A Perspective on Jeebus I Can Agree With (Mostly)

[Palehorse]

I know, its long, but I find it a very interesting read. I may have to buy this guy's books !!!


John Dominic Crossan's 'blasphemous' portrait of Jesus

http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/02/27/Jesus.scholar/index.html?hpt=C1

. . .Crossan says Jesus was an exploited "peasant with an attitude" who didn't perform many miracles, physically rise from the dead or die as punishment for humanity's sins.
Jesus was extraordinary because of how he lived, not died, says Crossan, one of the world's top scholars on the "historical Jesus," a field in which academics use historical evidence to reconstruct Jesus in his first-century setting.
"I cannot imagine a more miraculous life than nonviolent resistance to violence," Crossan says. "I cannot imagine a bigger miracle than a man standing in front of a tank in Tiananmen Square.". . .

. . .He became known for his sound bites -- inspired, he says, by Jesus' use of parables to distill complex truths in pithy but provocative sayings.
Explaining why America's reliance on military might was similar to Rome's, he told Time magazine:
"There's good news and bad news from the historical Jesus. The good news: God says Caesar sucks. The bad news: God says Caesar is us." . . .

. . .Consider his understanding of the resurrection. Jesus didn't bodily rise from the dead, he says. The first Christians told Jesus' resurrection story as a parable, not as a fact.
"Crucifixion meant that imperial power had won," Crossan says. "Resurrection meant that divine justice had won. God is on the side of the crucified one. Rome's' values are a dead issue to me.". . .

. . .In Jesus' time, Rome was forcing many Jewish families into destitution, with high taxes and land seizures. Some Jews advocated violent rebellion, but others opted for non-violent resistance.
Jesus called for nonviolent resistance to Rome and just distribution of land and food. He was crucified because he threatened Roman stability -- not as a sacrifice to God for humanity's sins, Crossan says.
If you believe in a God that uses violence to "save" humanity, you'll start believing that violence is permissible in certain circumstances, such as suicide bombing or invading other countries to spread democracy, Crossan says.
The human addiction to violence, though, is so ingrained that even the authors of the New Testament had trouble accepting Jesus' nonviolence, Crossan says.
So they did a little editing.
Crossan's proof: Jesus preaches nonviolence at the beginning of the New Testament. By the book of Revelation, he's leading armies through heaven to kill evildoers.
"Christianity both admits and subverts the historical Jesus," Crossan says.. . .

I am going to have to buy this guys books and read them! 

[The Troll]

 
  It is amazing to me how many adults believe all of the fairy tales in the Bible.  If the would look at it as a non-believer instead of a devote believer and what the religious leaders tell them.  They would see the the Bible is just smoke and mirrors. 

[Palehorse]

 
  It is amazing to me how many adults believe all of the fairy tales in the Bible.  If the would look at it as a non-believer instead of a devote believer and what the religious leaders tell them.  They would see the the Bible is just smoke and mirrors. 

Which is, basically, what this former priest and theological professor is saying! 

[dan foster]

Which is, basically, what this former priest and theological professor is saying! 

Still no valid historical evidence the guy even existed.  Either way, he is/was just another doomsday cult icon, and even his prediction of near-term apolcolypse didn't come to pass, but the "modern christian" overlooks that as new generations of them are born into the cult and convinced his return and "ass kicking" are imminent.  Give me a break.

[The Troll]

Still no valid historical evidence the guy even existed.  Either way, he is/was just another doomsday cult icon, and even his prediction of near-term apolcolypse didn't come to pass, but the "modern christian" overlooks that as new generations of them are born into the cult and convinced his return and "ass kicking" are imminent.  Give me a break.

   Now get this Dan, the scholars and the religious leader have written a new Bible.  And to try to make it more paletable, God in the Old Testament isn't the mean, selfish, smitting, killing God of the original book.  Niceeeeeeeeeeee.   

[Palehorse]

Still no valid historical evidence the guy even existed.  Either way, he is/was just another doomsday cult icon, and even his prediction of near-term apolcolypse didn't come to pass, but the "modern christian" overlooks that as new generations of them are born into the cult and convinced his return and "ass kicking" are imminent.  Give me a break.

Yeah, and even when historical evidence is found that might have documented that he was indeed a human being, did exist, and even married and had children, the first thing they do is try to hide it, then deny it, and publicly spew their religious propaganda in an attempt to "fear monger" their sheep into unquestioning compliance; all the while doing everything within their human power to prevent scientific investigation(s) that may very well kill their golden goose! 

I give the individual this topic is about a lot of credit for actually going against the grain and injecting some reality into his perspectives on the man. . . and the religion. . .

[dan foster]

Yeah, and even when historical evidence is found that might have documented that he was indeed a human being, did exist, and even married and had children, the first thing they do is try to hide it, then deny it, and publicly spew their religious propaganda in an attempt to "fear monger" their sheep into unquestioning compliance; all the while doing everything within their human power to prevent scientific investigation(s) that may very well kill their golden goose! 

I give the individual this topic is about a lot of credit for actually going against the grain and injecting some reality into his perspectives on the man. . . and the religion. . .

It really is sad that adults would believe any of this, but pretty predictable on the fact this popular culture watches american adle, votes for the likes of bush.co and drives everywhere in the left lane...;>)

[The Troll]

It really is sad that adults would believe any of this, but pretty predictable on the fact this popular culture watches American addle, votes for the likes of bush.co and drives everywhere in the left lane...;>)

  It is amazing how after all of these years 73, people like me who was raised by a very religious mother.  Has in the back of their mind, what if I am wrong in thinking there is no God.  Brain washed by your mother who was brain washed by here mother and so on and so on.  This is why the churches want prayer in school.  They know that if you can get the children when they are young, they can take advantage of them for life.

  After years and years of seeing life, see that there is no God. No proof, no reality that there is one.  How prayers don't work.  Since the beginning of time charlatan religious leaders have conned people into believing all of this for money and power.

  You don't have to be very smart to see religion for the fraud that it is.  But you really stupid to believe all of the religious smoke and mirrors.  Somebody say Amen, Holy   Put something in the pot. And vote Republican for they are the holy of the holy.  Just ask them. 

[Exterminator]

Jesus called for nonviolent resistance to Rome and just distribution of land and food.

Those who claim to be his followers now refer to this as "redistribution of wealth".  Not their wealth, of course...

[The Troll]

  Oh yes, the Republican Party has become the Robin Hoods in reverse.  You take from poor and give to the rich.

  The corporations can work a man or woman to death and soothe their wounds with vinegar.  All they ask is, that you give your life to them, then die and get out of the way.  They have more fish to fry. 

[dan foster]

  Oh yes, the Republican Party has become the Robin Hoods in reverse.  You take from poor and give to the rich.

  The corporations can work a man or woman to death and soothe their wounds with vinegar.  All they ask is, that you give your life to them, then die and get out of the way.  They have more fish to fry. 

;>) many corporations are actually taking out life insurance policies against their own employees, so they may be wishing you dead ;>)

Called the "dead peasant" benefit....