Who is/was Jesus?

[Alceste]

The title is the topic.

Was he messiah of the Jews, enlightened mystic, the avatar of God, or just the prophet of God?

Saviour of the world, false prophet, King of the Jews, or king of none?

I chose "enlightened yogi" but I would have picked "philosopher" if it had been there for the picking.

Did he die on the cross, or did God save him? Was he really born of a virgin? Is the resurrection a myth or just a metaphor?

Exactly who is/was this man Jesus?

Assuming he existed to begin with, he died, God did not save him, and he was not really born of a virgin, just like the rest of us. That's my opinion, anyway.

 

[fallingblood]

Could be, but I also definitely think traditional orthodox Christianity is on the decline.

I would agree with you there, but I think the idea of Jesus being God incarnate reaches much farther than just traditional orthodox Christianity. The concept of the Trinity, which encompasses this, is still a center point even in many non-traditional churches. In the Evangelical churches I belonged to, it was very important, and even in the Lutheran churches, including the more liberal (such as the ELCA), the Trinity holds a strong sway. Even in more progressive churches, the Trinity is an accepted idea.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Yeah I recognize the virgin birth is a literary mechanism and the significance it held for early Christians. I do not believe it was literal. I assume Joseph was his actual father.

 

[Twig pentagram]

If Yeshua existed I think he was God Incarnate and a manifestation of God. I
actually think that all things that exist are God incarnate and a manifestation
of God.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

If Yeshua existed I think he was God Incarnate and a manifestation of God. I
actually think that all things that exist are God incarnate and a manifestation
of God.

To be sure I'm understanding rightly- you don't think Jesus was a incarnation or manifestation of God in a way different then any of us are?

 

[Twig pentagram]

To be sure I'm understanding rightly- you don't think Jesus was a incarnation or manifestation of God in a way different then any of us are?

I think he was different because we are all different, but yes I do think
we're all an incarnation and/or manifestation of deity.

 

[Jainarayan]

A Prophet - One who speaks for God and reveals God to man.

An Enlightened Yogi - He must be enlightened to know God and God's "mind".

A Manifestation of God - Appeared for a certain people in a certain place at a certain time for a certain purpose, only. However, his teachings are applicable to all.

 

[Octavia156]

I think it it likely Jesus was simply a politician.

 

[outhouse]

I think it it likely Jesus was simply a politician.

an impossibility based on what little evidence we have.


nothing lines up with a guess like that

 

[Starsurfer93]

I feel that Jesus was likely an enlightened Yogi/Wise Man as opposed to the strict interpretation of him being the literal son of god. He was wise and certainly understood the hearts of men and a means in which we could live in harmony with one another.

But the more I view opinions of people on this site and abroad as well as mull over his story on my own, the more skeptical I become on the more miraculous aspects of his story

 

[Caladan]

Who is/was Jesus?

One out of many miracle makers during the time, with some of them like Simon Magus making an appearance in the NT.
Physiologically and theologically he was a Galilean man who preached and healed his fellow countrymen. He had a more liberal approach to Jewish law, in a way which reminds Rabbi Hillel, one of the great Jewish teachers who were contemporary to Jesus. Various epitheths such as Son of God have been developed around Jesus, in what seems to be an agenda to tackle Roman Imperial religion and propaganda, the kind which referred to Imperators as the Son of God. According to the NT he seemed to enjoy a certain ammount of popularity, and his forerunner John the Baptist seemed to have been very popular among the Jewish people of the time. Evidence for several protagonists and antagonists of the gospels narrative have been by discovered in archaeological work in Israel, such as an inscription dedicated by Pilate at Caesarea, and a couple of ossuaries which point to the High Priest Caiaphas.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Other ...

 

[outhouse]

One out of many miracle makers during the time, with some of them like Simon Magus making an appearance in the NT.
Physiologically and theologically he was a Galilean man who preached and healed his fellow countrymen. He had a more liberal approach to Jewish law, in a way which reminds Rabbi Hillel, one of the great Jewish teachers who were contemporary to Jesus. Various epitheths such as Son of God have been developed around Jesus, in what seems to be an agenda to tackle Roman Imperial religion and propaganda, the kind which referred to Imperators as the Son of God. According to the NT he seemed to enjoy a certain ammount of popularity, and his forerunner John the Baptist seemed to have been very popular among the Jewish people of the time. Evidence for several protagonists and antagonists of the gospels narrative have been by discovered in archaeological work in Israel, such as an inscription dedicated by Pilate at Caesarea, and a couple of ossuaries which point to the High Priest Caiaphas.

agreed with the exception of "a certain amount of popularity"

he only traveled to small villages in Galilee, and preached/healed for dinner scraps


now paul traveling to roman large cities held a certain amount of popularity. the poverty stricken jew, no.