Posted on 01/22/2023 3:57:33 PM PST by SeekAndFind
How do you define ‘orthodox believer’?
For a religion that has had so many breakaways, sects, different dispensations, it’s kind of hard to know who is ‘orthodox’.
Almost every one of the different flavors of Christianity sees the others as mistaken to some extent.
Their various contentions have often been enjoyed as a sport on FR over the years.
Basic Christianity is the belief that Jesus is the Son of God, died for us and rose again. That’s the basic doctrine.
Jefferson did not believe that.
Amen, Jefferson, owned 700 slaves over the course of his life time
Too strong to call this a hoax, I think, though it would be wrong to think of Jefferson as anything but an admirer of Jesus’ and his teaching. Jefferson’s work anticipates the liberal lives of Jesus produced in the next century by figures like Ernest Renan.
Here’s one edition of Jefferson’s “Life and Morals...”
https://archive.org/details/jeffersonbibleli0000unse/page/n177/mode/2up?view=theater
Yes, I think that’s a very good description.
The Catholic church - and other sects - burned people at the stake (including the Gnostics, among whom were very early Christians with beliefs predating the organized church itself) - drowned ‘witches’, etc. I imagine they thought they were being ‘orthodox’.
Maybe Jefferson knew enough history - and truly Christian philosophy! - to have no great taste for the various organized dogmas.
The beliefs that Jesus is the Son of God, died for us and rose again are basic Christian beliefs, always have been. Take them away and it’s not Christianity.
That’s a literal interpretation of texts translated from original languages that most of us no longer know in all of their ancient nuances.
There are many people who don’t read the words the same way that you do - but they believe them profoundly nonetheless; and they consider themselves Christian.
Well it's a narrative that's as old as Jefferson himself. He was derided as being a "howling atheist" during the 1800 presidential election. Your attempt to paint this as a recent development in American culture is a lie.
That’s a cop out. IF you’re not a believer just say so. But you can’t just re-interpret Christianity to be something it’s not.
That’s right. Jefferson was criticized for his beliefs during his own lifetime. It’s not some newfangled interpretation.
Exactly.
Some of us are seriously concerned with finding the actual, original meaning - not just a meaning that has come down to us through centuries of rigid orthodoxy often reduced to pablum for the masses.
I think everyone has to find that on their own.
Who taught you your meaning?
I have been to the Library of Congress and seen the Jefferson exhibition. He was a great lover of books. Amazing what he was able to put together back then.
The doctrines of Christianity are found in the New Testament. It’s a very accessible book, with more manuscripts, and earlier manuscripts than any other ancient book. The basic teachings of Christianity are not in doubt. People who try to re-interpret the basic teachings of the New Testament are just kidding themselves.
Read Matthew 13:10-14.
I’m curious about these things. Get back to me and tell me what YOU think those verses mean - not what someone else TOLD you they mean.
(There are plenty of ‘old manuscripts’. The Ancient Egyptian religion, Judaism, Zoroastrianism are full of them. All of those predate Christianity. Truth has been told in many ways, throughout time. It will no doubt be told again and again in new ways, while this Earth exists and beyond.)
So here you are telling me what to believe while snarkily saying “not what someone else TOLD you they mean”.
You can’t be neutral about Jesus Christ.
I’m not neutral. It just appears that I believe somewhat differently than you do.
And what’s wrong with asking you what YOU think it means? I actually think that assuming you have your own mind is a sign of respect.
I’m sure you don’t take all of your beliefs and interpretations by rote from other people; you must try and figure some things out for yourself (?)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.