character is saying just isn't very good. I didn't mean all your thinking was like a theist, sorry if it came across that way. If I was taking this all seriously, I wouldn't take chances on Jesus not really meaning some stuff.
But you're entitled to interpret it however you want. It was just an observation. I'm sorry if I offended you, or misunderstood. It's not a big deal, I probably made it sound like a bigger objection than it was. I'll shut up now and leave you alone. I'm impressed you've analysed the bible in more detail and have come to your own conclusions.
Quote:Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
Sounds pretty absolute to me.
http://biblehub.com/mark/10-21.htm
http://youtu.be/5mLOUWl-L-s
I know the other common comeback for theist is the, "you're reading it out of context" one. But that is the case here. Jesus told that one man HE was lacking one thing. Then after the guy got sad and left, Jesus used hyperbole to illustrate that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man into gods kingdom. Even his followers asked, who can possibly be saved? And Jesus went on to say that any sacrificed in this life will be greatly rewarded. So the lesson that is made in this example is that its not just about keeping the commandments as this man did (Mark 10:20) but it is also not being beholden to worldly possessions. And I do believe this gives me a practical lesson. God or no god, I never want to have a single possession in this life that is not worth giving up. And even if Jesus is completely made up, I can read this account and reflect on the fact that this guy chose stuff over life. Well, the one life i know I have, I am living. And I don't want to choose stuff over life now or ever.
Just remember that atheists are equally capable of having cognitive dissonance and confirmation bias. Please don't assume I don't want to hear your counter points. You're definitely one of the easier people to chat with. I am just going to be told why or why not I hold certain beliefs still or ever
