How does one make sense out of a god sending his son (also a god) to suffer as an outcast and then be brutally killed in order to open up the gates of heaven? How does a rational person buy into that?
2006-08-22 09:22:29 · 19 answers · asked by Director665 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
a rational person doesnt buy into that, a christian does
2006-08-22 09:29:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
I'm not a Christian, and I certainly don't hold to the physical resurrection, life after death, or the relevance of any god that might (but probably does not) exist.
However, in the context of the Jewish faith and the religions of the day, this could make metaphoric sense. IF you believe that "sinful" behavior has displeased God, and IF you believe that God needs some sort of appeasement to provide forgiveness (I know it's primitive, but just follow along), THEN letting God appease himself so you don't have to suffer the consequences of your own behavior can seem like a great gift.
The entire rubric of a judgmental God has carried forth, and the faithful believe they're pretty scummy in the eyes of the most high. This sacrifice, however, is really tied to the sacrificial theism of the Roman era of the western world, and the metaphor has no bearing on current life. As someone else said, this makes religion a hard sell these days.
2006-08-22 09:44:59 · answer #2 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This is what the bible teaches: First of all Jesus isn't God and not equal to God. He is the first of all of God's creation and the only one created by God alone; everything else they created together. Hence, he is referred to as God's only begotten son. He was later appointed to a position higher than any other of God's creation and also appointed as King of God's Kingdom which is established in heaven and will also reign over the earth at God's appointed time. Second, Adam was perfect/sinless when God created him and then chose to rebel against him and that is how sin/death entered into the world. Jesus is referred to as a ransom sacrifice in the bible. When you hold something for ransom you usually have to give something of equal value to get it back, therefore Adam's course that introduced death to mankind required another perfect man, in this case, Jesus, to offer himself as a ransom to gain back life for mankind.
God's word is very rational and logical to those that take a real interest in it and study it with the right attitude.
For additional info. go to www.watchtower.org
2006-08-22 09:50:48 · answer #3 · answered by passerby 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The idea was to forge a link between man and God with God sending his only son to be a man. Then his son, Jesus, lived an extraordinary life; creating an ideal that everyone could strive to repeat. Finally after the worst treatment by humans, even after a brutal torture and killing, Jesus (and God) had the capacity to forgive all the sins that were done to them.
This was the supreme example, and Jesus’ death proved that he (and God) had the capacity to forgive ANY sin. Jesus and God don’t remove sin, they can never do that, but they can lift the load of it by forgiving you for that sin; and all you have to do is ask.
This is what makes God the Almighty and All Forgiving Spirit. (How’s that answer for an atheist?)
2006-08-22 09:36:50 · answer #4 · answered by Dan S 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Well, how do you intend on getting into heaven? If by your own works forget it, God doesn't want your sin stained works. How many good works do you have to perform to be sure of heaven? Jesus suffered God's wrath, because He is perfect, and loved us.
Remember we offended God, in reality He didn't have to do anything, instead He would've simply damned us and that's it. God loves us too much, so to demonstrate that love He took our punishment on Himself. Read 1 Peter 2:20-25; Hebrews chapters 8-10; Romans chapters 3-5 and 8. You simply keep on believing what you wrote, but when it comes time to account for yourself, what are you going to tell God. I know I will say Jesus died for my sins, and I am clean through Him.
2006-08-22 09:37:56 · answer #5 · answered by tigranvp2001 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
God as any parent didn't want his own son to suffer this needed Ransom, but as any adult son with free will that was Jesus decision. He was really brave, because knowing what will come he did it anyways. I recommend you to study more the Bible before you jump into conclusions, you'll find out about why this sacrifice or ransom was really needed!
Take care Bro.
2006-08-22 09:36:37 · answer #6 · answered by Man_On_Board 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
An honest person will try to understand.
I suspect you're a dishonest person who doesn't want to understand.
Why do I say that? Because if you were an honest person, you would have picked up a Bible to figure it out, but you didn't.
God told Adam that when he disobeyed, he would die. Adam was a son of God. (The Gospel of Luke lets us in on this little secret.)
Adam disobeyed God.
Adam died. Death is the heritage of Adam. Everyone descended from Adam has either died already, or will die eventually.
Enter Jesus. the only begotten Son of God. He didn't die for his own sins, he paid the price Adam owed.
Why? "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 KJV
It ain't more complicated than that.
2006-08-22 09:34:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
I have never got a decent answer to this question.
It's also one of the worst plans ever
Just another reason why I'm an Atheist
2006-08-22 09:29:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
A better question: if you were the almighty God, why would you have to sacrifice YOURSELF to YOURSELF in order to change a law that you made up YOURSELF in the first place?
2006-08-22 09:29:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Religion is a tough sell these days.
2006-08-22 09:32:06 · answer #10 · answered by John K 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋