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Because religion is still part of culture, whether we believe in it or not. Most Americans are religious and Christians, and I fully respect that. I do not believe in god still.
Give up.
No atheist would say this:
Quote:
QUOTEOriginally Posted by ONTVisit Since "In God We Trust" is the official motto of the U.S. and appears on certain government buildings and on dollar bills and coins, how come banks do not put that motto on debit/credit cards, as well as include and put up banners on it in postal offices and banks?
The question doesn't open the idea that he didn't exist. Assuming he did, he's a complete crazy man that ran around getting followers. Did he do good deeds? Perhaps yes, but so does everyone. Assuming he didn't exist, he's a cog in the story machine of following a faith. Take down the cross and put a picture up of yourself or someone you love. Don't add to the craziness
Makes me wanna give you a smack up side the head with a frozen fish. Only a resentful fool thinks of the historic Christ as "fictional" - Some people have never bothered to do their research - Christ was not Merlin nor Superman ...He was a human being that live on earth...just like you and just like me...The difference is that after 2000 years people still talk about him - Once we are gone people will stop talking about us in 2 weeks...we are more fictional than Christ.
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Originally Posted by ONTVisit
Jesus of Nazareth was a real person. Nobody could deny that. Juat because we are atheists doesn't mean we must be ignorant Moderator cut: orphaned
The Jesus of the Bible is very likely fictional. Either made so purposefully or by years of exaggerated retellings of him. While a Jesus may have lived in the time and place depicted in the Bible there is very little chance his portrayal is accurate in any way.
Because religion is still part of culture, whether we believe in it or not. Most Americans are religious and Christians, and I fully respect that. I do not believe in god still.
Not an argument I would try to sell to a jury, especially if it was composed of this board's regulars.
I'm of the opinion that the Jesus character as portrayed in the bible is mostly, if not completely, mythological (it's hard to believe much of what's written there is actual history) in nature. As such, I don't admire the myth anymore than other myths that are prevalent throughout our history.
Now if I look at the myth, is there much to admire. Well, our fictional hero didn't seem to like capitalism very much. That seems to be somewhat admirable
To be honest, I don't find much in the bible inspiring. A god who's only recourse for sin in the violent death (albeit temporary) of either his son or himself, depending on your Christian persuasion. That's a pretty gruesome story if you really think about it.
Now if I look at the myth, is there much to admire. Well, our fictional hero didn't seem to like capitalism very much. That seems to be somewhat admirable
To be honest, I don't find much in the bible inspiring. A god who's only recourse for sin in the violent death (albeit temporary) of either his son or himself, depending on your Christian persuasion. That's a pretty gruesome story if you really think about it.
I find little to respect in the myths either. While some of his moral philosophy was useful and maybe even ahead of his time... the general story surrounding him is not all that respectable.
For example people weep at the thought of the tortures he underwent before his crucifixion. While I have no doubt they were beyond unpleasant.... they were actually rather mundane and tolerable compared to some of the tortures and horrors the more insidious human minds of our species have come up with and visited upon others. Some of which make the tortures visited upon the Nazarene look like a pleasant vacation.
He is also said to have "given" his life for our sins. God is said to have "given" us his only son. Where though? All I can see in the tales is that he traded an insignificantly short life as a human for one of eternal bliss and dominion. A pretty good trade up one might say. And as such god can not be said to have "given" us a son but rather to have "lent" us one for an insignificant period of time... and is now being rather coy about lending him to us again for his supposed second coming.
It is an insult to all of our intelligence... thankfully theirs much more than ours.... to describe any of this as a "sacrifice" or something we should be thankful for or in awe of. It is also an insult to all those of our species who HAVE actually given their lives for a cause, ideal, place or person without any such promises of resurrection or eternal bliss and dominion. The parent who throws themselves in front of a car to save a child.... or the political activist who dies in the pursuit of a political ideal.... both have sacrificed many times more than anything the Christ character could ever hope to be remembered for.
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