The life of jesus is a perfect story. It teaches exactly what was meant to be taught. All of the good and bad that happened to Jesus contains as much information about life as you want.

The problem is not the story but the story tellers and the listeners.

Im wondering what will happen if people read the new testament with an clear mind and take what they want from it. I've opened the book on occassions and after reading a quote or an event I've though "Man, that's really cool", but more often than not when someone who considers themselves to be an authority on the subject explains what it means I think "That's just lame".

Therefore please don't let other people give you a negative viewpoint of what you may otherwise find very enlightening.

If what you say is true and everyone has a different idea of what Jesus was teaching, how can we possibly know objectively what he meant?

^ It doesn't matter. What it means to you is good enough. If you are wrong then your own experience of life will gradually correct your understandings.

quote:Originally posted by ---Beany---:

^ It doesn't matter. What it means to you is good enough. If you are wrong then your own experience of life will gradually correct your understandings.

I'm not sure if Jesus would agree with you... at least my interpretation of Jesus.

hmm... my interpretation of Jesus says it's ok to kill if it's for a just reason, that's good enough for me. http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif)

So the truth is... whatever you want it to be?

that's pretty much the basis of the reformation.

I think if you take all the quotes of Jesus from the new testament and keep them all in mind, not just specific ones, a kind of philosophy for life would be developed that may not be exactly what Christians promote or preach these days. I don't believe those quotes are actually by Jesus but I don't believe they are all bad either.

Don't forget, the Bible contains only the four canonical gospels--which differ on many points anyway--and ignores the two dozen or so equally valid, but politically incorrect gospels, such as the gospel of Mary Magdelene, the gospel of Judas, and so forth.

The problem with Jesus's story is that there is a huge chunk of it missing.

You all make valid points yet none of you are wrong or right because the bible doesn't have jesus saying "ok this is right and this is wrong". When you really think about it the bible is a mockery to "formal" religions because they tell you to translate it one way when in fact another person can interperate it a whole different way. Personally i think jesus was a chill guy who just wanted everyone to get along and just to make them believe him he says"well, if you must know...I am the son of god" Cool thread by the way