by nicolaou 18 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
The healings, feeding the five thousand, walking on water, resurrecting the dead. None of it happened of course but let's take the Bible literally and say that it did.
So?
Didn't magic practicing priests perform 'miracles' in a contest with Aaron? Doesn't Satan transform himself into an 'Angel of Light'?
How exactly are the miracles supposed to convince us that Jesus is the 'good guy'?
What were Jesus's 'Miracles' supposed to prove?
.................................................................He Would Run a Profitable Pub..
.............
The Jesus myths, particularly the one that states he is the Son of God sent to redeem us all, were used to prop up the importance of the new cult called Christianity. It's a 'my God is better than your God' stance. They needed to be able to validate and convince others of their new found monotheistic beliefs, as they were trying to gain membership. There were also many sects/offshoots doing their own thing at the time. The early Christians wanted to get this all under control and standardized.
Agreed Heaven.
I think it's quite telling that, with the exception of the resurrection, moderate christians have pretty much discounted the miracles as being literally true. It's all allegory and symbolism now.
Reality does have a habit of getting in the way.
What were Jesus's 'Miracles' supposed to prove?
Good question. Of equal importance is how he considered persons who were skeptical of his miracles.
13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. Luke 10:13-15 New International Version
So, he supposedly forgave his murderers but damned to Hades those who disbelieved. And why were these people supposed to believe when magicians were a dime a dozen in the ancient world. A sincere and rational person would have been, in the mental framework of that time, willing to believe if there were proof that his miracles were legitimate but their religion would consider the possibility that a 'miracle' would come from Satan. So how does one tell the difference?
From that attitude, as well as from non-theological skepticism, one would first question the recipients of those 'miracles'. Did they know them personally? How do they know that Jesus had not slipped a silver coin into the hands of a healthy person instructed to act blind or hunchback?
The miracles are a fictional creation of the gospel writers but if, as recorded in the Bible and as VI has explained, Jesus did claim the miracles as his own it only goes to prove his dishonesty.
Most likely in concert with others, he contrived to hoodwink and deceive.
nicolau,
The miracles are a fictional creation of the gospel writers but if, as recorded in the Bible and as VI has explained, Jesus did claim the miracles as his own it only goes to prove his dishonesty.
I believe that Jesus was a failed magician who actually believed his miracles could become real if people had enough faith. He was obsessed with the issue of faith and the miracles that it could create. Self delusion.
I've always suspected that at least one man at the time knew the truth about Jesus from the very beginning - his biological father.
We'll never know who got Mary pregnant but the fact that he remained hidden and anonymous while his son rose to some kind of prominence suggests he was in on the deception.
Then again, it could have all been concocted by Joseph and Mary from the start, maybe as way to escape their poverty . . .
Jesus' mother and his family thought he was crazy; a good hint there. - Mark 3:20-21.
I can't believe that Jesus existed as a real person because his character with all his miraculous accomplishments had already existed as attributes of earlier "god-men".
Nevertheless I would then answer your question by recognising these fantasy miracles were spoken of to convince the gullible that "Jesus is your man!" not Mithra or Dionysus, Attis or a dozen other god-men. So come along and get free food at the local Jesus- cult temple and we'll all worship together and get saved.
A couple of thousand years earlier Horus walked on water as the sun god 'walks' on water when low on the horizon in the morning. And Horus also raised his friend Lazarus!
