But regardless of what scholars debate, at least 95% of Christians accept your claim, Kevmo, of Christ’s “equality” with God.
That is religious belief with which I have no problems.
***You seem to think that is what I came to debate. I know that faithful christians accept Christ’s equality with God, and that heretics do not. But what I came to discuss on this thread was the Verified HISTORICAL FACT that Jesus claimed equality with God before the Sanhedrin and was condemned to death for it. Significantly, you said that such a position was religious. You’re the poser here. And now it appears you’re a heretic. Double loser.
Previously:
Kevmo: “That is not a religious belief.
It is a historical observation.
Historians don’t have a problem with it, but apparently you do.
And to think, you were the one who went out of his way to point out the differences between religious faith and history.
You can’t even tell the difference yourself.”
In fact, the New Testament says no such thing directly: that is your theological interpretation, not of what Jesus allegedly said, but of what you think the Jewish authorities might have understood by Jesus' words.
Without doubt, those religious authorities believed Jesus said enough to deserve death, but there is no indisputable evidence that Jesus actually claimed to be God Himself.
Indeed, I've mentioned Bill O'Reilly's book before, which am now about half way through, and a point he makes is worth repeating: it was not Jesus alleged "blasphemy" which motivated those Jewish authorities, "blasphemy" was only their excuse.
Their real reason was justified fear that Jesus' ministry would overturn the established order of things, and threaten their positions of power and wealth.
In that sense, in the end, to them it didn't matter what Jesus said, or didn't say, they were going to "get" him one way or another, says O'Reilly as I read it.
I call his a highly informed historical opinion.
Now, back to the subject of "heresy", FRiend: after you've satisfied your lust to stone, burn and crucify me for it, you might wish to remember that the "heresy" I am here defending is precisely the same "heresy" which most of our Founding Fathers believed.
So, every nasty barb you aim at me, you are aiming at them too.
In that sense, (note the quote here): I and our Founders are one.
Beware of what you say, loser.