NT Wright says Jesus was Insane: Atheism or Religion? Debate

[changeinjoy]

Whether or not one agrees that Wright was making this claim (though he was not), this is a very anti-intellectual argument. To get into the habit of taking writers this far out of context fosters the act of taking scripture out of context.

This promotes an unthinking sort of faith, which lacks both charity and any real interest in digging deeper into the scripture.

[crustomatic16]

Andrew...nice try...NT Wright would put you in check in 3 moves

[danallison100]

You are committing slander. Shame on you.

[candiceevans1]

i think he was referring to when satan took him up on a high mountain etc he was assuming this was not physical but imaginary and that is really dangerous ,,,this saying Jesus is a fruit loop is BLASPHEMY AND A DISGRACE

[pwnedbyagnome]

Wow...did you folks who made this video actually read the book? anwyays, let me point out that you completely misunderstood what Wright was intending to communicate: Jesus, as he was completely human(as well as completely God), experienced tramatic temptation in his "encounter" with Satan. NOT....Jesus was crazy or mentally confused.

Around 3:00 you said basically that believing Jesus could have demons in his head denies his sovereignty is not well-thought thru...Jesus was also human--temptation

[ambigroove]

FYI if you fast for a long period of time and get deficient on vitamins you can very well start to hear voices and have hallucinations. B-vitamin deficiency can cause audio hallucinations.

[Famespeare]

What a waste of a lot of hot air!!!!

[BoricuaChiTown]

he was probably just struggling with the demons of the prophecies in Isaiah 60, where it was said that the messiah would come to massacre anyone who didn't want to pay taxes to Israel, which would end up being an empire like Rome, except theocratic in nature

[BoricuaChiTown]

1 Samuel 9:9

[BoricuaChiTown]

i think jesus was probably a schizophrenic or epyleptic if this is literal truth, but most likely he was just a very ordinary shaman who went on a vision quest, and his quest was presented in poetic terms in the Bible, where there are many other fraudulent supernatural claims made about him. keep in mind that his mentor also exhibited signs of shamanic religiosity and spirit work: john the baptist wore animal hides (camel). the prophetic tradition is really shamanism accordin to 1 Samuel 9:9

[SuperZoosk]

Your premise for assuming that Wright is literally likening Jesus to someone as insane, ridden with lunacy, and hearing "voices" in his head is faulty, especially considering the fact that Wright is only using metaphors to describe evil as is seen by the common man, including Jesus. In fact, you are completely overlooking the point Wright is desiring to make in the chapter and are unnecessarily focusing on one section, while blowing it out of context.

[Daneger08]

Jesus was God on Earth. How would the things He said not be insane to us sinners who have dwealt in darkness so long?? NT Wright is blameless in calling Jesus insane...

[johndjonesiii]

dude.... Did you yield to the voices in ur head to take such potent truth and put ur own "religious" spin on it. This is spot on Truth bro. But, it's better you wrestle with it than just accept it as truth I reckon. If you are truly seeking God, you will find Him. How do I know this? Only because He said so. I know nothing.

[InnovationalFilms]

We are held accountable for every idle word and action. This life is not a game. Think before you act. I have a strong inclination that you know better, AndrewcBain. You still have the oppurtunity to remove this video

[TheLionside]

I refuse to believe that AndrewcBain is actually serious. I instead regard him as a Excellent internet Troll, who simply says things to get reactions.

[michael204351]

Really? This is frustrating. It is true that anyone can fall into error; no man is above it. However, you should think long and hard before speaking such great accusations against someone who has devoted his life to spreading the message of God and who obviously loves his Creator with a deep passion. "Do not forth as a tale-bearer among your people." (Leviticus 19:16)

[dcoburn88]

What Wright is saying is that Jesus was subject to temptations like every human being is. Whoever made this video has taken Wright's words and horribly twisted them.

[xxpowwowbluexx]

This is stupid.

[elliswilliam01]

This is an exceptionally poor video. It is both misleading and lacks any real thought for or care of reason. And I don't feel I need to qualify that since this is apparent to anybody from the title of the video and it's content.

[MichaelnChristine]

"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from all evil. For thine is..." If you are going to critique Christianity you may want to study it. Just a thought. Also believe in God or don't...I personally don't know... but Jesus was schizophrenic? Come on now. Next you are going to argue that the Christian God is mean. Which as an Atheist argument is just silly.

[DimebagCFH4Life]

Jesus was a Schizo

[bunkhabit]

AndrewcBain wants to know what an atheist would have to say about this insignificant epistemological decoy. Why would he think the "ideas" in this video, or ANY superstition-based metaphysical "ideas" would have ANY impact or meaning to an atheist? Ridiculous.

[thelogicalGuy]

jesus did not imangine vocies in his head ..he was tempted by satan....Jesus will always use the word of god......and do not teach that the holy ghost is a lie ....you will be damned......satan does not want the truth to be revealed but it shalll be revealed

[flizzleFlopper]

To love a race of beings intent on following our own perversions, calling it good, and spitting in the very face of God...yes, I suppose by a certain standard Christ was insane.

[HHGary]

He's not saying Jesus was a fruit loop. He's simply examining the human experience of temptation - the voice in your head which says, "go ahead and do it - why not?" Then he adds that to the fact that Jesus was fully human (as well as fully God), so most likely experienced temptation similarly.

[talkisreal22]

well said

[Politicimo]

Hmm.  Perhaps a simple misunderstanding? Or not?

[thendo00]

All it takes to unravel your shoe-knot is to understand the personal battle with the enemy that each one of us takes on by being a Christian. Satan is not out right in physical manifestation in front of us, but can tempt us through our thoughts, which is a deceptive veiling of himself that brings confusion.

[dancingkid1]

Goodness me... does it not strike anyone else as clearly metaphorical?

[vvintermoon]

if Jesus did he exist he was insane...

[clayfimm]

The 2 guys in the video take themselves way too seriously and forget what it is to be human. YES, Jesus is FULLY GOD, BUT it also must be remembered also that he was also FULLY HUMAN. Do not you and I and ALL humans have these funny little 'voices' tempting us to do things maybe many times each day? All sins come from voices inside us. Maybe they are our own brain reasoning, or maybe they are more 'external' forces tempting us. He was tempted in all ways as we are, but paid no heed..

[Boenairgeez]

i noticed you did not have Bishop Wright on in person. Your lack of understanding would have been evident.

[donquicody]

I pity the two in this conversation. RIse to level and tone of the text you're reading! I've read "Evil and the Justice of God," and you are simply misconstruing what Wright says in his book. Anyone who listened to this youtube post, do yourself a favor and read Wright for yourself.

[jsharp1701]

Ten minutes of pseudointellectual rubbish. I would like to know how YOU personally experience temptation. How is that possible without inner conflict? Does Satan appear to you visibly and talk to you audibly? Or does he - as Wright says - 'whisper' inaudible ideas to you? Does that make you a "fruit-loop" to hear those voices? Jesus "was tempted in all areas just as we." I can't believe that didn't include similar methods. To believe that Jesus was above inner conflict is silly. See Gethsemane.

[forevergrasping]

Amen. Good reply. you saved me the time.

[vandyparks]

You guys need to read the Church father's and read St Athanansis on the Incarnation.

[Vandal556]

I hear voices in my head too. Anybody up for worshipping me?

[Bubdylan524]

Oh, now that I see your post "CS Lewis said the Bible is Wicked," I'm sorry I've wasted my time here.

[Bubdylan524]

A pretty irresponsible video. I almost believe it's a joke. Do you really find in this quote the idea that N.T. Wright thinks Jesus is/was crazy? C'mon, REALLY?

Please take this down until you've done more homework.

[aseriesofletters]

Wright is referring to the trial of Jesus in the desert, found in the New Testament Gospel accounts, where "Satan" mocks him and tries to tempt him.

I think it should be clear that Wright isn't implying that Jesus was insane or demon-posessed.

Rather, he's taking some liberty in interpreting that Satan ("he or it") is heard inside Jesus' head in that experience.

Without reading into his comments, this should be clear to anyone who has felt negative thoughts that we will fail or of temptation.

[JWDanielsFC]

The Question, if NT Wright thinks Jesus is a "fruit-loop" assumes that the bishop is thinking in an anachronistic and ethnocentric way - so, WRONG QUESTION. Hearing voices "in one's head" was likely quite normal for an ancient Mediterranean experiencing what social scientists call an alternate state of conscious experience - which is exactly what Jesus' time in the wilderness was. Such experiences were possible in his time and place, and quite normal too. And, quite REAL in that world view.

[davedubyas]

If you had read any of Wright' stuff you would know that he heartily opposes the Jesus Seminar's whacky ideas, and that his scholarship is extensively researched and honest.

[RoninTXBR549]

Oops, oops, oops, I'm soryy, you're right... For some reason, I have confused Wright with Marcus Borg. NT Wright is much more of a real theologian than the fellows of the Jesus Seminar, although I don't fully agree with Wright... Anyway, I stand corrected. Thanks.

[davedubyas]

Ahh now you make sense. Yeah Marcus Borg is nutty. Sorry about the mixup.

[Carex09]

The confusing part of all this is that God creates all movement in the world, anytime that anything moves- including us humans and all the thoughts that we have that might ever arise. That being said it is pointless to debate on whether or not Jesus heard the "actual" voice of God or was just crazy- because all thoughts arise verily from the same source- God- not us as humans.

[Carex09]

There are few people that are enlightened by God as to where their thoughts and words come from- most- if not all people just think they make it up.Was Jesus Christ crazy? Crazy yes according to modern medicine- he would be a schizophrenic. But to me he was enlightened (by God's will- not by his own) enough to see that all thought does not arise from self.

[neoandros1]

If you've seriously read anything this scholar has written you'd be embarrassed at your exercise in totally missing the point. Are you that literalistic and detached from human struggle that you'd miss his obvious intent to evoke a resonance between our own temptation and Jesus? I suppose that your secure grasp on the literal meaning of scripture, as opposed to a world-class biblical scholar, has rescued you from struggle with evil. Certitude is not faith, just another form of human idolatry.

[a5dr3]

Absolutely unbelievable. Another malicious video adding to the already incontestable case that you employ theological charlatanism to inflate your maniacal ego. Keep it up. The more you talk the less I have to worry about people being led astray by your sanctimonious lunacy. Can't wait to see who you'll slander next. The Apostle Paul maybe?

[thecheshirelad]

Tom Wright is a sound Bible teacher and is one of the best evangelical theologians in the world today. It is very sad that you have completely misunderstood what he is saying. I suggest that you read more carefully before you make any more ignorant comments on his views.

[danturis]

This should rely be taken down. This is very seriously a poor understanding of what Wright is saying. Please save yourself the embarrassment of your own conclusions. This is not a provocative critique of Wright, its a foolish misreading.

[DaleCampbell]

It is not Wright who is reading things into the scripture, but you who are reading things into Wright...

In no way is Wright saying Jesus was 'insane'. The title and subject of this video appear to be intentionally (and dangerously) provocative to get 'hits'... This is a harmful tactic. Wright is a good scholar who loves Christ.

Don't paint him in this light...

[allthatorigenwrote]

Furthermore, they are showing the incarnation to be a trinitarian act: The Son took the fullness of flesh, empowered by the Spirit, carrying out the will of the Father.

[allthatorigenwrote]

This video testifies to the on-going misunderstanding of the incarnation. Teachers and theologians like Wright have made significant progress to bring this central tentant of theology to a true and honest understanding. They are trying to reveal the 'kenosis' (the emptying) of the incarnation in all its fullness, asking, "What does it mean that God was flesh, as I am flesh?"

[balzac308777]

Wow

This is the biggest misrepresantation of a well distuingished theologian I have ever seen. I suggest those slamming Wright should actually look him up before listening to a youtube video twisting his words. Look up what he actually says in full then one bit, or think about what he is actually saying. Wright has contributed more to the field of the historical Jesus as well as apolegetics then most ever accomplish. just read his "jesus and the victory of God".

[nyemane]

N.T. wright did not say that "jesus had demons inside of his head" as you state. He said that he heard voices. Whether he heard them in his head or audibly is not of importance. The fact is, he was tempted. Thats all that matters. Who cares and what importance is it, if he heard it in his head or through his ears????? Satan got his point accross to Jesus and Jesus did not succumb. Thats all that N.T. Wright is communicating.

This is some trivial tangent that you have gone on!

[cmc1of3]

You are absolutely ridiculous.

If you want to criticize these writers and teachers, then you should at least know what you're talking about. You say that they're making claims that are not based on the Bible, yet you refute them with NO Biblical support.

Stop making Christianity look stupid. You make it more difficult for serious Christians to openly share their faith without fear of being aligned with someone like you.

[thruthem]

What makes faith difficult to share is truth, science, logic and the 21st century.

Truth is not afraid of discussion and opinion. Censorship is how the lie of religion survived for centuries but no more!!!

Don't be ignorant sheeple, shed your superstition and teach your kids science!

[Eikinkloster]

"Truth is not afraid of discussion and opinion"

Actually, truth doesn't have feelings. Truth doesn't think, it doesn't have a brain.

[thruthem]

It's a figure of speech. Don't be so literal or you may fall pray to religion!

[thruthem]

Is this a joke?

Why are you wasting time on this silly bla bla about nothing? Was Dionysus depressed, did Baal feel empty sometimes? LOL

Are you kidding me?

This is the 21st Century, right?

[billybagbom]

@thruthem: Yes, by all means, let's discuss something relevant and importatnt by today's enlightened standards. For example, what will Lady Gaga do next?

[das1117]

I take this as Wright trying to express his personal relationship with the scripture. So he does something here a bit odd for christians, he humanizes Jesus. The voices he references make more sense if seen as his own self doubt and merely his questions and confusions about what is to come. He has obviously found a way to make the story of Jesus real to his life ie "flesh and blood".

understanding. Obviously his communication skills fall short of illustrating this to the rest of us.

[das1117]

As far as satan goes he seems to be somewhat more rational than most christians these days.

He ascribes all energy effort on the part of human beings that is not focused on divine reason to be the sum of evil on earth. A bit more of a stretch is to say that energy and effort of a selfish or unenlightened population causes evil to men. Not an original idea by any means. I am not a christian, but I do appreciate personal expression.

[km6xz]

If there was a person named Jesus, there is no evidence one way or another whether mental illness was present. The belief in a devil is not any more unsupportable as believing in a god, evidence is glaringly lacking for either enitity existing. The bible certainly is not a reliable source document, it has evolved with cultural drift over the centuries and written and rewritten long after all the possible observers were dead. Silly discussion.

[neoandros1]

thanks for clearing up 2000 years of intellectual history, philosophy, theology and the faith of millions who've examined the truth of the Christian faith with nothing less than their lives and its ultimate truth. You're obviously a learned historian of antiquity and literature to be able to make such a sweeping dismissal. So what truth do you base your own life and human history on?

[km6xz]

I have not examined the "truth of the Christian faith", for believers truth is not an operative term, faith by definition is not related to truth, fact or evidence. Belief as you wish, but please to not conflate that with truth, fact or wisdom with faith. Why worry if there is no evidense for the claims of the faithful? There is no need to be concern until they broaden their claims of rights to dictate secural policy and become involved in realms outside of faith.

[6StringPhilosopher]

Everyting Wright says is documented in the the scripture, it's not speculation as is claimed in this video. Jesus was tempted by Satan in the Bible, and that seems to be the extent of the claim made. You are twisting his words around so that your agenda seems more feasible. Anyone with a cursive knowledge of scripture can tell that what you claim is absolutely false. Jesus did hear the revelant voice in his head, and the voice of Satan, yet this making him a fruitloop is somewhate speculatory.

[imadhurata]

as an outsider, i think u r nitpickicking at his words, ignoring what he says, which is kinda unfair.

maybe he didn't choose his words well or he made a mistake, n even if he hasn't, thats not the issue he was addressing.

eventhough that the guy u quoting didn't have a voice, he won out.