Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 04-14-2007, 01:07 PM

The pontiff's new book is a 'personal search for the face of the Lord.'

Quote:

In the 448-page tome, Benedict takes on half a century of revisionist scholars who he believes threaten the Roman Catholic faith by distorting the true nature of Christ as both man and God. He calls on readers to reacquaint themselves with "the real Jesus," the Jesus presented in the Gospels.

None of this postmodern nonsense, he writes, that regards Jesus as something less than divine. Introducing doubts undercuts the essence of Christianity, the pope says.

I think this is not a question of post modernism, but of modernism. Modernists reject the divinity of Jesus.

Quote:

In presenting the book during Friday's ceremony, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, the archbishop of Vienna and a close associate of the pope, was more blunt in attacking what he called "innumerable fanciful images" of Jesus. "They can be calmly deposited in the ossuary of history," Schoenborn said.

...

The work is not, he insists, official church doctrine, nor an infallible pronouncement.

"So," he writes, "everyone is free to contradict me."

Citing hundreds of biblical passages and quoting a range of figures, from Marx and Nietzsche to contemporary cardinals and Jewish scholars, Benedict has produced a text that is highly academic and befitting of his years as both a university professor and the Vatican's chief theologian and enforcer of dogma.

...

available on Amazon (or via: amazon.co.uk) May 15.

Chris Weimer · 04-14-2007, 01:57 PM

So the pope is hardline...what's new?

aa5874 · 04-14-2007, 02:01 PM

It is ironic that the 'real Jesus' is the 'mythical Jesus'

SwoleMan · 04-14-2007, 02:03 PM

Quote:

The work is not, he insists, official church doctrine, nor an infallible pronouncement.

"So," he writes, "everyone is free to contradict me."

So if it had been regarded by the Catholic church as an infallible pronouncement, would critics have been killed or imprisoned by his private army?

Chris Weimer · 04-14-2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aa5874

It is ironic that the 'real Jesus' is the 'mythical Jesus'

No, but it's ironic that you're still clueless that the "real Jesus" isn't the "mythical Jesus" but you think it's ironic that others feel the same way.

Simpliciter ut hilare.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwoleMan

So if it had been regarded by the Catholic church as an infallible pronouncement, would critics have been killed or imprisoned by his private army?

Neither.

Clivedurdle · 04-14-2007, 02:13 PM

Excuse me, the Pope has explicitly rejected all versions of Jesus except the fully god fully man one.

That one - by definition a hybrid - is also by definition mythical - unless god exists.

SwoleMan · 04-14-2007, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Weimer

Neither.

No, of course not. I was being sarcastic.

aa5874 · 04-14-2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Weimer

No, but it's ironic that you're still clueless that the "real Jesus" isn't the "mythical Jesus" but you think it's ironic that others feel the same way.

So what is Jesus, Chris? You only know what he isn't?

figuer · 04-14-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Weimer

No, but it's ironic that you're still clueless that the "real Jesus" isn't the "mythical Jesus" but you think it's ironic that others feel the same way.....Simpliciter ut hilare.....Neither.

I have no idea why someone who claims to be an atheist would react to those particulary innofensive, sarcastic posts in such an antagonistic manner... Unless he was unnable to understand them...:huh:

Clivedurdle · 04-14-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

half a century of revisionist scholars

I thought it was nearer 400 years.

Actually, arguments about the nature of Jesus go back to the beginnings - is the son begotten for example.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

04-14-2007, 01:57 PM	#2
Chris Weimer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: none Posts: 9,879	So the pope is hardline...what's new?

04-14-2007, 02:01 PM	#3
aa5874 Contributor Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: the fringe of the caribbean Posts: 18,988	It is ironic that the 'real Jesus' is the 'mythical Jesus'

04-14-2007, 02:13 PM	#6
Clivedurdle Contributor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: London UK Posts: 16,024	Excuse me, the Pope has explicitly rejected all versions of Jesus except the fully god fully man one. That one - by definition a hybrid - is also by definition mythical - unless god exists.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.