If Jesus Didn't exist, what would you do?

#1 25-02-2011, 12:32 AM

What would you do if you found out that Jesus never existed? Would it destroy your faith? Would you walk away from all spiritual paths? How would it effect your life?

psychoslice · #2 25-02-2011, 12:43 AM

Well i already know that Jesus never existed and it doesn't change anything in my spiritual thinking, all i ever do see in the so called story of Jesus is a beautiful metaphor of becoming One with the Source, or God.

#3 25-02-2011, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psychoslice

Well i already know that Jesus never existed and it doesn't change anything in my spiritual thinking, all i ever do see in the so called story of Jesus is a beautiful metaphor of becoming One with the Source, or God.

I, for the most part, do think that Jesus was a historical figure. I do think that religion and time have greatly skewed the message however. There are many things in christianity that are said not to be so in the very Bible they read.

But, if it turned out that Jesus never did exist, it wouldn't change a thing for me either. I believe that the Bible is a metaphysical handbook filled with many metaphors as you say psychoslice. It is not a book of dogma, doctrine and not to be taken as literal as some do.

Still_Waters · #4 05-03-2022, 10:31 PM

QUOTE 2 EXCERPT:

Quote:

Originally Posted by psychoslice

Well i already know that Jesus never existed and it doesn't change anything in my spiritual thinking, all i ever do see in the so called story of Jesus is a beautiful metaphor of becoming One with the Source, or God.

I'm not going to engage in the dialogue regarding whether Jesus existed or not.

However, like psychoslice, the existence or non-existence of Jesus "doesn't change anything in my spiritual thinking". I would simply accept that "the so-called story of Jesus is a beautiful metaphor of becoming One with the source, or God".

I would continue to use the same wisdom quotes attributed to Jesus that I quote now with specific audiences.

Justin Case · #5 05-03-2022, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

I would simply accept that "the so-called story of Jesus is a beautiful metaphor of becoming One with the source, or God".

But yet, if you look at the data, even "God" is a problem because monotheism did not exist until the mid-1300s BC. It too traveled to the Zoroastrian religion, changed from "the sun" to a "being" ... and again traveled down the road of history via the Semites to us today. I wonder what we are in the middle of?

Still_Waters · #6 05-03-2022, 11:46 PM

QUOTE 36 EXCERPT:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin Case

But yet, if you look at the data, even "God" is a problem because monotheism did not exist until the mid-1300s BC.

The "concept" of God can indeed vary significantly from person to person and that does indeed present a problem, as you duly noted. I used "Source" and "God" in my post primarily because so many people think in those terms.

Monotheism reportedly existed in Judaism with Abraham around the year 2000 BC ... but the existence of Abraham, the Exodus, and other stories in the Jewish Bible are widely questioned.

#7 25-02-2011, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Sphinx

What would you do if you found out that Jesus never existed? Would it destroy your faith? Would you walk away from all spiritual paths? How would it effect your life?

My faith is unshakable. Personally my faith conditions the mind to avoid letting the mind wander, entertaining questions such as these. So I think that you could say that I have already abandoned spiritual paths. However, with the epistles of Paul dated to around 30-40 A.D. I have no doubt, about the historical evidence.

Let's ask a Buddhist what's more important, whether Buddha lived or his teaching? Then lets ponder about Yeshua's statement, "I am the bread of life" or whether Yeshua's life is identical to His message.

#8 25-02-2011, 01:08 AM

I'd continue to commune with God.

psychoslice · #9 25-02-2011, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dynamist

I'd continue to commune with God.

I agree, in fact this man called Jesus can actually be a hindrance to Self- Realization.

#10 25-02-2011, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psychoslice

I agree, in fact this man called Jesus can actually be a hindrance to Self- Realization.

Sadly (and I say sadly because I consider him my sole teacher), I agree with you. I think when people take his words to mean that it's our job to proselytize others (and I'm likely to get a biblical quote sent to me after this one

) without even hearing anything that they have to say, full of judgement and without any consideration whatsoever for the other person, it can be a major hinderance to people and their path in life.