My question is, does it matter to you wether Jesus was actually a human being, or an amassed ideal of attainable perfection that we collectively share in our minds? If it were somehow possible to prove one way or the other, and it was shown to be a fact that Jesus did not actually ever live but is rather symbolic for God's will, would your view of God and spirituality itself change much? And for better or for worse? Thank you in advance for either reading or responding and may God bless you. Namaste
no it wouldn't change anything in my mind. I have no way of knowing if he was real or not anyways, as I wasn't around 2000 years ago. but either way, real or fiction, the ideas and simple truths presented by his self/character encompass an incredible outlook on life, and how one should live it.
There's more evidence that Jesus existed than there is that Socrates existed, but if neither of them existed it wouldn't change my faith at all. They'd still be my heroes and role models.
I didnt know this, interesting. I dont think the actual existance of Jesus is important, if I sit down and read a novel and Im learning something from the main character, I dont dismiss it because it's fiction. If he did or did not exist doesnt puzzle me at all and if it was proven he didnt, to me it wouldnt make any difference, because I just see him as a symbol of love. Like many other religious figures.
Hell, yes it matters. Of course the ideas would've been revolutionary no matter. Yet, there's more than the philosophy part of it for me.
To be honnest with you at this point in my life/journey ... i guess it doesn't really matter to me personally incarnate or not Jesus was pure love/forgiveness man... that was the whole point... the teaching of true love you wanna be a "christian" no need for a church or conversions or beliefs... just be that love that has long been written down. Saying it, wanting it, doing it, it's all good... but BEING IT. Ah yes that's right that's purpose of everyone here to eventually be him Happy journey (Namaste right back at ya Relayer)
If Jesus wasn't a real person, could he still have been the perfect and ultimate physical sacrifice for our sins?
No cause i took a test and it said i am 0% catholic and 100% Hindu and yet i was raised catholic and i consider myself a Buddhist. i guess i deprogrammed myself from myths. lol
I don't worship Jesus, I worship God, because to me, Jesus was a human. And he was. And he was sent from God. The end.
Well my question, more then geared towards the Christians who believe Jesus is one and the same with God and He alone can save us, is really getting at aligning yourself with any religion period, you know titles and seperative beliefs and all that. Whos right and whos wrong? I mean, how much faith do we put into a movie? How much faith do we put into other books? Many of them have lessons, but with the (hypocthetical) proof that the main character or main lesson is the collected opinions of regular people, and not inspired by an enlightened person but rather the assumption of what enlightenment entails, how seriously would you take the man-made teacher?
Well, if as you claim: "He (Jesus) was sent from God. Then, using your logic, Jesus came from the same source as God." If Jesus came from the same source as God, then, Jesus would be identical to God. If you say, you worship God, but don't worship Jesus, then you are contradicting yourself. I am not christian, sorry, FinnishB, but there is simply no logic in your position.
I'm a Christian because I think that Jesus was a good hippie and that some of the core beliefs and principles that I associate with him are cool and ones I want to live my life by: peace, love, understanding, compassion, forgiveness, humility, recognition of all humans as brothers and sisters and active concern and help for the poor, outcasts and dregs of society. I take him seriously enough to bet my life on the validity of his teachings. These are my primary core values. But I also value the books, prophets, and teachings of other religious traditions, as well as atheism, and I think we can learn from them all--the Buddha, Mohammad, Krishna, Horus, Quetzalcoatl, Dawkins, etc. I take them all seriously.
