I'm not sure what my point is with this, but I heard a christian say it and my mind went off on one of its little journeys.....

If Jesus is eternal (whether he is one with god is not relevant just now), then isn't "giving his life" kind of like Bill Gates donating 50¢ to the Red Cross?

What's the big deal? It's not like he _died_. Plus, He _knew_ he wouldn't, didn't he?

I mean, why even call out to dad, "My father why have you forsaken me" If you were just doing a two-week Peace Corps mission and you realize your dad made your plane ticket home for day _13_ and in _coach_?

Isn't the emphasis on what a big sacrifice this was a little overdone?

Personally, I think John McCain suffered more than Jesus. Among millions of others.

I agree that more people have suffered more (physically and spiritually) and more unjustly, before and since the 1st Century.

Also, I cannot see how Jesus died "for" anyone. He was executed. He walked perhaps willingly to that execution, but it remains that he was put to death like many others were. I don't see how his intention would make any difference -- unless one wanted to invoke some kind of voodoo magic.

Just so. Take away the Xtian myth and you see Jesus was a reformer who wished to eradicate the rabbinical corruption of the time (current affairs in Israel, I can tell you that).

In 1997 there was a devastating earthquake in Armenia. Israel sent some experts to aid in rescue. The expedition left off during the Sabbath, which angered the Orthodox Jewish rabbis immensely. They protested the desecration of the Sabbath rather than extolling aid to Gentiles! For such inhuman brutes Jesus had to say: the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Blasphemy, pure and simple. Such a usurper on rabbinical power could not but be executed by the establishment.

Hello Rhea

You ask, what is the big deal.

Have a look at this site.

http://www.kgnet.com/jesus/index.html

How would you feel about undergoing such an experience? I ask this not to suggest that you should actually undergo the experience, but to point out that you should at least inform yourself about the subject matter, before dismissing the Cross of Christ in such a trivial manner.

Blessings and Peace

Hilarius

Toto

"One is not converted to Christianity, one must be morbid enough for it."

I forget who said it.

Fig. 2. Scourging is deeply disturbing. My questions are: Why do the directional arrows inevitably lead to Jesus' bunghole, and why does the whip handle so closely resemble the male organ? (Circumsized, per scripture.)

Inquiring minds want to know.

However horrible those torments might be to a normal human being, they'd be a pinprick to an omnipotent being -- Jesus Christ could have jumped off of that cross.

Which is the point of Rhea's analogy with Bill Gates giving $0.50 to the Red Cross. The traditional Christian viewpoint would be something like "He's going broke! He's going broke! The repo man will tow away his car!! Let's start a collection for him!!!"