I go to church, but can't help beleiving that it is much more likely that Jesus was a mere mortal......

[northerner]

Just seems more liekly to me imo.

I do enjoy gping to church, I like the people, I like the morals in will instill into my ds who enjoys Sunday School, I like the whole church ethos. Just think Jesus was a mortal man like any other who just happened to preach goodness.

With this in mind, is there still a place for me in a place of worship?

Just looking for opinions, lets not get heated

Its not the dying only, its the other things He said - " I am ther Way and the Truth and the Life", "No-one comes to the father but by me'. 'I am the Good Shepherd', etc, etc, etc
......

Surely somebody saying those things isn't evidence of anything, though? The world's mental hospitals are full of people who say they are Christ (or Elvis, or the tooth fairy for that matter). I'm not saying Jesus wasn't the Son of God. I am pointing out that the evidence you have presented, harissey - namely 1) that he died for his beliefs/the good of others, and 2) that he said things that implied that he thought he was the Messiah - are evidence of nothing.

Message withdrawn

Greensleeves, I'm afraid I agree with you. The evidence I've seen (and I've looked from both sides) has convinced me that the claims that Jesus is supposed to have made for himself have been made on his behalf by others, but that it is possible to detect a consistency in the Synoptic gospels to get a good idea of what Jesus actually did teach. I know that not to believe in the divinity of Jesus makes my faith invalid in the eyes of some but I will not lie in order to claim memebership of the church.

harrisey, I will have alook at that book you mention. I so want to believe as I used to...

Message withdrawn

Thanks, bloss. I will have a look at those.

Actually I don't agree with a lot of what Spong says, but I find it good to read him as I end up realising I believe in more than I sometimes think I do, IYSWIM! He challenges me, and at the same time comforts me that it's okay not to toe the party line.