He only cared about how people treated each other, human relationships, attitudes of the human heart, and love.
I think most atheists would agree that Jesus sounds like a great guy.
The sticking point is probably more the lack of actual evidence for a deity existing, plus the general observation that, judging from history, religious groups tend to act as if "gain political power and/or go kill that other religious group" is the highest calling.
For that matter, if Jesus returned and resumed his ministry in the modern USA, I'd actually expect more Christians to be "scandalized" than atheists.
For that matter, if Jesus returned and resumed his ministry in the modern USA, I'd actually expect more Christians to be "scandalized" than atheists.
There are two possible approaches to the Jesus story. One is to realize that he was criticizing the abuse of religious power in general, and make an effort to avoid that.
Of course, the preferred approach for those who actually do abuse religious power is to assume that his criticism focuses on some evil peculiar to the Jews, since being antisemitic is always less work than being introspective...
If you really take a look at it, it does not matter what religion or belief you follow. Once that belief includes someone taking power and ruling over people: The Pope, Stalin, Hitler, and take any modern dictator and add them to the list, the belief is up for corruption.
Remember power corrupts, and absolute power is just more fun. -- Benny Hill
I think most atheists would agree that Jesus sounds like a great guy.
The sticking point is probably more the lack of actual evidence for a deity existing, plus the general observation that, judging from history, religious groups tend to act as if "gain political power and/or go kill that other religious group" is the highest calling.
For that matter, if Jesus returned and resumed his ministry in the modern USA, I'd actually expect more Christians to be "scandalized" than atheists.