TruthBook Religious News Blog

By Rachel Smeda

May 23, 2008

As part of its first Theology Weekend, Karis Community Church gave three panelists the chance to present and defend diverse viewpoints of who Jesus is. Answers to questions such as whether Jesus claimed to be the son of God define the boundaries between Christianity, Judaism, Islam and other major religions. The panelists’ conversation is not the only discourse on this subject happening in America. Summaries of a few other news stories on the debate about the identity of Jesus add a broader perspective to the ongoing debate.

Unitarian Universalism

The Rev. Bill Haney, a Unitarian Universalist pastor

Who was Jesus? A good man: “The gospels are the biography of Jesus, a man.”

Way to heaven? A mystery: “If God is good, why would God condemn anyone?”

“The UU tradition stems from the questioning side of the Christian experience. To question, to doubt, are essential to my exploration of faith.”

“Being a Christian is how one acts, not necessarily what one believes.”

“I’m more interested in the religion of Jesus than a religion about Jesus.”

“I worship God and not the Bible.”

“You could say that I am not a Christian because I don’t believe in vicarious atonement, that another’s death can make me right with God.”

Islam

Dr. Shakir Al-Ani, an Islamic speaker

Who was Jesus? A prophet: “Jesus was a human messenger from God to teach people where they went astray and to bring them back.”

Way to heaven? Through both faith and works: “Just believing in Jesus, peace be upon him, will not usher you into heaven.”

“Jesus did not come to be sacrificed because we are each responsible for our sins. Individual responsibility is the way to get to heaven.”

“Why would God sacrifice one person for another’s sins? An attribute of God is forgiver because he is all-powerful and has no limits, so why does he need a price to be paid for sin?”

“Jesus never claimed to be the son of God. It was said over him by others, including the writer of John, but never professed by himself.”

“Jesus was not with God in the beginning. God is independent of his creation and does not need a son.”

“Jesus was not crucified. God gave a look-alike to die on the cross and Jesus was raised to heaven.”

“Jesus came with a spiritual message to affirm the Torah and to correct the deficiencies in Jews’ lives.”

Christianity

Dr. Tom Schreiner, a Baptist pastor and New Testament theologian

Who was Jesus? Son of God: “Jesus did claim to be the son of God; in the Gospel of John, Jesus said, ‘Before Abraham was, I am.’”

Way to heaven? Trust in Jesus: “I think Jesus’ central message was that God’s kingdom was coming — in other words, the day of judgment and salvation. Therefore, all human beings must repent and believe in him in order to be spared on the day of judgment.”

“People need a savior because there is something dramatically wrong with human beings.”

“Universalism trivializes sin because it says that at the end of the day, all will be saved.”

“We’ve strayed from God and followed the creature rather than the creator. People have trusted themselves rather than God.”

“Jesus was crucified, according to the best historical evidence available, and rose from the dead.”

“One cannot claim to honor Jesus, I would argue, and reject what is said of him in the Scriptures.”

“Jesus came so that we would be entranced by God and fall in love with him.”

“God cannot just forgive because an essential part of his nature is justice and holiness. Sin must be paid for.”

Labels: Christianity, Islam, Jesus, Rachel Smeda, Unitarianism