A 21st century Jesus

[Roses]

What would Jesus be like if he was born in modern times? He would have all the benefits of modern technology, medicine and science, which weren't available 2000 years ago. How would that change his message, and his followers perception of him? 

[SwordOfTheSpirit]

How would that change his message

It wouldn't, in my opinion. From Mark 10 v 45:

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

...and his followers perception of him?

Again, I don't think it would. His followers would see the miracles and miraculous signs as evidence of who He was and that what He was saying was true.

[jeremyp]

I don't think it would. His followers would see the miracles and miraculous signs as evidence of who He was and that what He was saying was true.

Well I've seen Criss Angel walk on water so I think his miraculous signs would have to be rethought.

[Roses]

It wouldn't, in my opinion. From Mark 10 v 45:

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”Again, I don't think it would. His followers would see the miracles and miraculous signs as evidence of who He was and that what He was saying was true.

Maybe Jesus was a talented magician.


I wonder how he would react to a certain person who has interpreted what he is supposed to have said in such a 'unique' way? I suspect he would be pretty scathing about it, to say the least.

[Sriram]

Spiritual teachings are never about miracles.  It is always about rising above our animal nature and becoming more loving, selfless, universal and going beyond the mundane material world.

I am sure if Jesus comes today, he will teach the same things. Jesus has always been around in fact, teaching similar things under different cultures and regions.....long before the historical Jesus too.

[SwordOfTheSpirit]

I wonder how he would react to a certain person who has interpreted what he is supposed to have said in such a 'unique' way? I suspect he would be pretty scathing about it, to say the least.

But would He need to be pretty scathing about it if the person has interpreted what He said correctly?

[SwordOfTheSpirit]

Well I've seen Criss Angel walk on water so I think his miraculous signs would have to be rethought.

Hence why Jesus did many miracles. As statistics would say, a sample size of 1 is not big enough.

Incidentally, I would put what Criss Angel does in the illusion category. Explanation(s) are available on Youtube(*1)

(*1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3P4Gzow-t0

[Roses]

Hence why Jesus did many miracles. As statistics would say, a sample size of 1 is not big enough.

Incidentally, I would put what Criss Angel does in the illusion category. Explanation(s) are available on Youtube(*1)

(*1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3P4Gzow-t0

Illusionists can be pretty convincing. The so called 'miracles' attributed to Jesus aren't credible at all.

[Gordon]

Hence why Jesus did many miracles. As statistics would say, a sample size of 1 is not big enough.

Incidentally, I would put what Criss Angel does in the illusion category. Explanation(s) are available on Youtube(*1)

(*1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3P4Gzow-t0

Super - so, and bearing in mind the stories of Jesus doing miracles are post-hoc anecdotal accounts of uncertain provenance that weren't written in the form used in the NT until decades after the death of Jesus (assuming for the sake of argument Jesus was a real person who was killed as described in the NT), how have you addressed the risks of bias, mistake, exaggeration and lies in the NT accounts of Jesus? 

[Shaker]

*crickets*

[Maeght]

Incidentally, I would put what Criss Angel does in the illusion category.

Well, yes. Of course.

[SteveH]

Maybe Jesus was a talented magician.

Maybe you should try putting your brain in gear before engaging your mouth. Everyone, whatever their religion or lack thereof, agrees that Jesus was a good, patently honest and sincere person, but you want us to believe that he was a con-man.

[Maeght]

Maybe you should try putting your brain in gear before engaging your mouth. Everyone, whatever their religion or lack thereof, agrees that Jesus was a good, patently honest and sincere person, but you want us to believe that he was a con-man.

Clearly not everyone.

[SteveH]

Illusionists can be pretty convincing. The so called 'miracles' attributed to Jesus aren't credible at all.

Well, obviously not to you, but they are to millions, so where does that get us? You really don't understand the difference between subjective and objective, do you?

[Maeght]

Illusionists can be pretty convincing. The so called 'miracles' attributed to Jesus aren't credible at all.

Which is why they are called miracles.

[jeremyp]

Hence why Jesus did many miracles. As statistics would say, a sample size of 1 is not big enough.

Incidentally, I would put what Criss Angel does in the illusion category. Explanation(s) are available on Youtube(*1)

(*1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3P4Gzow-t0

Yes so would I. But the real question is why is it a magic trick when Criss Angel does it but a miracle when Jesus does it?

[Nearly Sane]

Hence why Jesus did many miracles. As statistics would say, a sample size of 1 is not big enough.

Incidentally, I would put what Criss Angel does in the illusion category. Explanation(s) are available on Youtube(*1)

(*1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3P4Gzow-t0

So much begging the question.

[ippy]

Hence why Jesus did many miracles. As statistics would say, a sample size of 1 is not big enough.

Incidentally, I would put what Criss Angel does in the illusion category. Explanation(s) are available on Youtube(*1)

(*1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3P4Gzow-t0
[/quote

Yes of course he did Sword, don't let it worry you, you'll be allright.

Regards ippy

[Shaker]

Maybe you should try putting your brain in gear before engaging your mouth. Everyone, whatever their religion or lack thereof, agrees that Jesus was a good, patently honest and sincere person

No, actually, everyone doesn't agree anything of the kind. Most famously Bertrand Russell in Why I am Not a Christian, Richard Robinson in An Atheist's Values, George H. Smith in Atheism: The Case Against God and a myriad of other sources I could provide on request - all deeply and sometimes sharply critical of the character of Jesus as presented in the NT. Your idea of some sort of unanimity of his goodness is a sheer fantasy.

[SteveH]

No, actually, everyone doesn't agree anything of the kind. Most famously Bertrand Russell in Why I am Not a Christian, Richard Robinson in An Atheist's Values, George H. Smith in Atheusm: The Case Against God and a myriad of other sources I could provide on request - all deeply and sometimes sharply critical of the character of Jesus as presented in the NT. Your idea of some sort of unanimity of his goodness is a sheer fantasy.

If I recall correctly, Russell opined that Socrates was more admirable than Jesus, but that's a matter of degree. He didn't say that Jesus wasn't admirable. I haven't read the other books.

[Roses]

Maybe you should try putting your brain in gear before engaging your mouth. Everyone, whatever their religion or lack thereof, agrees that Jesus was a good, patently honest and sincere person, but you want us to believe that he was a con-man.

You obviously haven't ever read the Bible. He trashed a Temple, he frightened a load of pigs over a cliff, when playing exorcism hocus pocus, and appeared to be rather up himself.

[Shaker]

You obviously haven't ever read the Bible. He trashed a Temple

... with a home-made whip, according to the story ...*

* John 2:15

[Rhiannon]

Wasn't trashing the Temple a blow against capitalism?

[jeremyp]

If I recall correctly, Russell opined that Socrates was more admirable than Jesus, but that's a matter of degree. He didn't say that Jesus wasn't admirable. I haven't read the other books.

If you look at all my published books you'll find that I didn't say Hitler wasn't admirable, but that doesn't mean I think he was.

[SteveH]

If you look at all my published books you'll find that I didn't say Hitler wasn't admirable, but that doesn't mean I think he was.

Now you're just being silly.
LR - he did not trash the temple. He overturned some tables in the outer court, and drove out some animals. As for people who are up themselves, a few other names occur to me.