Jesus and the Money Changers
It's a miracle he survived.
I've been talking to a Christian friend in SL about the existence of God and he has offered no evidence beyond the bare assertion.
We both know that the various proofs offered in the past don't withstand scrutiny.
But I was raised as a Christian and our conversation brought bible stories to mind. Like the story of Jesus overturning the tables of the money changers in the temple. Coins scattered on the ground. Big fuss.
As I understand, at the time it cost money to worship. There were people there selling animals for sacrifice. (!) Also - people needed a particular currency when they paid the temple for rituals - hence the need for money changers.
Jesus was outraged at this activity that was profaning his Father's house of worship.
Jesus boldly went in and messed the operation up.
When I was 8 I cheered for Jesus and learned to not like money changers.
Reflecting on the story, I'm amazed at a detail that I missed until lately.
Jesus actually survived.
I think money changers would not just be guys sitting at a table with coins. They'd have lots of armed guards. The bible didn't mention that.
I speculate that during this time in his ministry Jesus was accompanied by a large mob (also not mentioned).
I'm struck by how much right wing people all over the world are following that path. They present themselves as striding in and upsetting the tables of normalcy.
There are other bible stories that strike me. Jesus once fed a multitude by dividing a fish and a loaf. The obvious miracle there is dividing a fish and a loaf to feed a multitude.
An unsung miracle is getting the multitude to be satisfied with a piece of fish and bread.
Trump flips the script - instead of him feeding the multitude the multitude feeds him
And he's not satisfied with a bit of fish and a bit of bread
What do you think?
I present regular philosophy discussions in a virtual reality called Second Life.
I set a topic and people come as avatars and sit around a virtual table to discuss it.
Each week I write a short essay to set the topic.
I show a selection of them here.