Jesus

I know that many people cringe when the subject of Jesus is brought up. Mainly because, if one isn't religious, it is followed up by a pitch of some sort. Cumbersome as dealing with that conversation may be, it can't be overstated the impact that Jesus Christ has had on society. It's interesting to read about the impact that he had during his time in this world. He started a movement, and the ripples of that movement are still felt all over the world to this day. While I'm skeptical about the so called miracles that he performed, I will admit that there was definitely something significant about him, otherwise he wouldn't have had the influence on humanity that he did. While I'm not a very religious person myself, I find myself in agreement with many of the principles and values that Jesus championed and employed. Historically speaking, he came to prominence because he made waves, big waves. News of his teachings and works spread through the world of his time like wildfire, and of course as we all know, reached Rome where they became the subject of much animosity. The Romans put Jesus to death because what he taught was a threat to the empire. He shook things up, he rocked the boat, and I'm not sure if the Romans were angered by that, or if they actually felted threatened. I personally think that it was a little bit of both, which is why they did what they did. I think that the "miracles" Jesus performed, as we know them today, are largely a result of exaggeration over time. That doesn't, however, lessen the impact that he had in any way. When it comes to Jesus, it's hard to distinguish fact from fiction, since he lived and did what he did so long ago. There are historical records of his existence, but it gets quite hazy when it comes to the matter of what he actually did and said. It always saddens me to hear about people perverting the words of Christ for their own petty and hateful causes. The reason that is so upsetting is that, as I learned from my catholic education, the messages Jesus most prominently spread were the ideals of peace, love, fellowship, and good works. I've read the bible, and while the old testament definitely condemned homosexuality, I've never found any passages in the new testament where Jesus said anything on the matter. There is tons of mention of peace, love, and compassion, but nothing on homosexuality. Whether you believe in Jesus or not, whether you have built your life around his teachings or are completely turned off by the simple mentioning of his name, you can't deny the massive influence the figure has had on humanity. I think that Jesus had many teachings with wonderful themes and I think that those teachings are what should be focused on when looking at the subject of Jesus Christ.