A question for humanists

branie · 02-04-2010 9:58am #1

what's your opinion on the idea that Jesus died for our sins on this day?

robindch · 02-04-2010 10:27am

A useful fiction.

Tim Robbins · 02-04-2010 10:33am

branie wrote: »

what's your opinion on the idea that Jesus died for our sins on this day?

It's as far fetched as believing some scientist invented a species in his own image. But, he didn't like what the species were doing so he cloned himself and turned the clone into that species and sent the clone to the species. Then the clone went around telling the species some stories. Some good, some freaky. Then the clone was tortured by some of the species and he chose to die so that the species could be forgiven. For next hundreds and thousands of years the species were then supposed to worship the clone but instead of doing that they had fights with their cousins about what the clone really said. In others cases they killed each other over it.

It's like crazy sci - fic for 8 year olds. Except in your case it's called religion.

Exile 1798 · 02-04-2010 10:48am

branie wrote: »

what's your opinion on the idea that Jesus died for our sins on this day?

I think the doctrine of original sin that underpins the Crucifixion story is quite revolting so the idea bothers me.

The fact that the story was the basis for European anti-Semitism for nearly two millennium also makes me uneasy.

bnt · 02-04-2010 11:04am

What are these "sins" for which this person supposedly died - and how was that supposed to help? I know (from experience!) that actions have consequences, but I don't believe in "sin" as an abstract concept anyway. If there is good to be done in this world, can you do good by leaving this world?

There was a film a few years ago called Seven Pounds, starring Will Smith as a character who tries to "atone for his sins" in a real-world fashion. His sin was causing a car crash that killed seven people. I haven't seen it, but I read the spoilers, so I know how it ended.

He donates various organs to other people over the course of the film, then commits suicide in a way that preserves his heart and other organs. Overall, seven lives were saved by his seven "pounds of flesh", each of which represented a debt in the Shakespearean sense (c.f. The Merchant of Venice).

.

I don't know if I agree with the message of the film, but the point is that it illustrates how "atonement" might look in the real world. I don't see any of that in the Good Friday myth, no means by which any real good could be done by getting nailed up.

hiorta · 02-04-2010 11:06am

Ideas such as this are confining 21st century minds in 12th century imprisonment.

Of course there is never any tangible proof offered to support the idea, which seems closely connected to child abuse.

PDN · 02-04-2010 11:24am

This particular humanist is very glad that Jesus died on the Cross for our sins(although whether it was 'on this day' is open to question).

Zombrex · 02-04-2010 11:35am

PDN wrote: »

This particular humanist is very glad that Jesus died on the Cross for our sins(although whether it was 'on this day' is open to question).

but but but but but, that's our thing, get your own! :pac:

I'm going to start a new club, the club of no PDNs.

Zombrex · 02-04-2010 11:37am

branie wrote: »

what's your opinion on the idea that Jesus died for our sins on this day?

Contradictory nonsense, most likely a rash attempt of cult members to try and explain (not particularly well) why their "messiah" who had come to lead them to glory had just been executed by the Romans.

Just ask a Jew what they think of Jesus dying for our sins. You will get a similar answer to when you ask a Christian what they think of Mormonism (ie that **** crazy)

Tabnabs · 02-04-2010 11:38am

Are you boys married or something? Can't one post without the other replying in the very next post?

Zombrex · 02-04-2010 11:40am

Dyflin wrote: »

Are you boys married or something? Can't one post without the other replying in the very next post?

What are you, stalking us?

I can't marry him, his religion forbids it. So I'm trying to subtly convert him .... but shhh don't tell him

02-04-2010 12:09pm

branie wrote: »

what's your opinion on the idea that Jesus died for our sins on this day?

I think anyone can die and declare they're doing it for everyone else.
Well maybe not quite everyone - if this man really did die on a cross and thought of something other than himself when doing so that's pretty admirable.

magicbastarder · 02-04-2010 12:31pm

depends on how you read the original question - is it 'what do you think of the idea' or 'what do you think of the factual basis'?

it would be nice to think that someone up there likes us, but the idea of letting your son die to get a message across seems a bit extreme - probably nothing more than theatre to get peoples' attention.
like others, i don't actual know how someone else dying affects my sins, or how he can die for my sins.