So you killed Jesus eh?

Would not suprise me they think so yes. And I also think unless you're directly negatively affected (or see it happening to others) by overly dogmatic and conservative christians you're overly focussing on and generalizing them.
It used to be so much worse. At least we can be militantly atheist now if we want to

 

the whole thing was his idea.

 

That's the thing. Coat tails and 25 plus years dedicated commitment as an ordained minister ... That has been my job for that long. Gentle leadings and patience and kindness only goes so far. Jesus was a shepherd and a damn good one. He went willingly when the Roman troop came to apprehend him, and by doing so he saved the disciples.

The rest of the world, on the other hand, if they wish to claim to honor him, should honor his life, his teachings, try to understand, study if they must, and not just hear but also do. I mean,. He'd be a friend if they were, but instead of being a friend, they boast his suffering and death to save their own lives.

I have no idea how that would even work unless they're hell bound for all eternity. He was a very serious yet peaceful man. I can only imagine what his father must be like.

Jesus was here to show the way the truth and life, which is to show us the truth and way to life abundant. Accused if having a demon, they were pissed because he came into town eating and drinking and being happy, and hanging out with who were considered low life's.

His accusers killed him and his followers today have taken in his accusers role in the suffering and killing department. Anyway, I'm so far in and my roos too deep to just turn atheist and quit working with Jesus and for God. It's easy. Be responsible and accountable for your life, honor how you've been made as a human, with natural likes and dislikes, have your fill of life, eat drink be happy, and accept that with life cones death and let it be.

Next world to come? I guess that depends on your life here. There are an infinite number if worlds in the universe much like this one. It's an infinite one and is expanding, or rather increasing. He spoke so much about increase. Why not increase what is pleasurable and things that help people live abundantly instead of the hardships and suffering? In the end it maybe the world to come, we reap what we sow, or rather what we plant we grow and we end up eating what we grow ... Ya know?

 

I didn't like him anyway, he wasn't right.. in the head.

Baahahhaha.

 

In order to talk to his equal an irishman is forced to talk to God!

 

No Christian did then, either, since there were none--unless you're counting Jesus and His followers who didn't use the label. According to the "substituionary atonement" theory prevalent among Christians today, He was a man on a mission to die for our sins, and did so voluntarily under the direction of His Father. This was God's idea, and His gift to us. As the saying goes, "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."

Those of rational, analytical disposition may find this belief disturbing (as I do). Why was it necessary for God to sacrifice an innocent man (the Logos, incarnate as the Son) in order to appease the Father? How can the death of one person "atone" for another's sin? To many, it makes no sense, and according to some theologians is not an essential part of Christian belief. Those would be the "progressive" Christians like theologian Marcus Borg--my favorite theologian. The substituionary atonement theory developed from Saint Paul's metaphor of the Pascal Lamb and the link drawn in the gospel of Mark and Matthew between Jesus and the "Suffering Servant" in Isaiah. The gospel of Luke gives a different take: Jesus's death was a continuation of His ministry. By flagrantly challenging the prevailing Jewish holiness doctrine and becoming a trouble maker to the Romans, Jesus set out on a course of personal destruction--and He knew it. He died for that. Even in His last hours, Jesus provides an example of human continues this ministry by seeking blessing and forgiveness for others even those who crucified Him, for they knew not what they were doing. The savagery and depravity of the domination system that crucified Him was fully exposed by His death. He taught us and showed us how we should live and die. He preached a message of Peace, Justice, and unconditional Love for everyone, including society's rejects.

"The Jews" didn't kill Christ--the Sadducee and Pharisee leadership and the Romans did, because they knew a subversive when they saw one. We participate in the atrocity when we embrace the domination systems of our own time and reject the values for which Jesus gave His life. Our salvation lies in repenting, rejecting the oppressors, and choosing the Way that He showed us.

 

Lots of history and tweaks that took it in various directions . The Constitution for example has much in common with Christianity in that it was developed with purpose, for a specific reason, and through the years many amendments and redefinitions if transpired, leaving it a shadow of it's former glory.


I see the whole of scriptures as a history of mankind womankind who created mated and had children in their own image, and then the coming of age and leaving home, on to having babies if their own and on to a plethora of vanities and wars and wicked ways and on to a governing body and on to another way represented by Jesus and other master teachers as well. One that entails an abundant Life, being responsible, caring about your family and friends, and in to being a friend in deed and then on to what comes to all in life and the honor and likewise the dishonor that comes after we die.

Relationships ... Healthy productive relationships between friends, and with our spouses or help mates, and teaching our children to be responsible adults and to teach them the necessity of being accountable also. It helps build character and self worth and helps give us something more to live for than just self. Lots of people we share this world with, so respect is an operative term.

Honor, loyalty, respect

Those are the building blocks of an abundant Life. The issue and trouble comes when people lack these fundamental characteristics.

 

There are those of other faith witch suffered injustice at the whim of persecutors and false witness
. . .

 

EXACTLY!

 

Wickerman syndrome?

 

The world has become highly anti religious and it's no wonder, given the way some operate. Some, go so far as to lead people in of certain types, then for being that type, having a wickerman calling, so to speak, lets it be known what Jesus taught.

Things like the servant is no greater than, and the being hated for his name, and things like that. Christians are expected to study to show themselves approved in these times of trial and tribulation, when delivered to the synogogues and courts and what not.

That's what Jesus taught and so ... That's what happens. A voice of reason is sometimes needed to urge the necessity of understanding. Ya know?

 

He often said these words: Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

In modern language it would go like something like this:. Change ... A better life is now.

The issue I guess is so many are too scared to enjoy it as Jesus and his friends enjoyed it ... Life that is. There's just so many accusers and torches and pitchforks ready to counter an abundant life, some are too scared to live one at all, particularly when they look at what happened to Jesus and most of his friends.

 

A major challenge facing Christianity today is that the "spokespersons" getting the most media attention are following a path that is quite different from the one Jesus walked. That's the way it was back in His day, too, with the Pharisees--proclaiming their self-righteousness and putting the emphasis on the letter of the Law at the expense of the spirit. Some Latter Day Pharisees in Christian churches have used the "substitutionary atonement" theory to shift the emphasis from Jesus teachings and example to his death and what it does for them in getting them to Heaven in an afterlife. I don't think Jesus would have understood that at all. When He spoke of the Kingdom of the Father, the Kingdom of Heaven, he seemed to have the Jewish view that that was something that would happen on this earth. It would be a regime that would replace existing domination systems with a just, compassionate order. And it was something already in progress as a result of His teachings. "The Kingdom of the Father is spread upon on the earth, and people do not see it." (Thomas, 113) We must open our eyes and be the change!

 

The redemption thing never made sense to me. How can someone, "God" let's call him, require infinite punishment for finite crimes? Sounds like Kim Jun Il's thinking to me.

 

Oh ye of limited knowledge ….. One film (like one size) doesn't fit all

 

Was; if one reads into, through and past the Religious text, and follows the philosophy, there be one indeed persecuted.
They were one with the mindset, preaches and actions of one more attuned to that of a Hippie Pagan, that had created a following, a movement, a cult, a faith and then … a Religion

More of a Rebel than a sinless virgin

 

.

 

The reference to Wickerman Syndrome was cryptic. Since it followed my post EXACTLY, referring to a picture of Patrick McGoohan as Edward Longshanks, I took it as a reference to the domination system which I had been discussing just before. Wicker Man is a giant effigy which, according to Julius Caesar, was used by Druids for human sacrifice. The film Wicker Man involved a man who, unlike Jesus, became an involuntary modern-day Druid sacrifice to restore fertility to the crops. Edward Longshanks was about power without justice--the essence of a domination system. One film doesn't fit all, but it can point to principles that do.