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July 20th, 2013
10:00 PM ET
Reza Aslan: Why I write about JesusOpinion by Reza Aslan, special to CNN (CNN) - When I was 15 years old, I found Jesus. I spent the summer of my sophomore year at an evangelical youth camp in Northern California, a place of timbered fields and boundless blue skies, where, given enough time and stillness and soft-spoken encouragement, one could not help but hear the voice of God. Amid the man-made lakes and majestic pines my friends and I sang songs, played games and swapped secrets, rollicking in our freedom from the pressures of home and school. In the evenings, we gathered in a fire-lit assembly hall at the center of the camp. It was there that I heard a remarkable story that would change my life forever.
Through his words and miraculous deeds, he challenged the Jews who thought they were the chosen of God, and in return he was nailed to a cross. Though Jesus could have saved himself from that gruesome death, he freely chose to die. Indeed, his death was the point of it all, for his sacrifice freed us all from the burden of our sins. But the story did not end there, because three days later, he rose again, exalted and divine, so that now, all who believe in him and accept him into their hearts will also never die, but have eternal life. For a kid raised in a motley family of lukewarm Muslims and exuberant atheists, this was truly the greatest story ever told. Never before had I felt so intimately the pull of God. In Iran, the place of my birth, I was Muslim in much the way I was Persian. My religion and my ethnicity were mutual and linked. Like most people born into a religious tradition, my faith was as familiar to me as my skin, and just as disregardable. After the Iranian revolution forced my family to flee our home, religion in general, and Islam in particular, became taboo in our household. Islam was shorthand for everything we had lost to the mullahs who now ruled Iran. My mother still prayed when no one was looking, and you could still find a stray Quran or two hidden in a closet or a drawer somewhere. But, for the most part, our lives were scrubbed of all trace of God. That was just fine with me. After all, in the America of the 1980s, being Muslim was like being from Mars. My faith was a bruise, the most obvious symbol of my otherness; it needed to be concealed. Jesus, on the other hand, was America. He was the central figure in America’s national drama. Accepting him into my heart was as close as I could get to feeling truly American. I do not mean to say that mine was a conversion of convenience. On the contrary, I burned with absolute devotion to my newfound faith. I was presented with a Jesus who was less “Lord and Savior” than he was a best friend, someone with whom I could have a deep and personal relationship. As a teenager trying to make sense of an indeterminate world I had only just become aware of, this was an invitation I could not refuse. The moment I returned home from camp, I began eagerly to share the good news of Jesus Christ with my friends and family, my neighbors and classmates, with people I’d just met and with strangers on the street: those who heard it gladly, and those who threw it back in my face. Yet something unexpected happened in my quest to save the souls of the world. The more I probed the Bible to arm myself against the doubts of unbelievers, the more distance I discovered between the Jesus of the Gospels and the Jesus of history – between Jesus the Christ and Jesus of Nazareth. In college, where I began my formal study of the history of religions, that initial discomfort soon ballooned into full-blown doubts. The bedrock of evangelical Christianity, at least as it was taught to me, is the unconditional belief that every word of the Bible is God-breathed and true, literal and inerrant. The sudden realization that this belief is patently and irrefutably false, that the Bible is replete with the most blatant and obvious errors and contradictions — just as one would expect from a document written by hundreds of different hands across thousands of years — left me confused and spiritually unmoored. And so, like many people in my situation, I angrily discarded my faith as if it were a costly forgery I had been duped into buying. I began to rethink the faith and culture of my forefathers, finding in them a deeper, more intimate familiarity than I ever had as a child, the kind that comes from reconnecting with an old friend after many years apart. Meanwhile, I continued my academic work in religious studies, delving back into the Bible not as an unquestioning believer but as an inquisitive scholar. No longer chained to the assumption that the stories I read were literally true, I became aware of a more meaningful truth in the text. Ironically, the more I learned about the life of the historical Jesus, the turbulent world in which he lived, and the brutality of the Roman occupation that he defied, the more I was drawn to him. The Jewish peasant and revolutionary who challenged the rule of the most powerful empire the world had ever known became so much more real to me than the detached, unearthly being I had been introduced to in church. Today, I can confidently say that two decades of rigorous academic research into the origins of Christianity has made me a more genuinely committed disciple of Jesus of Nazareth than I ever was of Jesus Christ. I have modeled my life not after the celestial spirit whom many Christians believe sacrificed himself for our sins, but rather after the illiterate, marginal Jew who gave his life fighting an unwinnable battle against the religious and political powers of his day on behalf of the poor and the dispossessed – those his society deemed unworthy of saving. I wrote my newest book, "Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth" in order to spread the good news of the Jesus of history with the same fervor that I once applied to spreading the story of the Christ. Because I am convinced that one can be a devoted follower of Jesus without being a Christian, just as I know that one can be a Christian without being a follower of Jesus. Reza Aslan is a bestselling author and a scholar of religion. This article was adapted from his newest book, "Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth." The views expressed in this column are Aslan's alone. |
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Excellent piece. Being raised in an evangelical house, but having enough of a thinking mind to question the inaccuracies and contradictions in the Bible. Unfortunately, tose in my family believe that the Bible is Hole scripture and fail to recognize that in its early forms had different books and was written by more than 40 different people over 1600 years and ultimately chosen by a single man, Athanasius in 367CE. Today anybody claiming to have a message from God would be hospitalized.
That does not in any way demean the message of the Bible, but only serves as a means to read, interpret and integrate them into our daily lives. For me this is the entire point of Jesus' message: follow my example.
The fact the author identified Jesus as the Christ as the central figure to our national drama is spot on. Hiding behind a shield of "true Christianity" I find my country to be the most religions, while at the same time being the most Godless (would we really start those wars if we believed the 10 Commandments?). It is an interesting paradox that deserves some real national introspection. I submit we would be a very different country if we practiced more the religion OF Jesus and less the religion ABOUT Jesus.
I believe that is the point the author is trying to make.
Ha! I suspect that it was only a typo, but I'm gonna try to find some way to work "Hole Scripture" into my own writing from now on.
I see your perspective, and have walked down the same path. For, the Jesus of Nazareth is the Jesus of the bible. Jesus has been so interpreted and watered down that the real Jesus, if he actually existed probably couldn't even be known. You are still basing your belief in Jesus as the Son of God, and maybe the "miracle" birth, which we know by experience could not happen, it takes two!
Though we went down similar paths you have still embraced Jesus, but I have started a new understanding, which incorporates all perspectives, but only accepts truth. Truth is what is!
Sired Peter...
Yes it sure did take two... Mary and God did it take...! Christendom as a religious wholesomeness can no more stand upon emotionalized rewards while forsaking intellectual prowess... One needs to be ever fathoming the more rational ideologies if one is to make final one's psychoanalytic restraints...
Then she was an adultress? Or did it not "count" because he had an angel do it on his behalf?
We don't know by experience that it cannot happen. In the normal order of things, it doesn't, but on what basis do you say that the God who created the universe could not do something outside the normal order of things?
You mean like forgive sin without a blood sacrifice?
The writer seems to be essentially an orthodox Muslim. In Islam, Jesus is regarded as a great prophet, second only to Mohammed. He is also called Messiah in the Koran, but not the Son of God. To believe in Jesus Christ as God incarnate, fully human and fully divine, is the essential hallmark of the Christian faith. Christians do not need to be told who Jesus really is, either by Muslims or by anyone else. We know who Jesus Christ is, and that through our faith in Him we have eternal life. To believe in Jesus in an emotional way, as the writer came to believe when he attended an evangelical summer camp is easy, and this is sufficient for many people. But to grasp the truth of Christianity intellectually is not so simple. To do so you have to really plumb the depths of the human condition, the scriptures, and your own soul, not just scratch the surface like the author. As an introduction, Christianity 101 if you will, I might suggest a reading of "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis.
Charlie my young lad...
What really do you know about eternal life...? Being eternal is of one going from one life to the next ad infinitum... SEE...?
Young I am not. And it so happens that I actually do know a thing or two about eternal life. Although it is not part of Orthodox Christian dogma, I am convinced that reincarnation does occur. But in harmony with most spiritual traditions that include reincarnation, I don't believe it is a GOOD thing. Only a young soul might think so. Take it from me, a few horrible grisly deaths are enough to take the luster off it. To die once and for all and get out of here alive is the goal of Hindu Yoga, Buddhism, and Christianity. Their methods differ but the goal is essentially the same. I adhere to Christianity because I am convinced that it offers the simplest, surest way. Christ died and was resurrected to a higher state of existence, as are all those who believe in Him. Or as it was stated in the fourth century by St. Athanasius of Alexandria, "God became man so that man might become divine".
Sired Charles...
Christ (The anointed) Jesus did come into this world when he did in order to tell his followers that sins will not keep anyone from the eternalness of living and dying for all eternities regardless of anyone's flaws... For God the Father of Celestial Creations and God's Sons did establish all Terrestrial Evolutionary Trails of living abundances upon the celestially contrived planetary objects capable to sustain the ever so many innumerable celestially ordained life forms... There is but One and God was it... For in the beginning was the word and the word was God and the words were with God and were also of God's many sons as it is was written of within worded fractures of biblical suppositions...
An essential part of the ORTHODOX faith. Which is just one of dozens of flavors of christianity that existed in the first century. Some thought he was all god and no man, some thought he was all man and no god, some believed he was both (a comprimise). We thank Paul for the myopic view of jesus that we have today...
Inside every human being there is an emptiness that needs to be filled. We are always searching for a reason to our existence. God is that reason we exist and Jesus His son made it possible for us to be with God for eternity. You can't deny Jesus' existence. He's in all the history books as having lived, breathed and walked this earth. Many religions have Jesus written in their books as a prophet but Jesus Himself claimed to be the son of God. No other man in history has very made such a claim and died for it. He either was who He said He was or He was a lunatic. It's your choice to believe it or not. A friend of mine committed suicide when he was 20 several years ago. In the weeks before his passing he told me that there was no reason for living. He went on to say that working a job, getting married, having kids and attaining things meant nothing because in the end you just die. what's the point in that. I agree, without God and what Jesus did on the cross for us our lives mean nothing. It's totally meaningless. You can disagree, that is your choice for which I don't judge you but I do hope you figure out before you die that there is more to this life than just living routinely day to day and then die. Earth is a temporary home, heaven is eternal. It's your choice!:)
Too bad you can't find peace and happiness without your delusion. I do not have an emptiness that I am looking to fill, so your base premise is a lie. The rest is just conjecture based on a flawed premise.
Oh reeealllllyyyy? Psychology 101. You are trolling the religious section just waiting to pounce on someone and unleash your vitriol. Do you routinely call everyone with a different value system than yourself "delusional"? Of course you have a void to fill. We all do.
Wrong on so many accounts. Here are just two: Jesus is not found in most (let alone every) history book. In fact, outside of the Bible, there is only one single written reference to him of that era. One. His name etched in a stone tablet (or was it a wall?). That tired argument that he was "either who he said he was, or he was a liar, or he was insane" inaccurately posits that there was ever a man like this who walked around saying that he was the Son of God. There is so little evidence, again, outside of the Bible, that he even existed or, if he did, walked around making these claims.
I stand corrected.Jesus is not mentioned in every history book.You're right.He is mentioned in several religions and he is absolutely mentioned in many history books as having existed.Not just the Bible or etched in a stone or a wall. Check it out for yourself if you don't believe me.
Everytime I look up at the stars or at a picture of deep space or read about the advances of quantum physics, that hole you speak of is filled with joy and wonder, with a desire to know and see more. Everytime I read the Bble, I just see tales from thousands of years ago, atrocities and flaws that people over look. The Bible doesn't fill me with joy, or enlightenment or a sense of completeness. If anything, I feel more of a void. I don't need someone else God to make me feel whole. I'm happy as I am, and I don't understand why people refuse to believe me, and tell me I'm lying.
Thank you, Brian
+1 here. Well said.
My, won't you be surprised when there is no heaven...oh, wait, you'll just be dead, nevermind.
Just as you'll be surprised if you find out there is a hell.
"Inside every human being there is an emptiness that needs to be filled."
And you know this on the basis of your 7 billion scrupulous personal interviews, right?
You don't need 7 Billion, you simply need a statistical sampling – maybe 1000 would be sufficient. I love how these science worshipers are too stupid to pass college math.
1000 to extrapolate to 7 billion? I think you should think before you question other people's math...
I have heard testimonies of people claiming to have Near-death experiences and Out-of-Body experiences. Some of their testimonies of meeting Jesus and experiences in a hellish after life have been insightful. One of the re-occurring claims was that Jesus takes them through a guided tour in hell and speaks to the tormented souls who beg (Jesus, I believe in you now, give me anther chance) but Jesus's usual reply was, "judgement is set". I often thought this was sadistic. What kind of person would deserve that kind of torment without being given another chance? The tormented souls would also beg Jesus to send someone to warn people on earth not to "come to this place(hell)" It seems the only person that really benefits from the Jesus issue is the soul that is a breath away from the set judgement. No scare tactics or threats, just truth. If there is a real hell awaiting, and Jesus is the only way out, then find Him while you still draw breath. God so loved the world that He said whosoever believes in Jesus (His son) will not go to Hell, but will have everlasting life. A lot satanists blog and are antagonists, but they can be redeemed too. (Whosoever believes). If Jesus gave me a guided tour of Hell and I pray (dear reader) not to find your soul there. All your mockery and ridicule can't stop Jesus from loving you and wanting you not to perish, but when judgement is set...judgement is set.
So Hitler, who was one of your brothers in Christ, is in heaven, as long as he repented in his final moments, a disctinct possibility.
Why would anyone want to follow any god that would allow that?
The only answer I have come up with is that the basic immorality that is Christianity, allowing someone else to take your just punishment, allows for all immoralities, as long as you ask forgiveness from your god.
Why does your religion allow monsters such as Hitler into heaven, and yet I am to be sent to burn for eternity, simply because I do not believe a story that men made up, and copied from previous myths? It makes no sense at all.
Now you have read the truth, and if it is indeed truth, now you are accountable. All I pray in this moment, is that (in Jesus' name) you accept the truth, and slip into eternity to be with Jesus. Amen. I hope you can sense the urgency and desperation. The thought of a soul ending up in hell is so much of a heart ache that I don't care what your dogma is. I'm not even trying to win an argument, I just don't want to know that you end up in hell and there was something I could've done about it. (in this moment–as I type–there is a divine urgency to let you know this) I don't take the credit. I'm not sure I even know you, but Jesus does, and Jesus cares. God Bless
So we're to be held accountable for our disbelief even if the messanger isn't doing a good job presenting the case for god and christianity? That seems kind of one sided doesn't it?
@G, Agreed. Communication takes two parties and if the message is only getting across to the non-critical and less well educated then it is a poorly formed message that at the very least needs updating.
If I myself could, with a word, spare you from the eternal frying pan that your "loving God" created, I would do so in a flash, even tho I've never met you, simply because NOBODY deserves a fate like that. Everybody I know would do likewise, because they'd all be appalled at the sadistic savàgery of it.
But your Jesus wouldn't. That's because he's an asshøle. Good thing he's only fictional.
Guess you have never read Tacitus. So much for the scholarly atheist. They are simply another religious fanatic that will kill you if you challenge them (see Mao, Stalin, Lenin, Pol Pot)
"In the months during which Vespasian was waiting at Alexandria for the periodical return of the summer gales and settled weather at sea, many wonders occurred which seemed to point him out as the object of the favour of heaven and of the partiality of the Gods. One of the common people of Alexandria, well known for his blindness, threw himself at the Emperor's knees, and implored him with groans to heal his infirmity. This he did by the advice of the God Serapis, whom this nation, devoted as it is to many supersti.tions, worships more than any other divinity. He begged Vespasian that he would deign to moisten his cheeks and eye-balls with his spittle. Another with a diseased hand, at the counsel of the same God, prayed that the limb might feet the print of a Caesar's foot. At first Vespasian ridiculed and repulsed them. They persisted; and he, though on the one hand he feared the scandal of a fruitless attempt, yet, on the other, was induced by the entreaties of the men and by the language of his flatterers to hope for success. At last he ordered that the opinion of physicians should be taken, as to whether such blindness and infirmity were within the reach of human skill. They discussed the matter from different points of view. 'In the one case,' they said, 'the faculty of sight was not wholly destroyed, and might return, if the obstacles were removed; in the other case, the limb, which had fallen into a diseased condition, might be restored, if a healing influence were applied; such, perhaps, might be the pleasure of the Gods, and the Emperor might be chosen to be the minister of the divine will; at any rate, all the glory of a successful remedy would be Caesar's, while the ridicule of failure would fall on the sufferers.' And so Vespasian, supposing that all things were possible to his good fortune, and that nothing was any longer past belief, with a joyful countenance, amid the intense expectation of the multi.tude of bystanders, accomplished what was required. The hand was instantly restored to its use, and the light of day again shone upon the blind. Persons actually present attest both facts, even now when nothing is to be gained by falsehood." –(The Histories, 4:81)
Reporting on the Germanic people in "Germania":
"They say that Hercules, too, once visited them; and when going into battle, they sing of him first of all heroes. They have also those songs of theirs, by the recital of which ("baritus," they call it), they rouse their courage, while from the note they augur the result of the approaching conflict."
"Mercury is the deity whom they chiefly worship, and on certain days they deem it right to sacrifice to him even with human victims. Hercules and Mars they appease with more lawful offerings. Some of the Suevi also sacrifice to Isis. Of the occasion and origin of this foreign rite I have discovered nothing, but that the image, which is fashioned like a light galley, indicates an imported worship. The Germans, however, do not consider it consistent with the grandeur of celestial beings to confine the gods within walls, or to liken them to the form of any human countenance. They consecrate woods and groves, and they apply the names of deities to the abstraction which they see only in spiritual worship."
If there is a God He sent His son as a means to reconcile a fallen world with Himself, not to say, "Hey, be a good guy." Although good works should follow faith, the Bible tells us works alone "are as filthy rags" to God. If there is no God, this Jesus fellow (a liar and/or a lunatic for the claims he made) was just a rabble-rouser who said, "Hey, be a good guy." But if there is no God, what's the point of being good? If there is no God, life is pointless so whatever we decide the standard of "good" is at the time means nothing.
As for the author, I disagree with his conclusions but I respect the effort he's put into reaching them. I'd rather put the effort in and be wrong than be intellectually and spiritually lazy and find out I made worst mistake I could have ever made.
If there is a God, your eternity is going to depend on the choices you make while you're living so put some effort in. If there isn't a God, absolutely everything you do is pointless anyway so it's not like exploring spiritual truth was any more of a waste of time than anything else.
Who Jesus The Son of Marry was and whom was he sent to... did he really said to his disciples to make him as one of three? or did he really said to his ppl to worship his mother Marry...
3:49 – And [make him Jesus] a messenger to the Children of Israel, [who will say], 'Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord in that I design for you from clay [that which is] like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird by permission of Allah . And I cure the blind and the leper, and I give life to the dead – by permission of Allah . And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.
3:50 – And [I (Jesus) have come] confirming what was before me of the Torah and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. And I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear Allah and obey me (Jesus).
3:51 – Indeed, Allah is my (Jesus) Lord and your (companions) Lord, so worship Him. That is the straight path."
5:116 – And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah ?'" He will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen.
5:117 – I said not to them except what You commanded me – to worship Allah , my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them; but when You took me up, You were the Observer over them, and You are, over all things, Witness.
5:118 – If You should punish them – indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them – indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
5:119 – Allah will say, "This is the Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness." For them are gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them, and they with Him. That is the great attainment.
5:120 – To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is within them. And He is over all things competent.
Not sure what you are citing to. But as a Roman Catholic, here is what I believe:
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Peace,
Steve
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
Steve,
You see there are three deities in ur belief even though you claim to be a Monotheistic Religion… how can it be a Mono where you have 3 Lords?
Here is what revealed in Quran about denying the concept of trinity:
Surely, disbelievers are those who said: "Allah is the third of the three (in a Trinity)." But there is no ilah (god) (none who has the right to be worshipped) but One Ilah (God -Allah). And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them. – 5:73
The Messiah ['Iesa (Jesus)], son of Maryam (Mary), was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother [Maryam (Mary)] was a Siddiqah [i.e. she believed in the words of Allah and His Books (see Verse 66:12)]. They both used to eat food (as any other human being, while Allah does not eat). Look how We make the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to them, yet look how they are deluded away (from the truth). – 5:75
Here is a small chapter which defines very clearly and very easy to understand about who Lord Almighty is:
112:1-4
Say (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)): "He is Allah, (the) One.
"Allah-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks).
"He begets not, nor was He begotten;
"And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him."
I hope it will make you and others to think twice about believe of Jesus (Peace and blessings be upon him)
As a Roman Catholic, here is what I believe, no more, no less:
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Following Jesus, without a belief in his divinity is rather like believing in the Sun but ignoring its light.
Peace,
Steve
I'm very interested in your Catholic faith, and the scandals affecting your church make me think Satan must be afraid of you and is trying to scare people away from joining your churches. However, I cannot get past the way you view Mary. It just seems so unnecessary and unsubstantiated when the real attention of Christianity should be on Christ and his life.
Having been raised Catholic and attending catechism classes non stop growing up, I can say that the church is a big phony. They are only interested in raising money and wearing fancy robes. God has almost no part in their big plans. The devil had nothing to do with my distain for the church. It had everything to do with the way they run things. Religion indeed...
ABSOLUTELY
crafter:
Perhaps you need to remember, and not conveniently forget, all of the poor, sick, and disenfranchised people who the Catholic Church has loved and tangibly helped through Catholic Charities and otherwise. The Catholic Church does more in one year to help these poor people than all the atheist groups in the world have done since "atheism" was conceived.
Putting he commandments of Christ into action.
Peace to you.
Steve
We (Catholic Christians) don't worship Mary or the saints. We simply recognize their holiness and continued existence in Heaven, and because of this, we ask them to pray for us. As they have "made it" and are with God, we have confidence their prayers are answered
Then why not recognize everyone's holiness? Wheather you want to believe or not, we are all the creators children
"No more, no less"?
Really?
I believe that water flows downhill and the sun rises in the east, but you believe NO MORE than what you just quoted?
Must be hard to get thru the day for you. For example, if you don't believe that your fingers hitting the keys on your computer will produce a coherent message, how do you ... oh, wait! COHERENT message. Never mind.
You also don't understand the subtleties of the ENGLISH LANGUAGE. The Context was RELIGION and he was speaking of spiritual matters. You are quoting scientific facts in a physical universe – belief does not enter into it. 2+2=4, it is not a matter of faith or belief – you can prove it. The things you pointed out are provable in a physical universe – belief does not enter into them. Having trouble with English are we. Atheist=A man educated beyond his intelligence.
Someone has an opinion about God!!! Come on CNN...
Want to see some REAL analogies with the Jesus story. Try the stories of Appolonius of Tyana, Horus or Mythras, all of which predated Jesus.Appolonius of Tyana. Before he was born, his mother was visited by an angel who told her that her son would be divine. His birth was accompanied by miraculous signs and as a child he was religiously precocious. As an adult, he left home to be an itinerant preacher, teaching the good news that people should live for what is spiritual, not the material things of this world. He gathered disciples and performed miracles. He raised the ire of those in power who had him brought up before the Roman authorities. His followers saw him after he died and he ascended into heaven. – Bart ErhmanHorusBefore Jesus, Horus was a mythological figure from Egypt who was said to be born on December 25 to a virgin. A star in the East heralded his arrival and three kings came to worship the baby. At age 12, Horus was a prodigal child teacher and at age 30 he was baptized and began his ministry. He had 12 disciples, travelled about performing miracles such as healing the sick and walking on water and was known by terms such as “the good shepherd.” After he died, he was buried, but three days later he rose from the dead. Mythras. Similarly, two centuries before the appearance of Jesus, the myth of Mithras held that Mithras was the son of the sun sent to save mankind. He was born of a virgin in a cave on December 25, and his birth was attended by shepherds. Mithras sacrificed himself and, on the last day of his life, had supper with twelve of his followers. At that supper, Mithras invited his followers to eat his body and drink his blood. He was buried in a tomb and after three days he rose again. The cult of Mithraism, which evolved out of the earlier Persian religion of Zoroastrism, was popular in Rome at the same time that Christianity was spreading.Unfortunatley, there is good reason to think that many of the stories about Jesus are a collage of existing Mediterranean mythology. This is not surprising, given that the frist Gospel, Mark, was not written until 40 years after Jesus' death and that stories about hiw swirled about the superst.itious Greco-Roman Mediterranean for all this time before being captured in writing.Indeed, it would be very, very unlikely, to the point of impossibility, for stories about him NOT to grow over time and be influenced by the prevailing mythogy.
The reason no one cares about your "examples" of previous "saviors" is b/c no one agrees that they even existed. They are myths, yet half the world's population today agrees that Jesus did exist. That's the difference. Weak sauce bro, weak sauce.
A mere half the world's population believes your favorite fairy tale?
Weak tea, my man, weak tea.
In ancient times over 99% believed the world was flat, certainly including the writers of the New Testament, who spoke of Jesus being able to see all 4 corners of it from the highest mountain on the tiny little squarish plane that they envisioned as the entire material world. THOSE are the people who wrote this "inerrant, divinely inspired" book that you venerate so highly.
And 400 years later, the "divinely inspired" committee at the Council of Nicea had yet to learn better and approved this ridiculous just-so story for inclusion in the official canon.
Facts are not subject to majority vote, you know.
If you've lost the Christ, you've lost everything. Sorry mate, the brief introduction to your book is way off-base both historically and spiritually. Christ Jesus was neither illiterate nor marginalized and did not come to defy the Roman Empire, but to save the world. Perhaps, you need to read the Bible again and maybe research the excellent academic contributions by philosophers like Prof. Alvin Plantinga and Dr. Gary Habermas.
Alvin Plantinga!!!????
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Wow. Alvin Plantinga. Ha.
Wow.
Should I consider your mocking a meritorious argument? I would like to give your position and/or opinion a fair listen but I'm having difficulty taking seriously your refutation of Alvin Plantiga as a viable source.
..
....It is not Jesus that is (or ever was) the problem....IT IS USING HIS NAME TO KILL that REMAINS THE PROBLEM!
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Is it also wrong to kill in the name of Mohammad? Or are you just selective? By the way, the Crusades happened over 1000 years ago, who is killing in the name of their religion? The terrorists that I see killing in the name of their religion are all Islamist extremists - who have killed untold Christians BTW.
Perhaps you need to obtain to facts to back up your hollow statements. I'm thinking that "Kentucky Windage" is really "Full of Hot Air".
Lol any examples of this Post Christian Crusades?
Reconstruction.
Do you recall what motivated the Holocaust? 6 million dead Jews, exterminated at the hands of soldiers who wore "Gott mit Uns" (God is with us) on their belt buckles? And you don't think religious animus had ANYTHING to do with it?
It was pure social darwinism that did all that.
Traver – if that helps you sleep...
The underlying problem is not Jesus or Mohammad or the Bible or religion. At the root of it all is the concept of FAITH — that you can know something for sure and certain without a shred of evidence to support it, and frequently in the face of massive evidence against it.
Faith is the rotten core of all religions — the evil seed from which all of their nefarious mischief and appalling behavior springs — the mental disease that leads people to conduct pogroms and inquisitions and to fly hijacked airliners into skyscräpers.
You have a defined number of breaths in your lifetime. Many of you posting here are essentially lying about Jesus. What the New Testament says about him, is the truth, all of it.
Count the breaths. God gives the breath of life, and he takes it away. Say the truth during that time and for sure don't lie about Jesus. They already said what Jesus did, you weren't there.
Wow. This post is complete bollocks.
Halleluyah.
My invisible pink unicorn is holding her breath until you a clue.
[get] a clue
That's ironic. Because none of the people who wrote about Jesus were there either.
Just as I penned down in my book, "It is time we truly know why Jesus wept" it is obvious that humanity can still learn more because no matter how much we think we know, we are still ignorant of many things.
So basically just another article about the wonders of atheism...
I am a priest. A renegade priest perhaps, but a priest nonetheless. I am sorry about all of the hateful comments that professing Christians are saying. I have seen far too many professing Christians who have no idea about what it means to actually follow Jesus. They tend to be very well read and educated in the doctrinal tenets of their faith, but when it comes to actually following what He taught, they make excuse after excuse about why they don't have to, and yet Jesus Himself said that those who hear His words, and do not do them, are like those who build their house on the sand. I understand that Jesus is also a prophet of Islam, and I am thrilled that this son of Islam has learned to appreciate Jesus' teaching and life. I am also thrilled that while he may have lost his faith in the version of Jesus Evangelical Christianity had thrust upon him, he found faith in Jesus Himself apart from it. This is where true faith, and true "Christianity" begins. Not with faith in dogma, but with faith in Jesus. I hope that eventually it will lead once again to faith in Jesus as Christ, but faith in Jesus and following His teaching is a better place to be than faith in Jesus as Christ and ignoring His teaching.
Thank you allen. These are the kind of posts that make the comment section worth reading.
Allen, way to go. I appreciate what you wrote.
Father Allen – any comments on the rampant abuse in the clergy? Any thoughts on the improprieties done by your kind would be greatly appreciated by all on this board. Thank you
As a self-professing Christian that you are – any comments on how you violate the commandment against false idolatry? I know you must pray "through" saints, so just curious how you reconcile your heresy with the Bible?
Allen – shame on me. Its obvious you are not a theologian, b/c the first commandment states the Lord is God. We all sin – we all cannot escape it. Everyone is a sinner – The only thing we can do about it is Accept the Gift of salvation that he gave us. Therefore, you are wrong. Leave, Satan
The only point of the story I might disagree with is the last lines where adam and EVE are mentioned as the cause. It was, instead, Abraham, and moses taking the ancient fireside tales to record them as some "Message from God".
History shows us that many other cultures had the same fairy tales, but only Abraham had the Altar, One god, and an Army of true believers to enforce his will.
Later came Moses with an Army to enforce his wills onto all others at the point of a sword.
Lazarus
Another fairy tale for self-deluded lemmings. It should do well.
Big words and not a shred of evidence to back it up. What you say don't mean a thing...
Ya know I used to think atheists were High IQ people who just happened to not believe in a higher being, however, I've realized that most of you are complete fools with low IQs who resort to name calling b/c you have no real point. You are bitter and sad.
An atheist is simply a person without belief in gods.
"A-" (without) "-theos-" (god) "-ism" (belief)
Knowing that a person is an atheist tells you nothing else at all about her or him.
The great majority of the world's atheists, about a billion Chinese, simply have never been exposed to the idea of deities and so have no particular reason to believe in them. That doesn't stop them from believing in all sorts of OTHER ridiculous superst¡tions, like traditional Chinese "medicine", ancestor veneration, or Communism, so clearly they didn't arrive at their atheism thru any rigorous intellectual process.
You may not be bitter and sad, but you are woefully ill informed.
oh the irony.
Pot meet kettle.
Those with a high IQ are more likely to persue higher education, and such insti-tutions are notoriously liberal and anti religion. The things you hear from professors would be considered hate speech if it were about any topic other than religion. Couple that with the fact that most students are at an impressionable age and the result is that many of them end up being pushed away from religion long term. That is why you might perceive a correlation between high IQ and atheism. However, there are many smart people who did not share that experience and hold strong religious beliefs.
Did you even go to College because most of my professors were Christians and talked about god a lot.
Not like those wonderful Atheists. Lets look at the atheistic track record:
1. Republican France – millions dead and 26 years of the Napoleonic wars
2. Lenin Millions dead and a nation enslaved
3. Stalin: tens of Million dead
4. Mao: estimates of over 100 Million dead by forced famines and purges
5. Pol Pot: 3-4 Million dead
6. Castro: thousands dead and a nation enslaved
7. Communism in Africa: Somalia – thousands dead, Ethiopia, thousands dead, Rhodesia: (the ANC is communistic) a nation that was once the bread basket of Africa can't feed itself.
Note that death toll is greater than all religious wars fought over the last 2000 years. Atheists are no more than psychopathic genocidal murderers.
I'd be interested in hearing about miracles or some pro religion articles not always things that doubt religion what is the agenda?
Go to the fiction aisle.
The conclusion of the article by Reza Aslan makes no sense. The author ended the article with the following statement,
"Because I am convinced that one can be a devoted follower of Jesus without being a Christian, just as I know that one can be a Christian without being a follower of Jesus."
Yes some may state they are Christians but aren't true followers of Jesus, but that's their personal relationship with Christ. Christians are human and so they are also sinners, but that doesn't mean that all christians have the same personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Just like humans are individuals with many different personalities so are Christians personal relationships with Jesus Christ. So Reza Aslan statement is false. A true christian keyword true is a devoted follower of Jesus. So in my opinion I disagree with Reza Aslan because a true Christian wants with all their heart, mind and soul to become a devoted follower of Jesus for eternality.
It's very simple to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, He is waiting for you with open arms.
The hard part is changing everything in your life according to God's will. But remember Jesus Christ died for you and me and has much better plans in store for your life. We will never be able to understand or explain Jesus Christ because he is God. So instead of always analyzing the bible for mistakes and the history of Jesus Christ; how about we all actually read God's word, the bible, and ask God for guidance with everything in life. Jesus Christ died for us so the least we could do is become devoted followers that read and learn the Holy Bible.
Yep, quite the freak you are. Terrific circular logic, and some tasty word salad too.
MagicPanties, Jesus Christ loves you whether you want to believe it or not. It's up to you to love him back.
I may write sometimes in too much detail, but at least I stand in my firm belief of who Jesus is, He is God whether you like it or not. Thank you for your comment hahah I'm glad my logic is circular hahaha Truth will prevail
Jeebus is no god. He was just a preacher who had some good rules to live by for a good life. No god, get it. I'd like to believe he is, but common sense and logic just makes it preposterous. If you have no common sense ar critical thinking ability, then jeebus is your man. It helps keep you out of trouble.
Spending even one minute of one day 'thinking' about your love for Jesus, Horus, Isis, Bast, Ongor, Odin, Palarmoquetzl, or any other faerie thought is a waste of that precious one minute. There is no god that mankind knows of, there is no after life, death is death, your dreams of a soul or heavans are simply ego – that part of your pysche that focuses on Me Me Me, what do I get, etc. Over one third of humankind currently believes in higher powers that will grant them good things, a mere joke played on you by yourself. Time to grow up kids, the elements and the universe is here right now 🙂
Well written post, rarely do I come across an intelligent post such as this.