1.1. What I'm Trying to Do
(3/18/09)



1. First of all, this website is supposed to be like a web 'book.’ It is a compilation of claims and counter-claims on a particular subject.

2. As a book, it is like my own – lowercase -- ‘bible.’ That's because my particular subject here is Jesus of Nazareth.

3. It is also like a 'religious calculator'. It is designed to “add up” the evidence for (and against) Jesus.

4. It is also ‘live.’
5. It is a book being written (and edited) – as well as a trial being conducted -- as we speak. For now, what I am writing might as well be carved in mud.
6. With significant luck, it will also -- eventually -- be interactive.

7. At this stage, it is also just for me.
8. Again with significant luck, it will eventually be for everyone (or at least, others).
9. I am “publishing” it now -- even though it is earmarked only for myself at this point -- because
10. I want to use the hyperlink potential of the Internet.
11. I don’t mind others reading it now. And,
12. Shortly, I’ll be looking for help – and, encouraging others to read it.

13. Hopefully, eventually, it will also be an effective written debate.
14. And, in other words (which might not be clear just yet), it is intended to be the bible of an open-minded religion. A religion whose only doctrine will be to go where (probably) no religion has gone before -- wherever the truth may lead. So, don't count your chickens...
15. And finally, it will be the living trial of the Era -- and the personal court room for anyone who wishes to know whether or not Jesus really was/is the prophesied Jewish Messiah. To the extent possible, both (all) sides will be fully represented by their own, expert advocates...

16. This sort of assumes that predictive prophecy is, itself, real... But then, it probably is (IMO) -- and also, that is one of the assumptions we will be trying to evaluate.
17. And further, (IMO) the world is "magical" in general (as measured against analytic expectations); we should probably accept that there is a whole other, and valid, way of thinking about it; and, coming from the right perspective, we humans probably do fit up this particular rabbit hole...

16. My first task – what I’m trying to do right now – is to remind myself of what I’m trying to do otherwise… And why… (This is getting confusing.)
17. I’m 66 years old (One year older than Joe Biden, though I was in his graduating class at Delaware!), and there is a lot of which I need to be reminded. (Plus, I am easily confused -- e.g. I didn't repeat 16 & 17 on purpose.)
18. And then, as you will see, I am also in a hurry.

19. What I am trying to do otherwise is decide what to do about Jesus – that is the ultimate purpose of my book, and this court.
20. But, in order to do that, I need to feel “pretty sure” about who Jesus was. Was he, or was he not, the prophesied Jewish Messiah?
21. Answering that question is the immediate purpose of my book, and this court.

22. And, in other words – I already think that…
22.1. There is a “reasonable chance” that there really was to be a Messiah, and that Jesus really was that person; that
22.2. He wanted us to do something in regard to him; and that
22.3. If he was the Messiah, we should probably try to do what he wanted...

23. Fortunately, I’m already pretty sure what Jesus wanted us to do. He wanted us to take him as our “pack leader.”
24. In other words, he wanted us to “surrender” to him (as the "projection" of G-d into our 4-D reality) as dogs do with their pack leader.
25. In still other words, Jesus wanted us to "take him as our Lord and Savior.”
26. Which introduces the ultimate question posed to this court: “Should I try to take Jesus as my Lord and Savior?”

 

27. Whoa! If anyone else (besides me) is still reading this -- and happen to be an analytically minded skeptic -- they should try to control himself -- for the moment, at least… Personally, I am convinced that this thing about "taking Jesus as one's Lord and Savior" reflects a real neurolgical phenomenon that unfortunately(?) triggers this, and other, equally foolish-sounding phrases from the people who experience the phenomenon -- but that this is a real experience, despite its apparent foolishness, and it has turned numerous lives around -- for the much better -- despite its apparent foolishness.

27.1. The concept to which "taking Jesus as one's Lord and Savior" really refers (IMO) is the real neurological phenomenon of "surrender" -- as a dog experiences when it exposes its stomach to its pack leader.
27.2. Here, it appears that we human beings (being pack animals) also have the potential to do this real neurological thing of "surrender."
27.3. And what's more, we humans can surrender to "the right kind" of idea...
27.4. The Jesus idea is the right kind.
27.5. In addition (IMO), to have Christian "faith" is to surrender to hope -- the hope that Jesus was who he said he was, and that he "has our backs" if we put our lives in his hands...
27.6. Note that this "surrender" is not just the somatic behavior of exposing one's stomach (or whatever). This surrender involves autonomic behavior. It is what we might call, a "change of heart." It involves a change in core reflexes. See what I mean?
27.7. I'm saying that it would show up on an EEG.

27.8. And, if you notice, my ultimate question here is should I try to surrender to Jesus.
27.9. In other words, I do not believe that one can just do it "on a dare." I see this more as something that happens to a person than something that the person can deliberately do.
27.10. And the best I can deliberately do in order to improve the liklihood of it happening is to get myself into the "mental vicinity" of where it happens...
27.11. Which is what I'm trying to do with all this study. I'm hoping, and to some extent thinking, that serious study can get me into, and keep me in, the right vicinity.
27.12. And, in truth, I'm hoping that by doing this I can avoid what I see to be the usual way of getting into the right vicinity -- a threatening emotional breakdown.

27.13. This all seems a little(?) convoluted(?), but it is the direction I'm leaning.
27.14. So, I'm hoping that what I am now doing, and will be doing here, will get me into, and keep me in, the right vicinity -- but only if surrendering to Jesus is what I'm supposed to be doing...
27.15. How's that?


28. So whatever -- should I, or should I not, try to "surrender" to Jesus? That's the question...

29. And, while there are numerous reasons why I should, there are also significant reasons why I should not -- and consequently, I need to do some serious research.
30. And then, it seems to me that the key question to focus upon in my additional research is, "Was Jesus, in fact, the prophesied Jewish Messiah?"
31. If he was, I'll know what to do.
32. But, to determine whether he was or not, I need to hear both sides of this whole story.
33. Hence the current trial.


Where I'm coming from