Was Jesus a great moral teacher?

[xpastor]

Many unbelievers have said so. I can remember writing down that I still considered Jesus a great moral teacher just at the point where I fully accepted that I had become an agnostic. Quite recently on The Clergy Project a minister who had abandoned his supernatural beliefs posted that he will always be a Christian in his ethics.

A very famous case indeed was Thomas Jefferson. He was a deist and despised Christian theology about atonement through the blood of Jesus and other such topics. He even went so far as to construct his own bible, properly entitled The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, which he made "by cutting and pasting with a razor and glue numerous sections from the New Testament as extractions of the doctrine of Jesus. Jefferson's condensed composition is especially notable for its exclusion of all miracles by Jesus and most mentions of the supernatural, including sections of the four gospels which contain the Resurrection and most other miracles, and passages indicating Jesus was divine." (Wikipedia)

Lately, however, I am no longer so sure that much of Jesus' ethical teaching is practical and useful in life. It seems to me that a lot of it is too extreme for us to follow. I won't say any more at present because I want to hear your responses.

Just one caution, Christianity, especially the Lutheran branch, has a pat response to my complaint of extremism. Yes, they'll say, the ethical teaching of Jesus is perfectionistic because it is intended to show us how far we fall short of the righteousness of God and how much we need forgiveness. I'm simply not interested in hearing any riffs on this theme from Christians. I just want to know if you think the ethics taught by Jesus are realistic and doable.

[Chad32]

Jesus said thinking something was as bad as doing it, and the things he's most remembered by are basic things. So I don't think he was a great moral teacher. Setting standards that are too impractical doesn't teach anyone anything.

[Whateverist]

I think you're right to call Jesus too extreme. In general, empathy is a good and useful thing. Neighborliness, benefit of the doubt and the respect of peers is a great place to start. But I see no reason to elevate concern for others above the concern you show for yourself. Furthermore doing good unto others should at least take into consideration what those others would consider good.

[SteelCurtain]

The 'great' moral lessons that Jesus taught were taught many times before him. Altruism, empathy, charity. These weren't original to Jesus' teachings.

[truthBtold]

To think that jesus was in the center of all morality is not opening our minds to the rest of the world.

[Chad32]

The 'great' moral lessons that Jesus taught were taught many times before him. Altruism, empathy, charity. These weren't original to Jesus' teachings.

Yeah, that's what I mean by very basic things. Maybe not so much loving your enemies, but loving your neighbor, helping the poor, and basically being a good person are things that all social creatures need to survive together. We don't always care for everyone equally, but it's not some mind blowing idea that Jesus just came up with thousands of years after we came into existence.

[Escherscurtain]

Lately, however, I am no longer so sure that much of Jesus' ethical teaching is practical and useful in life. It seems to me that a lot of it is too extreme for us to follow. I won't say any more at present because I want to hear your responses.

Was Jesus extreme? Well I’m too lazy to read the whole bible but I believe Jesus said the following…

“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” Luke 12:49

“For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:35-37

[Chad32]

Lately, however, I am no longer so sure that much of Jesus' ethical teaching is practical and useful in life. It seems to me that a lot of it is too extreme for us to follow. I won't say any more at present because I want to hear your responses.

Was Jesus extreme? Well I’m too lazy to read the whole bible but I believe Jesus said the following…

“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” Luke 12:49

“For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:35-37

Yeah, that's pretty extreme. Love thy neighbor, but love me most. Or else.

[Silver]

Jesus did not state anything new that had not already been stated, understood, and accepted by society already. The same can be asserted of Moses and those silly Ten Commandments. Theists have the misconception that there was absolutely no societal morality until their invisible skydaddy provided the rules of how to live.

[Faith No More]

I know very little of the details what Jesus actually advocated morally, but I do know that he was into thoughtcrime.

That's nowhere near being a great moral teacher to me.