There is no historical or other evidence that Jesus is the founder of either Christianity or any other religion. Rather, from a fair historical perspective, Jesus offers free salvation for sinners and is the founder of free quality education for the common masses. Much of what Jesus teaches agrees with modern human and civil rights theory (which is exactly what one might expect from the true Messiah). Due to the extreme bias of both orthodox religious people and secular historians and scholars, Jesus is rarely if ever viewed within the same context as public education, a very grave error on their part.
Virtually the entire focus of the words and deeds of Jesus are on human behavior, how we should treat each other and how we need God's help in order to succeed at this. There is very little theology in the teaching of Jesus, other than simple concepts like father and friend. He uses both nature and human situations to illustrate what he refers to as the "kingdom of heavens" (Greek ouranon means heavens plural) and "kingdom of God" (Greek Theou).
These may be the same thing. While many of his stories are assumed to be mere inventions for illustrative purposes, it could well be true that the stories Jesus tells are true stories about real people caught in various kinds of morally challenging and life defining situations. It appears obvious based on the four narratives, that Jesus knew a lot more about people and their real experiences than typically given credit for.
Much of the rest of what Jesus has to say is directed with much sarcasm and highly caustic remarks aimed at conservative orthodox religious leaders. Openly, directly and in their face, he is constantly publicly chastising them for their hypocrisy and burdening of the poor and average people with temple fees and forced adherence to useless vain traditions. That is, when he isn't otherwise openly condemning them for their greed, vanity and laziness and, for gravely misleading the common masses ("if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch"). If this sounds a lot like how modern-day Christian leaders act, that's because it is.
Other than the religious leaders noted above, Jesus condemns no one and though promoting extreme pacifism, he goes out of his way to befriend soldiers. Historians estimate that at least 40% of the people who Jesus befriended were LGBTQ folks. And yet, Jesus not only doesn't condemn them, he never mentions sexual orientation. He has nothing to say about helping the unborn, but a whole lot to say about helping the already born.
The entire message of Jesus focuses on loving and caring and being helpful and kind to the already born among us. And in particular, Jesus is concerned with helping the sick, the poor, immigrants, the deformed and disabled, foreign and otherwise unwanted people and anyone and everyone else who is marginalized by the wealthy, powerful, self-righteous and elite of human societies.
Virtually the entire focus of the words and deeds of Jesus are on human behavior, how we should treat each other and how we need God's help in order to succeed at this. There is very little theology in the teaching of Jesus, other than simple concepts like father and friend. He uses both nature and human situations to illustrate what he refers to as the "kingdom of heavens" (Greek ouranon means heavens plural) and "kingdom of God" (Greek Theou).
These may be the same thing. While many of his stories are assumed to be mere inventions for illustrative purposes, it could well be true that the stories Jesus tells are true stories about real people caught in various kinds of morally challenging and life defining situations. It appears obvious based on the four narratives, that Jesus knew a lot more about people and their real experiences than typically given credit for.
Much of the rest of what Jesus has to say is directed with much sarcasm and highly caustic remarks aimed at conservative orthodox religious leaders. Openly, directly and in their face, he is constantly publicly chastising them for their hypocrisy and burdening of the poor and average people with temple fees and forced adherence to useless vain traditions. That is, when he isn't otherwise openly condemning them for their greed, vanity and laziness and, for gravely misleading the common masses ("if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch"). If this sounds a lot like how modern-day Christian leaders act, that's because it is.
Other than the religious leaders noted above, Jesus condemns no one and though promoting extreme pacifism, he goes out of his way to befriend soldiers. Historians estimate that at least 40% of the people who Jesus befriended were LGBTQ folks. And yet, Jesus not only doesn't condemn them, he never mentions sexual orientation. He has nothing to say about helping the unborn, but a whole lot to say about helping the already born.
The entire message of Jesus focuses on loving and caring and being helpful and kind to the already born among us. And in particular, Jesus is concerned with helping the sick, the poor, immigrants, the deformed and disabled, foreign and otherwise unwanted people and anyone and everyone else who is marginalized by the wealthy, powerful, self-righteous and elite of human societies.
