[SoothingDave]

Why, in your belief, is it necessary that this tzaddik, this perfectly righteous man who is perfectly united with God in will and Spirit, who voluntarily gives up his life in an act of perfect love, in order to reconcile this fallen world with God ... why is it necessary to believe that he is also one in Being with God?

Jesus forgave sins, and passed on this power to forgive sins to the Apostles. Forgiving sin is in the purview of God, and for a man to claim that he could do so is blasphemy. Jesus needs to be God in order to do this.

SD

[malakhi]

Forgiving sin is in the purview of God, and for a man to claim that he could do so is blasphemy. Jesus needs to be God in order to do this.

That is your assumption. I don't see why he would have to be God in order to represent God. Catholic priests are not God simply because they forgive sins in confession. Sins are forgiven when we repent and turn to God for forgiveness. Someone telling you "your sins are forgiven" is stating what God has already done.