>>9430205 (lb)
Oh, I believe in the distinct possibility of the historicity of Jesus' life, and his subservience to the real God, and his teachings.
What I don't believe is that he needed to die to please God on my behalf. That's just fucked up. Like God couldn't find another way around that "needing a blood sacrifice" thing. It's like God's up there and says:
"All this bloodshed and human misery just isn't cutting it for the atonement meter. I really need to go all out and do this sacrifice thing myself. Maybe after I let them kill my own son they'll finally get it."
Doesn't add up. What's more likely is Jesus did live and teach people how to be close with God and the Pharisees did NOT losing control over the narrative. So, they had him killed in the most horrifyingly embarrassing and punishing way possible to deter anyone else from going the path Jesus was teaching.
It backfired, though. So the only option they had then was subversion.
Voila! Religious institutions are mostly shit, and your perceptions about God are driven by the people that authored the books that tell you what to think about God. Many are probably good. Some might not be so much so. Translation after translation after translation; bound to get some things off. This is how denominations come to be. I read something and you read the same thing, and we get 2 different meanings.
So yeah, I suppose we'll all have to stand before God and maybe we'll get the chance to ask why all the confusion over some simple words. Or, maybe, JUST MAYBE, God's bigger than religion and doctrine, and all you really need to do to be close to God is seek him in your thoughts and your deeds.
Maybe. Just…. maybe.