I don't even believe Jesus was a real person. — Lionino
Jesus of Nazareth did exist. — javi2541997
It may even be that 'Jesus' became the name for a composite from the stories of different individuals claiming or believed to be the messiah. — Fooloso4
Jesus of Nazareth did exist. — javi2541997
My guess is that he did exist but that we know nothing about this man. It may even be that 'Jesus' became the name for a composite from the stories of different individuals claiming or believed to be the messiah. — Fooloso4
There is nothing unique about Jesus. He was a normal person like you and me. That's the key to understanding him. — javi2541997
As a legendary hero figure. (Hercules, Prince Yamato, Odin, Ta Kora, Maitreya, Boewulf...) A special human who is born to greatness, pursuing his assigned quest; his exploits exaggerated and embellished over time.How are we to understand him? — Fooloso4
There is something unique about all hero figures, but they also conform to an archetype: their culture's ideal of virtue, accomplishment and perseverance. What is means for Christianity is not at issue: Christian churches have made up their own version of the religion, in most of which Jesus hardly signifies at all, except as a conduit to heaven and a focal point for the major feast days.If there is nothing unique about him what does this mean for Christianity? — Fooloso4
The stories have been edited, revised, Europeanized and abridged. If you're interested in the teachings, you'll find their essence in those texts, regardless of distortion.If the stories of Jesus are distortions then what are we to make of the teachings ascribed to him? — Fooloso4
What do you mean by 'teachings'?
... reciting speeches
The people who surrounded him decided to exploit his image through his teachings. — javi2541997
He maybe didn't even know how to write, but had everything a religion needs: Poverty, drama, guilt, sacrifice, etc. — javi2541997
How are we to understand him?
— Fooloso4
As a legendary hero figure. (Hercules, Prince Yamato, Odin, Ta Kora, Maitreya, Boewulf...) — Vera Mont
If you're interested in the teachings, you'll find their essence in those texts, regardless of distortion. — Vera Mont
That no current religions worship those ancient figures, or that I left Gautama off the list, has little to do with their archetypal similarity.ut there are no major religions worshiping these figures. — Fooloso4
No. It's an enormous PR success. It was promulgated and sold in Roman format, under the auspices of a mighty empire with some pretty canny administrators. They had the missionaries, the architects and enforcers to cobble every pagan sect into some semblance of the Christian faith.Does this mean that Christianity is an enormous mistake?
Each according his sensibility. The accuracy of the original doesn't matter a damn: it was preached to different peoples in different times and is relevant to our lives only in the most basic points: be decent to one another.How do we distinguish between essence and distortion? — Fooloso4
Yes, of course. How do you think all those different Christian sects came to exist? Why do you think they've made so many wars and persecutions over it? People are perverse: when they read "Love thy neighbour as thyself" they sometimes choose to understand it as "If thy neighbour is not enough like thyself, burn him at the stake for his own good."What you might take to be essence others might see as distortion because it leaves out what they believe is essential. — Fooloso4
That no current religions worship those ancient figures, or that I left Gautama off the list, has little to do with their archetypal similarity. — Vera Mont
It's an enormous PR success. — Vera Mont
be decent to one another. — Vera Mont
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