HAPPY EASTER!

[PLamHK]

Indeed - so why don't you god-botherers make your own festivals rather than purloining those of us pagans?

[hullexile]

Indeed - so why don't you god-botherers make your own festivals rather than purloining those of us pagans?

You should feel flattered

[East_coast]

[paddylast]

What I don't get is why didn't Jesus travel around a bit more? Why didn't He go to China because it's been nearly 2000 years and the message still hasn't gotten through.

Why all the cloak and dagger? Why didn't God just be clear about it and come down every year with some huge display in the clouds or whatever? Why is 'belief' and 'faith' so important when He could just show up and tell us to stop acting the maggot. Does He really have faith in us to turn this around? Why did He send His son at all if He doesn't want us to know directly?

[hullexile]

What I don't get is why didn't Jesus travel around a bit more? Why didn't He go to China because it's been nearly 2000 years and the message still hasn't gotten through.

Why all the cloak and dagger? Why didn't God just be clear about it and come down every year with some huge display in the clouds or whatever? Why is 'belief' and 'faith' so important when He could just show up and tell us to stop acting the maggot. Does He really have faith in us to turn this around? Why did He send His son at all if He doesn't want us to know directly?

The message has got through to billions.

Difficult and good question.

There are many different answers suggested, and the answers partly depend on whether you are an Arminian or Calvinist (which is the big divide in Christianity and centres on whether we have free will).

As an Arminian then free will is central. Love requires free will, we choose to love. God wants us to love him and a big sign in the sky would likely create obedience not love. There would be little choice. The Bible clearly states we have to seek Him. It is active not passive. It is the seeking and finding that is important through God's grace.

For the Calvinists there is no such thing as free will, God chose from the beginning who were His elect so there is no need to make Himself known. If you are part of the chosen you will believe.

I am a Wesleyan Arminian.

A Catholic answer

https://www.catholic.com/magazine/on...reveal-himself

[MABinPengChau]

The message has got through to billions.

Difficult and good question.

There are many different answers suggested, and the answers partly depend on whether you are an Arminian or Calvinist (which is the big divide in Christianity and centres on whether we have free will).

As an Arminian then free will is central. Love requires free will, we choose to love. God wants us to love him and a big sign in the sky would likely create obedience not love. There would be little choice. The Bible clearly states we have to seek Him. It is active not passive. It is the seeking and finding that is important through God's grace.

For the Calvinists there is no such thing as free will, God chose from the beginning who were His elect so there is no need to make Himself known. If you are part of the chosen you will believe.

I am a Wesleyan Arminian.

A Catholic answer

https://www.catholic.com/magazine/on...reveal-himself

Indeed, in Jesus Christ Superstar, Judas sings, complaining that the message was not widely spread as "Israel in 4 BC had no mass communication."

The show was big when I was in 1st grade, listened a lot at my grandparents' house, lyrics had a profound effect on me.
https://youtu.be/KJDgUoAQC8Y?si=yxz7J6__9gpXmQS8

[Elefant&Castle]

https://youtu.be/KJDgUoAQC8Y?si=WZIcexVw0FkKOgtD

[MABinPengChau]

https://youtu.be/KJDgUoAQC8Y?si=WZIcexVw0FkKOgtD

Ah, just added link at the train station...on my way to church in an actual pink, floral Easter outfit, making the supreme effort.

As long as we sing Jesus Christ is Risen Today, it will have been worth it.
https://youtu.be/p2HSklHBHxw?si=jUsffOgggbxa09y4

[East_coast]

What I don't get is why didn't Jesus travel around a bit more? Why didn't He go to China because it's been nearly 2000 years and the message still hasn't gotten through.

Why all the cloak and dagger? Why didn't God just be clear about it and come down every year with some huge display in the clouds or whatever? Why is 'belief' and 'faith' so important when He could just show up and tell us to stop acting the maggot. Does He really have faith in us to turn this around? Why did He send His son at all if He doesn't want us to know directly?

It is a most humans innate need to have 'faith' in something and for it to be organized. If there is not 'mystery' there is no need for faith. Depending where you are born usually dictates which organized religion you fall into



People need 'faith' and and for it to be organised and that is not going to change

[MABinPengChau]

What I don't get is why didn't Jesus travel around a bit more? Why didn't He go to China because it's been nearly 2000 years and the message still hasn't gotten through.

Why all the cloak and dagger? Why didn't God just be clear about it and come down every year with some huge display in the clouds or whatever? Why is 'belief' and 'faith' so important when He could just show up and tell us to stop acting the maggot. Does He really have faith in us to turn this around? Why did He send His son at all if He doesn't want us to know directly?

Indeed, Judas raises these questions (not biblical, character is the vehicle for such questions).

Lyrics below:
Every time I look at you I don't understand
Why you let the things you did get so out of hand.
You'd have managed better if you'd had it planned.
Why'd you choose such a backward time in such a strange land?
If you'd come today you could have reached a whole nation.
Israel in 4 BC had no mass communication.
Don't you get me wrong.
I only want to know.
Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ,
Who are you? What have you sacrificed?
Jesus Christ Superstar,
Do you think you're what they say you are?
Tell me what you think about your friends at the top.
Who'd you think besides yourself's the pick of the crop?
Buddha, was he where it's at? Is he where you are?
Could Mohammed move a mountain, or was that just PR?
Did you mean to die like that? Was that a mistake, or
Did you know your messy death would be a record breaker?
Don't you get me wrong.
I only want to know.
Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ,
Who are you? What have you sacrificed?
Jesus Christ Superstar,
Do you think you're what they say you are?
[Repeat]

Obviously radical thinking for a little Catholic school kid in the early 70s, pretty sure neither my parents nor my grandparents appreciated the heresy...