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The NT was written at least 50 years later by people who were not eyewitnesses. The story was colored by previous stories at the time, including and especially the Mithras cult. There likely was an actual person of Jesus, but because of oral tradition, accounts split based on garbled or incomplete information. For instance, the color of the robe. Both writers knew that Jesus suffered at the hands of the Romans, and they generally had a poor opinion of him. Did they then mock him by choosing a regal color? Or did they try to put a scarlet letter on him to shame him?
The differences are a matter of interpretation and a matter of events being lost in history. Okay, think about it this way. Maybe it was actually a minor wandering priest, running afoul of minor authorities. This gets blown up into Pilate (a known Roman official), and they call him the Messiah. The fact of the matter is, it doesn't actually matter if Jesus was a historical figure or not. Because Jesus was an idea that threatened Rome. Interestingly, this would also explain why Jesus wasn't historical records, if Jesus was worth more as an idea than a person wouldn't it be better to forget he existed?
3 & 4. It was blown up over time, and probably there was a common kernel of truth in these stories.
Last edited by bulmabriefs144; 04-04-2015 at 06:25 PM..
bulmabriefs hints at some good points. The narratives of the gospels were written 35 to 100 years after the fact, so as far historical accuracy, they are not. Myth yes, historical fiction, probably, but actual fact? no
They are more a reflection of what the writer of the time believed. And as the ideas of Christianity changed, which is shown in the narrative of Mark vs the mystical thinking of John, the stories and legends (myths) changed too.
Much was probably influenced by the teachings and ramblings of Paul, who, as one esteemed member said, was the "fifth Beatle" and a "Wannabe Apostle" Paul has been largely discredited. His "vision" of Jesus is fully explainable as a symptom of Focal seizures, a disease from which Paul almost certainly suffered. In the first century, such a hallucination was seen as a "vision from god" while in the 21st century, we know it only to be a side effect of a most unfortunate disease. His writings depict someone suffering from bipolar disease, someone who lacked at times the ability to separate reality from fantasy. He was a bully, an egotist, and his reputation as a murderer and a thug allowed him to intimidate anyone who did not agree with his ideas. In the end, those who knew the historic Jesus rejected him, but not until his ideas spread throughout the Roman empire. Sadly, much of this was spread out of fear, and predicated on rewards in the afterlife, encouraging others to banish thoughts of happiness and success in this life for a promise of an eternal afterlife.
The emphasis on whether we need Easter, or Christianity today, lies in a question of whether we choose to live he 21st century, or hang on to ancient myths and fear based teachings. Let me point out that while we do not know for certain what happens to the "soul" after death, and while we do not know for certain whether or not there is some afterlife, all logical and scientific evidence supports that there is NO such thing. Same thing with the Biblical God. (And the same one in the Torah and Koran too.) In the early centuries, where the concept of deities could only be drawn from human experience, compared to kings or tribal rulers, the idea of an egotistical, jealous and warlike god would be expected.
But in the 21st century, with our more enlightened capabilities, and our scientific tools at our disposal, we really need to ask ourselves, do we need a vengeful, egotistical god, one who requires sacrifices and worship, or should we realize that doing so would only be clinging to ancient myths, which have no reality in our lives today?
I don't think we want to "Grinch" Easter, indeed, such crafty swipes at atheism might tend to recoil as we goddless bastards are all for the fun, eggs and maypoles and it is the "Jesus is the reason" types that want us all stand in church miserably intoning the dismally doleful "Green hill" dirge.
The pagan rites of spring festival= bunnie rabbits and colored eggs--goddess of fertility--Astarte( Ishtar) pronounced-easter-- part of the celebration was impregnating virgins on the alter, then the next year, sacrificing the 3 month olds to the false god. Coloring the eggs in their blood.--- straight off the table of demons--these-2Thess 2:3--tried to change this into a celebration to Jesus---there is 0 chance in HE_ _ that Jesus would have anything at all to do with it.
Same with Christmas--saturnalia festival--feasting and exchanging of gifts
reality is in all the encyclopedias---- the world, Jesus taught to be no part of did these things and tried to give it to Jesus, but 99% follow that world.--- a true follower knows better--surely Jesus' real teachers warn the flock about partaking off the table of demons( 1Cor 10:21) 0 doubt about that.
it has 0 to do with worship--it has to do with being mislead to partake off the table of demons.
The pagan rites of spring festival= bunnie rabbits and colored eggs--goddess of fertility--Astarte( Ishtar) pronounced-easter-- part of the celebration was impregnating virgins on the alter, then the next year, sacrificing the 3 month olds to the false god. Coloring the eggs in their blood.--- straight off the table of demons--these-2Thess 2:3--tried to change this into a celebration to Jesus---there is 0 chance in HE_ _ that Jesus would have anything at all to do with it.
Same with Christmas--saturnalia festival--feasting and exchanging of gifts
reality is in all the encyclopedias---- the world, Jesus taught to be no part of did these things and tried to give it to Jesus, but 99% follow that world.--- a true follower knows better--surely Jesus' real teachers warn the flock about partaking off the table of demons( 1Cor 10:21) 0 doubt about that.
it has 0 to do with worship--it has to do with being mislead to partake off the table of demons.
Oh for goodness sake, you've got to be kidding.
That story is a total crock. Pssst--not everything you read on the Internet is true.
Nobody who colors eggs is partaking off a table of demons. This just sounds insane and makes Christians look like idiots.
I saw a cute sign outside a small village church today:
No bunny loves you like Jesus loves you.
My kind of church.
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