1. The purpose of this PAGE is to lay out
the purpose of this “web-book” and "trial." I
wish to do THAT so as to KEEP MYSELF ON TARGET. I am easily distracted
these days...
2. The IMMEDIATE purpose of this WEB-BOOK/TRIAL is to gather up, and
to effectively verbalize and organize, as much of the evidence as possible
as to whether or not the biblical Jesus was, in fact, the prophesied
Jewish Messiah.
3. More precisely, the immediate purpose here is to mostly WEIGH this
evidence. I've been doing a lot of gathering altready -- now, it's time
to start adding it up. You might check out #'s 1-3 in the Background
for a better explanation.
4. As they used to say in the "old days," please "don't touch that dial" -- but the first ULTIMATE purpose of this book is to help ME “take
Jesus as my Lord and Savior” -- IF THAT IS WHAT I AM “SUPPOSED”
TO DO.
5. If you're not me and you're still reading this -- someone may be
looking for you...
6. Whatever, I myself have come to the conclusion that "taking
Jesus as one's Lord and Savior" is NOT the nonsense that we of
the intelligentsia have tended to believe so far... I have come to believe
that this phrase ACTUALLY DOES MEAN SOMETHING, and that it refers to
a REAL NEUROLOGICAL EVENT AND SUBSEQUENT STATE OF MIND that has turned
many a person's life around for the much better -- and, that we of the
intelligentsia have NOT typically experienced...
7. In addition, I suspect that life really does have (ultimate) MEANING,
that there is good and bad, and that there are things we are "supposed"
to do -- and other things that we are supposed not to do. I suspect
that THERE IS A REAL ETHICAL DIMENSION TO THE UNIVERSE. I suspect that
morality is not something we humans made up.
8. In other words, I suspect that THE UNIVERSE, itself, "cares"
in that sense...
9. In still other words, I suspect that the universe is not the deterministic
machine that we of the Intelligentsia have tended to believe (perhaps,
unwittingly) -- and, in that sense, THE UNIVERSE IS "MAGICAL."
Or at least, there is a SIDE, or dimension, to the universe that is
magical... I think we missed something (or more) that first time around.
10. And, if I'm right, I had best get busy, figure out what I'm SUPPOSED
to be doing, and start trying to do it... (After all, while I may have
fallen off a turnip truck, it wasn't yesterday.)
11. And then, if there really is GOOD in this world, I suspect that
it has to do with the MAGIC of LOVE (this is not a cliche -- remember,
I believe that the universe is magical), and that Jesus had the right
idea...
12. And, as I began narrowing my search for what I should be doing,
the Jesus concept actually began to appear well-evidenced -- or even,
"RIGHT ON." You'll be surprised.
13. So anyway, I'm hoping that IF the evidence does fully support Jesus
being the prophesied Messiah, I'll actually be able to "turn my
life over" to him, and "take him as my Lord and Savior,"
as that is surely what he was urging us to do -- as strange as that
may currently sound.
14. And, THIS IS THE COURTROOM through which I hope to thoroughly examine
the evidence -- and, to eventually make up my mind, one way or the other.
15. A SECOND ultimate purpose here is to eventually share my findings
with other enquiring minds -- should I have findings to share…
16. And the thing is, I'm thinking that I might actually have some original
findings to share -- as well as a better way to share WITH SKEPTICS
the existing findings of others... What're ya gonna do?
17. We'll see.
18. (If by chance you’re NOT me and, perhaps have stumbled upon
this website by accident -- but still wish to understand from whence
I came -- click here. Plus, you can always
reach me at rsavage@nycap.rr.com)
19. Keep in mind that this is an early work in progress, and may ALWAYS
be a work in progress. To some extent, I'll just be throwing chapters
into the mix as they seem somewhat communicative, and will gradually
polish them up (as well as provide the necessary links and citations)
as I have time. I welcome questions, comments and advice (for the time
being, at least).
20. Otherwise, I'm ready to load my evidence onto a scale, and present
it effectively on this website...
21. Looking back, perhaps the basic claim here is that the world may
not be the deterministic machine that my "reflexes" would
have it. There seems to be a whole other -- and, MAGICAL -- way of thinking,
and side to reality...
22. But even if so, how well does Jesus fit into this reality?
23. I'm here to find out.
24. But finally, and critically, in order to really find out, I (and,
we intellectual skeptics in general) need to hear the whole story --
BOTH sides of it -- if we are to find Jesus innocent of being a false
Messiah.
25. Consequently, I will begin by presenting the case for Jesus as well
as I can (from my somewhat non-standard perspective) and try to attract
at least one knowledgeable skeptic to represent the other side.
26. Thus the attempt at the critical courtroom/debate procedure.
27. So ... here we go. Up the Rabbit hole!
For the actual trial, click here.