To be clear, I am not an atheist. However, which life would they admire, the one we were told he lived or the one that he really lived? The only really evidence that he lived a pure life was in the Bible and most atheists do not believe in the Bible so why would you think there was any chance that they believe that Jesus lived the life the Bible claimed? If they do not believe that, why would they admire him or his life? Seems to me that your whole thread has no logical basis what so ever.
Logical Basis - this thread was made to prove a point in another thread, as i previously stated. I was insulted because this atheist said that he admired Jesus, and he couldn't understand why i didn't understand how that was possible. He said i was ignorant because i could not compute his relationship with Jesus
I don't believe, so why would i admire something that in my view never existed or is a fraud? I do admire the stones 2000 years back, i think ill start a stone-cult, anyone wanna join? Note: My views might be wrong in some eyes, but Christianity was designed to control (maybe not designed, but it's been used to, and still people chose to follow it, bah) I won't rant on, doubt anyone would want to read it, and it would be boring to write..
I am sure he was admiring him for the fact that one of the world's largest religions started off the words of a man who claimed to be the Son of God. It has nothing to do with admiring the life he lived, it has to do with the fact that he was able to put into motion a major event in history that has changed the world. Even someone who does not believe can still admire that kind of charisma without admiring the life itself.
True prophets influence billions of people's life, and indirectly the rest of the world, after thousands of years from their time. That alone is enough reason to pay attention even when you don't believe what they had to say. Since good and evil do exist, they can be admired for the same reasons they are hated by some, if not as prophets, as outstanding figures of world history.
I don't know if he even existed. Since he was a thorn in the side of the Roman empire, perhaps there are state documents that mention him. Reference to him in documents outside of religious context would provide some verification to convince me that he lived. Maybe there are some, I don't know...but if there are, I'm sure someone will post about it.
I would be the "insulting atheist," folks. You can judge for yourselves. http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=534312&page=47, to the end of the thread. I do not believe in divinity. I believe the example of the historical Christ is an admirable one in many ways. Selflessness, thinking of others, attention on matters of the heart and mind over outward manifestations and displays, and more, are all things I admire. So, yes, I am an atheist who admires many things about the life of Christ. Some of that comes from the historical man (there is evidence for his existence), some of that comes from the creed as written down, which may or may not square with reality. Either way, yes, I am an atheist who finds much to admire in many religious figures and in the putative ethos they espouse.
This thread made me laugh. I was starting to post to say someone should start a website about this... Then I thought, what the heck so I went to blogger http://atheistforjesus.blogspot.com/ "We are the atheists for Jesus! We don't really believe in him. We just wanted to start this website to cover our bases. Eternal damnation would kind of suck!!"
Sure it was an accident. I can smell propaganda when I see it. You know, I'm feeling kind of blue. I think we need a thread, "Does Jesus Admire Atheists?"