tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637125351921336084.post6547581384292384872..comments2024-03-19T00:26:30.753-07:00Comments on The Jesus Blog: Would Jesus have Looked like a Charlatan to You? - Le DonneAnthony Le Donnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01282792648606976883noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637125351921336084.post-13468354268384974602012-12-04T10:59:43.585-08:002012-12-04T10:59:43.585-08:00I have heard the biblical phrase where Jesus said ...I have heard the biblical phrase where Jesus said to Thomas that those who do not see with their eyes and touch with their hands yet believe are blessed often. I always thought it was easier to believe without seeing or touching.<br /><br />If I did not know what I know now and instead lived in his era, I am not sure how I would have approached him, if at all. I honestly think I would have kept myself at a distance and would have probably gotten the message Brian got at the Sermon on the Mount from the Life of Brian. It seems like the Jesus from the Gospels (meant to reflect the real Jesus) sometimes seems to be quite unapproachable.<br /><br />It is somewhat crazy to think that many place their faith on someone they do not know. I believe Jesus is the Son of God and that he truly did resurrect. However, after reading this post, I wonder now if there would still be so many Christians had Jesus not resurrected…?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637125351921336084.post-45975754315330608262012-12-04T08:23:17.089-08:002012-12-04T08:23:17.089-08:00The commentary in the beginning highly amused me, ...The commentary in the beginning highly amused me, and got me thinking about if the Historical Jesus were to come here, to this time, with no changes in how he thought back in ancient times, what his reaction would be. The idea of him seeing all of these inventions 2000 years after his birth and death, and seeing the reaction he would have as a human, not as the Messiah, seems like something that would be highly entertaining. I have often thought about what the reactions of our past presidents, like Washington and Lincoln, would be if they somehow ended up in this time, and because they would likely be completely freaked out, I have always found it to be more of an amusing thought to have.<br /><br />More on topic however:<br />If Jesus were to appear in this time, in reality, and started preaching as he did back in the day, I honestly believe that most people would think he was insane, and try to put him in a mental hospital. It is, in my opinion, the event that has the highest possibility of happening, as our society is so largely driven by science and logic in today's world. If I were to meet him personally, I would probably be filled with skepticism as well, unfortunately. Most definitely, however, a Jesus of this time would gather a large following as well, because of the number of people that have faith in him.<br /><br />If he were to come here and start exorcising demons, and not be thrown into a mental hospital, likely he will be an exorcist just like all the other exorcists in the world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637125351921336084.post-51798615753543290162012-10-14T11:54:47.252-07:002012-10-14T11:54:47.252-07:00This is an interesting thought experiment. I too h...This is an interesting thought experiment. I too have thought about what it would be like to chit chat with Jesus about the issues, although I've never really tried to account for the realities of existing in his era. There's great difficulty in conceptually transporting my skeptical, analytical, post Enlightenment self back a couple thousand years. If I'm honest, I think that short of witnessing Jesus' many miracles in person, as experienced by my own senses and faculties of reason, I'd probably write him off as a charlatan. A big part of me can't help but imagine Jesus as a kind of Eli Sunday, especially due to his penchant for debate, his desire for authority over his community, and his ability to form a devoted following. Like “Christian,” I think I would have trouble with his argumentative methods, “his hyperbole and obscure ways of making points.” In any case, I tend to think that despite what I know about Jesus and his life, meeting him in the flesh would be like learning about him for the first time. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637125351921336084.post-56049428390260644752012-09-28T16:17:44.409-07:002012-09-28T16:17:44.409-07:00I would also have to agree with Christian, I think...I would also have to agree with Christian, I think that it would be a rarity to find someone who would honestly have believed what Jesus was preaching at that time period. Humans innately have a group mentality and will tend to go along with the majority. Jesus represented an anomaly, something that most people would stay away from. It is easy to criticize the people described in the gospel who did not listen to or follow Jesus; but what if we had been in their shoes? It really makes me wonder if there is another "Jesus" in today's society who is simply being written off as being crazy or an outcast.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637125351921336084.post-17837837987540880082012-09-25T15:20:02.337-07:002012-09-25T15:20:02.337-07:00I agree with "Christian" in that I too w...I agree with "Christian" in that I too would have avoided Jesus. Living during Jesus' time, I would obviously have no previous knowledge or education about his teachings. To me, Jesus would have been one of the many heads in a crowd, besides the fact that he preached, performed miracles and so on. I have walked past homeless people, who seem to be mumbling, what to me sounds like crazy ideas, but maybe for them it's something more for that. I feel like this is how I would approach Jesus when he was preaching his faith and teachings. I would have looked at him like he was talking non sense. Of course in hindsight, if I were to meet Jesus I would know that he is the Son of God and that what he is saying is not so crazy after all. It's amazing how the disciples had so much faith in this holy man, that they decide to follow him and support him 100%. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com