An alternate view of Jesus?

Question

Any thoughts, opinions, rebuttals, ...

"It is possible that under the holy fable and travesty of the life of Jesus there is hidden one of the most painful cases of the martyrdom of KNOWLEDGE ABOUT LOVE: the martyrdom of the most innocent and most craving heart, that never had enough of any human love, that DEMANDED love, that demanded inexorably and frantically to be loved and nothing else, with terrible outbursts against those who refused him their love; the story of a poor soul insatiated and insatiable in love, that had to invent hell to send thither those who WOULD NOT love him--and that at last, enlightened about human love, had to invent a God who is entire love, entire CAPACITY for love--who takes pity on human love, because it is so paltry, so ignorant! He who has such sentiments, he who has such KNOWLEDGE about love--SEEKS death!"

Answer 1

We have to work this from what we know of Jesus.

What we know of Jesus comes from the bible. The sayings that we have of his are reported by contemporaries, their scribes or short term oral tradition.

Is your hypothesis possible?
Yes. I cannot out rightly deny its possibility. It does not, however, sit with the record of what Jesus said.

Jesus, in fact, never attempted to treatise love for himself. When asked what the greatest commandment was, he stated, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul. And the second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself."

He was telling people to love God, and then love those around them.

I would also say that the life he lead, as recorded, countermands what you've put forward as well. I think the biggest act of love that I recall from the bible done by Jesus (apart from the cross), was when he stopped the stoning of the woman caught in adultery.

The pharasees bring a woman caught in adultery before Jesus. The ask him what to do with her. By law, they say, she is to be stoned.

Instead, he puts it back on everyone else there. "Let he without sin caste the first stone."
They all leave, and Christ asks the woman, "Where are your accusers?"
She says, "They are all gone."
And he replies, "Then neither do I condemn you."


You see, Christ knew that you can't demand love ... as you had said. Love is not something that can be demanded of another person. It has to be something that grows out compassion and respect. Had christ been more worried about how the people would perceive him, and desired to please them ... he would have told them to stone her. That was what they wanted to hear. That was the easy way out.

Instead he took a chance. He placed himself on the line ... went against what they wanted.
He showed true love for a person in need, and ignored the thought of pleasing the masses.

Christ also did not seek death. As he stood in the Garden of Gethsemene, he pleaded with God, "Father, if there is another way, then please take this cup from me."
He did not want to die. He was asking for another way out, but in the end, his love for God, and for people made him do what he knew had to be done.

What you're describing isn't love.
The christ that is shown in the bible is far and away different from what you've said.
I would encourage you to read the book of John. That will give you a better picture of christ and what he stook for. Even if you don't take him as God, you would at least avail yourself to the person of christ.

Answer 2

He's a 1st cent. Jewish teacher that started Christianity.
one of the things that the Jews do not like about him is he teaches the doctrine of non-resistance to evil.

Answer 3

I like the Gnostic alternate view of Jesus a lot better.