I hadn’t heard about the line “Jesus was a great teacher”. I’ll have to ask to find out if this student has ever said that line.
From what I heard of the class discussion, I do not believe this student was given the opportunity to make this claim. He was asked outright if he believed Jesus Christ was the son of God, and when he replied that he did not, the teacher had essentially won the argument.
FALSANI:
Who's Jesus to you?
(He laughs nervously)
OBAMA:
Right.
Jesus is an historical figure for me, and he's also a bridge between God and man, in the Christian faith, (Note: he does not say My faith, he just says this is who Jesus is for the Christians) and one that I think is powerful precisely because he serves as that means of us reaching something higher.
And he's also a wonderful teacher. I think it's important for all of us, of whatever faith, to have teachers in the flesh and also teachers in history.
------------------------------------------------------------ He answers the question like he is writing a detached sixth grade essay on who Jesus was. And yet during the campaign, he couldn't say he was a Christian enough times. He is a Christian, according to himself, he just happens to not believe in Jesus.
He never says openly and never even implies that he is a Christian in answer to the question. I'm sure if your Muslim student is asked, he will give a similar answer. Jesus was a historical figure, and a wonderful teacher. That's all.
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