Unlike Mary, the only contemporaneous image of Jesus still in existence is the one here. How he looked is not important, but opinions vary on what is. One group believes that his death is most important because it will save us all in the afterlife. Some of these think that it’s important to assign blame to groups or individuals, (ie. Judas, the Romans, the Jews, or, in Richard Friedman’s case, Santa Claus) for his death even though his death was necessary for them to saved. (To hear Richard sing it, click here) Others in this group think that Judas, or whoever caused his death, was performing a necessary service and should not be blamed.Another group believes that his life, as an example on how to live our lives here and now, is most important. His death is important only to show us that values are worth dying for and focusing on his death and making him an icon or idol to be worshiped, is at odds with and obscures his message.
Another group believes that what you believe is unimportant. Having faith in the beneficence of the universe, or your kinship with others is.
Ole Virg, having been Church of Christ, Presbyterian, Buddhist, Methodist, and Lutheran at various times, and at times simultaneously, believes it all.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Festivus. (Thanks to Rita for telling me about festivus)
5 comments:
This wouldn't bother the last two groups at all.
http://www.americancomedynetwork.com/FLASH/my_menorah.htm
"May the good Lord He bless you and keep you in health And remember that Jesus was a Jewboy hisself."
From Richard's version of "The Tramp On The Street".
Virgil:
I love your blog, your insight, and your perspective. You're my hero.
Keep um commin.
Idol Smasher:
Thanks. You have some good stuff. I've bookmarked it. If your real name is in fact not Smasher, are you Orve's alter ego? Sally's?
Reverend Carlton Pearson is an evangelical pastor in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “His church, Higher Dimensions, was once one of the biggest in the city, drawing crowds of 5,000 people every Sunday. But several years ago, scandal engulfed the Reverend, he was denounced by almost all his former supporters, and today his congregation is just a few hundred people. He didn't have an affair. He didn't embezzle lots of money. His sin was something that to a lot of people is far worse ... he stopped believing in hell.” He “told his church that Christ's mercy is so wide that men and women of any and all religions, from Hindus and Jews to Buddhists and Moslems, were equally loved and accepted as they are by Jesus. All religious people qualify for heaven, said the Pastor, and we must stop trying to change and convert them. Let a Hindu be a good Hindu, a Buddhist a good Buddhist etc. Pearson invited homosexuals as well as the foreign religionists to join his church and boldly said that homosexuals, too, met Jesus' criteria for salvation.” See, http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/krwg/arts.artsmain?action=viewArticle&id=766444&pid=1023&sid=10, http://www.higherd.org, and, if you must, http://www.conspiracyworld.com/index0099.htm
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