The time of Jesus Christ aligns with all the noted findings in the halls of archaeology. I believed he was here and he taught of a monotheistic god. He was able to learn of all that because he was a Jew. He was taught of a single deity. So was his cousin John the Baptist.
He obviously was well liked and John the Baptist was the movement so many admired. I have no doubt the Hebrews of the time wanted a Messiah. They wanted to be liberated. They were tired of the struggle to satisfy Rome and the Romans. The Romans were very oppressive. The conquests of Rome made slaves of all they conquered. The riches of any land was their's to have.
So, to the extent the Bible elevates Jesus, his movement and his followers to the status of most holy, I agree with it. There was definitely a change in history at that point and it had to start somewhere.
The records across the spectrum are diffuse at best. The books exist and the Bible compiled. The best of the writings were that of the first four books of the New Testament; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They are consistent in their record in many ways of Jesus and his life.
Who is anyone to say absolutely there is or isn't a single god that is the creator. That is a personal journey and if John the Baptist were here today I think he would say the same thing.
I believe Jesus was a civil rights leader. He never saw the Romans as better than the Jews. He saw them as wayward and aloof. He was correct. I also believe he was very human and very charismatic. I do believe he turned the page on slavery with Rome. The most obvious win for him was that of Paul. But, as with James the Greater and John (James the Less) Jesus found a welcome and refreshed ideology with the younger of the Romans. They were ready to move on to a higher understanding of morality and almost seemed to long for it.
The beauty of the Bible is the story telling. Sure, people can pick and chose passages to relate their own ideas of ideology. But, the story telling, understanding the people, their lay of the land, their methods of survival and merchandising and most of all the challenge of freeing a people from bondage that limited their opportunities in living in comfort and freedom is a fantastic story.
I like the Bible. I believe in it's message of freedom, hope and finding happiness. It is very human in it's content and very life affirming. There is room in the Bible for everyone and their own spiritual searching.
I just felt it was time to get acquainted with the 'real Bible' and it's story of great men and women that changed the course of history and defined freedom and morality. Morality as related to clothing and otherwise is simply the 'style of the day.' But, morality in understanding what comfort and happiness sincerely is and it's importance to a human life is more than anyone can over look.
Good night.
