Alexander: I agree with all that you say. I was sloppy in my response. I didn’t mean Jesus was enlightened. But Richard seemed to be saying that those words on the cross implied abandonment and failure. If you know the story of King David it’s the opposite. Those words imply that redemption is nigh.
Hi Alexander,
Thank you for the reply, I have learnt something new. So those words “imply that redemption is nigh”, fascinating.
Alexander: Of course those words were probably never spoken. The only thing we can say about the historical Jesus is that he was an itinerant preacher who was crucified by the Romans. (Maybe) That’s where the consensus begins and ends. But yeah, I don’t see anything in the Jesus story that implies Jesus was enlightened. As the mythology around him developed he became God incarnate from birth. But a God separate and distinct from his creation that he judges, rewards and punishes.
I was never really interested in how much of the Jesus story was historical and as far as I know there is no agreement amongst scholars and historians. It’s a touchy subject for many believers as well.
Alexander: The God that haunted my childhood.
Have you been able to leave this God which “haunted [your] childhood” behind now?
Alexander: So yeah Richard is correct that Jesus was not depicted as enlightened. I honed in on what I perceived as an implication that this was the end of the story. At the resurrection he was believed to have been elevated to equality with God. But none of that was the point Richard was making. So strike my words from the record. (link)
The only reason this aspect of Jesus having been enlightened or not is because Rajneesh told his (Western) followers that he was, most likely to attract followers from the Christian flock. So when Richard made a statement which made eminently sense, I was pleased this matter was settled as far as I am concerned.
Cheers Vineeto