I think of Jesus as a young rabbi who taught an unusual and radically new interpretation of the Mosaic message, and who bothered the old guard rabbis of his time enough to get the Romans to crucify him as a trouble-maker. Even the Roman records of the time confirm that much.
If the gospels were a truthful record of what Jesus said, then he was a remarkably wise young man. (If - meaning not concocted. Or even if only half of it was true.) If Christians can follow his advice of unconditional love towards all - or even strive sincerely towards achieving it - then I have immense respect for them. I believe love is the solution to just about everything.
I don't believe it's possible for consciousness to exist independent of a living body. Therefore I don't believe that Jesus rose again after death and ascended to sit on the right hand of God.
I respect absolutely the right of others to hold that belief - or any other - so long as their brand of belief does not lead to the harming of others.
I also don't think it's necessary to have faith in order to love and act ethically of one's own free will. All it takes is empathy for the feelings of others and the life of this planet.
This post was edited by inky at July 23, 2019 10:04 AM MDT
Haha! That took me by surprise. What does he taste like?
I imagine if Hildegard of Bingen was asked the same question, she would reply something like "I take this wafer as the Body of Christ in Thy name." And she would swoon with poetic inspiration as a Bride of Christ.
As with your example, Jesus pops up here and there on the landscape, or is mentioned on signs and architecture; how frequently (or fervently) depends on what region of the country you’re driving in.
Yes... well...He found me. He came into a dream I was having And gave me a talking to. A bunch of little children angels came in through the right side offering me all kinds of fruit and delicacies Jesus came down from above and there was one person standing with Jesus in back of him, that came in from the left side. .....I was so attached to the dream and couldn't let go of it, and so I was yelling at jesus why I was upset in that crazy dream and He took away my voice and gave me a talking to... ...one of my fondest moments in this life. .....Hopefully my next meeting with Him will be a bit different...haha