Why did Jesus disappear up to heaven?

[floo]

deleted

[Shaker]

I have asked this question many times over the years, but have never had a sensible answer from Biblical literalists.

Well there's your problem right there - expecting a sensible answer from a Biblical literalist.

[Rhiannon]

I think it reflects the myth of the dying/resurrected god that was common in many mythic cultures. In these stories a mortal man dies, and comes back immortal.

[floo]

Well there's your problem right there - expecting a sensible answer from a Biblical literalist.

True, but one day I might get lucky.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

I think it reflects the myth of the dying/resurrected god that was common in many mythic cultures. In these stories a mortal man dies, and comes back immortal.

Very prescient of these cultures..........

[Walt Zingmatilder]

If the less than credible story of the resurrection of Jesus is true, why didn't he stay down here on earth instead of disappearing skywards?

If only the 'saved' go to heaven, and the rest end up burning in the fires of hell for all eternity, surely it is most unfair of Jesus not to be doing his bit down here convincing everyone he is all that the gospel writers claim he is.

I have asked this question many times over the years, but have never had a sensible answer from Biblical literalists.

Jesus demonstrates a life possible for Mankind. Birth, death, resurrection, heaven. Anything beyond that like Methusalan longevity and he would have ceased to be Jesus God and Man.......

[floo]

Jesus demonstrates a life possible for Mankind. Birth, death, resurrection, heaven. Anything beyond that like Methusalan longevity and he would have ceased to be Jesus God and Man.......

I don't get that?

[Humph Warden Bennett]

If the less than credible story of the resurrection of Jesus is true, why didn't he stay down here on earth instead of disappearing skywards?

If only the 'saved' go to heaven, and the rest end up burning in the fires of hell for all eternity, surely it is most unfair of Jesus not to be doing his bit down here convincing everyone he is all that the gospel writers claim he is.

I have asked this question many times over the years, but have never had a sensible answer from Biblical literalists.

Because his work on earth was done. He gave the message, it's up to us whether we accept it or not.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

I don't get that?

It means that if he lived for 2000 or more years he could not have led any thing like an authentically human life.

In fact it wouldn't have happened because he would have been subject to the ''kill the freak'' tendency in mankind.

[Shaker]

It means that if he lived for 2000 or more years he could not have led any thing like an authentically human life.

Supposedly walking on water, reanimating corpses and producing huge numbers of fish finger sandwiches by allegedly magical means isn't my idea of an authentically human life.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Supposedly walking on water, reanimating corpses and producing huge numbers of fish finger sandwiches by allegedly magical means isn't my idea of an authentically human life.

Did DavidBowie have an authentically human life? Can a 2000 year old person have an authentic human life.
I think there is no secret that Jesus is also thought of as God. He said himself that others would do greater acts and indeed we find similar in the acts of the apostles.
It didn't help him in front of Pilate and the Pharisees though.

[Shaker]

Did DavidBowie have an authentically human life?

Not that I knew him socially but I have every reason to think so.

I think there is no secret that Jesus is also thought of as God.

By some, yes. But some people believe all sorts.

It didn't help him in front of Pilate and the Pharisees though.

Ostensibly not that much of a god, then.

[ippy]

Because his work on earth was done. He gave the message, it's up to us whether we accept it or not.

Surly H W B, you must mean', It's up to us whether we let ourselves be taken in by these, (until proved otherwise), fictional stories or not.

Ippy

[SusanDoris]

I wonder if those who say the Creed every week manage to say the words, 'He ascended into heaven' without their brains saying, 'but we know what is up there. If he ascended, he'd need a space suit ....'
In fact, I cannot remember when I last heard any religious speaker talking about heaven as anywhere 'up'!!

[ad_orientem]

I wonder if those who say the Creed every week manage to say the words, 'He ascended into heaven' without their brains saying, 'but we know what is up there. If he ascended, he'd need a space suit ....'
In fact, I cannot remember when I last heard any religious speaker talking about heaven as anywhere 'up'!!

That he ascended doesn't mean that heaven is above the clouds. That Christ desended into Hades doen't mean we believe hell is under our feet. But Christ ascending into heaven is a sign, that through him our humanity has been lifted up.

[Shaker]

Ah. It's one of those it's-a-metaphor moments 

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Surly H W B, you must mean', It's up to us whether we let ourselves be taken in by these, (until proved otherwise), fictional stories or not.

Ippy

positive assertion you need to prove it is fiction.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Supposedly walking on water, reanimating corpses and producing huge numbers of fish finger sandwiches by allegedly magical means isn't my idea of an authentically human life.

You're always whingeing about God not helping out and when God does your whinge about that too.

Goddodging Shakes?

[Shaker]

You're always whingeing about God not helping out and when God does your whinge about that too.

A few fish finger butties falls a very long way short of what I would call help in a global context, given the alleged powers attributed to alleged entity.

Goddodging Shakes?

Nope. Just pointing out stupid shit as stupid shit, same as usual, Vlad.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

Surly H W B, you must mean', It's up to us whether we let ourselves be taken in by these, (until proved otherwise), fictional stories or not.

Ippy

Don't hold your breath.........

No.

[floo]

Because his work on earth was done. He gave the message, it's up to us whether we accept it or not.

Well clearly the guy disappeared too soon having done a bog standard job.

[BeRational]

positive assertion you need to prove it is fiction.

That it did NOT happen is the default position.

I think you know this already.

[ad_orientem]

Ah. It's one of those it's-a-metaphor moments 

There is plenty of metaphor and allegory in the scriptures. Neither of them denies the literal sense. They are not opposed to each other.

[ippy]

positive assertion you need to prove it is fiction.

Hi there Vlad, you having another bad day? Think of the teapot Vlad; I'm not making any assertions and as you must know by now, nobody that posts here is that thick, the default position is for those that assert things it's for them to back up these assertions in some way, evidence for example.

Have another read of my post Vlad, it looks to me you may have missed something. 

ippy

[Dicky Underpants]

That he ascended doesn't mean that heaven is above the clouds. That Christ desended into Hades doen't mean we believe hell is under our feet. But Christ ascending into heaven is a sign, that through him our humanity has been lifted up.

That's a step on the way to John Shelby Spong, who thinks that the Resurrection and the Ascension were originally one 'metaphorical' event, which later became differentiated and given literal narratives.