Just read through 5 pages of religious motivated arguments baised with faith and anti-thiests in a ring of pride with a smidge of reasonable post
aswell.
I'm so pleased this thread went up. I read the same essay at nobeliefs.com a few months ago and I found it revolutionary. It was partly the reason
for this
thread that I put up a few days ago.
On the subject of the messiah. I watched a docco a while back about rival messiahs during the time of JC and all their followings. Jesus and his
posse' was a sect, one of many. Even John was considered a Jesus rival. He was simply a teacher, like any spiritualist of the times, even today.
Many of these groups will be extreme/revolutionary or otherwise significant enough to have been written about. Often the writings would've had
contrasting angles and interpretations which inspired small amounts of conflict (especially after the leaders were gone).
The natural course of things shows that the small groups are anti establishment (or who ever holds power over people) which is why if indeed JC was
killed would be why--- the exact same reason that Socrates was killed, corrupting the youth and criticising the establishment.
Jesus in reality, won't have been significant until the 4 century when Rome adopted Christianity. Of course, this being a conspiracy board, we all
know how much those in power love to ensure they stay in power and are always willing to tread on the little guy. He became significant because the
church took the story of Jesus and turned it into a myth about a God on Earth whom had supernatural powers and was "The only Way".
I'm sure you can see the problem arising. We all know what happened when people through history went against the theology of the catholic church,
they got accused of heracy and sometimes killed.
Using the general mechanics of propaganda, the church "produces" people who don't challenge the state, dont challenge the church, dont challenge
the status quo or even themselves.
These kind of people are really really easy to rule. As a result, all western culture becomes infested with ancient brain washing.
I think he existed but wan't much more significant than the local preacher.
[edit on 9/4/2008 by Good Wolf]
what in your opinion was jesus a metaphor for ? 
