tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32660508.post115966987476479631..comments2009-04-27T14:59:54.618-04:00Comments on Prospecting God: Jesus…“My God”, man!Cold Molasseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15712709530663147902noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32660508.post-41361594816643080692009-04-27T14:59:00.000-04:002009-04-27T14:59:00.000-04:00This is Heresy. The traditional Christian view, sp...This is Heresy. The traditional Christian view, specifically the Catholic view, of Jesus is correct. Your blog has more holes than swiss cheese.<br /><br />Rick LUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02691552999943710703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32660508.post-1160359963597216882006-10-08T22:12:00.000-04:002006-10-08T22:12:00.000-04:00CM, you should get a job with Readers Digest. You...CM, you should get a job with Readers Digest. You are a pro at taking your thoughts and readings and spitting out a concise report for us to read, even though it's for your own purposes.<BR/><BR/>As for your blog, being as long as it is, I will comment on your summary only:<BR/><BR/>#1. I will concede there possibly/probably was a man named Jesus, although the main proof of this (New Testament) for me is a very suspect book for reliable historosity.<BR/><BR/>#2. In my view, the gospels are not only remembered history (which can change in a day, let alone 2000 years) and metaphors but also some colusion on behalf of the early church to change the original words to suit their purposes for control.<BR/><BR/>#3. I like your pre-easter Jesus, however, your post-easter Jesus is in my mind only a false hope in the possibility of an assured or certain afterlife if the "christian way" is followed.<BR/><BR/>#4. & #5. Pretty much ditto to those.<BR/><BR/>#6. Easter was originally a pagan holiday which the early christian church highjacked so that people would be more inclined to celebrate the new christian tradition. Jesus since that time is not a tangible object. The ressurection and connection to such can only be experienced in the mind of those who believe. (Why even the first gospel does not talk about a resurrected Jesus). Again, as the new testamnet was "formed" it became convenient to add the ressurection of this man as other religious myths had done before it. (Ex. the Eygptian Horrus). This revelation was to only a chosen few men (why no women?) and as Thomas Paine says, a revelation is only to the first person. To all others who hear this revelation, it is only but heresay.<BR/><BR/>#7. Of couse it makes no sense how Jesus can be both God and man. How could "god" become an infalliable man, it goes against all logic man has. And of course, my biggest bugaboo with most religions, is it's exclusivity to god. Jesus was said to say, that he was the only way to god. Now christians believe that everyone who is not a christian is going to hell. <BR/><BR/>Hell, now there's another subject!<BR/><BR/>Anyways, I am not dissing what you beleive but giving my 2 cents worth. Keep it up, you've come along way and I have a long way to go.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32660508.post-1159824291164739622006-10-02T17:24:00.000-04:002006-10-02T17:24:00.000-04:00Thanks to both of the Anonymouses. I only wish yo...Thanks to both of the Anonymouses. I only wish you had a fake blog name so I'd know who you were (or not really, but you know what I mean).<BR/><BR/>Anonymous #1, I'm very interested in your thoughts on "The Heart of Christianity". I personally think that that book is one of the best I have ever read on this topic. Borg is, in my view, an amazing writer in that he communicates such difficult topics in such a clear and concise way (unlike me!). I wish you well in your search and I look forward to conversing with you here!<BR/><BR/>And Anonymous #2, wow...what a reply. I think I enjoyed reading your reply as much as writing the blog. You should have your own blog...I would enjoy it I'm sure.Cold Molasseshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15712709530663147902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32660508.post-1159757740090146362006-10-01T22:55:00.000-04:002006-10-01T22:55:00.000-04:00Zounds, Cold Molasses! What an entry. Most enjoyab...Zounds, Cold Molasses! <BR/>What an entry. Most enjoyable reading. Thank you. I am eager to talk about it.<BR/><BR/>Hold on a minute though. <BR/>First, I have to comment on your clever title. <BR/>Did you know that people used to swear (that is, to say a mild imprecation) by alluding to body parts? They would say "By God's arms, I swear this is true." Or by His legs, or foot, etc? <BR/>Body parts! <BR/><BR/>That word "Zounds"...is an abbreviated Middle English oath for "By His Wounds."<BR/> <BR/>A bit of trivia – which this blog most certainly is not.<BR/><BR/>I have not read Borg...and now I actually feel that (lazy thing that I am) I don't have to: you have done such a nice job of succinctly summarizing. Thanks for that as well.<BR/><BR/>There is so much I could ask you about here or simply add my two cents' worth (compared to your $2.50), but (mercifully) I will concentrate on just one thing. <BR/><BR/>It is one of the things that you say you are also intrigued about: the fact that Jesus doesn't come out and say who he is. <BR/>Most fascinating of you/Borg to consider this.<BR/><BR/>I mean, if it were me, I'd go for the glory with something like: "You want to know who I am? I am [fill in the blank with an important title here]. So straighten up and treat me with a little more respect."<BR/>Of course, Jesus doesn’t do this.<BR/><BR/>Instead we have mystery - all those "I am's" scattered around. I remember thinking that my pastor was stuttering when he pronounced: "I am that I am."<BR/>Is that even a sentence? What is lost in translation? <BR/><BR/>Maybe these are the "I am" sayings of John to which you allude?<BR/><BR/>Anyhow. You ask a very good question there (rhetorically, I think) when you say, "Does a messianic consciousness really matter [to us]?"<BR/><BR/>Great point of emphasis. Not as much as our own consciousness would be my answer.<BR/><BR/>As enlightening as your comments are (I’m referring now to the paragraph beginning "In fact the whole question. . ."), my point of emphasis (like yours) also would lie elsewhere. <BR/><BR/>In the "I am that I am" and in Jesus' various circumventions on providing us a lucid and properly definitive labeling, it seems that we could direct our attention more to the receivers of the message. <BR/>The answer casts about for our own interpretation. <BR/>The Good News, after all, is about US. Not about What Jesus Knows About Himself. <BR/><BR/>That is, when Jesus says, “Who do people say that I am?” the answer that would be elicited is indeed accurate. To the person uttering the answer this IS Jesus. It may not be the True Response. But it is what matters to the person...it is his truth.<BR/><BR/>It’s not just who he is, but how his presence affects us. That is, who he is to us, that makes the difference.<BR/><BR/>Ultimately, Joseph Campbell says, we get the god we deserve. <BR/><BR/>I’ll close with what I consider to be a parallel idea from a favorite poem…and with a request that you keep writing these thoughtful entries.<BR/>Though you have far more background than I, you supply much to think upon.<BR/><BR/>"The world stands out on either side <BR/>No wider than the heart is wide; <BR/>Above the world is stretched the sky,— <BR/>No higher than the soul is high.<BR/>The heart can push the sea and land <BR/>Farther away on either hand; <BR/>The soul can split the sky in two, <BR/>And let the face of God shine through. <BR/>But East and West will pinch the heart <BR/>That can not keep them pushed apart; <BR/>And he whose soul is flat—the sky <BR/>Will cave in on him by and by."<BR/> <BR/> -- from “Renascence” by Edna St. Vincent MillayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32660508.post-1159748475761591502006-10-01T20:21:00.000-04:002006-10-01T20:21:00.000-04:00Some very interesting food for thought. I am curre...Some very interesting food for thought. I am currently reading "The Heart of Christianity" and beginning to shift in my own historical/traditional view of Christianity.<BR/><BR/>Your blog was very helpful.<BR/><BR/>ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com