This week I was able to engage in a fascinating study of some of the previously lost, but newly rediscovered teachings of Jesus. By newly rediscovered I mean in the last century or so. The texts I’m referring to are the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary Magdalene.
This is something I think about a lot actually: we tend to put a lot of emphasis on the death and suffering of Jesus and not nearly as much (if any) on His life. (Theologically, His life only has importance in some formulations of the doctrine of justification but even then it's only touted as fulfilling the law.)
How about if instead of saying, "Jesus died for your sins" (???) we explored other options, like "Jesus lived so you don't have to enslaved to religion ever again"? (I'll definitely write a post like this somewhere down the line!)
Regarding resurrection, there's also another aspect: l have a friend who is slightly (more) on the geeky side, and he uncovered a quote by a quantum physicist (not sure which one, but I can ask him, apparently he's a big deal) who said basically, "If we define miracles as something that cannot happen scientifically, then turning water into wine or resurrection are not miracles."
Thank you for cross-posting... Really happy to be reading this substack!
This is something I think about a lot actually: we tend to put a lot of emphasis on the death and suffering of Jesus and not nearly as much (if any) on His life. (Theologically, His life only has importance in some formulations of the doctrine of justification but even then it's only touted as fulfilling the law.)
How about if instead of saying, "Jesus died for your sins" (???) we explored other options, like "Jesus lived so you don't have to enslaved to religion ever again"? (I'll definitely write a post like this somewhere down the line!)
Regarding resurrection, there's also another aspect: l have a friend who is slightly (more) on the geeky side, and he uncovered a quote by a quantum physicist (not sure which one, but I can ask him, apparently he's a big deal) who said basically, "If we define miracles as something that cannot happen scientifically, then turning water into wine or resurrection are not miracles."
Thank you for cross-posting... Really happy to be reading this substack!