Who was Jesus?

[Ahriman]

Like I said before, the miracles aren't the important part. Jesus was an excellent man, and that's enough for me to allow Him to be my shepherd.

[vulcanlogician]

Like I said before, the miracles aren't the important part. Jesus was an excellent man, and that's enough for me to allow Him to be my shepherd.

Then what do you think of the fact that many Christians view the miracles as central and important to their faith? What would you say to the opinion that such things are false or fabricated? If not miracles what did Jesus say or do to deserve your worship?

[Ahriman]

Like I said before, the miracles aren't the important part. Jesus was an excellent man, and that's enough for me to allow Him to be my shepherd.

Then what do you think of the fact that many Christians view the miracles as central and important to their faith? What would you say to the opinion that such things are false or fabricated? If not miracles what did Jesus say or do to deserve your worship?

1) That just means they see Jesus as more of a divine figure, as opposed to simply being an excellent man.

2) Logic doesn't really matter when you're dealing with something that happened thousands of years ago.

3) Jesus stood for what He believed in, such as when He pardoned the harlot ("Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone"), or when He went on a rampage at the temple because some folks were using the temple as a place for money changing. Also, His parables stand the test of time.

[pocaracas]

I think you guys would like to read the Jefferson bible: https://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/jb/jb05.htm

"In his retirement, Thomas Jefferson edited the New Testament with a penknife and glue, removing all mention of miracles and other supernatural events. Inspired by the ideals of the Enlightenment, Jefferson hoped to reconcile Christian tradition with reason by presenting Jesus of Nazareth as a great moral teacher—not a divine one."

[Ahriman]

Yes, the Jefferson Bible is an excellent read. I own a copy. I'm inclined to agree with Jefferson, although I won't diss people who believe in the divinity of Jesus.

[Fake Messiah]

Jesus stood for what He believed in.

Not really. Jesus was a hypocrite. Like In Matt. 5:44 Jesus told people to love their enemies and bless them that curse them; and yet he built a place to torture his own enemies forever.

Also, Jesus ignored his own advice by repeatedly denouncing his opposition and calling them names. In Matt. 23:17 he said, "Ye fools and blind." In Matt. 12:34 Jesus called people vipers and in Matt. 23:27 he referred to some people as hypocrites and whited sepulchres. In John 10:8 he went so far as to allege, "All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers."

Is that practicing brotherly love? Jesus most assuredly was not above calling others names and has no business denouncing those who do the same. Clearly, he preached one thing and practiced another.

such as when He pardoned the harlot

Pardoning the harlot is actually one of the stories in the NT for which scholars are sure was added much later – had nothing to do with Jesus.

Also, His parables stand the test of time.

Oh really? When was the last time some Christian plucked his eye because he looked at some other woman? When was the last time some Christian amputated his hand after masturbation? When was the last time some Christian sold everything he/she had and gave it to the poor? – Almost never. Christians behave like Jesus commands and parables are rambling of some lunatic – which they certainly are – and Christians have to admit it already.

Jesus as more of a divine figure, as opposed to simply being an excellent man.

Have you noticed how all religious founders are considered to be the most excellent man that ever lived? Muhammad, L . Ron Hubbard, Buddha, Jesus, Joseph Smith…

[The Valkyrie]

Jesus is a character on par with Superman or Captain America: not only fictional, but an ideal based on what a group would wish they could aspire to.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I knew Jesus. He made a killer paella.

Boru

[The Valkyrie]

I knew Jesus. He made a killer paella.

Boru

My name's not Paella!

[brewer]

Like I said before, the miracles aren't the important part. Jesus was an excellent man, and that's enough for me to allow Him to be my shepherd.

We often comment on the necessity of sheep.