Was Jesus a Great Moral Teacher? Julian Baggini introduces The Godless Gospel

Was Jesus a great moral teacher? Philosopher Julian Baggini, author of How The World Thinks, is an atheist with a Catholic upbringing whose fresh examination of Jesus's teachings reveals a far more radical figure than popular culture depicts.

F O L L O W U S

[yinYangMountain]

“Was Jesus a Great Moral Teacher?”

That’s an interesting question, Dr. Baggini. But before answering it, I’d like to know:

1. What is the criteria for being labeled a “Great Moral Teacher?”

2. What do we know Jesus actually taught?

3. If Jesus taught something that is, given a modern psychological and sociological understanding of the diverse human condition, not considered moral or, in fact, considered immoral, is Jesus a Great Moral Teacher?

4. From 3: How many of Jesus’ teachings would have to be questionable before we could suggest he wasn’t a Great Moral Teacher?

5. Given the mutually exclusive interpretations of the sayings attributed to Jesus, how is this question answerable?

[maudlinmanify]

Hold up a minute. If it's really a blessing to be poor ("the poor are at an advantage"), then helping the poor to climb out of poverty is actually harming them. Sounds like a reductio ad absurdum to me. Being poor sucks, period.

[nazgulskyrim]

Even as a practicing Christian many do get him wrong

[shannonbloom]

Well, looking at this world and the state of humanity and I'd have to say no, especially taking into consideration the Evangelical community in the USA.