Burger King Jesus (bible, Biblical)

[sandy whitelinger]

Originally Posted by Draka

You should be able to answer your own question. Just ask yourself why you do it.

that's easy. Everything that we know about Jesus comes from the Bible. Inventing any old attribute we desire and pinning to the image of Christ is unseemly and disengenuous.

[mball1297]

Originally Posted by sandy whitelinger

I'll agree that people have varying views about the Biblical Jesus. My point here is that so many people invent any old Jesus (or God) that they want and put attributes and characteristics to Jesus that aren't even remotely Biblically based.

What do you consider to be some examples of these "false" attributes and characteristics?

[MidnightBlue]

Originally Posted by sandy whitelinger

I'll agree that people have varying views about the Biblical Jesus. My point here is that so many people invent any old Jesus (or God) that they want and put attributes and characteristics to Jesus that aren't even remotely Biblically based.

Christians ascribe attributes and characteristics to Jesus that aren't based on anything we know to be true about Jesus. Their primary doctrines and teachings have nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus. If some believers accept the religious fantasies of John or Paul as authoritative, why can't others accept somebody else's religious fantasies?

The Bible has no authority apart from the Church that compiled it, but even if it did, Christians aren't noted for limiting themselves to Biblical teaching. Almost all of them believe something that isn't taught in the Bible -- that the Son is of one essence with the Father, for instance, or that one must accept Jesus as one's personal savior. If Gnostics or Unitarians or Muslims believe something unbiblical about Jesus, who are Christians to criticize?

Originally Posted by sandy whitelinger

Inventing any old attribute we desire and pinning to the image of Christ is unseemly and disengenuous.

I agree. And uncritically accepting the attributes other people -- including, for instance, Paul -- have invented for Jesus is credulous and irresponsible.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by sandy whitelinger

that's easy. Everything that we know about Jesus comes from the Bible. Inventing any old attribute we desire and pinning to the image of Christ is unseemly and disengenuous.

My attributing a concern for social justice to Jesus comes directly from the bible. It is just as valid as you thinking that Jesus only cares about who believes he is God and who doesn't. (And I'm being polite when I say that because I obviously believe that my stance is more valid.) The gospels were written by different authors at different times with different points of view. As I've said before, the real difference here is that I am willing to admit that there is biblical basis for your stance and that we all pick and choose what we hold on to and what we de-emphasize. Whereas you still pick and choose but refuse to acknowledge it.

[Mister_T]

Originally Posted by MidnightBlue

I agree. And uncritically accepting the attributes other people -- including, for instance, Paul -- have invented for Jesus is credulous and irresponsible.

I've often said that certain branches of Christianity follow/adhere to Paul and slap Jesus' name on him.

[sandy whitelinger]

Originally Posted by mball1297

What do you consider to be some examples of these "false" attributes and characteristics?

Read most any thread here and you can pick up many examples. Here is the first one I came to:
"he wanted to get rid of our sins but at the same time get rid of those annoying taxes so he faked his dead to get out of paying his taxes, o and clean sins and all that"

[sandy whitelinger]

Originally Posted by MidnightBlue

Christians ascribe attributes and characteristics to Jesus that aren't based on anything we know to be true about Jesus. Their primary doctrines and teachings have nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus. If some believers accept the religious fantasies of John or Paul as authoritative, why can't others accept somebody else's religious fantasies?

The Bible has no authority apart from the Church that compiled it, but even if it did, Christians aren't noted for limiting themselves to Biblical teaching. Almost all of them believe something that isn't taught in the Bible -- that the Son is of one essence with the Father, for instance, or that one must accept Jesus as one's personal savior. If Gnostics or Unitarians or Muslims believe something unbiblical about Jesus, who are Christians to criticize?

I agree. And uncritically accepting the attributes other people -- including, for instance, Paul -- have invented for Jesus is credulous and irresponsible.

All that's nice but... So you are in favor of attributing any old thing you want to any Biblical figure of your choice...sort of a "Pin the Attribute to God" kind of game?

[doppelgänger]