Does the name of Jesus irk you?

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

Does that story carry any kind of context?

Maybe he's talking about the time Jesus showed up and assaulted people with a bullwhip and overturned merchandise displays? Like, if he were alive now, he'd probably threaten to burn down Christian bookstores and other such places?

 

[Buddha Dharma]

Maybe he's talking about the time Jesus showed up and assaulted people with a bullwhip and overturned merchandise displays? Like, if he were alive now, he'd probably threaten to burn down Christian bookstores and other such places?

I know what he meant, and I'll concede, that's one of the more shameful episodes of acting out on the Nazarene's part- if one wanted to point to any. I was asking him for context because as I understand it, Jesus was from a poor family. He knew the struggles of the poor, and caught the temple's money changers cheating them. That was a very human response. I think we can all understand how the Nazarene felt.

 

[dianaiad]

No, I have no particular objection to Jesus as a purported historical character.

Though, his common modern portrait as a handsome clean-shaven 35 yo Nordic bourgeois with long chestnut locks and fresh white nylon frock is a pretty wild misrepresentation of a "Mediterranean Jewish peasant", as Crossan put it.

I have noticed that every group of people, of all ethnicities, portray Him as looking like them. I have seen Him portrayed as African, native American, Asian, Indian....you name it.

So why is it only the 'white' group that gets criticized for doing so?

That said, I'm pretty sure that He was probably short, had curly black hair, (which he probably wore short, as did most men of his time) was darker skinned and had pretty classic aramaic features. He probably wasn't all that handsome, either. I mean, even the bible states that he wasn't pretty.

But I don't mind if my African American neighbors have Him as black and dressed in African dress, or that my Vietnamese friends have Him with the classic Asian eyes and long, straight, black hair.

I don't see the need to get all picky about it, personally.

 

[Thief]

Does that story carry any kind of context?

if you can see into the eyes of the Carpenter .....in that moment.....

yes

 

[Thief]

Maybe he's talking about the time Jesus showed up and assaulted people with a bullwhip and overturned merchandise displays? Like, if he were alive now, he'd probably threaten to burn down Christian bookstores and other such places?

the story I got......

He stood in the threshold of the temple with a cord of rope in His hand
probably making knots in it

picture yourself as a disciple...you know Him
but you are about to see a side of Him you haven't yet seen

and the Temple was shoulder to shoulder.....pending the Passover

and He said......Get out!
probably had to say it more than once......loudly

and I can hear.....someone laughed

 

[blü 2]

I have noticed that every group of people, of all ethnicities, portray Him as looking like them. I have seen Him portrayed as African, native American, Asian, Indian....you name it.

That would be an image of the Christ of Faith, an idea with a human avatar, no? (Put not your faith in Volvo drivers on their way to toga parties.)

On the other hand, you're likely familiar with this >image< of our "Mediterranean Jewish peasant" c. 30 CE. That's a sort of category indicator for a hypothetical historical Jesus.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

When I hear the name used as an exclamation, I can relate.

When I hear it because someone is literally trying to bring forth The Christ into conversation and they're serious about it, then I usually have a bit of feeling stirred. More annoyance than anything. Sort of an internal eye-rolling with a strong "ugh, not this again" motif.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

He knew the struggles of the poor, and caught the temple's money changers cheating them. That was a very human response.

Even without the marketplace in the Temple, the whole thing was a sham anyway, since an omnipresent God didn't even want the Temple built in the first place because it was unnecessary. The fact Jerusalem banned religious stuff except for Jerusalem also reeks of money-grubbing.

If Jesus REALLY wanted to make a point, he'd have stayed home.

 

[columbus]

I like your Christ.
I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
~Gandhi

I don't have any problem with Jesus. He and I get along just fine.
But until He can sufficiently influence His believers to sort out the True Christians from the vast majority, I cannot believe that He is especially Divine.

Tom

 

[Buddha Dharma]

If Jesus REALLY wanted to make a point, he'd have stayed home.

I'm not sure he was trying to make a point initially

 

[Jesster]

The name Jesus doesn't bother me at all. The people who tend to wield the name like a weapon bother me though.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

But until He can sufficiently influence His believers to sort out the True Christians from the vast majority, I cannot believe that He is especially Divine.

That is within us all, that is our choice.

Regards Tony

 

[columbus]

That is within us all, that is our choice

I don't have any choice in the matter. I cannot believe that Jesus was Divine while also believing that He had anything to do with what is now referred to as Christianity.

It's illogical to believe that a Divine Being could be so easily thwarted by mere humans.
Tom

 

[Sha'irullah]

The name of Jesus does not irk me but when I say Mexicans pronounce it as "Hey Zeus" I keep having to inform them it is the wrong god with the wrong beard

 

[TransmutingSoul]

I don't have any choice in the matter. I cannot believe that Jesus was Divine while also believing that He had anything to do with what is now referred to as Christianity.

It's illogical to believe that a Divine Being could be so easily thwarted by mere humans.
Tom

One has to decide where the real power is.

We all return to the dust in this world. It has no lasting power.

Regards Tony

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

I'm not sure he was trying to make a point initially

So he was just attacking people pointlessly? That's not making it better.

 

[Buddha Dharma]

So he was just attacking people pointlessly? That's not making it better.

No, meaning I think he had a moment of anger. We all do. Does that mean he was a bad person?

 

[Milton Platt]

As an atheist I had a revulsion for the name of Jesus. Seeing these people with their suit, ties, Bibles, and preaching and praying in the name of Jaesus made me want to puke. They insist everyone is going to hell for not believing in their imaginary friend , then claim they have good news. Quite sickening.

Does it irk you to hear the name of Jesus? Do you ever find that name to be annoying?

No. I only get annoyed when someone insistently tries to tell me that I have to believe the same woo that they do.