What's not to love?

[The Grand Nudger]

Rad doesn't understand the concepts of "historical fiction", "divine geneologies", "legendary exaggerations", and "mythicized tradition". To him, myths and legends are facts and procedurals (except, of course, everyone else's).

Are you surprised that he (intentionally) misunderstood you?
(sorry Rad, you lost the benefit of the doubt long ago, Trollololol)

[Anyse]

You're talking as if jesus was a real person.

According to many scholars, he is, historically, a real person. Even Bart Ehrman, a former bible-thumping minister well trained in many aspects of xtianity and its canon and now, basically, an atheist, believes in an historical Jesus! Now, all the stuff piled up on this historical figure is another thing altogether. So, in this one area, it would behoove all atheists to accept the "historical" Jesus. It is the devil in the details per the NT that is really the rough part to swallow, which I, of course, as an atheist, do not.

[Tea Earl Grey Hot]

You're talking as if jesus was a real person.

According to many scholars, he is, historically, a real person. Even Bart Ehrman, a former bible-thumping minister well trained in many aspects of xtianity and its canon and now, basically, an atheist, believes in an historical Jesus! Now, all the stuff piled up on this historical figure is another thing altogether. So, in this one area, it would behoove all atheists to accept the "historical" Jesus. It is the devil in the details per the NT that is really the rough part to swallow, which I, of course, as an atheist, do not.

That seems to be an argument from authority and majority I'm afraid. There's actually a fairly good case made by other scholars such as Carrier and Price that makes Jesus' existence questionable. May want to look into it if you haven't yet.

[Anyse]

Godschild,

You have fallen into a trap that I have seen many xtians get into about Nietzsche! He NEVER said that "God is dead"! In the book, "Thus Spoke (Spake) Zarathustra," it is the main character who goes into the community to shout and to warn others that "God is dead. God is dead in the human heart." This was in no way a carrion call that God is "dead" at all and was, instead, a call to state that people lack depth and understanding as individuals who can stand up on their own merit.

As usual, xtains misquote anyone whom they can to "make a point." Usually, I read the work cited as well as citation and read the preceding and following text for the "real" meaning of the quotation which, upon such scrutiny, proves false the claims of those using it to make their own point, just as the bible is used by xtians the same way with a small statement here and there totally out of context.

I find such "scholarship" grossly disingenuous as well as overtly self-serving. Any such dishonesty, were it put in a court of law, would then put the entire person's "testimony" in the category of "false" and a lie and would not stand up in court at all.

[kılıç_mehmet]

Assuming hypothetically the NT is true, what's not to love about Jesus other than perhaps his statements on punishment?

He talks constantly about justice and equality, loving our neighbors. He addresses phony religious people with bitter sarcasm. He gives us similies more powerful (IMO) and certainly easier to understand than Shakespeare's. He sets up a moral standard that should make all of us cringe with conviction, and stop judging each other immediately. (Anyone who judges another after reading his Sermon on the Mount is a fool, Christian or not)

He takes a thief who has probably done nothing good to paradise, merely for recognizing him as Lord. He is surprised and pleased by the faith of a Gentile centurion, not a follower apparently, who recognizes his authority to heal. He promises to return and make all things right when the world finally is ready to vote him King. He comes to preach to the downtrodden that God loves them all the same, and gives them hope for peace and justice in a desperately evil world. Then he goes and dies on a cross so we don't have to die in our sins, doing what Ghandi called "the perfect act" of love.

What's not to love?

Loving and worshipping as a God are different things, friend.
When I have read the New Testament, I thought it was a grand book, even though it did not particularly strike me as a book from God, as why God would need four different interpretations of a single man's life is beyond me. But yes, Jesus seemed to me as a good person, and a "man of God" from his actions.
But here in my country, he is known as nothing more as a prophet of God, not his son, or God himself and is given respect according to this.

[Anyse]

He is still alive.

Also, correct me if I am wrong on this but wasn't the modern concept of hell basically non-existent until Jesus came along? That is a bit strange.

There have been movements prior to xtianity and the NT in the fold of Jews before the time of Christ. However, it was neither popular or believed in very well as the OT and Jews believe that the "sheol," the word translated as hell in the King James version of the NT, was just a hole in the ground, a grave. So, no, the idea of hell with flame and all that preceded the xtian movement by a few hundred years.

[The Grand Nudger]

@ Aynse- Yes, he "believes". It isn't the "belief" bit at issue, is it? It's the demonstration bit. What makes you think that appealing to authority, (or hilariously in this case, the beliefs of any given authority) lends a position credibility? What makes the beliefs of a scholar more poignant or noteworthy than the beliefs of your average meth addled midwestern christian fundamentalist?

[Anyse]

I actually do like the golden rule,

Greeks came up with it first.

And the Chinese before them!

[The Grand Nudger]

Lol, whatever anyone's thinking of doing, the chinese already did it (and probably did it better). At least that's what I hear from the chinese.

[DeistPaladin]

I actually do like the golden rule,

Greeks came up with it first.

Thought as much. So far the bible has been far from original..

The teachings of Jesus were original and good. Unfortunately, what was good wasn't original and what was original wasn't good.