Does this help you understand my atheism?

[ThinkForYourself]

I saw a video on youtube about an Australian man who claims to be Jesus, and is gathering a number of followers.

The video is Here.

It struck me that my not believing in the Christian Jesus is likely for the same reasons you don't believe in this Aussie Jesus.

EDIT: Two questions:

1. Why don't you believe in Aussie Jesus?

2. How is his claim to be the son of God different than the biblical claim that Jesus was the son of God?

 

[theinvisible]

31 minutes? Im dreding even attempting to watch that video.

 

[theinvisible]

A man claiming to be Jesus encourgaes an excuse for unbelievers in Jesus to reject Jesus?

Sounds fickle. A lame excuse.

 

[TillICollapse]

As a side note, there is a local Cajun restaurant close to me that has a bartender named Jesus, and they sell shirts with his face (the bartender) on them that say "I drink with Jesus" and "Jesus is my homeboy", etc. Man they got some good gumbo at that restaurant. Best outside of NOLA !

Does this help you understand my love for good Cajun food ?

 

[ThinkForYourself]

A man claiming to be Jesus encourgaes an excuse for unbelievers in Jesus to reject Jesus?

Sounds fickle. A lame excuse.

Why don't you believe in Aussie Jesus?

 

[ThinkForYourself]

As a side note, there is a local Cajun restaurant close to me that has a bartender named Jesus, and they sell shirts with his face (the bartender) on them that say "I drink with Jesus" and "Jesus is my homeboy", etc. Man they got some good gumbo at that restaurant. Best outside of NOLA !

Does this help you understand my love for good Cajun food ?

Yeah, I didn't frame the question well.

I redid it. So, why don't you believe in Aussie Jesus?

 

[Received]

EDIT: Two questions:

1. Why don't you believe in Aussie Jesus?

2. Why should I believe in Christian Jesus, when you don't believe in Aussie Jesus?

1. Because when I spun the deity wheel, it didn't come up with Aussie Jesus.

2. Because you should spin the deity wheel and it should come up with the Jesus I believe in.

 

[ThinkForYourself]

31 minutes? Im dreding even attempting to watch that video.

It was pretty interesting. Check it out.

 

[ThinkForYourself]

1. Because when I spun the deity wheel, it didn't come up with Aussie Jesus.

2. Because you should spin the deity wheel and it should come up with the Jesus I believe in.

See, the same reason I don't believe in Christian Jesus.

Seriously, why don't you believe in Aussie Jesus?

How is his claim to be the son of God any different than the biblical claim that Jesus was the son of God?

 

[TillICollapse]

Yeah, I didn't frame the question well.

I redid it. So, why don't you believe in Aussie Jesus?

Awww, the goal posts moved I hadn't given much thought to how you originally worded it, tbh. I was just responding for fun anyway, partly b/c I'm hungry I may go back to just lurking In all honesty, I'm not much for philosophically based conversations.

 

[Jake255]

OP Question: Does this help you understand my atheism?

My answer: Nope

 

[Gottservant]

It is Jesus but this time He's delusional.

Just being Jesus doesn't mean you are the returned Son of God.

Who He is in future will be something different again.

The point is we already have the gospel, that is as much as Jesus ever wanted to give us.

Think about it, is this guy suffering for your sins (which is the issue) or is He just saying you should remember what Jesus did? Cause as far as I can tell it doesn't matter how you answer that question.

 

[keith99]

Can Aussie Jesus turn water into wine?

Does he at least have some claims of Miracles?

HAs he at least gotten over a thousand listeners to a sermon he preached on Mount Cook and fed them? On this one I don't care if the feeding is by means miraculous or mundane.

 

[Gottservant]

See some people just look for a sign, no matter who it is.

It seems Aussie Jesus has proved a point after all.

 

[Received]

See, the same reason I don't believe in Christian Jesus.

Seriously, why don't you believe in Aussie Jesus?

How is his claim to be the son of God any different than the biblical claim that Jesus was the son of God?

People who claim to be something are something, and we should live our lives based on the claims of the people who got there first.

That's how you think religious people think, right?

 

[Wormdirt]

I saw a video on youtube about an Australian man who claims to be Jesus, and is gathering a number of followers.

It struck me that my not believing in the Christian Jesus is likely for the same reasons you don't believe in this Aussie Jesus.

EDIT: Two questions:

1. Why don't you believe in Aussie Jesus?

2. How is his claim to be the son of God different than the biblical claim that Jesus was the son of God?

1. Oh, I do believe in Aussie Jesus. I believe he's a very dangerous kook.

2. W/r to how his claim is different than the biblical claim - one thing - it completely contradicts ALL the biblical claims which point to the real Jesus. Prophecies, miracles, teachings, character, authority, death, resurrection, eventual return. I don't know how it can get any more "different" than that.

Nothing of what you posted remotely comes close to explaining to me why you are an atheist. It's not exactly "compelling." Frankly, if this is the sort of "logic" you're using, it really begs the question, "why in the world are you - of all things, an atheist?" Honestly - and no offense - but I know a number of atheists, some of whom are friends, and they would be absolutely embarrassed if this constituted (well, let alone contributed in any way to) the basis of reasoning for why they were atheists.

I don't know - maybe there are atheists out there who buy into this sort of reasoning; but I haven't met any of them.

 

[Gottservant]

People talk about embarassment as if its some kind of red card they can hand out, frankly, that's what's embarassing.

 

[Wormdirt]

People talk about embarassment as if its some kind of red card they can hand out, frankly, that's what's embarassing.

I confess I don't understand why you would feel embarrassed by what I posted, nevertheless if it did cause you embarrassment, I apologize.

FWIW, I've had this very discussion with some of my atheist friends, though in the context of David Koresh (et. al.), who is a near identical match to the "Aussie Jesus" presented in the OP. We've discussed him, his "example." Loner; gathered a small following of "followers." Retreats to a secluded compound, etc. etc. I've shared my embarrassment as a Christian with examples like his. We've discussed how such examples affect our beliefs, if at all - and short of being embarrassed, such examples neither bolster nor diminish their beliefs or mine.

Some 25 people tmk have claimed to be Jesus in the last hundred years or so. I have rarely heard atheists put that fact forth as rationale for why they are atheists. The atheists I know argue more on reason than on the kookery of a handful of deluded individuals.

Moreover, I've found the arguments of my atheist friends to be far more compelling than the one posited by the OP. But that's my opinion.

Perhaps my post came across as communicating the OP should be somehow embarrassed by his argument. That wasn't my intent; I merely relayed what I heard from my friends re David Koresh; so again, I apologize if I caused you any embarrassment whatsoever.

 

[USCGrad90]

Double Post.

 

[USCGrad90]

Try to answer your questions as directly as possible:
1. I don't believe in Aussie Jesus (Alan John Miller) because of the following:
a. Before he "realized" he was Jesus, he was a property developer with a wife and 2 children.
b. He left his wife for a woman 10 years younger named Karen.
c. He claimed Karen was Mary Magdalene.
d. His current partner is a woman named Mary Luck, who he also claims is Mary Magdalene.
e. He apparently has encountered up to 10 different women in his travels that he claimed were Mary Magdalene.
f. His mother tried to have him committed to a mental health facility.
g. He is a former senior Jehovah's Witness - who was kicked out when he left his wife for Karen.

2. How is his claim any different than the claim of the Biblical Jesus?
a. See response to question #1. His statements are contradictory - especially on who Mary is.
b. AJ Miller states that he remembers performing the miracles spelled out in the Bible, but is not noted to actually have performed any.
c. The treatment of his followers is consistent with the steps of a cult leader.
d. He is making money from sales of DVDs and seminars. I don't think Jesus charged for his sermons.