Extracting the Divinity out of Jesus

I read this review of Bill OReilly's latest book "Killing Jesus" on The Catholic Thing Blog

I read the book earlier this month and I had similar thoughts on the book. I read through most of OReilly's Killing Lincoln and I think it was well done. The historicity structure of the book is well done. The final hour of the presidents life is described in enough detail draw one into that fateful tragic evening.

O'Reilly's structure of portraying Jesus only in historical terms just doesn't work because of one very important factor...no pun intended.

....This is Jesus Christ, Son of God! You can't extract the historical Jesus without diminishing his divinity.

Bill sticks to his outline of Jesus with only facts he can prove with whatever resource he uses. And so while reading the book Jesus' character seems diminished and seems to doubt himself and Bill says just that, "he can't focus on his message to his disciples".

That's what I mean of his human aspect takes over his divine aspect. He is fully human and fully divine and I realize O'Reilly is sticking to his guns on the historicity approach however I couldn't help but get the feeling that Jesus seems kind of hollow.

In some of his statements on this show "The Factor", he has mentioned that he believes that many of the biblical passages mentioned at those times on his show are "Allegorical". While it's true that the Allegory is a sense of reading bible passages there are actually four senses of Scripture. The other three others that Bill never mentions (at least I haven't heard his say) are Literal, Moral and Anagogical and one passage can have more than one.



Also in one of his interviews promoting his new book, he seems to be saying that he doesn't believe Jesus said anything that could be heard while hanging on the cross. What about "Son behold your Mother....Mother your Son"?

How about "...it is finished".

I wonder if while only providing "historical provable facts" O'Reilly has convinced himself of dismissing some important aspects of the Catholic Faith.

Not once does he mention his claim of "you must eat my body  and drink my blood in order for you to have life". This is one of Jesus' most important claims and the focal point of our Mass.No other church makes this claim of consuming Christ.

Anyway I can't prove that, only he can answer that of himself.

I do like the early chapters involving the the history of Rome, the settings of the Holy Lands and the description of the relationship of the Romans and the Jewish people.

Not a bad book, again I just don't think believe it portrays the full Jesus.

Jesus is not just a historical character.like President Lincoln or President Kennedy, he is God.

You can't take the Divinity out of Jesus.

Roman's Invented Jesus to control Jews

As an argument against the existence of Jesus Christ, I've heard that individuals invented religion to make themselves feel better, to give themselves a false sense of hope.

But....This is a new one for me.

Joseph Atwill, a biblical scholar has a theory that he want to share with the world.

"The Roman's made up Jesus to control the Jewish people..."

Okay, bring it forward. I don't believe it for one minute of coarse but I'd like to see it.

Just a few days ago I saw a brief interview with a Professor Candida Moss on Fox's The Factor. She professed the theory that Jesus was a socialist.

She is an author of a book discrediting the martyrdom of believers for the faith. Atheism...wow they seem to be coming out of the wood work these days but I'm sure there were plenty along the 2000 year history of the Catholic Church



I think its good to hear the arguments. Thomas Aquinas showed that it's better to know the arguments against the faith, and to address them one by one.

Thomas called it The Summa Theologica.

Gonna, look this one up in the Summa. I'm sure its addressed there...

I'm going to start here...the Third Part of the Summa, STh III, Life of Christ

Here's the article on Joseph Atwill theory:

Scholar claims Romans invented Jesus as form of psychological warfare

Obama Keeps Catholics From Attending Mass

Shutdown via Republicans or Democrats, the real "bucks stop here" person is president Obama himself.

He is the one in charge!

The military authorities have closed all chapels and in affect keeping Catholics from attending Holy Mass.

The military doesn't act without higher authority.....yes Mr. Obama's administration, but the direction is from MR.OBAMA!

The word is out "make things has hard as possible!", for veterans, elderly, Social Security recipients. This administration even has the gull to deny death benefits for our son's and daughters who have given their lives for our government representative and elected president so they can play political power games.

They are now closing all military chapels and arresting priests hired to support the spiritual needs of the soldiers.

And especially Catholics who have an obligation to attend mass on Sundays.

It's getting more and more obvious and "in-your-face" that our government is loosing touch with the people.

...and more and more obvious that this president has no shame when taking aware our religious freedom

Priest: Obama Admin. Denied Mass to Catholics    

Gravity Movie and Habakkuk

Today's Sunday readings  had a great message about fortitude and trust in God's plan, even when things don't seem to be going according to our plans. Habakkuk's cries to God, pointing out the evils and tragedies of the day are similar to our own cries about the government shutdown, jobs, food shelter, the lose of a loved one, our pains and sufferings.

We often don't see God's pain and the purpose of our crosses. God tells us in the Sunday readings to wait as see how his plans will come it's fulfillment.

Gravity, staring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney is the lastest block buster out in theaters. So the wife and I went to see it after mass today. 

What a perfect movie to drive home the message from the Sunday meetings. A message of fortitude and not giving up even when faced with tragedy or when we feel at the end of our rope.

The scenes and special affects were spectacular, but the message of the movie is right on with God's message of hope and trust in Him.

Enjoy the movie!