General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: do you believe there was a historical figure the Jesus story was built on? [View all]Squinch
(50,949 posts)Gandhi had a similar effect on his times that the Gospels say Jesus had on his. Done through civil disobedience and a massively stubborn adherence to the correct path.
I believe it is possible that Jesus could have existed, and was a person like Gandhi. I believe that there were probably a bunch of enlightened people like that who showed up over the ages, who pushed those same enlightened principals, and it doesn't really matter whether Jesus existed. We know the principals, and we have seen them working, so I'm happy to leave it at that.
I think the marketing job of miracles and resurrection and virgin births and aligning a character to the characteristics of gods of previous religions only amounts to a lot of Vegas glitter that actually take away from the great ideas that are taught by an enlightened person.
I am impressed by the Gospel of Thomas, which is purported to be a list of the words of Jesus. There is no magic, no razzle-dazzle, just a bunch of very deep, very logical statements.
Of course, when you take my attitude toward it, you don't get the "resurrection" "we never die" comforting aspect of Jesus religions. As for what happens after we die, I have my thoughts on that, but they are separate from my beliefs about the periodic appearances of enlightened people.