The Dubious Character of Jesus
Why Jesus?
Jesus has been held in high regard by Christians and non-Christians alike.
Regardless of whether he existed in history, or whether he was divine, many
have asserted that the New Testament Christ character was the highest example
of moral living. Many believe that his teachings, if truly understood and followed,
would make this a better world.
Is this true? Does Jesus merit the widespread adoration he has received? Let's
look at what he said and did.
Was Jesus Peaceable And Compassionate?
The birth of Jesus was heralded with "Peace on Earth," yet Jesus said, "Think
not that I am come to send peace: I came not to send peace but a sword." (Matthew
10:34) "He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." (Luke
22:36) "But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them,
bring hither, and slay them before me." (Luke 19:27. In a parable, but spoken
of favorably.)
The burning of unbelievers during the Inquisition was based on the words of
Jesus: "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth . . . and men gather them
into the fire, and they are burned." (John 15:6)
Jesus looked at his disciples "with anger" (Mark 3:5), and attacked merchants
with a whip (John 2:15). He showed his respect for life by drowning innocent
animals (Matthew 8:32). He refused to heal a sick child until he was pressured
by the mother (Matthew 15:22-28).
The most revealing aspect of his character was his promotion of eternal torment.
"The Son of man [Jesus himself] shall send forth his angels, and they shall
gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing
of teeth." (Matthew 13:41-42) "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is
better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into
hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched." (Mark 9:43)
Is this nice? Is it exemplary to make your point with threats of violence? Is
hell a kind, peaceful idea?
Did Jesus Promote "Family Values"?
"If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be
my disciple." (Luke 14:26)
"I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against
her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes
shall be they of his own household." (Matthew 10:35-36)
When one of his disciples requested time off for his father's funeral, Jesus
rebuked him: "Let the dead bury their dead." (Matthew 8:22)
Jesus never used the word "family." He never married or fathered children. To
his own mother, he said, "Woman, what have I to do with thee?" (John 2:4)
What Were His Views On Equality And Social Justice?
Jesus encouraged the beating of slaves: "And that servant [slave], which
knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his
will, shall be beaten with many stripes." (Luke 12:47) He never denounced servitude,
incorporating the master-slave relationship into many of his parables.
He did nothing to alleviate poverty. Rather than sell some expensive ointment
to help the poor, Jesus wasted it on himself, saying, "Ye have the poor with
you always." (Mark 14:3-7)
No women were chosen as disciples or invited to the Last Supper.
What Moral Advice Did Jesus Give?
"There be eunuchs which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of
heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." (Matthew
19:12) Some believers, including church father Origen, took this verse literally
and castrated themselves. Even metaphorically, this advice is in poor taste.
If you do something wrong with your eye or hand, cut/pluck it off (Matthew 5:29-30,
in a sexual context).
Marrying a divorced woman is adultery. (Matthew 5:32)
Don't plan for the future. (Matthew 6:34)
Don't save money. (Matthew 6:19-20)
Don't become wealthy. (Mark 10:21-25)
Sell everything and give it to the poor. (Luke 12:33)
Don't work to obtain food. (John 6:27)
Don't have sexual urges. (Matthew 5:28)
Make people want to persecute you. (Matthew 5:11)
Let everyone know you are better than the rest. (Matthew 5:13-16)
Take money from those who have no savings and give it to rich investors. (Luke
19:23-26)
If someone steals from you, don't try to get it back. (Luke 6:30)
If someone hits you, invite them to do it again. (Matthew 5:39)
If you lose a lawsuit, give more than the judgment. (Matthew 5:40)
If someone forces you to walk a mile, walk two miles. (Matthew 5:41)
If anyone asks you for anything, give it to them without question. (Matthew
5:42)
Is this wise? Is this what you would teach your children?
Was Jesus Reliable?
Jesus told his disciples that they would not die before his second coming:
"There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see
the Son of man coming in his kingdom" (Matthew 16:28). "Behold, I come quickly."
(Revelation 3:11) It's been 2,000 years, and believers are still waiting for
his "quick" return.
He mistakenly claimed that the mustard seed is "the least of all seeds" (Matt.
13:32), and that salt could "lose its savor" (Matthew 5:13).
Jesus said that whoever calls somebody a "fool" shall be in danger of hell fire
(Matthew 5:22), yet he called people "fools" himself (Matthew 23:17).
Regarding his own truthfulness, Jesus gave two conflicting opinions: "If I bear
witness of myself, my witness is not true" (John 5:31), and "Though I bear record
of myself, yet my record is true" (John 8:14).
Was Jesus A Good Example?
He irrationally cursed a fig tree for being fruitless out of season (Matthew
21:18-19, and Mark 11:13-14). He broke the law by stealing corn on the Sabbath
(Mark 2:23), and he encouraged his disciples to take a horse without asking
permission (Matthew 21).
The "humble" Jesus said that he was "greater than the temple" (Matt 12:6), "greater
than Jonah" (Matthew 12:41), and "greater than Solomon" (Matthew 12:42). He
appeared to suffer from a dictator's "paranoia" when he said, "He that is not
with me is against me" (Matthew 12:30).
Why Jesus?
Although other verses can be cited that portray Jesus in a different light,
they do not erase the disturbing side of his character. The conflicting passages,
however, prove that the New Testament is contradictory.
The "Golden Rule" had been said many times by earlier religious leaders. (Confucius:
"Do not unto others that you would not have them do unto you.") "Turn the other
cheek" encourages victims to invite further violence. "Love thy neighbor" applied
only to fellow believers. (Neither the Jews nor Jesus showed much love to foreign
religions). A few of the Beatitudes ("Blessed are the peacemakers") are acceptable,
but they are all conditions of future reward, not based on respect for human
life or values.
On the whole, Jesus said little that was worthwhile. He introduced nothing new
to ethics (except hell). He instituted no social programs. Being "omniscient,"
he could have shared some useful science or medicine, but he appeared ignorant
of such things (as if his character were merely the invention of writers stuck
in the first century).
Many scholars are doubtful of the historical existence of Jesus. Albert Schweitzer
said, "The historical Jesus will be to our time a stranger and an enigma." No
first-century writer confirms the Jesus story. The New Testament is internally
contradictory and contains historical errors. The story is filled with miracles
and other outrageous claims. Consisting mostly of material borrowed from pagan
religions, the Jesus story appears to be cut from the same fabric as all other
myths and fables.
Why is Jesus so special?
It would be more reasonable and productive to emulate real, flesh-and-blood
human beings who have contributed to humanity--mothers who have given birth,
scientists who have alleviated suffering, social reformers who have fought injustice--than
to worship a character of such dubious qualities as Jesus.