The Tension of Faith

I did. Resurrection means rising from the dead. It doesn't have special Christian connotations that some denominations accept and others don't. You can pretend that Jesus was special but you can't pretend that the word resurrection applies only to Him.

Yes. He rose from the dead. That's what the word means. Just Google "Resurrection of Lazarus". Yes. That's what the word means. We don't usually use it in that context; we usually use it for a miraculous event - but the resurrection of Lazarus was no more or less miraculous than the resurrection of Jesus. Resurrection is resurrection.

You're looking at it backwards. The belief is not the cause of the deeds. The deeds are a symptom of the belief.

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Matthew 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

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You can be a Muslim or a Buddhist or an atheist and do His will. You can be a Christian and not do His will. The only belief that matters is belief in doing the deeds.

Humans are social animals. Our consciences evolved as a mechanism to foster the survival of the species. Unfortunately, religions often try to outsource conscience to an alien overlord.

I'm not saying that the resurrection of Jesus wasn't different from the resurrection of Lazarus. I'm saying that your quibbling about the meaning of the word is wrong. Paul may have added a different spin to Jesus' resurrection but he doesn't get to dictate what English words mean.

I really don't care how some people interpret resurrection in the Bible. As I said, just Google "resurrection of Lazarus". You'll find that other people do use the word "resurrection" in reference to Lazarus.

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He has told you, O man, what is good ; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8

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So nothing about Jesus at all.

And you know darn well that I don't put any stock in "implications". I just go by what the Bible says.

Why does it need confirmation? The point is right in your own signature: God doesn't require you to believe in Jesus.

It's your signature. You tell me. If your own signature says that Jesus isn't required, why do you claim He is?

My point was to point out what your signature says.You have a habit of treating your beliefs as fact - e.g. your distinction between resurrection and resurrection. It's like pulling teeth trying to get you to admit something is just your belief.

You insisted that Lazarus was not resurrected. I agreed that there were differences between his resurrection and Jesus' - but a resurrection is still a resurrection. It's you turning a minor observation on my part into a debate, the same as you did with the word resurrection. You could have just said, "Yes, you're right."

So you think Jesus said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it reluctantly unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

But you're not asking how high. You're saying it's more important to believe Jesus said it than to do it.Suppose He was saying, "Duck!" Does it matter who says it? Or should you just duck before you get your head blown off?

Pascal was Catholic. When he talked about unbelievers, he was referring to you.