http://comingoutgodless.com/2008/08/25/an-atheist-blossoms/ Share Your Story. Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:49:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://comingoutgodless.com/2008/08/25/an-atheist-blossoms/#comment-126 Andrew Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:36:00 +0000 http://comingoutgodless.com/?p=95#comment-126 Well, like I said, I never really *believed*, so there wasn't much of a supernatural aspect to get rid of. And even if I needed to, there was more than enough reason to discount this one story as "the truth" when you take into account how much these stories mirrored earlier myths.From there, it was an growing appreciation of history, historical records, and what they can tell us. There were a ton of Jewish prophets and teachers around in a very turbulent time/place. Was there really a historical Jesus? We'll never know, but it's very probable that there was (given the nature of the times and the relatively common nature of the name). But why should I then give the teachings attributed to him any more than I should those of any of the hundreds of other rabbis from the same time? Or from the teachers of tribes and peoples from all over the world and from all across time?The only reason to do so is that this religion was very handy for the rulers in a particular period to use in order to keep their subjects in check. From there, it became an ingrained part of our culture. That's really not a very prestigious pedigree for an ideology, at least not to me. Well, like I said, I never really *believed*, so there wasn't much of a supernatural aspect to get rid of. And even if I needed to, there was more than enough reason to discount this one story as "the truth" when you take into account how much these stories mirrored earlier myths.From there, it was an growing appreciation of history, historical records, and what they can tell us. There were a ton of Jewish prophets and teachers around in a very turbulent time/place. Was there really a historical Jesus? We'll never know, but it's very probable that there was (given the nature of the times and the relatively common nature of the name). But why should I then give the teachings attributed to him any more than I should those of any of the hundreds of other rabbis from the same time? Or from the teachers of tribes and peoples from all over the world and from all across time?The only reason to do so is that this religion was very handy for the rulers in a particular period to use in order to keep their subjects in check. From there, it became an ingrained part of our culture. That's really not a very prestigious pedigree for an ideology, at least not to me.

]]> http://comingoutgodless.com/2008/08/25/an-atheist-blossoms/#comment-125 Makarios Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:30:00 +0000 http://comingoutgodless.com/?p=95#comment-125 I understand that some people are able to look at the abuses of "the Church" and pronounce Christianity in error. But how did you get rid of Jesus? I understand that some people are able to look at the abuses of "the Church" and pronounce Christianity in error. But how did you get rid of Jesus?

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