What are other Atheists thoughts on Jesus

Whatever you say.

No, not whatever I say. Rather, whatever the evidence says.

Let's review the evidence that you're wrong about there being a break between 25 and 26 that signals the end of the parable:

  • 1. 26 is surrounded by quotes, indicating it's still something Jesus is saying.
  • 2. The "they said" in 25 connects to the "he replied" in 26, showing that 26 is part of the same story as 25.
  • 3. The "I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away" in 26 completes the exchange begun in 24 (*"Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.' 'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!'") showing that 26 is part of the same story as 24-25.
  • 4. If the parable ended at 25, it comes across as being cut off at an arbitrary point, while the parable's narrative makes sense when we recognize 26-27 as part of the parable, suggesting that 26-27 is part of the parable.
  • 5. The man in 26-27 is identified as one who has returned king, which is also how the master of the parable is identified (at 12), showing that 26-27 is part of the same story as 12.
  • 6. The offenders in 26-27 are identified as those who opposed his becoming king, which is also how the offenders in the parable are identified (at 14), showing that 26-27 is part of the same story as 14.
  • 7. We have another source for the same parable, which even you agree places the passages from lines 26-27 in the Luke source as part of the parable.

And the evidence that you're right?

  • 1. You say so.

Well, that's not really evidence, but it's all we've got.

/r/DebateAnAtheist Thread Parent