Easter: Message of Jesus?

Quote: FrGamble

If it has no meaning and they are as important as cockroaches then nobody should have any emotional reaction to suffering. Is that what you are going with here?

You have whatever reaction you have,
you're the one creating your reality.
You think the healthcare workers
who see these kids die every day
by the dozens have any emotional
reactions to it? They do not, it's part
of their job. They're used to it, that's
their reality.

If I were to see it first hand, my reaction
would be different than theirs. Who has
the right reaction, me or the workers.
There is no 'right' reaction, there is only
whatever reaction you have. The only
meaning is the one you give it. There
is no outside meaning to anything.
The more you search for a purpose
to the universe, the more confused
you'll get.

But Bob I'm sorry to keep embarrassing you with your own words but why would anyone have an emotional reaction at all; kids, starving people, me, you, all of us have no more value than a cockroach. Listen I would be able to take you and your ideas a little more seriously if you just repudiate the idea that a starving person in Africa or a kid dying in NYC is no more important than a bug?!? I can't really respond to you till you admit you are wrong or misspoke. The idea is so repungent and illogical and mean that I can't really get past it. You should apologize or at least explain yourself before we are able to move on.

Quote: FrGamble

if you just repudiate the idea that a starving person in Africa or a kid dying in NYC is no more important than a bug?!?

In the scheme of things, to the
universe, they are the same. If
in your personal creation of reality
wish to make kids more important,
great. Just realize it's you doing it, and
not some force outside yourself.

My minister bro in law and I had
a huge falling out 20 years
ago because I don't see
the sacrifice Jesus made
on the cross. I had a
classmate throw himself
on a grenade in Nam to
save his buddies, that
sacrifice I understood. Dying
the way 100K others have
dies, knowing your god and
will come back, that's not
a sacrifice. That's part of
the game your playing, a
game you invented.

My bro in law was furious and
didn't speak to me for years.
What a blessing that was.

Jesus says in Luke 14:26:

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even their own life--such a person cannot be my disciple."

So you have to hate your mom and
dad whole family, and even your own
life, before loving Jesus will accept
you. It's interesting reading how
Xtians interpret this horrendous
statement. The huge ego of Jesus
is on full display here. He's so great
in his own mind you better hate
everything else but him or he rejects
you. Lovely, huh.

I'm sure FrG has a spin for this that
will say that's not what Jesus meant
at all. Sure it is, like most zealots
Jesus was an egomaniac.

He is God you know.

Quote: FrGamble

He is God you know.

So as a priest you hate your
own family? Really? You said
you wanted to be like Jesus,
time to start hating. Ridiculousness
on parade.

Bob, the two greatest commandments are to love God and love others. Do you really think Jesus is telling us to hate anyone?

Quote: FrGamble

Do you really think Jesus is telling us to hate anyone?

I think 80% of what's in the NT
that Jesus supposedly said
is made up. And it's not for you
or me to 'think' he might have
said to hate, it's right there in
in his own supposed words.
You can't deny it.

Again my friend you do not know Jesus or His teaching. What you are doing is called proof texting. Taking one verse out of the Bible, out of context and trying to say that it defines Christ's teaching. I think if you read Mt. 10:37-39 it might help you as well as reading the verse in context and seeing what Jesus is getting at in regards to the cost of discipleship. You should also remember the penchant of rabbi's to purposely exaggerate to get a point across. Do you think Jesus literally meant cut off your hand if it causes you to sin? It could be that some of your misplaced anger and prejudice against Jesus is coloring how you personally interpret this verse.