Do you think Jesus was really just a wise philosopher ?
550637
Yes, i think he was also a heretic and understood the Spirit well. It is sad that Christians completely raped his messages with their religion.
843557
Yes, actually, although I realize it's politically correct to talk about what Jesus did, and not what Jesus believed...\n\nJesus followed the whole OT law.  He would have believed in two principles:\n1.  Defending the weak, giving justice to the oppressed\n2.  Self defense and/or an eye for an eye\n\nHe said Himself, that He had come NOT to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it!
414703
I looked at your links, and I went to the home page of the first and looked at more of the articles. I'm sorry, but it did not change my mind. Much of what he said made good sense, and in coming to his conclusions, I think he felt what we refer to as "red flags" in his religion that caused him to doubt its logic. But, I find red flags in the fact that like many, including Christians, his understanding of Christianity seems to be in parts of the the concept rather than the whole. \n\nCase in point... The "contradiction" he mentions as a very serious one: salvation by faith vs. works/law\n\nQuoted are:\nJohn 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. \n\nJohn 6:47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. \n\nJohn 6:28-29Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?"  Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." \n\nversus\n\nMatt 19:16-21  16 And someone came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" 17 And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 Then he said to Him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, " YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER; YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY; YOU SHALL NOT STEAL; YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS; 19 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER; and YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." \n\n\nFor my answer to this supposed contradiction, please see the link where I have already answered the same question.\n\nP.S. - I do agree with you that the asker should have been able to look at the info provided and form his own opinion rather than immediately dismissing it, apparently w/o reading it. I would, however, be careful in claiming evidence as proof - even the writer of the articles in the first link admits he cannot disprove God.
569893
Yes, I support this view.\n\nI think all the religious texts have some wisdom in them, but you can't take them literally.  Some bits were written just for that time and aren't applicable, some are true bits of wisdom that stand the test of time.  However all to me is just nice stories to tell a message/moral, not history.
245254
Yes.  Many of Jesus harshest were reserved for fundamentalists who condemn others, are fiercely nationalistic (who is my neighbor), those who are proud, and those who put too much emphasis on money and personal wealth.\n\nThe only way he could have been more clear is to just come out and say "Dont' be like the Republicans!"  \n\nJesus spoke about peace, turning the other cheek, healing the sick, helping the poor, giving up weath to benefit the poor, and believeing that real power stems from humility, and understanding, not pride and strength.  \n\nThat sounds pretty liberal to me....\n\nIf Jesus were alive today, Ann Coulter would already have 2 books about how dangerous he is for the country.
517092
that depends on what you mean by that question. \ni believe there once lived a man named jesus who tried to show mankind a better way to live and was executed under some lame excuse because he was becoming mighty inconvenient to the powers that be. i believe a good part of his teachings, though i don't believe in god.\ni believe jesus was a good man, 100% human, who loved, was probably married, might have had children. i believe he claimed to be the son of god only in the sense in which he believed that all men are the children of god. i believe he was the natural son of joseph and mary, or else of some other guy and mary - i don't believe in the immaculate conception.\ni believe he was taken down from the cross just on this side of death, that some of his followers knew it and helped him, and that on the third day he was recovered enough to get out with some help and fulfill the prophecy of his return. i believe the exertion killed them shortly after that. or else the powers that be found a way to finally kill him and dispose of the body discreetly.
418329
Read his letters.  He was an extremely insightful and intelligent man.  He received his revelations of the Christian life first hand, meaning he didn't borrow from anyone other than the teachings of Christ and his disciples.  His instruction to other believers and churches were brilliant.\n\nHis testimony was something to beheld as well.  Here is a man who was a PHARISSEE.  He pursecuted Christians.  After his Damascus road experience, he immediately gave his life to Christ.  The change he went through is a hallmark of the restorative power of Jesus.\n\nBut, there's always a but, because of Paul's past, many are quite skepitcal of his teachings.  I understand why they would be.  But everything he teaches is supported elsewhere in scripture either by other epistles (mostly written before Paul's letters) or by the Old Testament examples he uses to illustrate his point.  \n\nSo, I think its inaccurate to view his contribuition as an usurping of the Christian faith.
548764
Christ was just a man. A very smart man who like many philosophers before him studied many cultures and ideology's. Incorporating them into his own personal beliefs. Using logic and misdirection he was able to convince many that he could to do god like healing. But the best magic trick of all time was the fact that years later there are those that still believe that he will rise up again. They have made many movie about the dead waking....Dawn of the dead...zombies....ect. I guess they are God like too? After all If Christ were to have risen...he would be killed on site for being a zombie...
483353
Absolutely...a really good book to read is "Misquoting Jesus" by Bart Ehrman.  He did a lot of research on this topic.
247189
yes of course he is!  he gave us bart and God only gave us Jesus and a bunch of questions!
249397
Jesus was the most humble human to walk this earth, wouldn't you agree?  Yet he said that he came to bear witness to THE truth. (John 18:37)  He said he was THE way, THE truth, and THE life. (John 14:6)  He spoke quite clearly about there being NO other true religion than that of worshipping his Father, the only true God.  (Matthew 7:21-23; Psalm 83:18)\n\nGranted, people are not going to listen to pushy preachers, but if we feel we have "the truth" wouldn't it be a very selfish and haughty thing for us to keep it to ourselves?\n\nDo you believe there is only one true religion, the same one as was at the beginning of creation, or do you believe there are many roads to everlasting life?  (Matthew 7:13,14; John 17:3)
964522
I believe that he would.  Jesus was a definite  liberal of his time.  In my opinion, the introduction of the words sin, hell, and satan did not come from the man, Jesus.
378291
"How did you get to be so knowledgeable?"\n\n\nPS Ricky - are you assuming something else (and tinged with Christianity) about this hypothetical omniscient being?
1158003
its all metaphors. Jesus used metaphors so dont look for literal meanings
170220
Jesus was the opposite of a fundamentalist.  He was a liberal Jew.  You are right, he did take a more liberal view of the Torah, he taught that although it may have been the way and the truth in the past, but times they were a' changing.  He was revolutionary (in that he changed things drastically) but I don't think he was ever fundamentalist.  It is a few of those who have come since who have twisted his teachings into something different.
248718
I am a free thinker, and I do not find Biblical quotes inspiring.  However I have a good friend who is a philosopher and his quotes are very inspirational.\n"I'm not getting paid much for staying alive but it's good experience."© Ashleigh Brilliant\n"I think I’ll just sit here and wait till life gets easier."© Ashleigh Brilliant
984175
Good question. Made me think. Jesus brought with him the spirit of the laws of how mankind should live, not the word of the law. He wasn't atheist but in a way you could say he was more human-oriented than any of the prophets before him. \n\nHe said himself that he did not come to undo the law and the prophets, yet the simple philosophy of doing to your neighbor what you would have him do to you was enough to change the Jewish customs dramatically into Christianity.\n\nHe wasn't atheist, but I think you mean that his teachings work outside the context of religion. He advocated doing what makes sense no matter what the law said. He healed on the sabbath, he drank wine, he taught people who were not Jews the same as people who were. He was a revolutionary. I can see how one could ask this question.