• some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org
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    4 days ago

    You might enjoy reading some of the works of Bart Ehrman. I’m an atheist who has been reading a lot about Jesus and the early church (first three centuries). I would recommend, How Jesus Became God.

    Anyway, good for you for recognizing prosperity bs for what it is.

    • Snowclone@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      It’s literally a sin in many sects, not to say those sects aren’t entirely hypocritical on the matter, but trading priestly duties for money is explicitly a sin in a lot of Abrahamic religions.

      • bobs_monkey@lemm.ee
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        4 days ago

        Gestures broadly at the pastors with their AMG Mercedes/M BMWs, mansions, private planes, helicopters, beach/mountain vacation houses, etc…"

    • Zloubida@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      I like Ehrman. I think Jesus had, before the Resurrection, no clear idea of who/what he was and that what Ehrman shows is how the early church not invented but discovered the divinity of Jesus.

      • some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org
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        2 days ago

        I’m convinced that he believed he was the Messiah. I don’t think he considered himself divine. I think that was invented later.

        • Zloubida@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          Yes, but:

          • that doesn’t mean he had an idea of the Trinity and his place in it;
          • it’s probably something the Evangelist added anyway.