A New Testament?

(from LinkedIn, White House forum discussion)
There is more than adequate evidence to support the existence of King David and Solomon, and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Both were conquered repeatedly and recorded.
The lost years of Jesus are a subject for an interesting debate, especially when you consider some of the writings from Jesus brother about his childhood and adolescence. The young carpenter may have gone to India and learned from the Buddhists.

I think your point about Moses may have some credence. Jesus was not shy in demonstrating his disgust for certain practices of society and its leaders. But that insight only emphasizes the reason Jesus and the New Testament are a change from the Old Testament.
Moses (and the brutal, self-centered Kings) were fulfilling an earlier, brutal covenant to provide the Israelites with land and a homeland.

Genocide, mass murder, and slavery were all part of the social order in those days. If you think about it, we have not removed these elements from modern society. They still exist. Modern society at least identifies and condemns such practices. -- That fact is at least in part because of the influence of Jesus and Christianity.

Jesus stepped forward to say here is a different, less brutal, empathetic way of life. And he was crucified for it.
Simple logic applied at that point - the very Roman purpose - would make anyone wonder why Christianity ever grew. But the reason was as simple as the Arab Spring.

Neuroscience finally supports the power and importance of empathy in society. Slowly we are learning how civilization and culture abuse empathy this powerful emotive force. The greatest of lies is that culture requires power and force.
Like a new science, the structures of society, culture, and civilization come open raw under the new light. The power of empathy far exceeds every other force. When all the decoration, grandeur and weapons are gone, there will still be people banding together to learn and live.

This is the deeper truth to Christianity, IMO.
Christ truly defines a new covenant. One that is obviously misunderstood by many; and abused by many others as a reason for un-Christian acts. It is a new covenant with ourselves, others, civilization and perhaps nature itself.

If we were to follow Christ's teachings, we may finally be free of the warnings of Innanni (Ishtar) from ancient Suma, 5500 years ago.
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(T)he goddess Innanna brought the arts of civilization from the god of wisdom, Enku Eridu, like a Pandora's box
Here were the delights of society exquisite craftsmanship, beautiful clothes, the arts of sex and music,
But civilization has a darker side. said Enki, which has to be accepted along with the good. There is the art of being mighty; the art of being kind; the art of straightforwardness; the art of deceit; the art of kingship, justice, and the enduring crown; the resounding note of a musical instrument; the rejoicing of the harp; the kindling of strife; the plundering of cities; the setting off of lamentations.

Fear, pity, terror - all this is civilization, said the god of wisdom. All this I give you. And you must take it all with no argument. And once taken, you cannot give it back.
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Are Mathematical Models the Cause for Financial Crisis in the Global Eco...

Salman Khan: Let's use video to reinvent education

David Brooks: The social animal

Different types of Freedom

If you want freedom in this country, you spend your blood, sweat, and time against someone else's money.
I'm coming to realize there are different types of freedom. It all comes down to what you'll accept - a matter of choices. 

Churchill on the Truth

The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is. 
Winston Churchill 

Generosity without Affluence, and Butterflies

There are many of us who would like to see things change. The vexing question comes down to How? and Where to begin?
Or, to put it another way, Where do we find the butterfly to bring on the tsunami?

I know that people can be generous even when they have very little. That was the paradigm of life for vast numbers of Americans during the years of the Great Depression. My parents showed me innumerable examples when I was growing up.

I live in a country now, Australia, that takes national pride in its generosity towards others. I will not say it is perfect, since they have some of the same problems as the US with mental illness, aging, and disability. But the national heritage is to help each other.
It's something I no longer see in America, and it saddens me.