What Would Jesus Have Done?

[Atheist]

He recommended helping the weak, the meek, the ones who lay injured by the roadside. He commended a Samaritan who helped someone even though the Samaritan was of a tribe disliked by the Jews. He defended a man who collected wood on the sabbath. He said that rich people would find it hard to go to heaven. He said we should turn the other cheek when attacked.

He did not condemn refugees. He did not recommend that we should smite the enemies of the Lord. He did not despise the poor and dispossessed. He did not condemn prostitutes.

He did condemn those who would have stoned sinners.

If he was real, he sounds a rather decent chap, not much like many so-called christians.

[Mozz71]

Naomi, of course Theland would say that parts of the Bible are metaphorical. You're only allowed to pull the Koran apart in his presence, the Bible is untouchable.

[Theland]

Naomi, if you say so.
I'll continue to study though.

Mozz, not sure what you mean?

[Mozz71]

I mean, the things you make excuses for in the Bible, the violence, the cruelty etc are the same things you condemn in other holy books.

[naomi24]

Theland, you do as you please but don't insist that you have 'hard facts' - because you don't. If 'hard facts' existed these discussions wouldn't.

[Theland]

I'm not insisting on anything.
It is up to each of us, if we are seriously seeking after God, to study His word, and prayerfully guided by the Holy Spirit, allow the scriptures to speak to us.
That is a far cry from an academic who forensically strips the bible down to its bare bones, and examines it with the various tools of academia. A very good way of missing the point.

[naomi24]

//forensically strips the bible down to its bare bones, and examines it with the various tools of academia.//

And why not, Theland? Do you want the truth or are you afraid it might be exposed?

[Khandro]

naomi: to Theland //....There are no 'hard facts' - and you've no idea what is metaphorical and what is not. //

Yet your post at 12:38 is presented as 'hard facts', whereas it is nothing but a list of assumptions on your part; you really don't know.

[naomi24]

What have I presented as 'hard facts' Khandro?

[Theland]

You seem to present as a hard fact, that there are no hard facts.
And that sentence is in my humble opinion, a hard fact.

[naomi24]

There aren't ... and as hard as that may be for you to accept, it's a fact.

[Theland]

In that case, I shall try and continue to do what I continually try to do, and that is read the bible ........ as it is written.

[naomi24]

But you don't read it as it is written. Theland. The bits that don't fit in with what you want to believe you claim to be metaphors.

[Theland]

There are many metaphors in the bible.
Look at the statue in Nebuchadnezar's dream in Daniel.

[naomi24]

I've looked. And ...

[Theland]

Pure metaphor for the future. Which turned out correctly and continues to do so.
A metaphor using few words bit saying so much.

[naomi24]

Nonsense. We've been here before, Theland, and by way of diversion from the subject of this thread - Jesus - you're attempting to lead us down the prophecy path yet again.

[Khandro]

naomi //What have I presented as 'hard facts' Khandro?//

Well all this nonsense wasn't presented as your opinion;

//He could become angry and vengeful, he wasn’t always accommodating to foreigners, he didn’t encourage family life, he wasn’t particularly caring towards his mother, he lived on charity, his family thought he was bonkers//

Which cr ppy web site do you go on to get all this rubbish?

[naomi24]

I haven’t consulted any website, Khandro. Just the bible. Have you not read it?

[Theland]

To get back on track then, as Atheist said, He sounded like a decent chap, unlike many so-called Christians.
I agree entirely with Atheist.

[vulcan42]

The problem now,Theland, is you've stated your type of Christianity, ie only reading the bible, is better than the Christians that also read the bible but go to church as well. You refer to these people , as so called Christians, in other words you consider yourself a better Christian than these people but surely considering yourself superior is, well, not very Christian like is it?