Why Did Jesus Come To The Earth?

[goodlife]

Jesus was not an imaginary person. He really lived as a man on earth. “In ancient times even the opponents of Christianity never doubted the [actual existence] of Jesus,” notes the Encyclopædia Britannica. So just who was Jesus? Was he really sent by God? Why is he so well known?

[grasscarp]

Naomi - on this very thread you have written:
You take an assortment of pre-existing myths, you impose upon the gullible the sentimentally incontrovertible burden of guilt, you introduce a notion of favourable selection in exchange for unquestioning sycophancy, and you add to all of that a distinct element of fear for personal security in the 'hereafter'.

So you are describing believers as believing in myths, being gullible, feeling guilt, sycophantic and living in fear.

And you say this is not rubbishing people? Religion itself cannot be gullible, sycophantic and cannot have feelings of guilt or fear. It is people that are being criticised. 100%

[naomi24]

Grasscarp, No, I am describing the dogma that religion imposes.

[grasscarp]

Naomi you are describing people. Only people have feelings.

[naomi24]

Grasscarp, Ask Jom to explain it to you. He agrees with me and might have more success.

[grasscarp]

Naomi I am addressing you. If you cant agree that only people have feelings I am wasting my time.

[naomi24]

You just want another argument. Look elsewhere. I've better things to do.

[grasscarp]

Its not an argument. Its a statement of fact. You have plenty of time to post - its just I dont let you get away with making it up as you go along which seems to irritate you. Little smilies for those who agree with you and rudeness to those who dont. Same old.

[naomi24]

Grasscarp, I'm not rude to you - and I don't make it up as I go along. I'm simply not prepared to indulge your aggression or your rudeness again.

[grasscarp]

Aggression and rudeness? Moi? I said that YOU are rude to people who do not agree with you. I had said to you that surely only people have feelings? You could not think of what to say, as it would be not in you to admit you are ever wrong and even tried to pass me off to another ABer for an answer. Lighten up.

[cupid04]

I know that my redeemer lives. And no amount of people telling me otherwise will ever change my mind.

[grasscarp]

Cupid. You are not alone.

[cupid04]

Thank you. There are millions more. ;-)

[baza]

Thank God I am not an atheist.

[cupid04]

Amen to that!

[naomi24]

I’m back. Grasscarp, an odd message. You’re complaining – and you want me to lighten up? Mmmm… strange.

//You could not think of what to say,//

Yes, I could. I said it.

// as it would be not in you to admit you are ever wrong //

Not true.

//and even tried to pass me off to another ABer for an answer.//

I thought he might be more successful. You’re clearly not listening to me. Just trying to help you to understand.

[naomi24]

Cupid, no one is trying to make you change your mind.

[jomifl]

Grasscarp, it is traditional to shoot the messenger, even if he doesn't understand the message.

[vulcan42]

I get the impression from this particular thread that if there are millions of people who believe something, that makes it true. For a long time there were, lets be generous and say thousands and not millions, who believed the world to be flat. Are you saying that if millions believed the world was flat that it would be true?

[grasscarp]

So Naomi you agree that only humans (or animate objects) can have "feelings" - you haven't yet answered. Is it so difficult? Brings me back to fact you are talking disparagingly about people e.g gullible, sycophants etc

[naomi24]

Grasscarp, oh, I think I see what you want me to say,

benhilton asked me //So how DO you keep a cult going for a couple of thousand years ?.//

…. and I said …..

//You take an assortment of pre-existing myths, you impose upon the gullible the sentimentally incontrovertible burden of guilt, you introduce a notion of favourable selection in exchange for unquestioning sycophancy, and you add to all of that a distinct element of fear for personal security in the 'hereafter'. Voila!! Job done!//

… and then you said // So you are describing believers as believing in myths, being gullible, feeling guilt, sycophantic and living in fear [for personal security in the 'hereafter'].// (I added the bit you left off).

I presume that’s your question, and the answer is yes. I don't see what's disparaging about it - it's what the faithful choose to do.

I haven’t mentioned ‘feelings’ so I’m not entirely sure where you’re coming from with that one – but no doubt you’ll tell me.