Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 11-19-2009, 10:07 PM

Atheist author Philip Pullman writes alternative ending for Jesus in Bible

Quote:

The writer has penned an alternative Bible passage imagining a different fate for Christ, who was executed by the Romans.

"He has written what would have happened if Jesus had had a fair trial," a friend told The Daily Telegraph's Mandrake column.

...

Pullman is due to read his "account" of Christ's last days at the Globe theatre on Thursday as part of an event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Reprieve, an organisation which campaigns for the rights of prisoners

ApostateAbe · 11-20-2009, 12:51 PM

I love that!

Equinox · 11-20-2009, 12:59 PM

It does sound like an interesting read.

Not to throw any cold water, but didn't Jesus get as fair a trial as any of hundreds of other Jewish rabble-rousers? I mean, assuming the HJ to be real and the synoptic accounts to be decent portrayals, then is there a strong case to be made that Jesus didn't get a fair trial?

Equinox

ApostateAbe · 11-20-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Equinox

It does sound like an interesting read.

Not to throw any cold water, but didn't Jesus get as fair a trial as any of hundreds of other Jewish rabble-rousers? I mean, assuming the HJ to be real and the synoptic accounts to be decent portrayals, then is there a strong case to be made that Jesus didn't get a fair trial?

Equinox

Jesus did not have a lawyer in his defense, no witnesses were called to his defense, there was not an impartial judge. It was as fair a trial as any in the time and place, which is to say not fair at all.

Equinox · 11-20-2009, 02:08 PM

Agreed.

So since trials at that broad sweep of time were not fair, I guess it seemed odd to me to be talking about Jesus not getting a fair trial, as if he were special somehow, as opposed to the countless thousands who also were denied a fair trial.

Fair enough.

DCHindley · 11-20-2009, 06:31 PM

When I looked at the article, it says he is an advocate for justice worldwide.

I can guess what he thinks would have occurred if Jesus got a "fair" trial: Jesus would have been exonerated and Christianity wouldn't have developed in reaction to his death.

All that will do is inflame evangelicals to never give anyone a fair trial ... because good has come from evil. They'l claim Jesus taught it!

DCH

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

Atheist author Philip Pullman writes alternative ending for Jesus in Bible

Quote:

The writer has penned an alternative Bible passage imagining a different fate for Christ, who was executed by the Romans.

"He has written what would have happened if Jesus had had a fair trial," a friend told The Daily Telegraph's Mandrake column.

...

Pullman is due to read his "account" of Christ's last days at the Globe theatre on Thursday as part of an event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Reprieve, an organisation which campaigns for the rights of prisoners

Petergdi · 11-20-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCHindley

When I looked at the article, it says he is an advocate for justice worldwide.

I can guess what he thinks would have occurred if Jesus got a "fair" trial: Jesus would have been exonerated and Christianity wouldn't have developed in reaction to his death.

All that will do is inflame evangelicals to never give anyone a fair trial ... because good has come from evil. They'l claim Jesus taught it!

DCH

You are being silly. But somehow the thought of "what if Jesus got a fair trial" is missing a major point of the story. Jesus had many opportunities to escape crucifixion and chose not to take them.

People who are wrongly convicted rarely have the luxury of being able to get out of the situation and being able to make a point of willingly submitting to injustice.

Peter.

Toto · 11-20-2009, 07:21 PM

What is the value of willingly submitting to injustice? Isn't it better to fight injustice?

Petergdi · 11-20-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

What is the value of willingly submitting to injustice? Isn't it better to fight injustice?

One must oppose injustice to your enemies and those who are strangers to you. But if someone wants to make you their victim, the way to follow Jesus' teachings and his actions is to let them.

Peter.

Toto · 11-20-2009, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petergdi

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

What is the value of willingly submitting to injustice? Isn't it better to fight injustice?

One must oppose injustice to your enemies and those who are strangers to you. But if someone wants to make you their victim, the way to follow Jesus' teachings and his actions is to let them.

Peter.

Is this Christianity? Have Christians ever acted this way?

I thought Jesus was supposed to be a special case where his death was a sacrifice to reconcile god and sinful man.

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11-20-2009, 12:51 PM	#2
ApostateAbe Contributor Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: MT Posts: 10,656	I love that!

11-20-2009, 12:59 PM	#3
Equinox Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 897	It does sound like an interesting read. Not to throw any cold water, but didn't Jesus get as fair a trial as any of hundreds of other Jewish rabble-rousers? I mean, assuming the HJ to be real and the synoptic accounts to be decent portrayals, then is there a strong case to be made that Jesus didn't get a fair trial? Equinox

11-20-2009, 02:08 PM	#5
Equinox Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 897	Agreed. So since trials at that broad sweep of time were not fair, I guess it seemed odd to me to be talking about Jesus not getting a fair trial, as if he were special somehow, as opposed to the countless thousands who also were denied a fair trial. Fair enough.

11-20-2009, 07:21 PM	#8
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	What is the value of willingly submitting to injustice? Isn't it better to fight injustice?

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