Questions from an Agnostic

[RobNY]

So, what? you think some Jews weren’t happy with what the elite priests were doing? Making the people perform all these rituals while reaping all the profit?

You’re interpreting this from an almost 19th century Marxist view. You can’t view their actions through such an anachronistic lens. They weren’t motivated in that fashion.

And, by the way, the ‘religion = evil scheme for getting money’ is probably the most tired out athiestic cliche.

No it wasn’t. They believed Jesus was the fulfillment of the prophecy. They didn’t even consider it a change in their religion (if they even really believed it.)

This is exactly my point. Except for the, ‘if they even really believed it,’ because you’re just making wild guessing games there.

I’d say liar, but so what? The Priests were lying, he had to fight back. Just because he was a good guy doesn’t mean he never lied or did anything wrong. He was a really devout guy, dying for what he believed in, for the good of the people. He could have also been just a little crazy.

You really have a warped view of morality. There is a difference between the occassional lie and lying as a basis for who you are, especially if you claim to be God. Lying as Jesus purportedly did would only make him a morally reprehensible person.

“Dying for what he believed in, for the good of the people.” This is more of the anachronistic view. He was dying for a lie then. He allowed himself to be taunted, tortured and killed just because he had some sort of weird problem against lashing out against his tormentors. I submit that no liar could take such a fate so calmly. However it is those, ‘for the good of the people,’ is such an inaccurate gloss. Either Jesus Christ died to save sinners or his death means nothing. Jesus’ message was not about just being good. His message was essentially about his ministry of reconciliation, and of forgiveness. Without the death and resurrection of Christ, this means nothing. (Being good, of course, is part and parcel of this package, but it is not what it’s about.)