This thread/poll is an offshoot of Is There a God? and a certain tangent from another thread.
I invite you to vote in the poll if you're willing, and as a bonus perhaps you'll post here as well and describe your beliefs about Jesus in detail.
I personally think it's 27% likely Jesus was a made-up man, and 71% likely he existed but was technically just a lowly mortal like you and me. He seems to have been a significant spiritual leader with extraordinary wisdom, and left us some teachings that many people have deeply identified with. I think he was turned into a Deity by later humans who wanted to cash in on a religious empire built in his name. Many of the scriptural stories about him (particularly the ones that make him literally divine) are obviously borrowed from earlier mythologies.
If he existed, then I think it's 65% likely he was put to death for his "radical" ideas. Whether by crucifixion, I don't know. 50/50 on that one I guess. I don't think he rose from the grave. I don't think he performed any miracles.
His message was probably about seven parts peace and love, and about three parts discrediting the Pharisees and Sadducees, decrying hypocrisy, and putting the Kingdom of God first in one's life.
He must have been a loving man, a pleasant man, a forgiving man, a charismatic man, a man who was a joy to know and be around. People must have missed him when he was gone, and people intensely want him to still be alive and well, and with us (and many of their beliefs reflect that desire). He was much beloved and is still much beloved.
I think that many Christians today -- even some very liberal Christians -- feel hurt, angered, or threatened when anyone's beliefs (e.g. mine) purport to defrock Jesus of his Godhood. It's important to them that Jesus be (a) God -- to wit, the Word of God, God manifested in the flesh.
What's your take on the matter, and why to you see it the way that you do?
I invite you to vote in the poll if you're willing, and as a bonus perhaps you'll post here as well and describe your beliefs about Jesus in detail.
I personally think it's 27% likely Jesus was a made-up man, and 71% likely he existed but was technically just a lowly mortal like you and me. He seems to have been a significant spiritual leader with extraordinary wisdom, and left us some teachings that many people have deeply identified with. I think he was turned into a Deity by later humans who wanted to cash in on a religious empire built in his name. Many of the scriptural stories about him (particularly the ones that make him literally divine) are obviously borrowed from earlier mythologies.
If he existed, then I think it's 65% likely he was put to death for his "radical" ideas. Whether by crucifixion, I don't know. 50/50 on that one I guess. I don't think he rose from the grave. I don't think he performed any miracles.
His message was probably about seven parts peace and love, and about three parts discrediting the Pharisees and Sadducees, decrying hypocrisy, and putting the Kingdom of God first in one's life.
He must have been a loving man, a pleasant man, a forgiving man, a charismatic man, a man who was a joy to know and be around. People must have missed him when he was gone, and people intensely want him to still be alive and well, and with us (and many of their beliefs reflect that desire). He was much beloved and is still much beloved.
I think that many Christians today -- even some very liberal Christians -- feel hurt, angered, or threatened when anyone's beliefs (e.g. mine) purport to defrock Jesus of his Godhood. It's important to them that Jesus be (a) God -- to wit, the Word of God, God manifested in the flesh.
What's your take on the matter, and why to you see it the way that you do?