I honestly thought this was very interesting post. More people should read The One True Blog (GREAT! name) So I thought I would post the link and an excerpt.
"...it takes immense stores of chutzpah and ignorance to claim that monotheism's record of the same (violence and sectarian strife) is all an aberration from the "real" message, which, as always, corresponds exactly with the speaker's opinion. And with monotheism, the exclusivity is the entire point. The joys of the afterlife are only available to those who believe. We have the truth. You can either accept it or we can kill you. There will be no peaceful coexistence with heresy and willful perversity. Sin is not just another lifestyle choice.
Among many similar passages, Jesus said he was the way, the truth and the life, and that no one came to the Father but by him. If you're not with him, you're against him, and if you don't gather with him, you scatter. I have yet to hear of any alternate gospels where he added, "But, y'know, really, as long as you try your best and don't act like too much of a dick, it's all good. I don't really care. Peace out." If you don't believe in sin and its consequences, there's nothing to be saved from, the entire narrative makes no sense, and Jesus is just one more apocalyptic Jewish prophet eagerly anticipating the end of the world. You want everyone to just get along? Great. You don't agree with the Manichean overtones in the Bible and Quran? Wonderful. You want to just refer to them occasionally as culturally shared sources of non-denominational, inspirational aperçus? Well, I might have to say that you have terrible, unimaginative taste in literature, but sure, okay, fine. All I ask is that you own up to the responsibility of taking such a rebellious step."
http://theonetrueblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/eisejesus.html
:)
