Nathan’s Nonsense

I recently ran across a website containing quotes about Jesus Christ. You can check out the website for yourself here. The site has quotes from the first millenium, the second millenium, then quotes from the modern era. Though it’s a Christian website, it was interesting to read quotes by Friedrich Nietzsche, Mahatma Gandhi, and a few others who either aren’t personally Christ followers or they oppose Christ all together. I’d like to share a few of my favorites:

“Who is this, that even the wind and waves obey him!” - Jesus’ disciples.

“He who alone was free among the dead - because he was free to lay down his life and free to take it up again - was for us both victor and victim… and it is because he was the victim that he was also the victor.” - St. Augustine (354-430)

“Socrates dies with honor, surrounded by his disciples listening to the most tender words - the easiest death that one could wish to die. Jesus dies in pain, dishonor, mockery, the object of universal cursing - the most horrible death that one could fear. At the receipt of the cup of poison, Socrates blesses him who could not give it to him without tears; Jesus, while suffering the sharpest pains, prays for His most bitter enemies. If Socrates lived and died like a philosopher, Jesus lived and died like a god.” - Jean-Jacques Rousseau, French philospher (1712-78)

“If Jesus Christ were to come today, people would not crucify him. They would ask him to dinner, hear what he had to say, and make fun of it.” - Thomas Carlyle, British historian (1795-1821)

“After the fall of so many gods in this century, this person (Jesus), broken at the hands of his opponents and constantly betrayed through the ages by his adherents, is obviously still for innumerable people the most moving figure in the long history of mankind.” - Hans Küng, German Theologian (born 1928)

These are just a few of my favorites, but I also enjoyed reading some of the opposing quotes. It fascinates me to read or hear people’s intellectual thoughts on Jesus. Take a look at the list of quotes, then, if you have a moment, share a few of your own thoughts!