Jesus the man

[Nadie]

Hi all,

I'm a newbie here, but not to the study of Christianity - I'm a third year religious studies major and I actually signed up to this website because I am doing a research project on Christianity and the new media - so blogs, forums etc. Perusing these forums got me thinking about Jesus and his role as the son of God. Are there any Christians around here who accept Jesus as a man who was amazing and radical in his thinking, yet still, just a man? I think he was amazing; he was a peaceful rebel who wanted to change the social system - he respected women and believed strongly in remorse and forgiveness, amazing for his time. Yet I cannot see him as anything but a man with a strong message, I cannot comprehend the idea of the son of God and this is my biggest struggle with Christianity.

 

[ebia]

Hi all,

I'm a newbie here, but not to the study of Christianity - I'm a third year religious studies major and I actually signed up to this website because I am doing a research project on Christianity and the new media - so blogs, forums etc. Perusing these forums got me thinking about Jesus and his role as the son of God. Are there any Christians around here who accept Jesus as a man who was amazing and radical in his thinking, yet still, just a man? I think he was amazing; he was a peaceful rebel who wanted to change the social system - he respected women and believed strongly in remorse and forgiveness, amazing for his time. Yet I cannot see him as anything but a man with a strong message, I cannot comprehend the idea of the son of God and this is my biggest struggle with Christianity.

Great teacher's generally don't go around setting themselves up as Messiah (God's annointed), then letting themselves be killed - the surest sign of a failed 'messiah'. Nor do they generally go around doing things that God should be doing.

 

[Digit]

Hi all,

I'm a newbie here, but not to the study of Christianity - I'm a third year religious studies major and I actually signed up to this website because I am doing a research project on Christianity and the new media - so blogs, forums etc. Perusing these forums got me thinking about Jesus and his role as the son of God. Are there any Christians around here who accept Jesus as a man who was amazing and radical in his thinking, yet still, just a man? I think he was amazing; he was a peaceful rebel who wanted to change the social system - he respected women and believed strongly in remorse and forgiveness, amazing for his time. Yet I cannot see him as anything but a man with a strong message, I cannot comprehend the idea of the son of God and this is my biggest struggle with Christianity.

Heya Nadie,

Welcome to the forum, and good luck with the project.

I believe Jesus was not just the son of God, but God Himself. He pointed directly to Himself, and declared His divine nature. I guess if you have difficultly believing the Bible, the verses within, could pose issues.

This forum isn't for debate though. Alas... poor Yorrick. >_>

Digit

 

[winsome]

Hi all,

I'm a newbie here, but not to the study of Christianity - I'm a third year religious studies major and I actually signed up to this website because I am doing a research project on Christianity and the new media - so blogs, forums etc. Perusing these forums got me thinking about Jesus and his role as the son of God. Are there any Christians around here who accept Jesus as a man who was amazing and radical in his thinking, yet still, just a man? I think he was amazing; he was a peaceful rebel who wanted to change the social system - he respected women and believed strongly in remorse and forgiveness, amazing for his time. Yet I cannot see him as anything but a man with a strong message, I cannot comprehend the idea of the son of God and this is my biggest struggle with Christianity.

Hi Nadie, welcome to CF

Firstly the definition of Christian on CF is accepting the Nicene Creed and that Jesus was the second person of the Trinity, so on that definition of Christian there are no Christians around here that would accept Jesus as just a man.

As digit said this forum is not for debate so perhaps you would get more discussion in General Apologetics.

Keep posting.

 

[heron]

Hi, Nadie --
I hope your studies go well! You must have had an interesting few years -- with many more years to come of mind-stirring.

(I really should find a picture of a face with spinning eyes)

If you're looking for Christians with those beliefs, you might not find them in this area, because CF rules limit the Christian icon to believers who stand behind the Nicene Creed -- which states that He was the Son of God, rose from the dead, and died for the forgiveness of our sins.

Just logistics.

Of course there will be people miscategorized, who attend a church but don't fully believe what the church espouses.

You might find more people who believe in the man among Muslims, some Jehovah's Witnesses, some Mormons, some Hindi, some Buddhists, some Unitarians (please no arguments -- I said some). Many religions respect Jesus as a prophet and teacher.

Christians, by definition, believe that our redemption was purchased through His sacrifice.

So, just to get you started on a rational track... these are just unemotional facts about faiths, and help to direct you to appropriate sources.

I think he was amazing; he was a peaceful rebel who wanted to change the social system - he respected women and believed strongly in remorse and forgiveness, amazing for his time.

 

[Secundulus]

The problem is that he claimed to be God. So, either he was telling the truth or he was a lunatic.

Also, he his purpose was not to bring peace as many will claim. Instead, his purpose was to bring truth, at all costs.

Matthew 10:33-35 (English Standard Version)

34"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

 

[heron]

The problem is that he claimed to be God.

Good point. If someone believed in Him, but didn't believe in everything He taught, then they wouldn't quite be disciples.

 

[sinner/SAVED]

.... I think he was amazing;....

If He is not the Son of God then He is an amazing liar.

 

[kevin36]

The problem is that he claimed to be God. So, either he was telling the truth or he was a lunatic.

Exactly