# What would Jesus think about all the adulation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 27, 2011, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508 "2011-12-27T10:35:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/41 "2011-12-28T10:38:25Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Most of your better-informed atheists blame Paul for this, do they not? Only because those atheists want to still preserve some respect for Jesus. Der Trihs’s approach shows much more integrity. If the entire concept of God is a harmful delusion or hoax, Jesus was either deceived or deceptive to the uttermost. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/42 "2011-12-28T13:11:32Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > I do not feel this way. Along with the gospel of love and kindness and forgiveness, Jesus also taught about original sin, meaning that nobody can by their own power be perfectly loving and kind and forgiving. It is not in the nature of humanity to be perfectly loving and kind and forgiving towards our fellow human beings. According to Jesus, the only way to change our sinful nature is by turning away from selfish desires and towards God. Consequently, adoration of God is a necessary and integral part of the gospel of love and kindness and forgiveness. If God created beings with flaws, then he could have done better! I would think such a loving being who knew ahead of time his creation would have flaws wouldn’t kill them because of it, or have them suffer for all eternity…sounds like the person who wrote or taught the things about God was not doing Him Justice. If a human makes a flawed product, we blame the manufactor! ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/43 "2011-12-28T13:14:33Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Sorry, Raindog- I know this is where we differ on interpretations- but Thomas’s worshipful exclamation at seeing Christ risen sure looks to me like it was directed to Jesus Himself. In the Acts & the Epistles, the Apostles & the early Church sure look like they are worshipping Jesus, as are the Heavenly Throngs in The Revelation to John (they are constantly giving the same Honor to 'The One Who Sits Upon the Throne" and “The Lamb”). Remember Frair, that was written by a human and it may not have been true! Could be someone trying to make more of something than what was,it was written after the fact! ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/44 "2011-12-28T13:21:39Z")
[QUOTE=Theophane] Athletes and entertainers inspire more love & worship than Jesus. Make of that what you will, Dopers. [/QUOTE] > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Absolute bullshit. Name one. As a collective group. If we are talking strictly as the Gospels, Jesus through Matthew, Mark, Luke and John inspired love that many people have felt. Even if we throw in the rest of the NT, basically the same group of people have been inspired. Actors in particular, have show us what is possible with Love and reach a far wider audience. The magic that love can bring and the power to change lives. That being said, my belief is that everything created, including the movies, is created by God, so in that any inspiration in the movies of Love is also from Jesus, and the actors just other gospel writers. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/45 "2011-12-28T13:22:15Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Even if one doesn’t take his Synoptic quotes about his uniqueness & supremacy as claims to Godhood, he often speaks of himself as the next best thing to God & His right hand man & there is no reason to take those quotes as any less authentic than his “be nice to people” quotes. And btw, Jesus frequently provoked accusations of blasphemy. So true(if the quotes were true) he quoted the 81st or 82d Psalm (which ever you read.“.I said you are gods” so questioned why they thought that he blasphemed! ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/46 "2011-12-28T13:39:02Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > When Tebow asked if you loved your wife, would you just tell her once or would you tell her every single day, I couldn’t help thinking WTH. If I loved someone, I would be secure enough with myself and the other person that I wouldn’t have to say “I love you” a million times. I’m an atheist so I don’t have a dog in this race. I do tell my wife I love her every single day and I don’t think it’s weird that I do. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/47 "2011-12-28T14:48:02Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > But he does receive quite a bit of reverence- so much so that Muslim countries’ blasphemy laws protect him as well as Allah. I don’t think any Christian country ever had “anti-blasphemy laws” which included Paul or Moses as protected subjects, perhaps Mother Mary. Didn’t there used to be blasphemy laws around the middle of the 20th century? I know there used to be sodomy laws. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/48 "2011-12-28T14:48:19Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > If God created beings with flaws, then he could have done better! Especially since so many human flaws are identifiable as flaws & understandable by us mere humans, much less a supposedly superior being. If we could make an intelligent being in the first place we could do a better job. As the product of a mindless process like evolution, humans are impressive. As the product of a supposedly superhuman entity, humans are shoddily made and poorly designed. We’ve all sorts of design flaws and limitations and missing features. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/49 "2011-12-28T14:57:05Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Especially since so many human flaws are identifiable as flaws & understandable by us mere humans, much less a supposedly superior being. If we could make an intelligent being in the first place we could do a better job. > > As the product of a mindless process like evolution, humans are impressive. As the product of a supposedly superhuman entity, humans are shoddily made and poorly designed. We’ve all sorts of design flaws and limitations and missing features. After we merge with machines, we can leave all that behind. ---
**Author:** ![commoncents](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@commoncents](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commoncents)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/50 "2011-12-28T14:58:43Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > No one and nothing “deserves” to be worshiped. _Especially_ anyone or anything that wants to be or accepts being worshiped. it seems like a lot of members on this board worships science with utmost faith and deny anything opposite to their belief ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/51 "2011-12-28T14:59:59Z")
But it’s curious that people have an _idea_ of how humans are “flawed,” and criticize “God” for creating creatures with such shortcomings. Some philosophers have argued that without a superior being of some sort influencing us, there couldn’t be an idea of how we fall short of him/her/it. ---
**Author:** ![commoncents](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@commoncents](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commoncents)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/52 "2011-12-28T15:00:07Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > Didn’t there used to be blasphemy laws around the middle of the 20th century? I know there used to be sodomy laws. there are still sodomy laws. If you forcibly rape someone anally it’s considered rape+sodomy. Geez you wonder if people read their criminal statutes anymore ---
**Author:** ![commoncents](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@commoncents](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commoncents)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/53 "2011-12-28T15:01:19Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > But it’s curious that people have an _idea_ of how humans are “flawed,” and criticize “God” for creating creatures with such shortcomings. Some philosophers have argued that without a superior being of some sort influencing us, there couldn’t be an idea of how we fall short of him/her/it. People like to criticize god for anything. Like how christians praise him for everything. same people different outlook ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/54 "2011-12-28T15:08:07Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > To support your argument (my Beatles thing WAS a joke), even Gaga gives praise to Jesus. Her little monsters hate Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/55 "2011-12-28T15:19:49Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > Her little monsters hate Jesus. All of them, most of them, or a couple you know of through a 2nd hand quote from some religious glurge? Do try to separate your unfounded opinions from your statements of fact, please. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/56 "2011-12-28T15:31:30Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > After we merge with machines, we can leave all that behind. Well, most of it. > [@commoncents](#): > > it seems like a lot of members on this board worships science with utmost faith and deny anything opposite to their belief Ah, yes, the old attempt to pretend science is a religion. How about some actual examples? Faith in science in unnecessary; unlike religion it has a huge amount of genuine accomplishments demonstrating that it works. Religion just has millennia of falsehoods and failure. Religion has to be taken on faith because it is baseless, a collection of delusions; the opposite of science. > [@Koxinga](#): > > But it’s curious that people have an _idea_ of how humans are “flawed,” and criticize “God” for creating creatures with such shortcomings. Some philosophers have argued that without a superior being of some sort influencing us, there couldn’t be an idea of how we fall short of him/her/it. A silly argument. First of all, even if there is a “superior being” we have no actual knowledge of it and therefore can’t really compare ourselves to it. Second, human minds and bodies are full of _objective_ flaws; a famous example being the human retina being set up backwards. We don’t need any help from some imaginary superior being to see obvious design flaws. And yes, I think it’s fair to criticize “God” for doing a worse job than we would if we had the power to do so in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![commoncents](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@commoncents](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commoncents)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/57 "2011-12-28T15:36:23Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Well, most of it. > > Ah, yes, the old attempt to pretend science is a religion. How about some actual examples? > > Faith in science in unnecessary; unlike religion it has a huge amount of genuine accomplishments demonstrating that it works. Religion just has millennia of falsehoods and failure. Religion has to be taken on faith because it is baseless, a collection of delusions; the opposite of science. > > A silly argument. First of all, even if there is a “superior being” we have no actual knowledge of it and therefore can’t really compare ourselves to it. Second, human minds and bodies are full of _objective_ flaws; a famous example being the human retina being set up backwards. We don’t need any help from some imaginary superior being to see obvious design flaws. > > And yes, I think it’s fair to criticize “God” for doing a worse job than we would if we had the power to do so in the first place. I was comparing how posters praise with utmost belief that science is the solution to all; even though there are unexplained things in the world. But you wouldn’t believe that because stories are not the “scientific method.” I guess sociology, criminology, and anthropology are “junk science.” Let me ask you, what part of religion as failed? btw I think it’s funny to critize god and say humans can do better…even though we’ve been killing each other for centuries for nationalism, patriotism, jealousy, etc. But hey whatever makes you feel better at night ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/58 "2011-12-28T15:39:33Z")
> [@commoncents](#): > > I was comparing how posters praise with utmost belief that science is the solution to all; even though there are unexplained things in the world. What unexplained thing in the world do you think science is incapable of eventually explaining, and why? ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/59 "2011-12-28T15:40:25Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Nonsense. He started Christianity, which has done immense harm throughout history. Even if you buy the idea that it has done more good than harm (I certainly don’t), that doesn’t make the harm go away. _The vast majority_ of people have done less harm than Jesus; most people haven’t had much effect on the world at all. > > And you are simply taking it as a given that Christianity has value; I don’t agree, nor have most people throughout history judging by the fact that most people are not and never have been Christian. I appreciate your candor. ---
**Author:** ![Theophane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@Theophane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theophane)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508/60 "2011-12-28T15:46:23Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > All of them, most of them, or a couple you know of through a 2nd hand quote from some religious glurge? Do try to separate your unfounded opinions from your statements of fact, please. The Children of Gaga are refugees from Christianity. That is why they came rushing into her open arms. Do I blame them? No. And I don’t really hate Gaga. She brings so much hope and joy to so many people whose lives would otherwise lack those things. She raised an army of the damned. I don’t trust her motives entirely, but I think her social activism is a godsend. God works in mysterious ways. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-jesus-think-about-all-the-adulation/607508.md?page=4)