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Let’s Talk About Jesus
Not that one, the real one
Partner article to my honest analysis and appraisal of atheism.
Did you know I earned a degree from a seminary? Yes, really. My first master’s degree was from an odd little UCC seminary that was looking for non-Christians to help establish a religious studies program.
I’ve never been a Christian, but I respect religions, and I’m fascinated by religious history and the many varieties and expressions of Christianity. At that odd little seminary, my MA thesis was on the first-century heretic, Marcion. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Incredibly important guy for Christian history, but his existence and influence were deliberately buried, although that’s a story for another time.
Christianity is a faith, a passion, and a life commitment. It is also a set of customs; a business; and, too often, a cudgel. Christianity is an expression of multiple human cultures, and many groups within cultures, and as such, Christianity has many dimensions and layers, with many generations adding interpretations and expressions. Christianity has never been a unitary entity, despite so many people wanting it to be.
At Christianity’s core, at its foundation, is a person. So, seriously, let’s talk Jesus. And yes, let’s try to talk about the real…
