Did Jesus exist? (Poll)

[Gnostic Christian Bishop]

The bible has many good lessons to teach. You just have to read it the way a Gnostic Christian does.

Christianity reversed many of the morals of the story and Gnostic Christians reverse them back so as to learn the real moral of the story.

For instance, to Jews, Genesis and Eden is where mankind was elevated. Christians changed that to a fall.

It was actually our elevation where man became as Gods in the knowing of good and evil. IOW, man developed a moral sense, and only the most stupid Christians will see that as a fall.

As William Blake said of how we read scriptures as compared to Christians.
“Both read the Bible day and night; but you read black where I read white.”

Regards
DL

Even if I (in my personal opinion) thought you were a delusional fool, which I might, it would be for thinking there's a god in the first place. After that, if you see god as compassionate, good for you. It's your personal take. Just don't necessarily get me started on why I think it's nothing more than your personal take, that your 'real' reading of the 'truth' in the bible is just your preferred interpretation.

As for whether being a delusional fool is something that does not deserve compassion, that's a slightly different matter, imo. I believe in love. Maybe I'm a delusional fool too. But if neither of us is harming anyone and we're both just trying to get through life as best we can, then it's arguably ok. Good luck to us both. May we go in peace, etc.

If it was a supernatural God, then I see it more as a duty to correct as that would be following the Golden Rule.

How one tries to correct is where the ethics come into play, but tough love is not out of the question if the belief cause harm to others.

Regards
DL

 

[ruby sparks]

Depends what you mean by tough love. Not eternal punishment, obviously.

 

[Jason Harvestdancer]

Saying that a historic figure on which the Jesus mythos was built doesn't actually support the mythic Jesus in any way. It always surprises me and confuses me when Christians try to argue that there was a person at the center of the myths.

I think it is very likely that there was a descendant of Maccabeus who was next in line to try to claim the Judean Throne and throw out the invaders. That person was probably the source for the eventual Jesus myth with the supernatural elements added later. If you read the New Testament in the order in which it was written, instead of the order in which it was assembled, you will see very little mythic at first.

 

[Gnostic Christian Bishop]

Depends what you mean by tough love. Not eternal punishment, obviously.

True. I cannot get that tough and if I could, I would be as big of a prick as any God who tortured people purposlessly.

It is a good thing that there are likely no supernatural Gods.

Regards
DL

 

[Gnostic Christian Bishop]

Saying that a historic figure on which the Jesus mythos was built doesn't actually support the mythic Jesus in any way. It always surprises me and confuses me when Christians try to argue that there was a person at the center of the myths.

I think it is very likely that there was a descendant of Maccabeus who was next in line to try to claim the Judean Throne and throw out the invaders. That person was probably the source for the eventual Jesus myth with the supernatural elements added later. If you read the New Testament in the order in which it was written, instead of the order in which it was assembled, you will see very little mythic at first.

I agree.

The ancients before Christianity and other religions became idol worshipers instead of God seekers were not that stupid.

A short explanation of those good days.

http://bigthink.com/videos/what-is-god-2-2

I and Joseph Campbell see Jesus as just another face in the Heroes of 1000 faces.

I happen to follow the myth of the Jesus who is an esoteric ecumenist because he is the best free thinkers.

I see Gnostic Christianity as the only religion that can bridge religion and politics.

Regards
DL