In other words, what philosophies of Jesus's should an atheist respect?
Anything that references God, the Father, the Kingdom, the apocalypse etc is out.
Anything from the old testament - Golden Rule/Love thy Neighbor - is out.
Any parable that is an allegory for the Kingdom or the apocalypse is out unless it can stand on it's own as a brilliant philosophy.
I think that the philosophies of Jesus are quite useless when viewed through an atheist lens. Sure, there are a couple of good sayings - but honestly what's the big deal?
Remember, this question is about the philosophies of the natural Jesus, not the Christ.
2007-11-19 04:19:57 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, as noted above, the Golden Rule i.e. "Do unto others" is Old Testament. Jesus isn't really original on that one.
2007-11-19 04:24:17 · update #1
So we have 3 so far: Lazarus, jkhawaja, and Sister Cordialia.
2007-11-19 04:28:45 · update #2
@ Suzanne: You cna disagree with me, but can you show me brilliant philosophies of his that I can use today that don't reference any God/supernatural type stuff.
I think there are some, but the corpus is tightly limited. Even then they aren't *that* impressive - unless someone can show me otherwise.
2007-11-19 04:34:41 · update #3
@ The Mad Padishah: That references heaven. It saying that my only motivation for loving my enemy is to be my Heavenly father's son. If I don't care about Heaven, for what reason would Jesus have me love my enemy?
2007-11-19 04:36:54 · update #4
I do not know if this meets you requirements or not but I think it was when he said In vain they worship me teaching for doctrine the commandments of men.
BB
2007-11-19 04:31:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Love God and Love others. Universally, the love others as you love yourself part.
While he was quoting the old testament in this he expanded upon it by saying to love others, even those who do evil things to you.
Matthew 5
43 "You have heard that it was said, `YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 "If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
2007-11-19 04:26:10 · answer #2 · answered by The Mad Padishah 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"A tree is known by its fruit... How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:33-37)
You have just demonstrated the truth of this saying of Jesus. Your heart does not want to acknowledge God or his Kingdom, so your words have echoed that fact. What does that say about your question?
2007-11-19 04:35:28 · answer #3 · answered by Annsan_In_Him 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I disagree with your conclusions wholeheartedly, especially your statement that atheists cannot view Jesus' teachings as useful. To the contrary, I am aquainted with several atheists who readily agree that His philosophy was loving and noble. They just don't believe His words carried the weight of God.
EDIT: actually, the concept of "what you do for others, you do for Me" is in the OT. It's just not stated that blatently.
2007-11-19 04:31:17 · answer #4 · answered by Suzanne: YPA 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Jesus changes the golden rule in the New Testament...He ups the Golden rule to a higher standard.
John 13: 34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Jesus loved us enough to die for us, that is how we should love one another.
2007-11-19 04:29:04 · answer #5 · answered by Angie 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
"And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also"
I think this is the most amazing one. It represented a fundamental paradigm shift in world-view for the adherants. Nonviolence as the path to overcoming adversity. Too bad no one ever listened.
2007-11-19 04:25:02 · answer #6 · answered by jkhawaja 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
St. Matthew 5: 40-42. (40) And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
(41) And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
(42) Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not away.
2007-11-19 04:34:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Life is like a box of chocolates, in that it doesn't exist at this point in time. -Jesus.
P.S.
That didn't actually make it into the bible but I know that is what Jesus said because he told me just the other day.
2007-11-19 07:10:29 · answer #8 · answered by jetthrustpy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
John 8:32
And ye shall know he truth, and the truth shall make you free.
"The truth shall make you free." To me this one is better than the golden rule.
John 7:24
"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."
"Judge not according to the appearance." Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly is to the bone.
Matthew 11:15
"He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."
Just because you have ears, doesn't make you hear.
2007-11-19 04:49:12 · answer #9 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you,my peace, I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. L et not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
2007-11-19 04:31:23 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mr. Happy has it. It is also called the Golden Rule.
2007-11-19 04:23:17 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋