Jesus Was a Great Man

Whether you beleive in Christ as your savior, a man who is human and God, or you simply beleive him to be a legendary Historical Figure...

You have to admit. He was definately a Revolutionary, a man who was ahead of his time.

Think about it:

1) He had more female followers than male. He was always surrounded by women. In a culture that favored men and had no trust in women, he had ultamate trust and compassion for women.

The Legend even claims that it was a woman, Mary Magdeline, who delivered the message of his supposed Resurrection.

Many even beleive that Mary Magdeline was one of his Apostles...not just a follower. However, this is eternally debatable since the only records we have of Jesus are the Bible and various Roman documents, that do not clarify.

2) He beleived in a Life of Non-Violence. Never did he condone human violence against fellow human. Never did he kill or torture another person, nor did he enable the killing or torture of other human, or even animal for that matter !

He taught that we should Love One Another as we Love Ourselves (A very Buddhist concept).

He taught us to Turn the Other Cheek and to Love Thy Enemy.

Why do we forget this ? Why do beleivers and non beleivers alike forget these wondorful words ?

3) He promoted Tolerance.

Jesus the Man, (I am not going to say Jesus Christ, because that suggests Divinity, a religious and unproven belief) taught that we should all Love each other, and that we are all children of God. He did not separate one person from another. He did not teach us to look at other people as "others".

So many Christians today tend to separate themselves from non-beleivers and even other beleivers. Many Christians today tend to think of themselves as "us" and everyone else as "them"

Jesus did not teach this. We are all children of God is the message Jesus taught, and today many people ignore this, and even twist it around. You even get certain**** Christians, who claim that there are those who are Children of God, and then those who are Children of Satan.

Jesus clearly stated that God created us all, and that we are all his children.

4) Whether Jesus was resurrected or not, is infinately debatable. However, despite the issue, Jesus did die, not for his own ambitions, but to serve as an example of the rest of us. The example of Love.

He most probably died beleiving that he was taking the punishment of all people who have done wrong, and suffering in thier place. His intent was Noble.

He did not come to fight a War...he did not lead any crusade.

Heck, he even supposedly healed the ear of a soldier who Peter attacked in his defense. He allowed himself to be arrested, beaten, and kept his mouth shut about who is Disciples were.

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There are many who beleive that He is infact, the Son of God.

There are many others who beleive that in his travels, he learned about the many Eastern philosophies (particularly Buddhist teachings) about Peace, Love, and Unconditional Compassion, and integrated them into his own philosophies.

There are others who beleive, that he had access to his own mind, to his own spirit, and to the Nature of this world, that most people lack. There were many other Great people who had done unbelievable things, who are comparable to Jesus. Jesus is not the first person recorded to have healed people, or sacrafice himself for the safety and benefit of others.

But whatever the case....

Jesus was a Great Man

Human or God.....

He was definately a Revolutionary

I consider him more of a missionary and teacher than revolutionary.

Originally posted by WrathfulDwarf
I consider him more of a missionary and teacher than revolutionary.

I do not mean Revolutionary as in a fighter or warrior. I meant Revolutionairy as in being a Man of Change.

Alexander The Great was a Great Conqueror, but also an even greater leader. Unlike many of his predecessors, Alexander wanted to learn about the cultures he subdued, and integrated them with his own. He promoted racial, religious, cultural, and sexual diversity within his empire. How fkn amazing is that ? That is truly Revolutionary.

Same with Jesus. He spoke words which very few at that time were willing to listen to.

He promoted Non-Violence in a time of GREAT Violence....he trusted and loved women in a time when women were not to be trusted and were oppressed.

That is why he was killed. His words promoted such extreme change, that everyone saw him as a Threat to the status quo. Which he indeed was.

I wish Christians would follow his teachings instead of his death.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
I wish Christians would follow his teachings instead of his death.

So Do I Shaky...So Do I.... 🙁

Originally posted by Goddess Kali
He had more female followers than male.

Evidence for this?

He taught that we should Love One Another as we Love Ourselves (A very Buddhist concept).

Jewish, actually. From Leviticus.

I'm not going to pick an arguement with you, but I will point out that it's hard to accurately judge someone when the only source of information we have about him is written by his followers. If Jesus got drunk one day and beat the hell out of a homeless man, how would we know? His followers sure wouldn't include it in their writings.

Originally posted by Gregory
Evidence for this?

Jewish, actually. From Leviticus.

I'm not going to pick an arguement with you, but I will point out that it's hard to accurately judge someone when the only source of information we have about him is written by his followers. If Jesus got drunk one day and beat the hell out of a homeless man, how would we know? His followers sure wouldn't include it in their writings.

Originally posted by Gregory
Evidence for this?

Jewish, actually. From Leviticus.

I'm not going to pick an arguement with you, but I will point out that it's hard to accurately judge someone when the only source of information we have about him is written by his followers. If Jesus got drunk one day and beat the hell out of a homeless man, how would we know? His followers sure wouldn't include it in their writings.

How do I know Alexander the Great really did conquer all those nations and established his empire ?

How do I know what Buddha really taught ?

I don't...niether do you....I am only going by the information available. The Bible is not the only information available on Jesus. There are roman records of his arrest and arguments.

He was a great man indeed, and he had his connection with the divine.
He is a person who worked very well his spirituality and reached a very far degree, so it was left for him to show others how to get the same degree he did as a teacher is supposed to do. His greatness is not because he was the son of God, it comes from his own merit and effort. That means we can and should do the same. Spiritual enlightment requires effort, it is not only a matter of converting to the right religion.

Originally posted by Atlantis001
He was a great man indeed, and he had his connection with the divine.
He is a person who worked very well his spirituality and reached a very far degree, so it was left for him to show others how to get the same degree he did as a teacher is supposed to do. His greatness is not because he was the son of God, it comes from his own merit and effort. That means we can and should do the same. Spiritual enlightment requires effort, it is not only a matter of converting to the right religion.

Did Jesus teach that you could not get into heaven by works?

Seeing as this thread is by Kali, I can't not see the gay references in his story about Jesus.

Jesus was a devote Jew. I doubt he wanted to start a new religion. I believe he wanted to see reform of his own religion. Or maybe he was preaching what he found in India.

I agree Kali. And there is just no way, according to the way Jesus lived and what we know of him, that he would condone anything from Vatican to Baptism (actually, I don't know what is the difference between anything and baptism, but I am guessing)

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
Did Jesus teach that you could not get into heaven by works?

Do you mean, if you could not get into heaven if you do not do any effort ?

I think not, but it is the way people believe it works. Jesus sacrificed himself for our sins so mankind could go to heaven, so the only thing we need to do is accepting him as our lord and savior( i.e. the christian faith).

Originally posted by Goddess Kali
How do I know Alexander the Great really did conquer all those nations and established his empire ?

How do I know what Buddha really taught ?

I don't...niether do you....I am only going by the information available. The Bible is not the only information available on Jesus. There are roman records of his arrest and arguments.

There is a lot more varifiable, unbiased information on Alexander the Great then there is on Jesus, Specifically, there's a lot on the first, and absolutely none on the second. You shouldn't try to pretend the situations are similar.

I am not making any positive statement to the effect that Jesus was not as the gospels depicted him, but you should at least acknowledge that judging someone to have definitely been a good person when the only writings we have about him were specifically designed to make him look that way is problomatic.

lil bitchiness, Jesus might condone baptism. If you believe the gospels, anyway--he was baptised himself.

Originally posted by Atlantis001
Do you mean, if you could not get into heaven if you do not do any effort ?

I think not but it is the way people believe it works. Jesus sacrificed himself for our sins so mankind could go to heaven and the only thing we need to do is accepting him as our lord and savior( i.e. the christian faith).

The problem, as I see it, most Christians follow the teachings of Paul and not Jesus.

Originally posted by lil bitchiness
Jesus was a devote Jew. I doubt he wanted to start a new religion. I believe he wanted to see reform of his own religion. Or maybe he was preaching what he found in India.

I agree, that should explain similarities between different religions.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
The problem, as I see it, most Christians follow the teachings of Paul and not Jesus.

It is true. I do not think the problem is with Jesus teachings, but a lot of what is taught was changed or misinterpreted.

Originally posted by Gregory
If Jesus got drunk one day and beat the hell out of a homeless man, how would we know? His followers sure wouldn't include it in their writings.

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it. On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there…

When evening came, they went out of the city. In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"

So . . . uh . . . even Jesus could be a complete jerk sometimes.

He was just a head case.

Jesus was just human...he even started miniature riots in temples, and was disrespectful to his rabbi teachers at an early age.

He was just a human...a very highly accomplished, spiritual, and wise human..but a human nonetheless, so ofcourse he is not perfect.

I agree with Atlantis. 👆 On everything he said.

Gregory-the only sources we have to go on about Jesus Christ are the Bible and the Roman documents.

The Roman documents were founded, and are unbiased, because Jesus was recorded as a criminal. Jesus was a real person you know...unlike God and Satan, Jesus isn't made up. It's just the myths about his resurrection that are.

However, the core of his teachings are consistant with many of the roman document accusations according to History Channel and other Theological/Historical sources.

Christ was a rebel..a non-violent rebel, but a rebel nonetheless, similiar to Ghandi.

Jesus, however, was very upfront at an early age. According to the sources available, he scolded rabbis...he even wrecked books and small properties out of anger for the hypocritical authorities and teachers.

What a cool guy 👆