The words of Jesus

Originally posted by @thinkofone
But if Einstein never existed, would the words attributed to him be any less true?

Yes.

Originally posted by @fmf
I am not asking you about whether you personally want to kill John McCain, nor am I asking you how it is you think he is "killing others". I am asking you, as a Christian, if you love him.

Saying you love people you've never met is meaningless.

Originally posted by @eladar
Saying you love people you've never met is meaningless.

Do you consider John McCain to be your enemy? If you do, then you are instructed to love him. Can you describe or demonstrate your love?

Saying you love people you've never met is meaningless.

Which of "the words of Jesus", specifically, do you think substantiates this limitation you are choosing to place upon his instruction to you (as a Christian) to love your enemies?

Originally posted by @chaney3
If Jesus never existed, then it doesn't matter really who he is.

But if he did exist and was who he claimed to be then everything he said is of critical importance.

If he existed but was not who he claimed to be then he is a liar.

If he didn't exist and someone made his words up then they are a liar.

Originally posted by @thinkofone
Read them again. Ultimately it's about the words and the concepts behind the words.

If Jesus was not whom he claimed to be and God doesn't exist, then much of what Jesus said is merely the ramblings of a deluded Hebrew hippy.

Originally posted by @chaney3
I am trying to figure out if anyone other than ThinkOfOne thinks that the words of Jesus would matter.....without Jesus.

Some of them would still carry meaning and gravitas. But much of what Jesus said was indicative of his own relationship with his father, God. Without Jesus or God all of those elements of his teaching are indeed theocratic fiction of the poorest kind.

Originally posted by @chaney3
Yes.

How so? The theory of relativity would be less true?

Originally posted by @thinkofone
How can they be "meaningless" when it's the words that "are spirit and are life"?

What spirit and what life are you referring to without Jesus?

Originally posted by @divegeester
If Jesus was not whom he claimed to be and God doesn't exist, then much of what Jesus said is merely the ramblings of a deluded Hebrew hippy.

Who do you think Jesus claimed to be?

Originally posted by @divegeester
What spirit and what life are you referring to without Jesus?

The spirit of truth and the life of truth exist whether or not Jesus actually existed.

Originally posted by @thinkofone
You are illogically conflating the existence of Jesus with the truth of the words attributed to Him.

No he isn't. What "truth" is there in the following statements if Jesus didn't exist:

"I and the father are one"

"When you have seen me you have seen the father"

"Lazarus, come forth"

"I am about my father's business"

"Unless a man be born again he cannot enter the kingdom of God"

"Go and son no more"

Etc

Originally posted by @thinkofone
Spirit is truth. Truth is life. Truth is God. Truth is truth regardless of who speaks it.

"Today you will be with me in paradise"

Believe me?

Originally posted by @thinkofone
The truth doesn't exist whether or not the person delivering the truth exists?

The truth didn't exist before the truth was delivered?

"I am the way the truth and the life" ...not really if you don't exist

"Follow me" ...a bit difficult if you don't exist.

Originally posted by @chaney3
If Jesus never existed, then words from Jesus never existed. Some guy named Bob lied and made it all up.

How can you possibly miss this point or disagree with it???

It's a poor debate tactic which he uses; have a look at the exchanges between him and FMF in the "children must go hungry thread"

Originally posted by @thinkofone
Because the words attributed to Jesus can be true whether or not Jesus existed. The words and the concepts behind the words are what are of importance.

"Your sins are forgiven"

Not really if Jesus didn't exist.