Sunday, March 02, 2008
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What Do You Think of Jesus?
Currently Reading
Foreskin's Lament: A Memoir
By Shalom Auslander
see related
(picture from www.rivervalleychurch.org)
Our conversation this week was about Jesus. Elizabeth told me her favorite story about Jesus, which was the woman at the well, and she asked me what I thought of Jesus.
Having been raised in Sunday School (classes before the regular church service on Sunday), when I think of Jesus, one of my first thoughts is of the flannelgraph Jesus I became aquainted with as a child. Good memories. To illustrate lessons, our teacher had a board covered in pink flannel that she/he stuck pictures to. Usually there was no ground or sky- Just people and maybe some objects like bread and fish floating in a pink haze. We kids used to beg for the adhesive pictures after Sunday School was over! I remember making my own flannel board and playing "Sunday School" at home.
Elizabeth and I started talking about how there are so many views of Jesus. Jesus is my homeboy, Jesus is my co-pilot, my CEO, Jesus was gay, Jesus was straight, Jesus was a rebel, Jesus was a teacher, Jesus was God, Jesus was a prophet, Jesus didn't exist, Jesus was a Republican, Jesus was a Democrat, Jesus was black, white, arab, Jesus was just a regular person. Which leads me to ask...
I think Jesus has become this literary figure that is as open to interpretation as cafeteria casserole. No one really knows what it is and your guess is as good as mine!
I don't claim to have the ultimate interpretation of who Jesus was, if Jesus was, or what Jesus would symbolize. I'm not really at that point in my life. I think it's interesting to listen to the ideas of others though.
So what do you think? Did Jesus even exist? If so, what do you make of him?
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Comments (10)
I have been a Christian for over 40 years now and I can't imagine what it would take for me to deny my faith. I guess I would struggle with the death of one of my children or the loss of my home or health....but it scares me to think a life without Christ. He has been such a HUGE part in everything about who I am as a person. Even when I have failed over and over again... His acceptance of me despite all my failures and His everlasting love ...is truly Amazing Grace!!
So, what do I think about Jesus?
He's my best friend. My Father. My Comforter. He is the Lover of my soul!
"the flannelgraph Jesus "
I hated that whole image! I hated Methodism for its irrelevancy to anything I cared about. When I asked a Methodist youth leader how we know that Jesus rose from the dead, he said that we just believe it. Because of that irrationalism I abandoned Methodism forever and God for six or seven years.
I believed in Christ later after reading all of the Old Testament and into Mark (I was considering converting to Judaism, but Isaiah 53 had a major impact on me). I didn't have any ideas one way or another about whether it was true or not before I started reading it. That's my story.
Well I don't believe in God or Christ.
My lack of faith causes (not forces) me to rely on historical and scientific evidence on which to base my beliefs.
So for me, Jesus did exist. He was a philosopher. He was a teacher. He came up with some fantastic quotes.
I admire him as a historical figure, and I think the lessons he taught ring true in today's world.
But I don't believe he rose from the dead, and I don't believe he was the son of God, born by a virgin. I don't think my lack of faith in this area in any way compromises my admiration for him.
After all, everyone knows the Bible was written with severe bias. The writers of the New Testament had certain expectations to live up to, regarding miracles and the "on the third day" fairy story, and they obliged. Jesus was a great man despite what I believe to be fabrications based around his life.
I came over here on the recommendation of Lifeneedsprotection and I thought I'd just chime in a couple thoughts. Like her, I've been a follower of Jesus for many, many years. I came to believe in him because of the power of his words and the compelling facts of his resurrection. And I have to say, if he did not come back to life, then he can't be a moral guide, no matter how much his teaching impresses us. If he didn't defeat death, like he said he would, he is either a liar or crazy. Liars and lunatics can't be great moral teachers.
But what has kept me following him all these years is more than just admiration or a conviction. I love him and serve him and shape my life by him because of the power and presence he provides. Every day, I get up and see myself connected to the God who created the universe. My life has purpose. My life is significant because he sought me and paid an amazing price to bring me back into a relationship with him. Faith in Jesus speaks to my heart -- providing comfort and joy; it speaks to my mind -- constantly challenging me and growing me; and it speaks to my actions -- empowering me to overcome the deep flaws I have as a human being and actually become more like the One I follow.
I'm an artist. I could go on and on about how my relationship with God through Jesus has shaped and given meaning to my creativity. It fires me up every day. Jesus said that he came to bring life and, more than that, to bring life that overflows with goodness. I have experienced that life. Because of Jesus.
Hope you don't mind me rambling a bit.
I do not really care that much about Jesus. I care more about waging relentless war on God... if he exists.
So many people put Jesus on a pedestal because of how much he suffered... but so have other people. I ask you why the pagans, who had been burned alive, are not as celebrated as him. Surely when comparing pain levels being burned alive is far worse, although shorter, than being nailed to wood.
Another thing; I will not deny that religion has brought great beauty to the world in the form of architecture, art, and other things, but it has also caused tremendous suffering.
You can not just talk about Jesus when you try and describe how/why religion has perpetuated itself for so long... you have to talk about a great deal of attributes about the human psyche. After all; is that not what all of it is but the creation of comprehension in an incomprehensible world.
There is probably a long history preceding Jesus which would indicate why he became so pivotal in religion.
Anyways there is a lot to be said of Jesus; I have just never thought that much about it.
I guess I should add that I have a graduate degree in physics which I earned after becoming a Christian and abandoning the evolution fairy tale. I've done one piece of research for my thesis and then went to work in industry as I had a family to support.
I've got a keen interest in epistemology and philosophy of science.
Existence of the historical Jesus? The jury's still out on that one. No verdict expected soon.
Bible? Hard to think of what it has not been used to justify over the centuries.
Personnal faith? If the faith of childhood, ponder why. If accepted or rejected as an adult, ponder in what way that reflects one's psychology and reaction to experience.
I tried to peruse your book on the lulusite you direct to but couldn't even find where it is. An author list would help. It seems one has to become a member first in order to find out if the site is worth joining, so I left.
Hope you don't mind that I subbed to you. I have a video posted on my site from yesterday that has a clip from my favorite comedian...he does a bit about his imaginary friend...that would be my view on Jesus. Gets me into a lot of heated conversations.
ideaguy,
as much as I admire some of the writings of C.S. Lewis, he really set up a "false tri-chotomy" (if you will) when he declared that Jesus was either a lunatic, liar, or Lord. there are actually many more options. the option i think ThisChromeEmotion is advocating (although i don't want to speak for her, since i don't know her) is that Jesus was either misquoted or his quotes are misinterpreted.
sean