What if Jesus Christ was "just a man"?

Topic Tools

Search this Thread

mitchell175 Post #1 February 1,2012, 6:03pm

mixing metaphors in a mellifluous melange of malapropisms

Power Poster

Joined: Oct 2010

Boston, MA... or thereabouts

Posts: 6,395

See profile

I recently read a book by Steve Berry titled "The Templar Legacy" that brought up that very question. For those of you not familiar with Berry's writing, he is an author who writes historical fiction thrillers (think, Dan Brown). "The Templar Legacy" is a "Davinci Code"-esque novel about a the secret society of the Knights Templar, whose primary function is to protect and maintain the secrets of Christianity (or so the book claims).

Not wanting to spoil the whole plot, but the book alleges that the Templars have secreted away the evidence that the events described in the New Testament regarding the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ - specifically, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - are a complete fabrication. In other words, Jesus was "just a man", with no "supernatural" abilities; he was crucified, died, and was buried in the custom of any other criminal disposed of in the same manner. It was only later that his bones were exhumed and stored in a secret location by the men who would become the Templars, while word of his "miraculous deeds" was spread by his believers (otherwise known as the Apostles).

The crux of the book was that if this fact was made known to the world, Christianity as we know it would crumble. People would no longer believe that Christ "rose from the dead" and "ascended into Heaven".

It was an interesting concept, but as I read it, I thought: "Who cares?" I mean, does anyone really believe that Jesus was physically resurrected? Perhaps some fundamentalist Christian sects who adhere to the literal interpretation of the Bible, but for me, I believe that the Bible is largely allegorical. Jesus Christ was a man who performed great deeds in his lifetime - even if they may not have literally been "miracles".

So, does it matter whether Jesus was "just a man" or if he was "more than a man?" Not to me. What do you all think? What if Jesus Christ was "just a man"?

AudioDad Post #2 February 2,2012, 2:03pm

...has left the building

Enthusiast

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 800

See profile

First off, there's almost no historical evidence that even "Jesus the man" actually existed - nevermind the Messiah bit. For the sake of the thread, let's assume he did for now. If Jesus was not the Son of God, not part of the Trinity, was not crucified for the sins of mankind, did not rise from the dead and ascend to heaven, then the central tenet and foundation of Christiantiy completely crumbles - the whole concept of redemption gets tossed right out the window. It also doesn't lend much credence to the notion that the Christian God exists. An awful lot of people who find comfort in the notion that they're loved regardless of what they've done in their lives would suddenly find the carpet yanked out from under them. The people who need this idea to get through the day (and life) could potentially become a serious problem for society.

While it's not an issue for you or I, it would be a BIG problem for a large portion of the world's Christians. Which would likely mean a problem for the rest of us. Just let them keep believing.

Reverse_Dragon Post #3 February 2,2012, 5:50pm

w00t w00t! I is getting married! Success at last.

Enthusiast

Joined: Aug 2011

Louisville, KY

Posts: 693

See profile

This thread reminds me of a book from the turn of the century (1903 I think) called 'When It Was Dark' by Guy Thorne. The premise is that archaeologists uncover Jesus' tomb and find his remains, thus proving that he never resurrected. When word gets out of the discovery all hell breaks loose worldwide. Murder, rape, theft, and debauchery are rampant. Then it is discovered that the whole thing was an evil plot by, who else, atheists. When people learn it was a hoax they all slink sheepishly back to their old lives and begin to live morally again.

As for what would happen if we actually proved somehow that Jesus existed as a normal flesh and blood man... I'd like to say that I agree with AudioDad. I'd like to say that it would bring the foundation of Christianity crumbling down. I'd like to say people would abandon their mythologies and seek a more rational belief system.

But that belief is not consistent with my experience. Most Christians are not amenable to evidence that contradicts their worldview. I think they would either brush this evidence aside as irrelevant to the 'spiritual message' of the Bible, or flat out refuse to accept it as truth. Perhaps they would call it an atheist plot? Many of them view evolutionary biology and Big Bang cosmology as precisely that.

notamaninpower Post #4 February 3,2012, 10:02am

anyone who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities

Enthusiast

Joined: Feb 2008

about 20 miles southwest of The Empire State Building

Posts: 865

See profile

Reverse_Dragon wrote :

This thread reminds me of a book from the turn of the century (1903 I think) called 'When It Was Dark' by Guy Thorne. The premise is that archaeologists uncover Jesus' tomb and find his remains, thus proving that he never resurrected. When word gets out of the discovery all hell breaks loose worldwide. Murder, rape, theft, and debauchery are rampant. Then it is discovered that the whole thing was an evil plot by, who else, atheists. When people learn it was a hoax they all slink sheepishly back to their old lives and begin to live morally again.

As for what would happen if we actually proved somehow that Jesus existed as a normal flesh and blood man... I'd like to say that I agree with AudioDad. I'd like to say that it would bring the foundation of Christianity crumbling down. I'd like to say people would abandon their mythologies and seek a more rational belief system.

But that belief is not consistent with my experience. Most Christians are not amenable to evidence that contradicts their worldview. I think they would either brush this evidence aside as irrelevant to the 'spiritual message' of the Bible, or flat out refuse to accept it as truth. Perhaps they would call it an atheist plot? Many of them view evolutionary biology and Big Bang cosmology as precisely that.

Yes, sadly enough they would.

(Them; "you evil, filthy, secularist, non-believers are just p.o.ed that you are ALL going to 'the bad place', and are trying to ruin it for all of us blindly faithful" ) :LOL:

harnomygirl Post #5 February 3,2012, 10:21am

Power Poster

Joined: Mar 2011

Posts: 6,418

See profile

notamaninpower wrote :

Yes, sadly enough they would.

(Them; "you evil, filthy, secularist, non-believers are just p.o.ed that you are ALL going to 'the bad place', and are trying to ruin it for all of us blindly faithful" ) :LOL:

Too much time has passed for anyone to switch sides because of evidence produced now. There is doubt about things Jefferson may have said or believed in and he didn't live that long ago. Give up.

shapeShifter79 Post #6 February 3,2012, 5:33pm

likes dancing!

Board Leader: Health & Wellness