Dreadsox said:Eliminate the divinity of Jesus, and make our own Bible. What do you feel the message of the man is?
nbcrusader said:Eliminate the divinity?
Jesus was a man
Like me
My equal
Has no authority over me
Had lots of good ideas - so have many others
I can follow his ideas if they may me feel good.
Otherwise, I can put his ideas on a shelf and pick the ideas of someone else
He was just a man
Like me
With no authority over me
If you eliminate the divinity
Dreadsox said:
And given the fact that a majority of the world has this interpretation, why not step back and discuss it without arguing over the divinity?
ZeroDude said:To love one another
deep said:Why the need for authority?
as a child I needed authoritarian figures
I don’t want a daddy anymore or a king for that matter
I would rather follow someone whose teachings and beliefs I respect
Dreadsox said:NB, no offense, start a thread about the divinity then. I asked for a simple discussion based on the kind of thing Thomas Jefferson did. I recognize this may not be what you believe, but the last thing I wanted was a debate about the divinity of Christ. While this is essential to being a Christian in todays world, it is also a major road block when trying to have a discussion about the messasge.
Dreadsox said:NB, no offense, start a thread about the divinity then. I asked for a simple discussion based on the kind of thing Thomas Jefferson did. I recognize this may not be what you believe, but the last thing I wanted was a debate about the divinity of Christ. While this is essential to being a Christian in todays world, it is also a major road block when trying to have a discussion about the messasge.
Dreadsox said:So much for my hope that people could discuss things in the spirit of the Jefferson Bible.
As far as I knew I was not starting a debate.
melon said:As a side note, the argument over "divinity" versus "humanity" is as old as Christianity itself. More "liberal" Christians emphasized the humanity, while "conservative" Christians emphasized the divinity.
According to the doctrine of the time, both are incorrect or both are correct, depending on how you look at it. Jesus is 100% divine and 100% human. Thus, I think it's perfectly appropriate to talk about Jesus' humanity, as he is 100% human, in addition to his divinity.
Secondly, it is a relevant question, as Islam sees Jesus as an important prophet, but not divine. So what should Muslims find relevant about Jesus' message as a prophet and not a "God"?
Melon
thacraic said:
I don't see how this question would elicit any replies that would be different from what is usually said. The traditional Christians on one side getting pissed off at the mere thought of even viewing Christ as anything less than divine. (How could some of us get past that to even contemplate the rest of it?) Then on the other side you have everyone else going on about how lovey dovey His message was.
I also don't see how you couldn't see this as a hot-button issue. The word "Jesus" alone is controversial. But if you say that you honestly didn't think it would lead to a debate I believe you.
thacraic said:You reduce His message to that of only a man who held a "good vibrations" approach to spirituality and faith.
financeguy said:
"Traditional Christians getting pissed off at the mere thought of even viewing Christ as anything less than divine."
In that case I suggest they expand their horizons. I suggest to you that non-Christians have a right to be just as pissed off at the mere thought of suggesting that Christ may have been divine.
melon said:
So "Divine Jesus" is a hateful tyrant, while "Human Jesus" said to "Love one another"?
I think this is less about Jesus' divinity than with connotations. Talking about "love" and "humanity" is "hippie liberal talk." "Divine Jesus" is still the same guy who said "Love one another."
Melon
melon said:Nevermind.
thacraic said:
To address your sidenote. This thread was not started to debate the divinity of Christ but it naturally turned into that.
I am not talking about what is or is not appropriate. I am saying that posing a question that starts out with "eliminate the divinity...." will naturally garner responses that pertain to Christ's divinity. Again, debating the divinity of Christ was not what this thread was intended as Dread said. I do see where he is coming from on that. I just don't see how he thought it would actually happen, considering the views of some people who post here in FYM.
In terms of followers of Islam. I wouldn't think they would find anything about Jesus' message to be any more relevant than that of say Moses. But that is what happens when you eliminate the divinity of Christ. You reduce His message to that of only a man who held a "good vibrations" approach to spirituality and faith.