Books: Jesus without theology (Introduction)

by Balance_Maintained , U.S.A., Sunday, August 04, 2013, 00:14 (4130 days ago) @ David Turell

I am sorry, but this reads more like an account of 'Jesus when we ignore everything he said and did.' Even without bringing theology into it, the miss a lot of what is going on. His 'triumphant entrance to Jerusalem' was him riding into town on a donkey. He didn't tell anyone to go line the streets. (Although that did fulfill a prophecy.) When he was reaching to the masses, he didn't get them riled up and tell them to overthrow their oppressors. In fact, in every account of him talking about or dealing with the Roman's he treated them with respect and humility, even going peacefully into custody when he knew he was going to be put to death. He learned an honest trade from boyhood(carpentry). By all accounts, he was a kind, compassionate, and humble person. Yes, there was the display of what would be considered 'righteous anger' or 'righteous indignation' where he through the money changers and merchants out of the temple, but that hardly qualifies him as a 'rabble rouser' or a rebel any more than throwing a guest out of your father's house for grossly disrespecting him in some way would make you a rebel. (Although that DID set the stage for a future prophecy yet to be fulfilled.) In general, it seems like the authors here cherry picked whatever suited their agenda.

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What is the purpose of living? How about, 'to reduce needless suffering. It seems to me to be a worthy purpose.