Jesus Christ

raul · Feb 11, 2013, 10:16 PM

What's everyone's opinion on him? I mean, is he really our saviour? Do you believe in the 2nd coming, which according to the Book of Revelation is soon?
I believe that believing in him gives you the strenght to go on and that the key to everything is this ongoing battle between good and evil and that good will prevail.

Zimmerman The Gnome · Feb 12, 2013, 03:54 AM

Come on, with all the scientific evidance and the world we know and live in how can anyone really believe that the 2nd coming will happen?? Its impossible! I'm sure this will upset some people but look at it in context and reality and clear.

A world full of disease war,illness,pain and natural disaster - is this what a god or saviour would really want for his people?

I believe in the concept of God and Jesus. It helps people cope and brings strenth. But for me thats all it is, a concept.

Lynner · Feb 12, 2013, 04:17 AM

People are going to believe their answer is the correct one, I think. Zim says it's impossible, but I think otherwise. I believe in Jesus and that's my choice. I don't need to defend or prove my belief. I can't even really explain it. I just believe.

raul · Feb 12, 2013, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zimmerman The Gnome

Come on, with all the scientific evidance and the world we know and live in how can anyone really believe that the 2nd coming will happen?? Its impossible! I'm sure this will upset some people but look at it in context and reality and clear.

A world full of disease war,illness,pain and natural disaster - is this what a god or saviour would really want for his people?

I believe in the concept of God and Jesus. It helps people cope and brings strenth. But for me thats all it is, a concept.

It says in the Bible that the situation in the world just before the 2nd coming will be just like it's now - a living hell. Famine, wars (yes, those were always here, but REALLY, anyone in their right mind will agree that it's horrible, getting worse all the time) we also have pollution, people killing each other, the weather is going to hell, the entire culture is hellish excluding science. And it makes sense. Just because people are getting crazier all the time and all this, this is exactly the time when we need a divine intervention, we can't save ourselves, only Jesus can beat satan.

As for the scientific evidence, there isn't any. No one knows anything.

You're right, God wouldn't want it, and it's THE question: why does evil exist? If I knew, I'd probably be God.

But I'd like to make this a broader thread. What does everyone think of Jesus? Why did he say yes to the cross?

You're right, Lynn. Everything is faith.

Hari's Chick · Feb 12, 2013, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raul

What's everyone's opinion on him? I mean, is he really our saviour? Do you believe in the 2nd coming, which according to the Book of Revelation is soon?

I recently read a book called "Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church" by Wright. I found heaps of things I disagreed with in the book, but the author did get me thinking about the 2nd coming. It is included in various Christian professions of faith, yet nowadays few speakers really focus on it. Maybe the evangelical faiths do, but in other Christian faiths the topic is a bit avoided. Anyway, the book was not my favorite (it tended to repeat itself), but it had some interesting reflections on the second coming as a physical, pending event which it contrasted to the neo-platonic view of heaven as a place for disembodied souls.

One interesting point he brings up (which may interest the science folks) is what Jesus might have meant by the phrase, "the kingdom of God is at hand." I think he references the brilliant scientist/theologian John Polkinghorne when he suggests heaven could be a concurrent earth(ly) experience, operating on a different time/space demension. The kingdom of heaven could be- literally- at hand, coexisting alongside us even physically without us clueing in at all. It would be imperceptable in our current physical state. This lends interest to notions of the ascension.

Hari's Chick · Feb 12, 2013, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raul

But I'd like to make this a broader thread. What does everyone think of Jesus? Why did he say yes to the cross?

I believe Jesus is the Son of God and is a perfect example of human love, given to us through God's grace. I think if we follow Jesus words and example as closely as possible, we can be as close as possible to being connected with the heart of God.

(I also think too many people think St Paul = Jesus, or the church = Jesus, etc. No... there was only one Jesus. Everyone to follow is capable of mucking things up.)

One of my favorite people is Fr. Bede Griffiths. He explains the resurrection so beautifully.

“The resurrection does not consist merely of the appearances of Jesus to his disciples after his death. Many think that these appearances in Galilee and Jerusalem are the resurrection. But they are simply to confirm the faith of the disciples. The real resurrection is the passing beyond the world altogether. It is Jesus' passage from this world to the Father. It was not an event in space and time, but the passage beyond space and time to the eternal, to reality. Jesus passed into reality. That is our starting point.

It is into that world that we are invited to enter by meditation. We do not have to wait for physical death, but we can enter now into that eternal world. We have to go beyond the outer appearances of the senses and beyond the concepts of the mind, and open ourselves to the reality of Christ within, the Christ of the resurrection.”

― Bede Griffiths, The New Creation in Christ

Rellevart · Feb 13, 2013, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raul

It says in the Bible that the situation in the world just before the 2nd coming will be just like it's now - a living hell.

I'm glad I don't live in your world. My world isn't anything like "a living hell".

As to your original post, I'm not sure what I believe. Jesus seems like an ok guy to me and his teachings seem sensible. I definitely do NOT believe that what a quite a few people do "in his name" is similarly good.

Serena · Mar 26, 2013, 04:38 PM

I guess this is sort of a sensitive subject, so I won't really say much. But in short, I don't really think he existed since documentation of any sort didn't appear until nearly a hundred years later for one thing.

There could of perhaps been a man that lived in that age whose bio's been horribly embellished over the years. So many figures over time have had similar characteristics that are nice to admire, but need not be worshiped. I really know little nothing of Jesus to worship him and to just have faith for the sake of life and prosperity is just nonsense.

I've been getting through life much more freely and morally without the need of a deity, and don't intend on turning back. :)

zipp · Mar 27, 2013, 01:29 AM

I agree with John when he says :

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky

and :

I don't believe in Jesus

raul · Apr 24, 2014, 08:20 PM

This is maybe a question of

ok, first of all, is there anyone who denies that evil exists? suffering, pain...

so..it surely can't last 4ever, no hope then

a way to end it? there's hope jesus beat death and the devil on the cross

devil didnt like thathe resisted

cliche, but life has shown me it's better to resist, if you dont it's dearranged

Bongo · Apr 25, 2014, 02:33 PM

I've never met anyone who came back.....

Then I'll believe!

Lynner · Apr 28, 2014, 04:16 AM

Bongo - doubting, Thomas, eh?
And Serena, your line about faith being just nonsense, I will respectfully disagree with.
If you can get through your life without the need of a deity, I'm glad that works for you. I, however feel I need God in my life and my faith is quite important to me and certainly do not consider that nonsense.