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diff --git a/22955.txt b/22955.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..338b0e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/22955.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2800 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mistakes of Jesus, by William Floyd + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mistakes of Jesus + +Author: William Floyd + +Release Date: October 11, 2007 [EBook #22955] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MISTAKES OF JESUS *** + + + + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Stephen Blundell +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + THE MISTAKES + OF JESUS + + + + BY + + WILLIAM FLOYD + + _Author of "Social Progress," + "People vs. Wall Street," + "Our Gods on Trial," + "War Resistance."_ + + + + _New York_ + THE FREETHOUGHT PRESS ASSOCIATION. + + + + + Copyright 1932 By + THE FREETHOUGHT PRESS ASSN., INC. + + + + + TO DEVOTEES + OF TRUTH + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Archaic + spellings have been retained. Paragraph spacing has been normalised. + + A table of contents, though not present in the original publication, + has been provided below: + + FOREWORD + Face the Facts. The True Jesus. Scriptures Unauthentic. Faith in + Jesus. Documentary Evidence. Retain the Good. Christianity Must + Go. + + ANTIQUATED THEOLOGY + The Virgin Birth. The Jewish Messiah. Eternal Damnation. The + Atonement. Angels and Devils. + + FALSE IMPRESSIONS + Jonah and the Whale. End of the World. Miracles. Eternal Life. + Raising Lazarus. God's Protection. Belief in Prayer. + + OBSCURE TEACHINGS + Witnesses and Judge. Cannibalism. Religion Only for Children. + Difficult or Easy? Charity. The Scriptures Upheld. Illogical. + Parables Deceptive. + + DEFICIENT INSTRUCTIONS + Labor. Usury. Economics. Punishment for Debts. Healing. Peace. + Marriage. Celibacy. Adultery. Divorce. Faulty Judgment. + Unconvincing. Prohibition. Lack of Experience. + + AN INFERIOR PROTOTYPE + Cursing Nature. Forgiveness. Vituperation. Destruction of + Property. Egotism. Lack of Courtesy. Unethical Advice. Sermon on + the Mount. Inconsistency. Fear. Failure. + + CONCLUSION + Jesus a Myth. Judged by His Works. Ethical Evolution. Gains, not + Losses. + + CODE OF LIVING + + + + +FOREWORD + + +The tradition regarding Jesus is so glamorous that it is difficult to +review his life and character with an unbiased mind. While +Fundamentalists and Modernists differ regarding the divinity of Christ, +all Christians and many non-Christians still cling to preconceived +notions of the perfection of Jesus. He alone among men is revered as +all-loving, omniscient, faultless--an unparalleled model for mankind. + +This convention of the impeccability of Jesus is so firmly established +that any insinuation of error on his part is deemed a blasphemy. +Doubting Jesus is more impious than mocking God Almighty. Jehovah may be +exposed to some extent with impunity; a God who destroyed 70,000 of his +chosen people because their king took a census[1] is too illogical for +any but theologians to worship. But the Son of God, or Son of man, is +sacrosanct. Jesus is reverenced as the one man who has lived unspotted +by the world, free from human foibles, able to redeem mankind by his +example. + +Respect for the principles of Jesus is so inbred in American people of +all faiths that an attempt to disparage his worth is denounced as bad +taste. The detractor is suspected of being an immoral person, no matter +how convincing may be the proof which he presents. A conspiracy of +silence is directed against any system of ethics advanced as superior to +the Sermon on the Mount. In popular opinion Jesus never made a mistake; +all his teachings were infallible; no other view is tolerated. + + +_Face the Facts_ + +This unwillingness to acknowledge the shortcomings of Jesus is partially +due to fear of sustaining a great loss. The familiar answer to heretical +arguments is that faith should not be destroyed unless something can be +put in its place--ignoring the fact that something always may be +substituted for beliefs destroyed. That substitute is faith in the world +as it really is. And our modern world, with all its shortcomings, is +infinitely preferable to the earth, or even the heaven, of the first +century. We now know that man can do more to eradicate sorrow than Jesus +ever thought of. We can have greater confidence in the world as revealed +today than in the doubtful traditions of Biblical times. + +But suppose there were nothing to substitute for the myth destroyed, +should that deter the Truthseeker from continuing his investigation? +Scientists do not hesitate in their research because the result of a new +discovery may be disastrous. They seek the facts regardless of +consequences; they want to know the Truth about the physical world. +Ethicists should have a similar desire concerning the metaphysical +world. They should have confidence that the Supreme Intelligence (as +Edison called it) will lead on to better things. + + +_The True Jesus_ + +If Jesus was what his followers believe, no arguments will destroy their +faith in him; but if Jesus was not perfect, according to modern +standards, it is important that his status as God, or man, should be +revised. Loss of confidence in an erring idol is not loss of a true +ideal. + +When an iconoclast asserts that Jesus lacked supreme intelligence, the +natural question is, "How do you know that you are right in your +appraisal, 'lest haply ye be found even to fight against God'?" The +answer is that we do not claim omniscience, but merely request everyone +to use his or her own judgment, with intellectual honesty, examining +each act or saying of Jesus without regard to presupposed ideas or +tradition. + + +_Scriptures Unauthentic_ + +The consensus of scholarship has rejected the creation of the universe +in six days in 4004 B.C., science having proved the existence of the +world for millions of years. Higher Critics refuse to credit the book of +Genesis, according to the first chapter of which the trees, beasts and +fowls were created before man, but according to the second chapter after +man. It is not assuming too much for the humblest writer to say that +Moses was mistaken concerning many things he described in the +Pentateuch. It follows that if one important portion of the Bible is +untrustworthy, other parts of that same book may not be the infallible +Word of God. The New Testament, as well as the Old, may be examined +critically, and if the gospels contain numerous contradictions, the +statements of the authors on any point, including the life of Jesus, are +open to question. A conscientious person should reach conclusions based +upon the best knowledge obtainable from all sources. + +If anyone is convinced that Jesus made mistakes, he is not necessarily +compelled to become an atheist. All other Gods that have been worshipped +by men have been found imperfect. The oft exposed errors of Jehovah do +not prevent Christians and Jews from professing belief in God. Those who +require support from outside themselves cling to the symbol of deity +though not thoroughly crediting any personality ever described in any +sacred scriptures. Except Jesus. + +An Evolutionist passes beyond the negative denial of God to the +construction of a new philosophy in which Truth is his guide, Truth +being the nearest approximation to reality obtainable with our present +knowledge. Belief in the world as it is now, and as it is going to be, +is a sufficient creed. + + +_Faith in Jesus_ + +With Jesus entrenched in popular opinion, there is small probability +that faith in him will be shaken unless there is a preponderance of +evidence against his divinity. No one need abandon faith in Jesus until +convinced that something better has been found. No one should even +expose himself to heretical arguments unless he is a devotee of Truth. +Then only can he rejoice at a revelation of error in confidence that the +more nearly the universe is understood the better can man adjust himself +to his surroundings. A worshipper of Truth fears no destruction of false +gods, nor any facts that may cause him to throw over treasured +superstitions. He is willing to prove all things and hold fast to that +which is true. He rejoices when his idol is shattered, knowing that he +is approaching nearer to the true way of living, a way that Jesus did +not adequately explain. + +Any attempt to censure the character of Jesus will meet with the +ridicule it deserves unless substantiated by documentary evidence. The +mere improbability of events contrary to natural laws does not destroy +the ethical value of the teachings of the Nazarene. Anything might have +happened in the eerie days of old; the critic must do more than deny the +historicity of Jesus and the inspiration of the Bible. To be convincing +he must derive from the scriptures in which Christians believe whatever +proof can be deduced to unveil the superstition of a redeeming Savior. + + +_Documentary Evidence_ + +The documents most generally accepted by Christians are those collected +in the King James Version of the Bible. The Apocrypha and other early +manuscripts are unreliable. None of the thirty or more writers who +described events around Jerusalem in Jesus' time gives any account of +his teachings. The only life of Jesus is found in the four gospels; the +numerous biographers of Christ have had no other reliable source of +information. It is deceptive for the publishers of revised editions of +the Bible to claim that "original manuscripts" have been consulted. Not +one of the original manuscripts is in existence, the earliest extant +dating from the fourth century A.D., while the most ancient portion of +the New Testament in any museum was transcribed in the sixth century. + +Accepting, therefore, the King James Version of the New Testament as the +most reliable source of information, the question arises as to what +portion of the chapters therein may be considered authentic. Scholars +have rejected the entire gospel of John as less reliable than the +synoptic gospels; and the sixteenth chapter of Mark as an addition after +the original papyrus had broken off. Modernists, being confronted, in +spite of these deletions, with inconsistencies in the gospels of +Matthew, Mark and Luke, have assumed the further privilege of rejecting +any verses which appear at variance with their beliefs. Liberals of this +class contend that the supernatural side of Jesus may be disregarded and +yet that Jesus will remain Our Lord. They reject certain evangelistic +passages that conflict with modern thought, but accept other statements +by the same authors as authoritative. + +As the Christian churches have not accepted any abbreviation of the +Bible as a substitute for the King James Version, it seems proper for +the critic to have recourse to that translation as the most authentic +description of the life and teachings of Jesus. He is justified, +moreover, in considering every word in the supposedly inspired gospels +as equally reliable. His only concern should be to interpret each verse +as nearly as possible as the original writers intended their words to be +understood, allowing for Eastern hyperbole and the custom of the times. + + +_Retain the Good_ + +In preparing a critical analysis of the character of Jesus, it is freely +admitted that many of the thoughts attributed to the son of Mary are +superlatively fine. They will live forever whether the personality of +Jesus be rejected as a divinity or not. That these beautiful preachments +are ignored here is not due to any desire to belittle admirable +sentiments or to disparage right living. The loving side of Jesus has +been emphasized again and again and will be borne in mind by the reader +when other less admirable traits are criticized. The intent of this +criticism is not to destroy idealism but to assist the spirit of true +progress. + + +_Christianity Must Go_ + +The significance of this investigation lies in the changes that would +have to be made in religious thought if it should be found that Jesus +was not perfect. If Jesus was in error concerning conditions of his own +time and exhibited no knowledge of our modern problems, his authority +will be lessened. Searchers after the true way of life will not continue +to worship a person whose conception of the physical and spiritual world +was erroneous. If Jesus made mistakes, he is neither the Son of God nor +an infallible man. + +So long as people feel compelled to worship what has been proved +imperfect, or to evade important doctrines of their creeds for fear of +losing faith in old traditions, their minds will not be receptive to +changes in social conditions that require abandonment of established +customs. Christians are imbued with a psychology derived from a +completed revelation. The firmer their belief in Jesus, the greater +their resistance to new ideas. Catholics are more reluctant to join +progressive movements than Modernists and Modernists than Evolutionists. +Religious people are apt to be afraid of the new world; they doubt the +possibility of eliminating war, poverty and injustice--customs as deeply +rooted in the social world as belief in Jesus is in the religious world. +If the chief reactionary bulwark of the past is abandoned, there will be +greater possibility of accepting new revelations. + +What would happen if Christians should discover that their leader was +not an incomparable guide? Absolutely nothing at first. Those accustomed +to lead a moral life would continue to do so. Members of Christian +churches are the very people who most wish to do what is right. They +will not lose their character because Jesus has lost his fictitious +divinity. On the contrary, they will search for the most elevating +principles to substitute for the personality that has been found +deficient. It is difficult for people to be superior to their gods. +These same church-going individuals, when freed from the fetters of +antiquated supernaturalism, will gradually learn to serve mankind with +the same devotion they now render to a misunderstood God. They will no +longer be limited by the defects of their paragon in their efforts to +make the most of life. They will seek to solve modern problems in a +rational way instead of deciding such matters as birth control, divorce, +war and prohibition by reference to the scriptures, as they do now. For +the first time they will make their decisions according to the best +knowledge obtainable today. + +Jesus was in advance of his time. He declared that such revengeful +theories as an eye for an eye must be supplanted by forgiveness. But as +the world has evolved, Jesus has stood still. His teachings, superior as +they were to those of the ancient Israelites, are now found to be +inferior to the best ethics culled from the wisdom of the ages, brought +down to date. It is heartening to feel that we can appropriate the +superlative principles of all time instead of worshipping a deified +personality who was limited to the best that men of his own generation +could conceive. + +This examination of the life and character of Jesus will be based upon +the accounts in the New Testament. Each passage will be construed as +appears to the writer to have been originally intended. The reader may +substitute his own interpretation, but should in no instance pass +lightly over a situation as immaterial. Every word or action of Jesus is +an important link in the chain of his divinity, or of his exalted +position as a moral guide. Each argument should be met by acceptance or +rejection, never with indifference. No reader of the following pages +should ever say, "What difference does it make?" Everything concerning +Jesus is of vast consequence in determining whether he is or is not a +divine Savior, or a perfect guide. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Chron. xxi. + + + + +ANTIQUATED THEOLOGY + + +The first event in the life of Jesus, the gospel story of his birth, is +now considered unauthentic by many scholars and some theologians. The +birth of a virgin, the visitation of an angel, the star in the East are +phenomena contrary to natural laws and rest on insufficient authority +for acceptance as credible. The probabilities are against exceptions in +the laws of the universe. + + +_The Virgin Birth_ + +The original evidence for the virgin birth is found only in the gospels +of Matthew and Luke, two unknown historians, and both these evangelists +implicitly deny their own tale when they trace the descent of Jesus from +David through Joseph.[1] The slaughter of the children by Herod, in fear +of Jesus as a rival, probably never took place. Mark, Luke and John do +not mention it; Josephus, who dwelt on the crimes of Herod, knew nothing +of this massacre. According to Luke, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to +Jerusalem openly soon after the supposed decree.[2] + +There is dispute as to whether Jesus was born in Bethlehem or Nazareth, +and the date of his birth has been placed anywhere from 4 B.C. to 7 A.D. +Matthew says that Jesus was born "in the days of Herod", while Luke says +it was "When Cyrenius was governor of Syria." Herod died in 4 B.C., +while Cyrenius did not become governor of Syria until 7 A.D. + +The romantic story of the Christ-child is not corroborated by the +historians of the time and is in opposition to the theory of evolution +by natural processes. And yet it is still one of the main sources of +Jesus' fame, being repeated at Christmas-tide in the churches, thus +connecting Jesus with God in a superhuman manner. + +The consensus of scholarship is in practical agreement that the theory +of the virgin birth as a link between Jesus and God is a mistake; but +whose mistake was it? Jesus never referred to his miraculous birth. If +he was merely a man and never heard of the rumor about his conception, +he was not to blame for the spread of this misleading story throughout +Christendom. + +While Jesus did not refer to his divine paternity in a physical sense, +he did endeavor to convince his hearers that he was more directly +connected with God than other men. "I and my Father are one."[3] "No +man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, +save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him."[4] + +Jesus thus proclaimed himself identical with the Lord God of the Old +Testament who called himself Jehovah. This is entirely in keeping with +the whole Christian theory, for the _raison d'etre_ of Jesus derived +from the act of God soon after the creation. Adam and Eve ate of the +fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which God had +commanded them not to touch, and for this disobedience, this fall of man +from grace, God cursed mankind. Jesus came to earth to save man from the +wrath of Almighty God. + +But this claim of Jesus to oneness with God renders him liable to +censure for the acts of Jehovah which represented a standard of ethics +inferior to that preached by the Son of God. According to the +scriptures, which anyone may freely search, God advised or countenanced +deception[5]; stealing[6], selfishness[7], conquest by force[8], +indiscriminate slaughter[9], murder[10], cannibalism[11], killing of +witches[12], slavery[13], capital punishment for rebellious sons or for +seeking false gods[14], sacrifices of animals[15] and other acts +representing the concepts of primitive men.[16] + +While Jesus could read[17] and was familiar with the scriptures, it is +possible that he was not acquainted with the system of dictatorship +formerly employed by his Father. Occasionally Jesus denounced the ethics +of "them of old time", but he always referred to his Father as perfect. + +The dilemma is that Jesus must be condemned either for claiming identity +with Jehovah (to whom he was really superior), or for accepting with +only slight improvements the tyranny of God as described in the Bible, +the Word of God. Of course if the Bible is not the Word of God, the +whole system of Christian theology falls to the ground. + + +_The Jewish Messiah_ + +Jesus claimed to be the Messiah expected by the Jews. "And the high +priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that +thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith +unto him, Thou hast said."[18] "Again the high priest asked him, and +said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus +said, I am."[19] "Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And +he said unto them, Ye say that I am."[20] "The woman saith unto him, I +know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come he +will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am +he."[21] + +These acknowledgments by Jesus that he was the Messiah are important, +for if he claimed divinity when he was merely mortal, either under false +pretences or being self-deceived, he made a mistake of the most serious +character. His claim was not recognized by his own people, and many of +his followers today deny that he was the Jewish Messiah. Jesus said that +he came from God to save the Jews. Either he was truly the predicted +Messiah or he made an inexcusable error. In this as in other instances +to be cited, Fundamentalists will not admit any mistake, for they +believe in the supernatural events connected with the Son of God. But +Modernists, who reject the anointed Christ while clinging to the human +Jesus, may be at a loss to reconcile Jesus' claim to Messiahship with +their rejection of his divinity. + +Jesus stressed his mission to save the world, saying "For God so loved +the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth +in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."[22] + + +_Eternal Damnation_ + +Whether Jesus was mistaken or not in his estimate of his close +relationship with God is for each person to decide; but his theory of +the disasters that would follow unbelief in his divinity leads to +serious difficulties if accepted literally. For not only was Jesus in +error when he insisted that salvation depended upon belief, he was also +reconciled to eternal suffering for unbelievers. Note some of his +expressions: + +"If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."[23] "Depart +from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and +his angels ... And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but +the righteous into life eternal."[24] + +"Whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never +forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation."[25] + +"Except ye repent ye shall perish."[26] + +"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."[27] + +"How can ye escape the damnation of hell?"[28] + +"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth +not shall be damned."[29] + +It is evident from these quotations that Jesus not only preached belief +in his divinity as essential to salvation, but endeavored to terrify +people into belief by threats of eternal torment. Jesus was responsible +for the theological conception of a fiery hell. If he was mistaken, if +there never was a place of torment for the wicked after death, is it not +an act of constructive criticism to expose the person most responsible +for the false doctrine that has caused so much fear and mental +suffering? Must we not deplore this mistake of Jesus and recast our +entire opinion of him as a religious teacher? + +Are we not justified in stating positively that Jesus made a mistake +when he taught a physical hell and condemned people to spend eternity in +torment for the doubtful sin of disbelief? + + +_The Atonement_ + +The doctrine of the Atonement was taught by Jesus. "For this is my blood +of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of +sins."[30] + +Whether this sacrifice of the innocent Jesus to save sinful man was +ordered by God or was voluntary on the part of Jesus, it represents a +theory of reprieve from punishment long since abandoned as unethical. If +sin must be punished, there is no justice in relieving the sinner and +placing the burden upon the righteous. + +Moreover, the Atonement appears to have been ineffective, for in spite +of the sacrifice that Jesus made, few were to be saved under his scheme +of salvation. "Many are called but few are chosen."[31] "Strait is the +gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be +that find it."[32] "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I +say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."[33] + +If the theory of Atonement for sin by the sacrifice of the innocent was +not ethical and if Jesus taught that doctrine, he was in error, was he +not? + +The sacrifice of Jesus was not so great as often made by men. Jesus was +sustained with the thought that he was saving the world; his physical +suffering was not long continued; on the night of his crucifixion he was +in paradise.[34] He endured a few hours of pain compared to weeks of +suffering by wounded soldiers, or years spent in prison by the +proponents of an ideal. + +Jesus not only claimed the power to remit sins but also said to his +disciples: "Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and +whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained."[35] + +Is that true? Surely it is proper to ask that blunt question. Here is a +definite statement concerning the power of certain men to remit sins. If +those men did not have the power deputed to them, must we not doubt the +accuracy of Jesus? + +Jesus made a distinction between himself and the Comforter: "It is +expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter +will not come unto you; but if I depart I will send him unto you ... And +I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he +may abide with you forever."[36] + +It must surprise some Christians that the Comforter could not be present +at the same time with Jesus. + + +_Angels and Devils_ + +Jesus believed in angels and devils, often referring to these imaginary +supernatural beings as if they existed. "Thinkest thou that I cannot now +pray to my Father and he shall presently give me more than twelve +legions of angels?"[37] "So shall it be at the end of the world: the +angels shall come forth."[38] + +The devils were among the first to recognize Christ's divinity: "What +have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God?"[39] "Let us alone, +thou Jesus of Nazareth; art thou come to destroy us? I know thee, who +thou art, the Holy One of God."[40] "And unclean spirits when they saw +him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of +God."[41] + +Jesus believed in demoniacal possession, casting out devils on several +occasions. + +Jesus frequently referred to heaven as a place above the earth: "And +then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power +and glory."[42] "And ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right +hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."[43] "Verily, verily, +I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of +God ascending and descending on the Son of man."[44] + +When Jesus was transfigured and talked with Moses and Elias, he charged +his disciples, saying, "Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man +be risen again from the dead."[45] + +According to the creeds based upon the Bible, Jesus rose from the dead, +descended into hell, and ascended bodily into heaven. According to the +gospels he stilled the storm, walked on the water and told Peter to do +so and to find money in a fish's mouth and catch a large draught of +fishes. These and other miracles connected Jesus with God and were part +of his theology. + +Every fair-minded person should re-read the gospels and refresh his +memory regarding the theology of Jesus. Then a decision must be reached +as to the correctness of the views expressed. Either conditions on earth +were different in the first century from those of the twentieth, or +Jesus was mistaken in his conception of God, heaven, hell, angels, +devils and himself. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Matt. i; Luke iii. + +[2] Luke ii, 22. + +[3] John x, 30. + +[4] Matt. xi, 27. + +[5] Ezek. xiv, 9; Num. xiv, 30-34. + +[6] Ex. iii, 21-22. + +[7] Deut. xiv, 21. + +[8] Num. xxxi et al. + +[9] Ex. xxxii, 27. + +[10] Deut. vii, 16 et al. + +[11] Jer. xix, 9 et al. + +[12] Ex. xxii, 18. + +[13] Lev. xxv, 44-46. + +[14] Deut. xxi, 18-21; xiii, 6-9. + +[15] Lev. i, 14-15. + +[16] See the Old Testament. + +[17] Luke iv, 16. + +[18] Matt. xxvi, 63-64. + +[19] Mark xv, 61-62. + +[20] Luke xxii, 70. + +[21] John iv, 25-26. + +[22] John iii, 16. + +[23] John viii, 24. + +[24] Matt. xxv, 31-46. + +[25] Mark iii, 29. + +[26] Luke xiii, 3. + +[27] Mark ix, 43. + +[28] Matt. xxiii, 33. + +[29] Mark xvi, 16. + +[30] Matt. xxvi, 28. + +[31] Matt. xxii, 14. + +[32] Matt. vii, 14. + +[33] Luke xiii, 24. + +[34] Luke xxiii, 43. + +[35] John xx, 23. + +[36] John xiv, 16. + +[37] Matt. xxvi, 53. + +[38] Matt. xiii, 49. + +[39] Matt. viii, 29. + +[40] Luke iv, 34. + +[41] Mark iii, 11. + +[42] Mark xiii, 26. + +[43] Mark xiv, 62. + +[44] John i, 51. + +[45] Matt. xvii, 9. + + + + +FALSE IMPRESSIONS + + +Jesus not only held mistaken ideas about theology, as anyone but a +Fundamentalist must admit, but he often gave impressions about earthly +affairs that were unreliable to say the least. Occasionally his +statements were actual misrepresentations of fact. + + +_Jonah and the Whale_ + +"For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so +shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the +earth."[1] + +Evidently Jesus believed the story of Jonah and the whale, as well as +the tale of Noah's ark[2] both of which are now generally discredited. +Moreover, his prophecy regarding his entombment was inaccurate, for he +was only two nights and one day in the heart of the earth, from Friday +night to Sunday morning. + + +_End of the World_ + +Jesus was decidedly mistaken in his theory of the approaching end of the +world. + +"Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."[3] "Ye shall not have +gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come."[4] "There +be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the +Son of man coming in his kingdom."[5] "And this gospel of the kingdom +shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and +then shall the end come ... Verily I say unto you, This generation shall +not pass, till all these things be fulfilled."[6] "The time is +fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand."[7] "So ye in like manner, +when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even +at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not +pass, till all these things be done."[8] "The hour is coming, in the +which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come +forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they +that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."[9] + +Jesus was confident that the day of judgment was coming in the first +century, but it has not come yet, nineteen hundred years later. This +erroneous belief in the imminent end of the world had an important +bearing upon his entire philosophy; for if the end of the world was so +near it was far more important to prepare for life hereafter than to be +concerned over mundane affairs. May we not view with doubt any of Jesus' +teachings that depended upon his mistaken conception of the duration of +the world? + + +_Miracles_ + +Jesus is reported to have fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two +fishes, and again 4,000 with seven loaves and a few small fishes. He +walked on the water, calmed the seas, raised three persons from the dead +and performed other miracles contrary to natural laws. These wondrous +acts were depended upon by him to convince the people that he was the +expected Messiah: "Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear +and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers +are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor +have the gospel preached to them."[10] + +Jesus assured his disciples that they too would be able to perform +miracles: "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name +shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they +shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not +hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover."[11] +"He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and +greater works than these shall he do."[12] + +Jesus set great store by these marvels that only magicians attempt +nowadays. Ministers of the apostolic succession cannot cast out devils +or take up serpents, and they are affected by deadly drinks the same as +others. Jesus had a primitive idea of the value of such magic. Either he +sought to deceive the gullible, or, as is more likely, was himself +overcredulous. It is important to remember that Jesus stressed the value +of enchantment and advised his successors to conjure in his name. + +If the miraculous had not been connected with the name of Jesus, it is +probable that he never would have been heard of. His ethical teachings +alone would not have won for him the exalted position that has come from +the stories of his miraculous birth, life and ascension. In other words, +his fame rests upon the supernatural side of his life that is now +discredited by many of his followers. + + +_Eternal Life_ + +The remarks of Jesus on the subject of death were not accurate. "If a +man keep my saying, he shall never see death."[13] "Whosoever liveth and +believeth in me shall never die."[14] + +Apparently Jesus referred to natural death, in which case he was +utterly mistaken; but if he meant that believers in him should live +forever in heaven, even so he gave a false impression; for there is no +evidence that life after death is assured to Christians more than to +others. Unbelievers were also to have eternal life, though in torment. + + +_Raising Lazarus_ + +Jesus took advantage of opportunities, even of death, to create dramatic +effects. The eleventh chapter of John shows that when Lazarus was +reported ill, Jesus said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the +glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." So Jesus +let Lazarus, one of the believers whom he loved, die[15] in order that +he might have the triumph of raising him from the dead. "Then said Jesus +unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I +was not there, to the intent ye may believe." + +The confusion between earthly death and loss of eternal life was shown +in the remark of Jesus to Martha: "I am the resurrection and the life: +he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." This +might be construed to mean that believers should have eternal life +hereafter, but Jesus evidently had reference to life on earth for he +proceeded to raise Lazarus from the dead and cause him to live again on +earth with his sisters. + +When Martha reminded Jesus that Lazarus had been dead four days, Jesus +replied, "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou +shouldest see the glory of God?" But Jesus himself had doubts of his +ability to bring back Lazarus to life, as shown by his spontaneous +prayer of thanks: "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me." Then +he revealed again his desire to dramatize the occasion, saying, "And I +knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand +by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me." + +"Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which +Jesus did, believed on him." Do the followers of Jesus, who claim that +he made no mistakes, believe on him? If so, they must believe that he +raised Lazarus from the dead as he claimed to have done. Do they believe +that they can also raise people from the dead? Jesus so assured them +when he promised that believers could do greater works than he +performed. No, Jesus gave a false impression of his power. + + +_God's Protection_ + +Jesus continued his deception of the world by promising protection that +has never been accorded. "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And +one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the +very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are +of more value than many sparrows."[16] + +These sayings may properly be taken as symbolical or allegorical; but +the evident intention was to assure his followers that God would protect +them in their daily life. Safety was promised for believers, a safety +that has been lacking for everyone. There is no evidence that God does +protect believers any more than unbelievers. When the Titanic went down, +those who perished were not solely the wicked persons; there was no +distinction in the terrible disaster between believers and unbelievers. + +Jesus created in the minds of his hearers and his followers the idea +that God was watching each individual to save him from danger, but this, +unfortunately, is not a fact. It sounds comforting; it makes people feel +nearer to God; but experience proves that no such close relationship +exists. Jesus gave a false impression of God's loving care for men. + + +_Belief in Prayer_ + +Modern religious people may still consistently believe in prayer as a +form of inward aspiration, but it is difficult to take literally the +assurance given by Jesus of practical accomplishments by means of prayer +in his name. + +Jesus did not confine himself to promising spiritual results from +prayer, but distinctly gave it to be understood that the physical world +would respond to petitions to Jehovah. "Again I say unto you, That if +two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall +ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."[17] "If +ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to +the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou +removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things +whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."[18] +"What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive +them, and ye shall have them."[19] "If ye have faith as a grain of +mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder +place; and it shall remove: and nothing shall be impossible unto +you."[20] + +These promises have not been fulfilled. Bishops, priests and deacons +with strong faith have been unable to obtain, by means of the most +sincere prayer, results similar to those indicated. They have followed +Jesus in vain. No man living dare put his faith to the test by a public +demonstration of prayer for physical changes. Christian prayers for rain +are conventional, not being offered with confidence that rain will +follow. + +Jesus has misled us. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Matt. xii, 40. + +[2] Luke xvii, 27; Matt. xxv, 38. + +[3] Matt. iv, 17. + +[4] Matt. x, 23. + +[5] Matt. xvi, 28; Mark ix, 1. + +[6] Matt. xxiv, 14-34; Luke xxi, 32. + +[7] Mark i, 15. + +[8] Mark xiii, 29-30. + +[9] John v, 28-29. + +[10] Matt. xi, 4-5. + +[11] Mark xvi, 17-18. + +[12] John xiv, 12. + +[13] John viii, 51. + +[14] John xi, 26. + +[15] John xi, 6. + +[16] Matt. x, 29-31. + +[17] Matt. xviii, 19. + +[18] Matt. xxi, 21-22. + +[19] Mark xi, 24. + +[20] Matt. xvii, 20. + + + + +OBSCURE TEACHINGS + + +Many of the sayings of Jesus lacked clarity. Various interpretations +have been put upon them by scholars of distinction. No one is sure what +was meant. + +According to the gospels, Jesus was descended from David, but Jesus +mystified his hearers on this descent, saying: "If David then call him +Lord, how is he his son?"[1] + + +_Witnesses and Judge_ + +On the subject of witnesses there is great confusion. "If I bear witness +of myself, my witness is not true."[2] "Though I bear record of myself, +yet my record is true."[3] "It is also written in your law, that the +testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and +the Father that sent me beareth witness of me."[4] "I and my Father are +one."[5] "My Father is greater than I."[6] + +This and the following instruction regarding judicial procedure are far +from clear. Jesus acknowledged the principle of law requiring more than +one witness but said that in his case the only other witness necessary +was his Father, although he and his Father were one. + +Jesus is supposed to be the judge of the world, but his statement of the +case leaves the issue ambiguous. "For the Father judgeth no man, but +hath committed all judgment unto the Son."[7] "I judge no man. And yet +if I judge, my judgment is true."[8] "And if any man hear my words, and +believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to +save the world."[9] "For judgment I am come into this world, that they +which see not might see; and that they which see might be made +blind."[10] + +The quality of reasoning employed in these instances has naturally led +to theological quibbling. If Jesus can argue in that fashion, so can his +followers, at the expense of intellectual honesty. + + +_Cannibalism_ + +The Jews could not understand what Jesus meant when he said: "Except ye +eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in +you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal +life."[11] + + +_Religion Only for Children_ + +Nor are these sayings clear: "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and +earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and +hast revealed them unto babes."[12] "Whosoever shall not receive the +kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein."[13] + +This train of thought implies that education is of no importance where +belief is concerned. + + +_Difficult or Easy?_ + +After enumerating the many hardships that must be endured by his +followers, Jesus contradicted himself by saying, "For my yoke is easy, +and my burden is light."[14] + + +_Charity_ + +There are apparent contradictions in his instructions regarding charity: +"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, +and glorify your Father which is in heaven."[15] "Take heed that ye do +not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no +reward of your Father which is in heaven."[16] + + + +_The Scriptures Upheld_ + +Jesus reverenced the Hebrew Old Testament. + +"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not +come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven +and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the +law, till all be fulfilled."[17] + +And yet Jesus was the reformer, overthrowing ancient customs, renouncing +the old principle of a tooth for a tooth, improving upon the Mosaic law. +He was inconsistent. + + +_Illogical_ + +The logic of Jesus is often difficult to follow. + +"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of +righteousness, and of judgment: of sin because they believe not on me; +of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of +judgment, because the prince of this world is judged."[18] + +Jesus admitted his obscurity: "These things have I spoken unto you in +proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in +proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father."[19] + +That time has never come. + + +_Parables Deceptive_ + +Jesus explained his obscurity in this way: "Unto you it is given to know +the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that +seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand."[20] +"But unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: +that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, +and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their +sins should be forgiven them."[21] + +In other words, Jesus, who said he came to save the world, concealed his +meaning for fear some of his hearers should be converted and their sins +be forgiven--which is exactly what he sought to bring about. + +Obscurity in a teacher is a great defect, especially when he glories in +his ambiguity. If any Christians wish that Jesus had been more clear, +then Jesus does not appear perfect to them, and they should admit his +imperfections. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Matt. xxii, 41-45. + +[2] John v, 31. + +[3] John viii, 14. + +[4] John viii, 17-18. + +[5] John x, 30. + +[6] John xiv, 28. + +[7] John v, 22. + +[8] John viii, 16. + +[9] John xii, 47. + +[10] John x, 39. + +[11] John vi, 53-58. + +[12] Matt. xi, 25. + +[13] Mark x, 15. + +[14] Matt. xi, 30. + +[15] Matt. v, 16. + +[16] Matt. vi, 1. + +[17] Matt. v, 17-18. + +[18] John xvi, 8-11. + +[19] John xvi, 25. + +[20] Luke viii, 10. + +[21] Mark iv, 11-12. + + + + +DEFICIENT INSTRUCTIONS + + +In a number of instances the teachings of Jesus are so incomplete, or so +inappropriate, as to render no assistance in meeting similar situations +in modern life. Either his meaning is not clear, or his instructions are +too primitive to be applicable to our civilization. + + +_Labor_ + +The relation between employer and employee is one that requires +practical guidance. Let us see what information Jesus gave on this +important subject. + +The parable of the laborers[1] relates that an employer hired men to +work in his vineyard for twelve hours for a penny, and that he paid the +same wage to other workers who toiled only nine, six, three and one +hour. When those who had worked longest resented this treatment, as +modern strikers would, the employer answered, apparently with Jesus' +approval: "Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for +a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this +last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with +mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be +first, and the first last." + +This parable may be a comfort to autocratic employers, sustaining them +in their determination to dominate labor, but the principles enunciated +are lacking in social vision. Equal pay for unequal work is approved, +and the employer is vindicated in regulating wages and hours as he sees +fit without regard for justice or the needs of the workers. In the +manner of modern employers, the "goodman" calls his worker "Friend" but +treats him with contempt. Jesus taught that the workers were wrong in +demanding justice, that the employer was justified in acting +erratically, as the money paid was his. He presented the issues between +capital and labor and sided with capital. He stated the fact that the +first shall be last, but said nothing to remedy that unfortunate +situation. He did not explain how workers could obtain proper +compensation for their labor. + +Jesus assumed a fair attitude when he said, "The labourer is worthy of +his hire", and, "It is enough for the disciple to be as his master, and +the servant as his lord", but he continued with doubtful logic: "If they +have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they +call them of his household", implying that if an employer is +worldly-minded his servants will be even worse. + +Little respect is shown for employees in the remark, "The hireling +fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep."[2] +Probably in those days as now many an employee stuck to his post nobly +to do his duty. + +The meaning is obscure in his other comment upon an employer who told +his tired servant to serve his master first, ending with the enigma, "We +are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to +do."[3] + + +_Usury_ + +In the parable of the talents the servant who did not put his money out +at usury to make profits was condemned: "And cast ye the unprofitable +servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of +teeth."[4] Punishment was to be severe in Jesus' program; the +disobedient servant "shall be beaten with many stripes." Jesus did not +advise leniency in such instances except that "he that knew not, and did +commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes."[5] +In his estimation the servant was a slave to be punished corporeally by +his master, even if ignorant of his wrong-doing. + +A Dr. Taylor, former Yale College theologian, is reported to have said: +"I have no doubt that if Jesus Christ were now on earth he would, under +certain circumstances, become a slaveholder." A Southern divine in 1860 +could well maintain that slavery was approved in both Old and New +Testaments, but no Christian would now impute slaveholding to Jesus. The +standard of human relationships has improved since slaveholding days in +America. The modern attitude toward servants, though by no means +perfect, is superior to the relationships between master and servants +accepted by Jesus. Slavery was the custom of the times and Jesus did not +rise above it. + +In the parable of the unmerciful servant[6] Jesus taught the duty of +forgiveness. He rightly rebuked the servant who oppressed his +subordinates after being well treated by his lord. But the punishment +suggested by Jesus for the abominable conduct was extremely harsh: "And +his lord was wroth and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should +pay all that was due unto him." Torture for criminals was thus taught by +Jesus. + +Jesus, apprenticed to his father in his youth, never did any practical +work so far as we know. He lived on the charity of others, setting an +example that would bring trouble to anyone who followed in his train. If +anything, he was an agitator, a peripatetic propagandist, teaching what +he believed right but not working to support himself and therefore not +being a good example for the workaday world today. + + +_Economics_ + +Nothing in the teachings of Jesus was more definite than his +denunciation of riches. + +"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth ... A rich man shall +hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven ... It is easier for a camel to +go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the +kingdom of God ... The rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell +he lifted up his eyes, being in torments ... Woe unto you that are +rich." + +These strictures upon the rich appear somewhat severe, and Jesus went +much farther, condemning even ordinary thrift and precaution.[7] + +According to Acts ii, 44-45 and iv, 32, "All that believed were together +and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and +parted them to all men, as every man had need ... Neither said any of +them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they +had all things common." + +It is to be presumed that the disciples practiced this communism at the +instruction of Jesus. If Jesus approved of communism was he right or +wrong? + +"Blessed be ye poor."[8] + +Poverty is not a blessing but a curse. Jesus taught the theory that the +poor would be rich hereafter while the rich would be in hell. + + +_Punishment for Debts_ + +We have seen that Jesus expected an unjust servant to be tormented until +he paid in full. There are also other evidences that he approved of +imprisonment for debt. "Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou +art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to +the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast +into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out +thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing."[9] + +A legislator who patterned his life after Jesus would be justified in +enacting laws imprisoning for debt and scourging for misdemeanors. + +Some may say that the sentiments expressed by Jesus were not mistakes +but merely presented the customs of his day. Possibly he did not intend +to advise all that he seemed to approve; but if Jesus was a practical +and prophetic guide he should have made it clear that he did not +sanction the actions he apparently commended. + +In the parable of the pounds the nobleman, seemingly with the approval +of Jesus, denounced the servant as wicked who did not put his lord's +money in the bank to draw interest.[10] And in the parable of the +talents the lord rewarded those who had made 100 per cent profit through +speculation.[11] + +Another contradiction of his theory of the blessedness of poverty was +his promise that those who followed him "shall receive a hundredfold now +in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and +children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal +life."[12] + +Finally, Jesus stated the unfortunate truth, "Whosoever hath, to him +shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath +not, from him shall be taken even that he hath."[13] If Jesus did not +approve of that worldly method of distribution, he could have denounced +its injustice instead of leaving the comment as if it expressed his own +policy. + + +_Healing_ + +Many Christians value Jesus most for his healing powers, but Jesus +looked upon disease almost as he did upon demoniacal possession, as +something evil that could be cast out. "But that ye may know that the +Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins (then saith he to the +sick of the palsy) Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thine house."[14] +There was confusion in his mind between sin and sickness. + +Jesus healed leprosy and palsy by touching the sick person; he healed +the servant of the centurion by absent treatment, and restored sight by +spitting on the eyes[15] or anointing them with clay made with +spittle[16], or by requiring faith.[17] He healed a withered hand, cured +impediments in speech and deafness, all without medical applications, +even replacing an ear severed by a sword.[18] + +Christian Scientists practice the same methods with confidence in +success, but medical and surgical treatment are the most reliable means +of effecting cures, disappointing as they are. If Jesus could cure +disease, it was remiss of him not to instruct men definitely in his +methods so that the suffering from illness that has afflicted the world +could have been averted. + +Jesus did not isolate the germ of leprosy, or establish any practicable +method of preventing disease. He has been of less value to the world as +a healer than Pasteur, Lister, Koch, or Walter Reed. + +Some Christians will say that Jesus did not tell us how to avoid illness +because man needs to be chastened by pain. If that is correct, if pain +and disease are sent by God and are consciously permitted by Jesus, sick +people should be allowed to suffer instead of trying to heal them. + + +_Peace_ + +Jesus has been called the Prince of Peace, but the weight of his +testimony is not on the side of absolute pacifism. With his view of +rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, it is possible that +he would have advised young men to obey the state and enlist, or accept +the draft, whenever their country called. + +On November 12, 1931, Rev. Dr. T. Andrew Caraker said at a banquet of +the American Legion in Baltimore that if Jesus Christ had lived in 1917 +He would have been the first to volunteer in the American army, the +first to wear a gas mask, shoulder a rifle and enter the trenches. + +Other ministers derive from the same gospels the belief that Jesus would +not have stabbed Germans with a bayonet. Nor would Jesus have advised +others to fight if he had been unwilling to fight himself. + +Most of the sayings of Jesus regarding violence or non-resistance were +intended to apply chiefly to personal relationships; he said little of +international strife. What he did say showed placid acceptance of the +war system: + +"And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not +troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not +yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against +kingdom."[19] + +"And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: +for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation +shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom."[20] + +"But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for +these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then +said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against +kingdom."[21] + +These verses have a more direct bearing on war as we now know it than +any of his other sayings. They show his belief in the inevitability of +war. Apparently he did not feel himself competent to counteract general +mass militarism. He offered no program for arbitration of international +disputes, no substitute for war between nations, no policy of war +resistance. + +When Jesus advised non-resistance, saying to his follower, "Put up again +thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish +with the sword,"[22] he was merely stating the danger of using violence, +not the immorality of employing force. In fact, he commanded his +disciples to take the very sword which he later told them to sheathe: +"He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one ... And +they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It +is enough."[23] + +Thus Jesus, the supposed non-resistant, prepared his followers with +swords. These swords were for defense, and when the time came he +repudiated even that use of the weapons, but, nevertheless, he armed his +disciples instead of adhering to his principle of non-resistance. He did +not set a positive example of disarmament. + +Jesus said: "Blessed are the peacemakers ... love your enemies ... Have +peace one with another ... On earth peace, good will toward men ... +Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you ... These things have I +spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace ... Resist not evil: but +whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other +also." + +Other remarks of Jesus favored violence: "Think not that I am come to +send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword."[24] +"Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but +rather division."[25] "But those mine enemies, which would not that I +should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me."[26] "My +kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then +would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the +Jews."[27] "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in +peace: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome +him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth +his spoils."[28] "And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he +drove them all out of the temple."[29] + +In determining whether or not Jesus was a promoter of peace it is only +reasonable to review everything that he said or did relating to the use +of violence, giving equal weight to every verse. We cannot accept one +statement and reject the others. The conclusion reached must be that +Jesus was inconsistent in advocating both non-resistance and the use of +force. He took diametrically opposed positions, the use of swords and +scourges and non-resistance being mutually exclusive. Jesus preached +non-resistance and at the same time armed his retainers with two swords. +He advocated turning the other cheek but did not criticize war. +Therefore, pacifists and militarists, with their opposite philosophies, +should both admit that at times Jesus was mistaken. + + +_Marriage_ + +Jesus occasionally eulogized marriage: "For this cause shall a man leave +father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be +one flesh ... What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put +asunder."[30] + + +_Celibacy_ + +On other occasions he made remarks which indicated his preference for +celibacy as the higher state, the one he adopted for himself. "In the +resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as +the angels of God in heaven."[31] "The children of this world marry, and +are given in marriage: but they which shall be accounted worthy to +obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, +nor are given in marriage."[32] "I say unto you, That whosoever looketh +on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in +his heart."[33] "There are some eunuchs which were so born from their +mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of +men: and 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."[34] "There is no man that hath left ... wife, or children for the +kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this +present time, and in the world to come life everlasting."[35] + +Jesus referred to the absence of marriage in heaven, the ideal realm. +Paul's testimony adds to the evidence that Jesus considered celibacy +preferable to any form of sex expression, even marriage. + + +_Adultery_ + +On the other hand, Jesus was tolerant of sex offenses. He chatted in a +friendly manner with the woman of Samaria, saying: "Thou hast had five +husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband."[36] And about +the woman taken in adultery he said: "He that is without sin among you, +let him first cast a stone at her ... Neither do I condemn thee: go and +sin no more."[37] "The harlots go into the kingdom of God before +you."[38] + + +_Divorce_ + +Jesus sanctioned divorce. His followers are so annoyed at this fact that +they frequently quote the verse on the subject with the offensive clause +omitted. The text reads: "It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away +his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, +That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of +fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry +her that is divorced committeth adultery."[39] Again in Matthew xix, 9, +he makes the same exception. It is evident, therefore, that Jesus +permitted divorce for one cause. If the wife was unfaithful the husband +could divorce her, but otherwise no matter how unhappy the couple might +be, they must remain married. + +The admirable leniency of Jesus toward sex offenders, and his permission +to divorce, must seem like mistakes to churchmen who consider +extramarital sex relations the unforgivable sin. And everyone must see +the danger of having our judges adopt as a principle of justice the +dismissal of offenders on the ground that the prosecutors have also +sinned. + +A Christian girl of today would not be encouraged by the most zealous +religious parents to marry a man exactly like Jesus. + + +_Faulty Judgment_ + +Jesus selected Judas to be the treasurer of the apostles' joint funds, +but later admitted his error, saying: "Have I not chosen you twelve, and +one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for +it was he that should betray him, being one of the twelve."[40] + +Jesus erroneously supposed that "salvation is of the Jews."[41] "Go not +into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter +ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."[42] A +nationalistic and partial spirit is expressed in these sentences, a +spirit that has been followed to the extent that Jesus would not be +permitted to enter America if he applied for a visa. + + +_Unconvincing_ + +Jesus failed in his mission to save the world. He made the supreme +sacrifice in vain. His method of proving his divinity did not convince +his hearers: "But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet +they believed not on him."[43] "For neither did his brethren believe in +him."[44] After he had healed many, cast out unclean spirits and +appointed his twelve apostles to do likewise, his friends "went out to +lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself."[45] + +Jesus admitted his impotence as a human being when he said, "I can of +mine own self do nothing."[46] Even with the assistance of his Father he +did not accomplish what he set out to do. + + +_Prohibition_ + +The miracle of turning water into wine, providing one hundred gallons of +wine after the people at the party had "well drunk", must appear to +prohibitionists like a mistake on the part of Jesus. Many Methodists +and Baptists would have preferred to have him turn the wine into water; +yet they will not admit that Jesus made a mistake. + + +_Lack of Experience_ + +So far as the gospels relate, Jesus never had any experience with three +of the chief difficulties of human life--sex, earning a living and +illness. He was therefore less able to explain those relationships than +one who has struggled through in the customary manner of mankind. To +take the inexperienced Jesus as our guide in practical living would be +like a traveller who was planning a trip over perilous mountains and +engaged as a guide a man who had never crossed the mountains. + +As Jesus believed that the end of the world was approaching, and as he +revealed no information about the future, his teachings should be taken +as applying solely to his own time. A divinity living now would preach +far differently from the inadequate doctrines of Jesus. + + * * * * * + +The abandonment of reliance upon a Jesus who has not changed in nineteen +hundred years, in favor of an Evolutionary philosophy that requires +constant change, leads to a new conception of the world and its +possibilities for man. A person who has thought himself out of +antiquated theology may be expected to have an open mind towards the +betterment of human customs. + +Every improvement in human relationships originates secularly and is +adopted by the Church only after a bitter struggle. Faith in Jesus is a +reactionary force. The Christian opposes change in the creations of God; +the Evolutionist seeks to alter every unsatisfactory condition. The +Evolutionist is more responsive than the orthodox Christian to proposals +for promoting the happiness of the human race. Many liberals have +abandoned conservatism because they saw the hypocrisy in Christianity. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Matt. xx, 1-16. + +[2] John x, 13. + +[3] Luke xvii, 10. + +[4] Matt. xxv, 30. + +[5] Luke xii, 47-48. + +[6] Matt. xviii, 23-34. + +[7] Matt. vi, 25-31, discussed under the Sermon on the Mount. + +[8] Luke vi, 20. + +[9] Matt. v, 25-26. + +[10] Luke xix, 23. + +[11] Matt. xxv, 20. + +[12] Mark x, 30. + +[13] Matt. xiii, 12. + +[14] Matt. ix, 6. + +[15] Mark viii, 23. + +[16] John ix, 6. + +[17] Mark x, 52. + +[18] Luke xxii, 51. + +[19] Matt. xxiv, 6-7. + +[20] Mark xiii, 7-8. + +[21] Luke xxi, 9-10. + +[22] Matt. xxvi, 52. + +[23] Luke xxii, 36-38. + +[24] Matt. x, 34. + +[25] Luke xii, 51. + +[26] Luke xix, 27. + +[27] John xviii, 36. + +[28] Luke xi, 21-22. + +[29] John ii, 15. + +[30] Matt. xix, 5-6. + +[31] Matt. xxii, 30. + +[32] Luke xx, 34-35. + +[33] Matt. v, 28. + +[34] Matt. xix, 12. + +[35] Luke xviii, 29-30. + +[36] John iv, 18. + +[37] John viii, 7-11. + +[38] Matt. xxi, 31. + +[39] Matt. v, 31-32. + +[40] John vi, 70-71. + +[41] John iv, 22. + +[42] Matt. x, 5-6. + +[43] John xii, 37. + +[44] John vii, 5. + +[45] Mark iii, 21. + +[46] John v, 30. + + + + +AN INFERIOR PROTOTYPE + + +Orthodox Christians accept both Old and New Testaments as authority for +their actions, whereas Modernists are not much concerned with the +commands of Jehovah but maintain that Jesus is the pattern for their +lives. Religious liberals feel that the troubles of the world come +largely from failure to follow the teachings of the Nazarene. They look +upon him as the perfect example of what a man should be. In their +opinion, if everyone would act as Jesus did all would be well. + +On December 7, 1931, Dr. Henry Van Dyke preached at the Brick +Presbyterian Church, New York City, that the way to end the financial +depression was to act as Jesus would: "We can judge only by what he did +and said in the first century, an age not so different from our own, an +age of unsettlement, violence, drunkenness and license. Christ would +tell us not to yield to panic.... Christ would not tell us to join any +political party or social group...." + +Such a sermon sounds encouraging but, as a matter of fact, Jesus has not +shown any of his ministers how to end the depression. To trust him for +guidance in our modern world is to pin faith on an incompetent +instructor. We can learn how to end the depression by examining the +records of our own time and by correcting the errors that have been +made. It is not safe to rely upon a person who had no knowledge of +America's practical needs and whose acts and advice regarding worldly +affairs in Jerusalem fell short of the best ethical values. + +In this treatise it has been shown that Jesus made mistakes. Every +instance cited may not appeal to all readers as worthy of criticism, but +there can be no doubt in the mind of any honest thinker that several at +least of Jesus' ideas were erroneous. His theology was filled with +superstitions, his cosmology was that of the pre-scientific era, he +expected the end of the world within a generation, his conception of sin +was theological rather than ethical, he failed to convince his hearers +by his oratory, he exaggerated the results from prayer and he related +parables that gave a false sense of values. + +Now we shall turn to his personal character and teachings to see if he +was always the meek, gentle soul portrayed by the conventional Christ. + + +_Cursing Nature_ + +The act in Jesus' life that has been most difficult for theologians to +explain was the cursing of the fig tree. The tree was created to bear +fruit in the Summer, but when Jesus found it without fruit in the +Spring, he cursed it so that it withered away. + +"Now in the morning, as he returned into the city, and when he saw a fig +tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves +only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth for ever. +And presently the fig tree withered away."[1] "For the time of figs was +not yet."[2] + +This episode involves several mistakes--ignorance of the seasons; +destruction of a profitable food-producing tree; exhibition of temper +when thwarted, and giving false information regarding man's power to +effect physical changes by a curse.[3] + +If Jesus acted unwisely in this one instance and was right in all +others, he is neither an infallible God nor a perfect pattern for +mankind. + + +_Forgiveness_ + +The conventional Jesus is emblematic of supreme kindness and +forgiveness, but in reality he was far from lenient in many instances, +nor did he advocate forgiveness for certain offenses. + +"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee ... tell it unto +the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee +as a heathen man and a publican."[4] + +In the parable of Dives and Lazarus, Abraham was represented as +justified in not forgiving the rich man tortured in hell, or even in +saving the rich man's brothers as requested by the victim of Jesus' +policy of punishment. + +Again Jesus said: "Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also +deny before my Father."[5] "Whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy +Ghost hath never forgiveness."[6] + +All the wicked were condemned by Jesus to eternal punishment with no +chance of forgiveness. + + +_Vituperation_ + +Jesus was often vehement in his language to an extent hardly compatible +with gentleness of character. + +"O generation of vipers! how can ye, being evil, speak good things?"[7] + +"Woe unto you, hypocrites, for ye compass sea and land to make one +proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him two-fold more the child of +hell than yourselves."[8] + +"Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation +of hell?"[9] + +"If I should say I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you."[10] + +"All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers."[11] + +"Ye fools and blind."[12] + +This language may have been necessary, in Jesus' opinion, to convince +his hearers of their sins, but such vituperation does not become a +modern ethical teacher. + + +_Destruction of Property_ + +Two acts of Jesus, consistent with his disregard of worldly goods, were +destructive in character. + +"And there was a good way off from them a herd of many swine feeding. So +the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go +away into the herd of swine. And he said unto them, Go. And when they +were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole +herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and +perished in the waters."[13] + +Jesus did what the devils requested, cruelly killing two thousand +inoffensive valuable animals that belonged to other people. + +"Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold +oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and when he +had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, +and the sheep and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and +overthrew the tables." + +Jesus has been defended for other acts on the ground that he was living +in less civilized times than our own, but here he is seen offending both +ancient and modern sensibilities. The destruction of the swine and the +routing of the merchants were sensational and erratic exhibitions. If +reformers today should destroy herds of animals, except to protect +public health by due process of law, or overthrow banks, they would be +liable to arrest in any city of Christendom. Therefore the consensus of +opinion denies exoneration to Jesus for his spasmodic resort to direct +action. + + +_Egotism_ + +If Jesus was not God, but merely the ideal man, his estimate of himself +was excessive. In addition to his remarks already quoted there are many +other instances of an exaggerated ego. + +"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."[14] + +"Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."[15] + +"If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."[16] + +"I am the light of the world."[17] + +"I am the Son of God."[18] + +"I am the resurrection and the life."[19] + +If Jesus was correct in claiming that he was the Messiah, if he could +control the elements and send people to heaven or hell, he was justified +in any extreme remarks; but not if he were merely a man. Every person is +entitled to have as good an opinion of himself as his character and +ability warrant, but expressions of his own worth are unseemly even if +true, and are inexcusable if exaggerated. As Jesus himself said (though +this authority is only for believers) testimony about oneself is +unreliable. + +Jesus not only claimed to be more than a man, he threatened his hearers +with death if they did not agree with him. All of which might be +permissible if he were God, but was an egotistical illusion if he was +merely human. + + +_Lack of Courtesy_ + +Jesus did not always exhibit the courtesy one would expect of a +gentleman, or even of a nature's nobleman. + +The first instance of lack of consideration was when he slipped away +from his parents, causing them unnecessary anxiety: "Son, why hast thou +thus dealt with us? behold thy father and I have sought thee +sorrowing."[20] He had remained behind to study Hebrew theology and did +not tell his parents, presumably because he thought they would not have +permitted the venture. + +Another instance was found in his daily life: + +"A certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and +sat down to meat. And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had +not first washed before dinner. And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye +Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your +inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools ..."[21] + +Jesus had not only failed to wash as was expected of a guest, but +defended his uncleanliness and abused his host. + +At another time Jesus was discourteous to his mother: + +"And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They +have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with +thee?"[22] + +Jesus was apparently annoyed at his mother's interference, though he +followed her suggestion. He did not set a good example for children in +addressing their mothers. + +When the Syrophenician woman asked him to help her daughter, "Jesus +saith unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to +take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. And she +answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat +of the children's crumbs. And he said unto her, For this saying go thy +way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter."[23] + +Jesus practically admitted that he had made a mistake in speaking +unkindly to a Gentile. Her clever answer induced him to change his +decision. A physician who called a stranger's child a dog would now be +considered brutal even in a free hospital. + +"And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go +and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead +bury their dead."[24] + +Jesus could have allowed the man to attend his father's funeral and +follow him later. Would not that have set a better precedent? + +When Peter intervened to protect Jesus, the latter "turned, and said +unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me."[25] + +Even though Jesus was determined to go on with the sacrifice, he could +have been more appreciative of his best friend's suggestion. + + +_Unethical Advice_ + +When the unjust steward cheated his employer, Jesus gave the following +remarkable advice: + +"And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: +for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the +children of light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of +the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you +into everlasting habitations."[26] + +This passage should be read again before deciding whether Jesus advised +opportunism rather than morality. The words must be taken as they are; +no interpretation can be based upon the assumption that Jesus was always +right and therefore meant something different from what he said. + + +_Sermon on the Mount_ + +Many Christians say that they care nothing for theology; that the Sermon +on the Mount contains all that is necessary for a religious life, being +a perfect system of ethics. + +The Sermon on the Mount does contain many admirable principles, but also +some that are inferior to present standards. Few of the people who +praise this Sermon would think it proper to abide by all the teachings +therein. Christian parents do not wish their children to follow either +the letter or the spirit of this famous preachment. It begins in the +fifth chapter of Matthew. + +"Blessed are the poor in spirit." Is it better to be poor in spirit than +rich and eager in spirit? Being poor in spirit is to be faint of heart. +This is bad advice, is it not? + +"Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." This means +that those who mourn on earth will be comforted in heaven; but now that +life on earth has assumed greater importance, so far as our daily +conduct is concerned, than life in heaven, the philosophy of gloom is +unfortunate. Jesus preached acceptance of unhappiness as the common lot +of man; he should not therefore be credited with providing happiness on +earth. His urge to rejoice was usually in anticipation of good things to +come in the next world. He preached sorrow for all here rather than the +greater happiness for the greater number. + +"There shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers +places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver +you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all +nations for my name's sake ... and because iniquity shall abound, the +love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the +same shall be saved."[27] + +"Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh."[28] + +The beatitude, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" +is of doubtful accuracy or value. + +The commands to pluck out an eye or cut off a hand may not have been +intended literally, although it does appear as if Jesus referred to the +physical body, and men have often so interpreted these doubtful +instructions. + +Jesus said that "Whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth +adultery", which is no longer true. Those who permit remarriage after +divorce should admit an error on Jesus' part. + +"But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil." This instruction should +be reversed, should it not? Evil should be resisted in every possible +way that does not involve evil in itself. What modern ethical teacher +will say that evil should not be resisted, or that this advice of Jesus +was perfection? If his instruction was intended to refer to physical +resistance, then no righteous person should fight in any war, no police +should be delegated to arrest criminals. If the phrase has merely a +spiritual meaning, it is certainly unsound advice, for evil should be +overcome by good. + +A fanatical attitude towards the law was recommended when Jesus said: +"If any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him +have thy cloak also." Extreme generosity and non-resistance are taught, +but the illustration was not well thought out, for if the man had +already won his suit and taken the coat, it is evident that the owner of +the coat had put up a legal fight instead of giving away his coat and +cloak as Jesus implies he should. Yielding more than a legal opponent +wins in court is not compatible with defending the suit, nor is it a +principle that would meet the approval of most of Jesus' followers +today. + +"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is +perfect." If Jesus referred to Jehovah as his Father in heaven, the +standard of perfection advocated was very low, for Jehovah was, as +Thomas Jefferson put it, "cruel, vindictive, capricious and unjust." + +The Lord's Prayer is not the simple, clear, devotional petition that is +usually supposed. Take it literally, as was undoubtedly intended, and +its irrelevance to actual life is at once apparent. + +"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. +Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." This is a proper +invocation only if there is a heaven in which God's will is done. None +such has been discovered. + +"Give us this day our daily bread" indicates that God would not give our +daily sustenance without being asked, whereas there is no apparent +distinction in actual living between those who pray for bread and those +who do not. + +"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" intimates that +divine forgiveness is not to be superior to that of men. + +"And lead us not into temptation"--as if God were anxious to lead us +there and would be deterred by our prayer. + +It may seem like petty cavil to criticize the prayer that has been +acclaimed for many centuries as ideal, but, seriously, what valuable +principle for guidance through life does the Lord's Prayer contain? Do +its requests represent the best modern conception of prayer as an inward +aspiration rather than as petitionary? Is it not vain repetition to +recite it again and again? + +The general idea of offering prayer in order to obtain various needs +presents the difficulty of reconciling the conception of an omnipotent, +all-foreseeing God with the contradictory theory of a Father who +requires prayer before caring for his children, an almighty God who will +be turned from his course by human petitions. Man can do wonders in the +way of conquering nature, but he has not been able to alter natural +laws, nor is there any evidence that such laws have been changed at any +time in answer to prayer. + +If the Lord's Prayer is not essential for man's welfare in the world, we +may conclude that Jesus over-emphasized its importance. + +One of the most important portions of the Sermon on the Mount is the +advice regarding worldly possessions. Nothing in the teaching of Jesus +is more definite than his instructions regarding wealth. He strikes an +admirable note when he says, "What is a man profited if he gain the +whole world and lose his own soul? ... A man's life consisteth not in +the abundance of the things which he possesseth." This general principle +is sadly needed in the modern money-seeking world, but the teachings of +Jesus on economics go much further, far beyond anything the best people +of today are willing to follow. + +"Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall +drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on ... Take therefore no +thought for the morrow."[29] + +These commands, taken literally as Jesus intended, would lead to +infinite trouble. Men are obliged to take thought for the morrow; if +they do not they will fail to survive. In Jesus' plan provision for the +earthly future was of no importance because of the imminence of eternal +life, but now it is considered one's duty to provide for old age. + +This mistake of Jesus cannot be explained away by saying that Jesus was +right and that man falls short of the counsel of perfection given by +the Master. No, there are few indeed who will say that it would be right +to shape their financial life as Jesus advised. If they do not believe +it right to follow his instructions, definite as they are on this +subject, they must admit that he was wrong. Either thrift is now +unrighteous, or Jesus is not a dependable guide for modern life. + +The following instructions have little meaning now except for Roman +Catholics. "But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy +face, that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which +is in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee +openly." + +Another portion of the Sermon holds out false hopes that cannot be +substantiated: "For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh +findeth." Is there any virtue in thus deceiving the people regarding the +possibilities of prayer? + +"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do +ye even so to them." This is the famous Golden Rule that has been +heralded as one of the most original portions of Jesus' teachings. But +Jesus admitted that he did not first state this rule when he said, "for +this is the law and the prophets."[30] + +Confucius, born in 551 B.C., several times announced the rule, "What you +do not like when done to yourself, do not to others." This negative +statement is less effective than the Jewish rule, but both are admirable +regardless of who first formulated them. The Golden Rule is as valuable +coming from the Hebrew fathers as if Jesus had originated it. + +The Golden Rule, however, is not perfect. It is one of the best rules of +the ancients, showing the desirability of reciprocity, but it does not +demand that our desires be always just, nor does it insure that what we +want done to ourselves will always be what others most need. It would be +consistent with the Golden Rule for a convivial man to entertain his +prohibition friends at a speakeasy, or for a Catholic to take his +atheist guests to daily mass. Possibly an even better rule than judging +others by ourselves would be to do unto others what best pleases them. + + +_Inconsistency_ + +"The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by +whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had +not been born."[31] + +Apparently the arrangement between Jehovah and Jesus was that Jesus +should not give himself up as a sacrifice voluntarily but should be +betrayed by someone else; and yet, although the betrayal was desired, +the man who assisted was to be condemned. + +The sacrificial plan for salvation was continued to the end in order +that "the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled."[32] The +scriptures were Jewish, so this is additional proof that Jesus, rejected +by the Jews, considered himself the predicted Jewish Messiah. While the +Jews expected a Messiah, there is no clear prediction of Jesus in the +Old Testament. + + +_Fear_ + +Jesus said, "Be not afraid of them that kill the body"; but when +threatened with bodily injury himself, he was afraid. "Then took they up +stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself."[33] "Then the Pharisees +went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. +But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence."[34] + +This avoidance of physical injury may have been due to a desire to +postpone his end until the proper time, as indicated by "Mine hour is +not yet come", but when the time did come, Jesus did not bear his +approaching death bravely, as Socrates did when about to drink the cup +of hemlock. Jesus was much afraid, "and prayed, saying, Father, if thou +be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will but thine +be done."[35] + +He was resolved to go through with the painful experience at any cost +but was much more frightened than many a mortal man, though he had a +greater cause to sustain him than martyrs who have suffered +uncomplainingly; for he believed that his sacrifice would save the +world: "and there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening +him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was +as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."[36] + +After saying, "The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified +... He that loveth his life shall lose it", he again showed terror: "Now +is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this +hour, but for this cause came I unto this hour."[37] + +It is to be noted that God did not answer the prayer of Jesus, though +Jesus had said that God would always answer prayers in his name. Jesus +recognized his failure to obtain the answer, saying on the cross, "My +God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"[38] + + +_Failure_ + +Many a good man is a failure from a worldly point of view, but failure +is not what one would wish to copy. Jesus sought to save the world. +Surely no one looking at the world today can say that he succeeded. His +plan of salvation was a failure; it did not work out as Jehovah and +Jesus intended. An ideal teacher is needed now almost as much as two +thousand years ago. If the world is gradually improving, as seems +probable, it is in spite of the superstitions of the past, not because +of them. + +At one time Jesus denied his own perfection, saying: "Why callest thou +me good? there is none good but one, that is, God."[39] + +Christian parents who hold Jesus up to their children as a paragon would +not wish their sons to grow up to be just like Jesus. He is not an +acceptable prototype. + +Jesus did not provide the knowledge so much needed by man to enable him +to shape his course through life. No one knows how to live correctly, +how best to meet each situation, what action is suited to the occasion. +Jesus did not tell us what to do. His sayings are interpreted in many +different ways. He failed to predict the needs of the future. + +Jesus did not explain relations between man and wife, nor between +employer and employee, nor how to educate children, nor how to preserve +health, nor how to make a living, nor how to prevent war, poverty and +suffering. Jesus gave little practical information, and his spiritual +advice was not clearly enough expressed to enable man to apply it to +modern conditions. Jesus neglected to instruct people how to live. His +knowledge of the world was less than that of the average American +citizen. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Matt. xxi, 18-19. + +[2] Mark xi, 13. + +[3] Mark xi, 20-23. + +[4] Matt. xviii, 15-17. + +[5] Matt. x, 33. + +[6] Mark iii, 29. + +[7] Matt. xii, 34. + +[8] Matt. xxiii, 15. + +[9] Matt. xxiii, 33. + +[10] John viii, 55. + +[11] John x, 8. + +[12] Matt. xxiii, 17. + +[13] Matt. viii, 28-34; Mark v, 13; Luke viii, 26-34. + +[14] Luke xiv, 26. + +[15] John xi, 26. + +[16] John viii, 24. + +[17] John viii, 12. + +[18] John x, 36. + +[19] John xi, 25. + +[20] Luke ii, 48. + +[21] Luke xi, 37-40. + +[22] John ii, 4. + +[23] Mark vii, 25-29. + +[24] Matt. viii, 21-22. + +[25] Matt. xvi, 23. + +[26] Luke xvi, 1-9. + +[27] Matt. xxiv, 7-13. + +[28] Luke vi, 21. + +[29] Matt. vi, 25-34. + +[30] Matt. vii, 12. + +[31] Matt. xxvi, 24. + +[32] Matt. xxvi, 56. + +[33] John viii, 59. + +[34] Matt. xii, 14-15. + +[35] Luke xxii, 42. + +[36] Luke xxii, 44. + +[37] John xii, 23-27. + +[38] Mark xv, 34. + +[39] Matt. xix, 17. + + + + +CONCLUSION + + +The historicity of Jesus has been discussed in many books and pamphlets. +Whether Jesus lived or not depends upon what is meant by that phrase. If +one is satisfied that there was a peripatetic philosopher named Jesus +who was the son of a woman named Mary and who lived and taught around +Jerusalem, uttering some, but not all, of the words attributed to him, +then Jesus may be said to have lived. There can be no serious objection +to the acceptance of that Jesus as an actual personage even though he +was ignored by secular historians and though the time and place of his +birth and death are in doubt. + +On the other hand, if there never was such a person as the Jesus +described in the New Testament--a man born of a virgin, superior to +natural laws, able to walk on the water, and change the course of +nature, performing miracles, casting out devils, a man who never erred, +who was crucified, rose from the dead and ascended bodily into heaven +where he now sits to judge the world--if there was no such man-God as +the Jesus of the gospels, some may hesitate to say that Jesus ever +lived. + + +_Jesus a Myth_ + +Sincere Evolutionists who discredit miracles, must needs consider the +gospel Jesus as a myth. This does not mean that Jesus had no reality, +but that the original facts have been so enlarged upon that the +principal features of his life are more fanciful than real. If you +eliminate from the life of Jesus as unhistorical his birth, his +miracles, his theological teachings, his resurrection, ascension and +messianic mission, the Christ no longer exists. Jesus would have +attracted no attention were it not for the very circumstances which +Modernists admit were mythical. + + +_Judged by His Works_ + +Whether Jesus was God, or man, or myth, he can be judged by his works, +as he himself recommended. If he is found to be perfect in word and +deed, it makes little difference whether he lived or not. As a symbol he +can be revered and copied. But if Jesus is now seen to be the product of +his times, representing the virtues and defects of his biographers, with +no vision beyond their ken, his authority is gone. + +Not only will the divinity of Jesus be discredited if he was found to +have been occasionally in error, but his value as a guide to life will +be impaired. What will be the result of this radical change? None of the +beautiful ideals or sound ethical principles attributed to Jesus will +be lost. Not one saying or counsel of valuable advice need go. Not one +evil thought need take the place of that which was good. In fact, the +finest qualities of existence will be more vital in our lives when their +realization becomes of primary importance instead of being subordinate +to worship of the supernatural. Principles are superior to persons. A +dead personality remains unchanged; live ethical principles can be +developed by more complete knowledge of evolutionary processes. + + +_Ethical Evolution_ + +Evolution has been progressing along ethical as well as physical lines. +To the teachings of Jesus, once considered perfection, have been added +many newly discovered principles of value, for knowledge is cumulative. +All the best thoughts of the ages are ours forever, no matter who first +originated or expressed them. + +Whatever the plan of the universe may be, it is more nearly comprehended +now than in Jesus' time. Twentieth century events are more dependable in +forming our philosophy of life than those of the first century. The +failure to grasp this fact is the death knell of orthodox religion. +Every existing religious sect has founded its spirituality upon events +supposed to have occurred in the past. Christianity depends upon the +direct creation, fall of man and life of an atoning Savior, all physical +in character. Our new metaphysics will be based upon conditions existing +today and that will be revealed by science in the future. The +geologists, embryologists, biologists and astronomers of 1932 have more +information about nature than Jesus had. On that knowledge can be +founded a system of living superior to the Sermon on the Mount. + +Our own time is the most dependable era of revelation. We can safely +accept whatever stands accredited after thorough examination, including +all teachings of Jesus that are admirable. A modern person with +religious zeal has confidence that the world is ordered along consistent +lines and will respond favorably to man's best efforts to solve the true +way of living. The scientific mind and the religious spirit are +complementary. Religion, instead of being a system of handed-down +sanctity, may become an inspired revelation to each individual--a +religion of the spirit of the modern world. + +As the spirit derived from Truth is superior to that based upon +credulity, the new doctrines that supplant the old may be expected to +excel any that have preceded them. Anyone may be as spiritual as the +proved facts permit. + +If the world has been improving physically and ethically, we can have +confidence that whatever knowledge is necessary for our salvation is +available to each of us now. No living God has died; no great principle +has been lost. Instead of depending upon Jesus in an unthinking manner, +we must seek the Truth wherever it is found and follow wherever it may +lead regardless of consequences. This requires more courage than +professing Jesus, whose teachings can be construed to mean whatever the +reader desires. While the majority regard Jesus as an ascetic, a +reformer, opposed to business and joviality, Bruce Barton has convinced +thousands that Jesus was the great business man, rotarian and +advertiser. + + +_Gains, not Losses_ + +Among the compensations that may supplant the loss of Jesus as an ideal +are the thrill at being a pioneer in striving for the welfare of the +human race rather than for individual salvation; the satisfaction at +having a consistent creed that can be maintained against all criticism +without hypocrisy or evasion; emancipation from inhibitions required by +a supposedly divine teacher. Every pleasure is not a sin, but rejection +of theology does not imply indifference to evil. Science warns against +excess as strongly as any ancient command. The fear of natural or +man-decreed punishment in this world is as potent as the dread of +eternal torment threatened by Jesus. + +If Jesus really was the sort of personage described in the Bible; if he +really was born of a virgin, controlled the elements and had power to +condemn unbelievers to eternal damnation, all people should obey his +every word. He should be followed literally; we should sell all our +possessions and take no thought for the morrow. But if Jesus was not +that sort of a person; if he was neither a supernatural God nor an +infallible man, he should not be worshipped as a redeeming Savior nor be +followed as a true guide for human conduct. + +Our faith shifts with careful examination of the scriptures from belief +in Jesus to confidence that the world is a far pleasanter abode than +Jesus imagined. Without reliance upon the authority of Jesus we can +adopt a code which will prove comparatively effective in leading towards +a wholesome life. + + + + +CODE OF LIVING + + +1. Keep the body strong that the most efficient work may be done, the +greatest happiness obtained during life and a wholesome inheritance +passed on to future generations. + +2. Cultivate the mind, learning as many important facts as possible, +striving to become expert in some particular field of endeavor. + +3. Develop a scientific spirit, the essential characteristic of which is +a search for Truth in the light of evidence and reason. Do not deceive +yourself or others. + +4. Base your spiritual concepts on the latest developments of Evolution. +Be prepared to change your philosophy to conform to the consensus of +scientific opinion. + +5. Conduct all human relationships in a spirit of tolerance and love, +having proper consideration for others, not presuming to control their +lives. + +6. Treat the opposite sex honorably, respecting their complementary +qualities, with due regard for succeeding generations. + +7. Endeavor to embody in the laws of the community the spirit of equity +and progress. + +8. Strive for an economic system under which each individual shall be +rewarded according to his or her value to society. + +9. Avoid the use of physical force for personal revenge or national +aggrandizement, having learned from experience that reason triumphs +while brutality degrades. + +10. Hold yourself in readiness to accept new revelations. + + * * * * * + +Luther Burbank wrote concerning the above code on November 11, 1925: + + "_I am greatly pleased with your code of living ... The false + ancient theology has past or is rapidly passing with intelligent + people at the present time. It is not applicable to our conditions + and is of no more value than a worn-out suit of clothes._" + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mistakes of Jesus, by William Floyd + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MISTAKES OF JESUS *** + +***** This file should be named 22955.txt or 22955.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/9/5/22955/ + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Stephen Blundell +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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