It’s pretty hard to come up with a new idea about Jesus.
Lots of people have thought about it.
Occasionally, a smart person will come up with a new insight.
It’s quite rare though.
A godless thought is an oxymoron.
Thinking is impossible without God.
Smart people have suggested that there are only three ways to understand Jesus.
If what he said was incorrect and he KNEW it: He was a liar.
If what he said was incorrect and he DID NOT KNOW it: He was a lunatic.
If what he said was correct: He is Lord.
- Liar
- Lunatic
- Lord
That’s it.
Three options.
Not six.
I’ll offer the player some perspective.
First, and most obviously, Jesus was not a humanist.
From the AmericanHumanist.org website:
Notice the specific mention of NO theism and NO supernatural stuff?
Jesus seemed to believe in God.
“Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” – John 8:54
But put that aside for a minute.
Even if Jesus was a Humanist, you still only have three possible conclusions.
Try this fun little exercise:
Replace Jesus with “Humanist”.
If what a Humanist says is incorrect and he KNOWS it: He’s a liar.
If what a Humanist says is incorrect and he DOES NOT KNOW: He’s a lunatic.
If the Humanist is correct: He is a genius to be adored.
(Humanists don’t believe in “Lords” so it seemed inappropriate to use that word.)
No matter what fictional personality you pin on Jesus, there are only 3 possibilities.
If Jesus was a Democrat … Liar, Lunatic or Lord.
If Jesus was an Eskimo woman … Liar, Lunatic or Lord.
If Jesus was an alien from Mars … Liar, Lunatic or Lord.
Maybe you should spend your time thinking about Jesus words instead of how you would “jazz them up”.
Just a suggestion.
11 Responses
The Jesus didn’t exist argument is the laziest argument ever! If I said that I don’t believe that the i.r.s. exists, I may be able to avoid paying my taxes-for a time. When i stand before the judge and offer up the “I didn’t believe argument”, the judge will probably ask me if I looked into the letters i had received from said nonexistent entity, or the various other evidences telling me that i should probably at least do some due diligence and look further into the matter. These same Jesus didn’t exist people are usually the same people who don’t want to follow the constitution. We may soon hear that Thomas Jefferson didn’t exist either as a way to bypass living under the constraints of an antiquated document. In another matter, Where I live in the Pacific Northwest, Bigfoot has officially been designated a protected and endangered species-maybe John could score some bigfoot meat for his son-in-law to try, at least once that is.
I went to the “Love over Religion” blog to read it for myself. And I have to say… I’ll never do that again.
I now realize that you are doing me a gracious and monumental favor by reading brain-damaging words and ideas so that I don’t have to.
Essentially she should have just posited this idea:
“Possibility #4: Jesus did not exist. Therefore, since there are now four questions, the original idea that there are three questions is now invalid.”
I don’t know how you manage, sir! But from now on, you’re the man. Lesson learned.
I’ve hard that possible number four posited as “Legend” to stay in line with the L’s ^_^… which does indeed seem to fit every one of the three suggestions from LoR
I appreciate what you’re doing, Dylan. I doubt Danica will ever know (much less appreciate) the effort you exert to give the atheist arguments credibility.
If Jesus was a legendary figure, then anything goes. Danica is free to make up dozens of hypothetical scenarios.
The 3 possibilities are contingent on Jesus being historical, and the Bible accurately portraying his character. Since Danica doe not subscribe to either of those things, she’s free to proffer a nearly infinite number scenarios. Several times she explains that she doesn’t actually hold to any of her explanations. I can’t understand why a person would suggest beliefs they don’t personally hold…but I’m not depraved.
Honestly, I didn’t read the entire post… It was rather lengthy. I’m mostly saying that she could have just summarized the one point (and stayed with the Ls), rather than the three points after a long preamble that I didn’t read.
Theory #2: Jesus was a Pantheist. Is ok to use a “proof text” from a book you don’t even believe in to be true to use as evidence? Then in turn incorrectly interpret the verse.
I don’t believe Jeff Lane exists. All the Jeffs I know can string a few words together to make a cogent sentence.
I believe Jeff exists!
He’s brought oatmeal creme pies for me and my dad! (More than once.) 🙂
… But I guess I can’t prove it.
You’re telling lies to oppress BbBennett. This is nothing but a power grab.
… But I guess I can’t prove it.
It’s ok, I was using my room full of monkeys with typewriters to deliver that one. I will try it on my own next time.
I love how succinctly you put things. Life would be a lot simpler if people would just pick one of these three and stick with it.