Was Jesus a great teacher?

[McCulloch]

Christianity's biggest strength is the teachings of Jesus. They're the very foundation of Christianity. Jesus was a great teacher and being a Christian myself, I see no one who has ever topped Him, nor have I found any of His teachings too difficult to defend.

Questions for debate:
Was Jesus a great teacher? Are all of his teachings easy to defend? Is there anything that he could have made clearer? Did he make mistakes? Did he leave out anything important? How could he have improved as a teacher?

[A Troubled Man]

The thing is, he made it ambiguous on purpose. The enemies of the gospel would spin things like, "and Jesus drank water because he was thirsty". So making everything simple wouldn't matter.

That has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, God deliberately makes His word ambiguous on purpose, not to get a clear and concise message to the people, but instead because He doesn't want His enemies to spin the message.

Where the hell is the logic in that?

God reveals himself through his word to people that earnestly want to know. There are many people don't want God to exist consequently they would not be convinced if it were as simple as see spot run. Therefore God designed it in such a way as to reveal himself to his friends while confusing the enemy. Quite brilliant if you ask me.

That is the one of biggest bs stories I've read so far. There are plenty of people who earnestly want to know, but no gods have ever revealed themselves to them, so don't try to pull that wool over our eyes.

Not only is that bs, but it doesn't answer the question of ambiguity.

[10CC]

The thing is, he made it ambiguous on purpose. The enemies of the gospel would spin things like, "and Jesus drank water because he was thirsty". So making everything simple wouldn't matter.

That has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, God deliberately makes His word ambiguous on purpose, not to get a clear and concise message to the people, but instead because He doesn't want His enemies to spin the message.

Where the hell is the logic in that?

God reveals himself through his word to people that earnestly want to know. There are many people don't want God to exist consequently they would not be convinced if it were as simple as see spot run. Therefore God designed it in such a way as to reveal himself to his friends while confusing the enemy. Quite brilliant if you ask me.

That is the one of biggest bs stories I've read so far. There are plenty of people who earnestly want to know, but no gods have ever revealed themselves to them, so don't try to pull that wool over our eyes.

Not only is that bs, but it doesn't answer the question of ambiguity.

Yes ATM but you must remember that ZA is fed this dogma constantly. Even Pavlov's dogs eventually had no choice. Not that I would ever allude to another poster as being equivalent to Pavlov's dogs. Farthest thing from my mind.

[Zetesis Apistia]

The bible says that there is an enemy that makes every effort to confuse us...

2nd Cor 4: 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

So it isn't just that God made it ambiguous to confuse us, but that Satan uses the ambiguity to his advantage. With a devil that makes every attempt to confuse it I don't see how simplicity would have eliminated to possibility of confusion. Like I said before, our constitution is pretty plain but for some reason alot of people have a hard time with it.

Simplicity always eliminates confusion. That is why we create checklists, manuals, work instructions, and the like. Every person can buy a desk at Walmart and follow the directions and have a desk by the end of the day. It is only when the directions are unclear and pieces are missing that we run into trouble. This is how the bible works. It is like a repackaged desk at Walmart that someone returned with several missing pieces and a page ripped out of the directions.

Sure but what if you called the support department and someone gave you false info on purpose?

[Zetesis Apistia]

The thing is, he made it ambiguous on purpose. The enemies of the gospel would spin things like, "and Jesus drank water because he was thirsty". So making everything simple wouldn't matter.

That has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, God deliberately makes His word ambiguous on purpose, not to get a clear and concise message to the people, but instead because He doesn't want His enemies to spin the message.

Where the hell is the logic in that?

God reveals himself through his word to people that earnestly want to know. There are many people don't want God to exist consequently they would not be convinced if it were as simple as see spot run. Therefore God designed it in such a way as to reveal himself to his friends while confusing the enemy. Quite brilliant if you ask me.

That is the one of biggest bs stories I've read so far. There are plenty of people who earnestly want to know, but no gods have ever revealed themselves to them, so don't try to pull that wool over our eyes.

Not only is that bs, but it doesn't answer the question of ambiguity.

The best way to disarm someone that is predisposed to disagree with you is to confuse them. I doubt that you are interested in anything other than contention when it comes to God. Why in the world would it make any difference in your case if he made it plain.

[Zetesis Apistia]

The thing is, he made it ambiguous on purpose. The enemies of the gospel would spin things like, "and Jesus drank water because he was thirsty". So making everything simple wouldn't matter.

That has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, God deliberately makes His word ambiguous on purpose, not to get a clear and concise message to the people, but instead because He doesn't want His enemies to spin the message.

Where the hell is the logic in that?

God reveals himself through his word to people that earnestly want to know. There are many people don't want God to exist consequently they would not be convinced if it were as simple as see spot run. Therefore God designed it in such a way as to reveal himself to his friends while confusing the enemy. Quite brilliant if you ask me.

That is the one of biggest bs stories I've read so far. There are plenty of people who earnestly want to know, but no gods have ever revealed themselves to them, so don't try to pull that wool over our eyes.

Not only is that bs, but it doesn't answer the question of ambiguity.

Yes ATM but you must remember that ZA is fed this dogma constantly. Even Pavlov's dogs eventually had no choice. Not that I would ever allude to another poster as being equivalent to Pavlov's dogs. Farthest thing from my mind.

Yes and you are indoctrinated by the darwins of this world. What is your point?

[Ooberman]

God reveals himself through his word to people that earnestly want to know. There are many people don't want God to exist consequently they would not be convinced if it were as simple as see spot run. Therefore God designed it in such a way as to reveal himself to his friends while confusing the enemy. Quite brilliant if you ask me.

Which is what believers of Baal said to the Yahweh'ites, and the Muslims say to the Christians, and the Christians to the Mormons, and the ....


This is why theology is useless - it is no different than snake oil salesmanship.

It's the Emperor with no clothes.

ZA wants us to believe there are rich fabrics covering his King, if only we would just believe. Meanwhile, not only is the King nude, but he's not covering anything of substance.

[Nickman]

The bible says that there is an enemy that makes every effort to confuse us...

2nd Cor 4: 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

So it isn't just that God made it ambiguous to confuse us, but that Satan uses the ambiguity to his advantage. With a devil that makes every attempt to confuse it I don't see how simplicity would have eliminated to possibility of confusion. Like I said before, our constitution is pretty plain but for some reason alot of people have a hard time with it.

Simplicity always eliminates confusion. That is why we create checklists, manuals, work instructions, and the like. Every person can buy a desk at Walmart and follow the directions and have a desk by the end of the day. It is only when the directions are unclear and pieces are missing that we run into trouble. This is how the bible works. It is like a repackaged desk at Walmart that someone returned with several missing pieces and a page ripped out of the directions.

Sure but what if you called the support department and someone gave you false info on purpose?

But Christians are not calling the support department and getting "false information." They are going straight to their bibles. They are praying to Jesus to guide their understanding, and apparently Jesus is not coming through.

[Ooberman]

Even the Bible claims Jesus was a poor teacher. He continually chided his "students" for not getting it. He was rude and condescending. He was a preacher, not a teacher.
His greatest sermon was only believed by some, and to this day, he is known to spread untruths.
Not to mention, he didn't live as he wanted them to live. He didn't lead by example.
He taught them to spread a lie, and live for the glory of God, whereas, Jesus lived to get killed for heresy. He was a madman who led madmen. A nice madman, perhaps, but as mad as David Koresh, for sure.

[pokeegeorge]

Even the Bible claims Jesus was a poor teacher. He continually chided his "students" for not getting it. He was rude and condescending. He was a preacher, not a teacher.
His greatest sermon was only believed by some, and to this day, he is known to spread untruths.
Not to mention, he didn't live as he wanted them to live. He didn't lead by example.
He taught them to spread a lie, and live for the glory of God, whereas, Jesus lived to get killed for heresy. He was a madman who led madmen. A nice madman, perhaps, but as mad as David Koresh, for sure.

Ad hominem of subject. I protest.

He was annointed of the Holy Spirit to be rabbi of rabbis and more. He had the Word of God upon his lips. He prophesied true words. His parables were truly wise and brought forth an amazingly comprehensive message...

He was Lord to those who loved him. You do not love him. But why you are hostile I cannot fathom. What single thing did he say wrong, ever?

[Zetesis Apistia]

Which is what believers of Baal said to the Yahweh'ites, and the Muslims say to the Christians, and the Christians to the Mormons, and the ....

Atheists to the believers