I've heard several non-Christians state that they believe Jesus was a wise man or prophet, but not the Son of God. If this is the case, why do they hold him in such esteem when he blatently claimed to be God's own Son?
2006-06-16 08:41:41 · 12 answers · asked by Ryan E 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
We are saying that the story of Jesus was probably embellished alot down the line. Perhaps he did not claim to be the son of god, maybe he was just a prophet or political activist who gained people's admiration - and ended up being persecuted by the politicians of the time for spreading his political message.
2006-06-16 08:45:58 · answer #1 · answered by ontario ashley 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe in any Deity so I cannot answer the question as stated exactly, however, I will give my opinion of what bothers me specifically about Christians. Christian doctrine is that only those who take Jesus as their savior will be allowed in heaven. Christians believe even little babies who die cannot go to heaven because they have not been saved! Christianity is an evangelical religion, meaning they are expected to spread the word all over the world with missionaries. It is very annoying, to say the least, when someone else tries to impose their beliefs on another person. I think that what bothers me the most is that Christians want to impose their idea of morality on everyone else too! Why should they dictate behavior for all of us? They shouldn't. Its all a big fairy tale. No religion has absolute proof that any such Deity exists and yet, turn on the news today. Watch the violence that is going on in the middle east and mourn the stupidity that causes war after war. It is religion.
2016-05-19 21:29:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because I can see that he needed something to get people to listen to him. It's just like with the Islamic prophet Mohamed who said it's against god's wishes for people to eat pork - he was just clever enough to see the connection between people eating pork and them getting sick, but if he had said "well, hm I personally don't think it's a good idea to eat pork that has been stored in this warm climate for a while" then probably nobody would have listened to him, whereas if it is "god's order" not to eat pork then people followed his words.
In the same sense if Jesus as a normal man would have preached peace and forgiveness people would have just disregarded him, but by claiming to be god's son he got some "authority".,
Does that make any sense?
2006-06-16 08:51:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've told you a Million times, no one has ever exaggerated anything ever in the history of mankind. You can't take anything that happened 2000 years ago at face value. There was no reliable method of recording anything. Do you believe everything you hear without a second opinion?
2006-06-16 08:47:19 · answer #4 · answered by Kenny ♣ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anyone who preaches their religious views and is revered by the people around them can be a prophet or wiseman/woman but that is not proof that a person is the flesh and blood child of a deity.
2006-06-16 14:32:44 · answer #5 · answered by genaddt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus never "blatantly" claimed to be the Son of God. He referred to himself as "the Son of Man." He referred to God as Father, but not identifying himself as exclusively God's son. Jesus can be held in high esteem whatever your view of his divinity because of his teachings, the way he lived his life.
2006-06-16 08:47:16 · answer #6 · answered by keri gee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The part I reject is Jesus claiming to be "son of god".
I am not a christian. I never claimed to be one. I belong to my own eclectic spiritual path that I have created for myself. That means I can "pick and choose" what I like if it helps me be a better person overall. I actually do like some of Jesus' teachings.
I do not have to believe as you do. Just as you don't have to believe as I do. I give you the respect to follow your path as you see fit for yourself. Please give me the same respect. :-)
2006-06-16 09:40:08 · answer #7 · answered by Nikki 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He did not claim to be the son of God, the Gospel writers did.
2006-06-16 08:46:25 · answer #8 · answered by byefareed 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because we interpret his words differently than you do. There is no doubt Jesus existed. What he said or did is completely up for debate.
2006-06-16 08:51:12 · answer #9 · answered by WiserAngel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is the term "God's Son" literal or a metaphor?
2006-06-16 08:44:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋