Originally posted by rwingett
What a curious rebuttal. You start off by agreeing with my assertion that "the bible is largely a fictional characterization of Jesus", but then you go on to defend all the dogma contained within the bible. Which parts do you think were fictionalized, then? For my part, I think the passages referring to behavior in this world have a greater likelihood of be ...[text shortened]... n of Jesus is a doctrine that was invented after Jesus' death, most likely by Paul.
You start off by agreeing with my assertion that "the bible is largely a fictional characterization of Jesus", but then you go on to defend all the dogma contained within the bible. Which parts do you think were fictionalized, then?
All of them. But that is my
de facto belief as an atheist. I
perforce must repudiate all supernatural elements claimed in the gospels. However, I cannot expect other Christians, and especially Catholics, to embrace such a stance as they are comfortably with supernaturalism.
I think the passages referring to behavior in this world have a greater likelihood of being authentic than passages referring to life in the next world.
A belief that is clearly shaped by your atheistic mindset. It is foolish to demand that the Catholic Church agree with your intuitions.
I really don't think heaven and hell were big on his agenda, if at all.
That is undoubtedly because you already reject heaven and hell. To those who do accept the supernatural reality of heaven and hell, it would seem that Jesus is very much occupied with the subject. From the Gospel of Matthew, you will find Jesus discuss hell explicitly in the following verses: Matthew 5:29; 8:12; 10:28; 13:42; 25:41, 46.
During Jesus' time, the bulk of the message was about helping the poor and the oppressed.
True. But Jesus also instructed people how to worship, how to pray. In the gospels he clearly establishes the Eucharist as a ritual to be observed regularly. Although Jesus does affirm the need to assist the poor and oppressed, he clearly as a divinely-ordained messianic mission in the gospels.
So the Catholic Church obviously has some concern for the poor in today's world, but its primary concern is with issues that Jesus simply didn't address.
What do you expect the Catholic Church to do? Renounce their doctrines, become atheists, and then strive to emulate the Jesus that is entirely
your imagining?
Salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus is a doctrine that was invented after Jesus' death, most likely by Paul.
Probably; but the gospels clearly present Jesus as the paschal lamb and the new redeemer.