I wish you this even though I don't believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But I do recognize the importance of ritual, and I do recognize the importance of being a part of the world rather than always sitting in a position of judgment. That's no way to live and I should know; I've lived that way most of my life.

Besides there's always the chance that I am wrong about the whole Jesus thing. I don't think so, given that the story sounds so very much like the mythologies of other cultures. Also there's no physical evidence to support the claim that a human was able to walk again after being verifiably dead. The Discovery documentary demonstrates via empirical methods that Jesus was buried in a family crypt and stayed put like the rest of us do once we're down. Makes total sense to me.

Indeed I feel that the point of Christ works much better if he's mortal. For in many ways his message still resonates: beware of the wealthy; beware of your own greed; beware of the values of the marketplace. Certainly I work actively every single day to align my values with those that could be called Christian as actually recorded in scripture. (I have no interest in the anti-homosexual, anti-abortion politics that some have pasted onto this theology in spite of Jesus's utter silence on the topics). I don't need to fear hell to want to make the world a better place. And surely no one would suggest that I'm divine!

So given that this teacher had some wonderful ideas that we still need to work towards, what's the harm if he was exactly like us, meaning mortal? To me this suggests the possibility of striving to be our best selves while on this earth--we don't need to be "gods" to do so. He wasn't. I'm not. You aren't either.

Therefore today I reject the principle that there was a visionary man who wasn't really a man, just as I embrace the idea that I can serve those who need help with a glad heart. I can pay my taxes with joy, knowing that some of them go to feed hungry children, provide shelter and medical aid to the poor.

As to how those who do believe in the divinity of Christ justify withholding money from the desperate, as to how those who won't support welfare, who do support war, believe that they are in any way following the model set by their lord, I can't begin to imagine. But I do hope that they have a happy easter. That's the christ-like thing to do.