If Jesus was real he was pretty dumb because, with all the shit he could pull (water to wine etc), he'd be SWIMMING in pussy here in the 21st century. School boy error rocking up in the fucking dark ages when ladies bathed once a month or whatever.

(and he must because he put Nick in charge of a Live message board for a period of time), I think he would find that funny!

Christianity is exclusive. I believe it is the only way.

Not all Christianity is exclusive. Only some strains of it are. There are plenty of very bright, insightful Christians who see the gospels and panoply of early church documents in the historical, social, literary, linguistic, economic, political, religious, civil context in which they were produced and reach a very logical, non-literal, non-exclusive form of Christianity that really resonates with me. To me, the "truth" lies somewhere within the message of personal transformation and social justice that Jesus and his followers were sharing amidst the violence, and social injustice imposed on an oppressed people in the first century Roman empire ruled by Ceasar.

I have said this many times here and I will say it again. If you have not challenged and tested the beliefs that have been handed to you, by studying in depth other religious traditions, and studying your own Christian documents in a historical, social, economic, religious, Roman context - and think about when and why they were written, by whom and to whom, then you are missing a lot! The gospels were not written by stenographers that were following Jesus around writing every contemporaneous syllable. The gospels cannot be all literally true because they are filled with internal factual inconsitencies and contradictions. The Gospels were written 30 to 90 years after the death of Jesus, based on oral history and traditions, to certain audiences to emphasize certain points, in certain contexts. The context is too rich and deep to discuss at length on a message board. But context is everything.

Sorry, i've been away from the computer for awhile.

I think when something starts contradicting what Christ said in the Bible it becomes something different and not another strain of Christianity.

All you guys know your stuff and can articulate your points very well. I enjoy these types of debates.

I'm not going to convince you guys that i'm right and you guys aren't going to convince me that you are right. Thanks for the conversation.

I think if Jesus was real and alive today he'd be smacking must Christians upside the head.

If you believe in the Bible, whether that is literal or metaphoric, then what do you do when the Bible contradicts itself. The entire old testament is 180 degree about face with the new testament. Most Christians that I've discussed claim to prioritize the new testament over the old, but ironically cling to some verse in Leviticus about homosexuality while ignoring how Jesus would approach the issue based upon his teachings in the New Testament.

Regardless the Bible contradicts itself. How can one follow such a sloppy book.

Give me some examples Steve.

I think if Jesus was real and alive today he'd be smacking must Christians upside the head.

When you discover why you disbelieve in Zues, you'll see why I disbelieve in your God.

If you don't believe in Zeus then you need to see this. It will terrify you into belief.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spfpSIyt4qc

I think if Jesus was real and alive today he'd be smacking must Christians upside the head.

If you believe in the Bible, whether that is literal or metaphoric, then what do you do when the Bible contradicts itself. The entire old testament is 180 degree about face with the new testament. Most Christians that I've discussed claim to prioritize the new testament over the old, but ironically cling to some verse in Leviticus about homosexuality while ignoring how Jesus would approach the issue based upon his teachings in the New Testament.

Regardless the Bible contradicts itself. How can one follow such a sloppy book.

About homosexuality:

Romans 1:26-27 specifically talks about homosexuality and so does 1 Corinthians 6:9. But your point was about Jesus. Where in Scripture did Jesus say that homosexuality was ok? Or any other sin for that matter?

What did Jesus say about sinners? No apply that to modern mainstream Christianity's take on homosexuality? I'm not even referring to the "God Hates Fags" whacko's either. I'm talking about your common run of the mill Christian who is quick to emphasize on the sins of homosexuality, demanding the state(s) not wed gays, but seems to turn the other cheek on our bombings of brown people while marching like lemmings to vote for politicians with Rs next to their name.

Can you honestly sit there and tell me the modern Christian crusade against homosexuality would meet the approval of your Jesus depicted in your Bible?