mysteriousworld

Just out of curiosity what is the minimum standard of evidence for the existence of an ancient world person supposed to be?

sotto voce

Not much.

sotto voce

The reverse is true.

No Robots

Well, sotto voce, you can root around the Jewish literature looking for a way to validate your god-man. Meanwhile, I'll be using the inspirational power of the man to leverage my way toward a more fulfilling life of the spirit.

sotto voce

Would that involve contributing posts that are more than mere assertions?

No Robots

When in Rome....

sotto voce

But this is Freethought and Rationalism. Though sometimes it's hard to know why, admittedly.

No Robots

Well, Rome calls itself Christian, doesn't it? Whaddaya gonna do?:huh:

sotto voce

Point out that when in FRDB, do as FRDB does.

Solo

My fifteen year-old son (who goes to a Catholic school; d'après sa maman), says the gospels are random bullshit. I told him they were not random, and they were not originally bullshit but foma.

What's foma ?

That's a word invented by Kurt Vonnegut for his book Cat's Cradle. It was used by a religion he invented, called Bokonon, whose purpose was to make people feel happy, healthy and self confident. 'Foma' is a form of harmless untruth, or exaggerated prospect, to stimuate optimism.

Verse 5 of the first book of Bokonon says, Live by the foma that makes you brave and kind and healthy and happy . Henry Ford was a natural Bokononist who made automobile available to everyone except the really sad basket-case Americans. He said 'History is bunk'.

No. Jesus has always been one of the most significant figures despite history.

It's a hot topic for people obsessed with history and with Jesus and with what other people should believe, rather than doing something useful to humanity.

Best,
Jiri