New Testament « Conversational Atheist

Resurrection of Zeus

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

Some people may get the idea that I have a fascination with Zeus. I find him a useful foil.

I have re-read in recent days the breathless accounts of various “Resurrection of Jesus” evidence. It blows my mind — and not in the way that the Christian writers want.

I wanted to write up an essay that highlighted one of the more bizarre episodes in the New Testament.

How many people remember the part where crowds think that the apostle Paul is Zeus in human form, and they try to sacrifice an ox to him? Remember what happens next?

The Jews in the surrounding towns come down and stone Paul to death.

Well, they thought they did. Paul was stoned to death, and dragged from the city, where he got up and went on his way. Apparently people were really bad at figuring out just when people had died back then.

Anyway, here my essay that highlights this bizarre series of events: The Resurrection — of Zeus?

Let me know your thoughts!

Tags: New Testament, Religion and Spirituality, Resurrection of Jesus
Posted in Religious Interaction, debate | 11391 Comment »Resurrection+of+Zeus2009-08-12+05%3A17%3A45Conversational+Atheist

Jesus is Love…

Saturday, March 21st, 2009

Jesus is Love… God is Love… Love your enemies… it’s quoted all the time, I find that it’s rarely thought much about.

It is often quoted as some kind of amazing moral principle to “love your enemies”, but what does it mean?

I’m not sure, but if the character of the New Testament is supposed to believed, He deals with His enemies by torturing them forever in hellfire. If this is love, it’s a funny kind of love.

So, I’d argue that either

Jesus does not practice what He preaches; or
He is practicing what He preaches, but “loving your enemies” includes torturing your enemies for eternity.

I deal with this argument in my new post: Response to: Jesus is Love…

Let me hear your feedback!