Atheist faith

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Like I said a page back; atheists have faith ( unquestioning trust ) in objectivity.

But objectivity is only half the picture.

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I have faith in rationality and things that actually make sense. What's the other half of the picture? If it's something beyond rationality and logic I don't see anything that makes your claim valid honestly.

"Supernatural" is almost a synonym to "unexplained". By my definitions, a thing is in a great degree natural by the mere fact of its existence, which nullifies the existence of things that are not in a great degree natural.

About reading mythology: I love fairy-tales, and I tend to be offended when I am told that what I think is a fairy-tale is not a fairy-tale. It implies that I do not know what a fairy-tale is.

Not sure if I have understood you right, but it seems to me that what you say is an argument for the importance, and "reality", of "the subjective", as in a fairy tale, which is not "real" from an objective perspective but is "real", and valuable, to people from a subjective point of view.

Pretending that a fairy tale is "real" in an objective sense negates most of its value, ( which may be why the jewish religious leaders chose to pretend that Jesus was a "real" man, in order to ridiculise the main character of the story, as illegitimate, etc ),which lies precisely in its powerful use of/reference to subjective reality, which is beyond objective measurement.

It may be that the Roman Catholic Church's decision ( roman literal-mindededness, or the effect of the jewish attack on the gospels? ) to treat Jesus Christ as a historical reality led to the growth of science, ( the application of objectivity above all else ), because saying that Jesus's life was a historical event suggested that the christian fairy tale was appropriate subject for objective examination/explanation, that it was not in fact a fairy tale, and that everything, including god, could be bounded/completely understood, ( and in the case of god, etc, be dismissed as a result), within the objective perspective on life.

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The reason.. (in my opinion).. that both Jesus and Buddha were represented as mythological personalities.. is that myth addresses itself to the imagination (the root directory of the mind).. rather than to the intellect.. and this links to the human psyche.. much more efficiently that any historical personality ever could……

Often.. images have more effect on us than words.. and myths are about creating a potent imagery.

It seems to be a stratagy...

Myths have more power over people..than a historical account ever could.. and they exist outside of time.. so they are timeless.

As a child I enjoyed reading Greek mythology.. but had no interest at all in Greek history.. or even English history.. for that matter.. I would rather read a good story.

Both Jesus and Plato had great minds.. but Jesus has become more prominent because of the myth.. while plato remains just another historical figure.

Even the uneducated could be drawn to mythology..

Often.. they don't understand why.. and begin worshipping the symbols.. rather than trying to understand what they mean..

Jesus appeals much more to the imagination ( the root directory of the mind).. and in this way he can appeal to anybody.. even those who can't read and write.. while the intellectual connection is still there.. for those who wish to find it.

However.. I wouldn't dispute that Jesus existed.. because these words had to originate from somebody.

Whether his name was really Jesus or not.. doesn't really matter.

Neither does the historical personality..

All that really matters are his words..

Because words are the Spirit.. when it takes flight.

For me.. the words themselves are Jesus (or the Christ)..

The words being the manifestation of the Spirit..

Even the name.. Jesus could be a symbol.. which links him back to Joshua.. who like Jesus (which is Greek for Joshua).. took over from Moses... and walked across the sea.. as Moses did.. when the sea parted... according to the mythology.

I came across this today.. which kind of covers what you are saying about the Jesus myth..


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EYm8lj-9zw

However.. in my opinion.. there must have been a body.. to house the Spirit.

So.. in this sense.. I would suppose that Jesus did exist……... but he was cloaked in myth by the writers..

What I also find interesting is how closely the teachings of Jesus and Buddha resemble each other..

Jesus might have studied Buddhism.. and taken on board its teachings.

For example.. the teaching concerning the existence of Jesus and Buddha..

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"Nor will it be possible to point out the Blessed One as being here or there. But it will be like a flame in a great body of blazing fire.

That flame has ceased; it has vanished and it cannot be said that it is here or there.

In the body of the Dharma, however, the Blessed One can be pointed out; for the Dharma has been preached by the Blessed One.”


"All compound things shall be dissolved again, worlds will break to pieces and our individualities will be scattered; but the words of the Buddha will remain for ever."

Buddhist Scriptures

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"For just as the lightning comes out of eastern parts and shines over to western parts, so the presence of the Son of man will be."

“Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.”

Matthew 24:28 +34


These verses above.. are almost identical..

I find that interesting..

Something to ponder.


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I believe Jesus was a real person. He was an Essene. He lived in a community of Jewish mystics. The Rabbis of that time were very competitive and made money in the temples. The history of Rabbis is very interesting and it sheds light on why they were threated by Jesus' teachings.

I think the Roman empire took over this new faith and since they were no strangers to the money making business of religion, they sold and perverted his teachings for political gain and wealth. Jesus destroyed the mythology by demonstrating that the kingdom of heaven is within.
Rome was built on the money that their temples brought from pilgrimages and people buying statues of gods and goddesses. When that stopped, they lost money and had to compensate for it by using the man whom they despised for wrecking their lifestyle. Like Accelerator said, the Spirit can't be destroyed and that is what people get from the writings that are still in good form. When reading religious texts, I often get an epiphany as if the words were speaking directly to me on a level which is so poignant to my life at the time. This is no coincidence and many are touched by this as well.

http://www.thenazareneway.com/index.htm

We all think very differently on this and it's interesting to read others interpretations. When someone declares dogma, religion becomes a hindrance to our spiritual development.

The person of Jesus Christ offends you on a personal level-- why? It's obvious that he was a person, one of the most celebrated in history. You know, denying Christ isn't something Christians look kindly on. Maybe you're trying to impress Satan.

Dogma is a hindrance to spiritual development only if is oppressive. All dogmas are not oppressive.