2007-01-05 05:10:52 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Believe it as much as you would believe any work of fiction.
2007-01-05 05:11:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
It's an individual decision based on personal beliefs and choices. Some Christians accept every word in both the Old and New Testaments as the literal truth, while certain non-believers prefer to select only the words of Jesus himself that they find the most inspirational or the most applicable to modern life.
He certainly was one of the world's greatest teachers/philosophers, along with Buddha, Gandhi, and a few others, if indeed the words attributed to him are truly his.
If you're interested in a non-religious take on the teachings of Jesus, you might try reading Thomas Jefferson's edited version of Jesus' teachings, otherwise known as the "Jefferson Bible." Jefferson greatly admired the philosophical teachings of Jesus but did not accept the supernatural aspects of the New Testament, so he edited them out. It makes for interesting reading if you're not attached to a literal interpretation of the Bible.
2007-01-05 13:16:57 · answer #2 · answered by magistra_linguae 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think most of the red letter editions of the bible correctly quote the words of jesus. but lately I wonder about a few things. i wonder if every word asociated with jesus is exactly what he said and what he meant?
i know a muslim once told me that when Jesus said Do NOT resist evil, he was really adamant about a full and complete submission to this statement. Yet Paul says Resist the Devil and he will Flee, But when this muslim person Rejects all the words of Paul, he is contradicting himself.
The question really is has the modern day scriptures ever been tampered with and altered? the answer is always YES. Just look around, how many different translations exist? How many people have altered the modern translations. Even God said to a prophet, the Israelites have changed the words of God.
2007-01-05 13:31:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I believe the bible especially about Jesus and He has taught me much but I still have a lot to learn from Him. I have not arrived as yet and probably will not until the next life.
2007-01-05 13:17:43 · answer #4 · answered by bess 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Read "Misquoting Jesus" by Bart D. Ehrman.
Can't say he was the greatest being that not much of what he said was written down. Many theologians and some philosophers conclude that many words attributed to Jesus in the Gospels were in fact not his (you would have to do your own study on that as it's too involved for here).
2007-01-05 13:20:34 · answer #5 · answered by Sick Puppy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Here is the problem. There were a number of disciples that had a lot of opportunity to throw in their own interpretations, and you know that the temptation to do so would be overwhelming. My guess is that each one who wrote decided to market Jesus' ideas in his own way.
The other issue is that while Jesus was preaching, there is no doubt in my mind that one or all of them suggested that Jesus stress certain ideas to make his ideas more marketable. If Jesus really was God, he probably ignored them. When Jesus wasn't around anymore, they could say what they really wanted Jesus to say.
Jesus may have been God, but the people who wrote the New Testament undoubtably had their own agendas, and it is simply human nature to want to throw in your own ideas and interpretation.
2007-01-05 13:22:38 · answer #6 · answered by D 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you are going to "pick and choose" the sayings of Jesus from the Bible, then you are going to be disappointed. If you didn't "know" him, you can't say for sure which things he actually said, and which he didn't.
A commission of liberal theologians a few years ago tried to decide (based on their own biases and beliefs) which words Jesus uttered. The problem was, their view was colored by their own opinions. Some of them so wanted to discount the belief in hell that they removed any mention from Jesus' mouth of it. Some wanted to remove the miracles from Jesus, so they discounted any discourses that explained them.
The Truth is - Jesus as presented in the Bible was either a madman, a liar, or the Son of God.
2007-01-05 13:15:10 · answer #7 · answered by jbtascam 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
if your a christian, by all means, believe what that book says till your little heart is content. but no, jesus was not the greatest of all teachers. muslims would disagree with you.
2007-01-05 13:54:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I beleive in everything tht was written in the bible, and yes Jesus was the greatest teacher of all time.
2007-01-05 13:13:58 · answer #9 · answered by karen v 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I recommend studying his teachings with this principle in mind: The Master was answering questions on several levels and planting clues for recognition by his future selves, his mind in bodies further down the timeline. Also, his teachings and legends about him as Master in his other bodies, establishing other religions, are well worth the effort of learning and matching up.
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2007-01-05 14:30:59 · answer #10 · answered by horizonwind7 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From His birth to cruxification, Jesus' existence has been proven, so He died for 1 of the 3 reasons.
1) He was deluded into believing He's the Son of God.
2) He was lying.
3) He is telling the truth.
1) would someone crazy be capable of those miracles and teachings?
2) would you die for a lie that doesnt do you any good?
3) why then would i doubt Him?
2007-01-05 13:16:23 · answer #11 · answered by Just Me 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋