This thread ought to be a doozie.

[JMS]

Is Jesus God? I have my doubts. How about you?

There is no question in my mind that Jesus is the son of God( wasnt it said by Jesus that we all are children of God that believe? ) and that his teachings are of the utmost importance but God? I dont see it. I must state here that I am not a Christian. Being Christian=being Christlike and I am far from Christlike. Also, I do not attend church as I find it hinders ones progress more than helps it. Didn't Jesus say that our body is a temple and that our heart is the seat of God, or at least that the kingdom of heaven is within?
Although I could be mistaken I believe it is a misinterpretation of Jesus's own words and the zealousness and neediness of others that brought about this idea that Jesus is God, in fact, many of the passages in the bible that are pointed out as proof of the deity of Jesus by his own words seem to prove just the opposite to me.
Anyways, enough of what I think, I want to know your thoughts on the matter.

So, Is Jesus God or isn't he? And why do you see it the way that you do?

I would like to reserve this thread for those who acknowledge that there is a God and that Jesus did exist but I will entertain all posts and turn no one away if they wish to post.

[ndw76]

I don't see how he could be. Christians believe there is, and only ever has been, one god. If Jesus was the son of god then there must have been two gods. But Christians say there can not be two gods.

But if Jesus is god then the father could not be god.

Or did god cease to be god once he had a son and the son became god?

[gugi]

See, these things have been debated and various sects have picked up their doctrine as early as the fifth century (yeah long after one jesus had allegedly walked the earth, and after the religious structures were well integrated in politics). Here's two relevant wikipedia articles
Chalcedonian Christianity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Miaphysitism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I dont see it. I must state here that I am not a Christian. Being Christian=being Christlike and I am far from Christlike.

At least you can try! I myself am very christlike, I drink wine with sinners on a very regular basis I hear voices (apparently that of god), and I have been considering to grab a share of the healthcare business, but I'm waiting for the socialists to take over it first, so that I can just get it all from them

[holli4pirating]

This New Yorker abstains - respectfully!

[leadduck]

I don't see how he could be. Christians believe there is, and only ever has been, one god. If Jesus was the son of god then there must have been two gods. But Christians say there can not be two gods.

But if Jesus is god then the father could not be god.

Or did god cease to be god once he had a son and the son became god?

You're right, JMS about it being a doozie. One of the most basic beliefs in Christianity is the Trinity. This is the teaching that there are three persons in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Logical arguments and explanations don't work here, since we're dealing with a religious concept called a mystery, something that is beyond the comprehension of man. So, do I believe Jesus is God? I do. Why? There is only one reason for any belief of faith. I choose to.

[ndw76]

Of course when I say I don't see how he could be I mean that it doesn't make sense to me so I can not chose to believe it. However I do chose to believe in reincaration. So there doesn't really need to be any logic. It is just what you believe, not what you know.

[treydampier]

I myself am very christlike,

Not a chance sport. You are nothing like Christ and certainly nothing like the title you use. Did people predict your birth hundreds to thousands of years before you came? Did anyone write thousands upon thousands of books about you? Has anyone ever said you healed the sick? Did anyone ever describe you of being without sin? Have people wanted to touch your clothing just to see if you would help them? Has anyone ever said you fed thousands of people? When you die, will anyone even know you existed?
BOth of us can agree on one things, the answers to all these questions from each of us is NO!
Bad examples from Wikipedia, a Cornellian PhD (or whatever you are) should know better and quote better educated sources. These do seem to illustrate your point though. As said above though, some people will never understand. Hence they call it faith, not fact or figures. Gentleman and scholar?

[JimmyHAD]

Bob Hope entertaining the troops in Viet Nam," I've got good news and bad news, the good news is that Christ is coming. The bad news is that he's really p!ssed off."

Probably a lot of truth to that little bit of gallows humor .... if it is true. Whether you believe that a member of a relatively small tribe of people who lived 2k years ago, with an unusual belief system involving blood sacrifice to a self proclaimed "jealous and vengeful" God is the deity is a matter of choice because certainly no one knows. No one alive that is.

A good read on the topic is here , Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium by Bart Ehrman.

Edit; Mark, you should have had one more choice in your poll, Maybe .... then I could have voted.

[BKratchmer]

Gugi is right that this is a mess... Christology was a raging debate as early as the second century- and certain beliefs very contrary to modern Nicean orthodoxy were held in large parts of the Church...

Good things to look up on your next library visit would be Origen of Alexandria, Arius, Justin Martyr, and anything you can find related to the search "homoousious AND homoiousious" which is dealing with this very question: Is Christ of the father, One with the father, or a man?

[Sailor]

No he is not.
There is no 1st person (not even 2nd person) testimonies about that man being a God.