A part of me still wants to believe in god even though I do not want to. I have read loads of philosophical/atheist books, but the image of Christ always sucks me back in; it is like my kryptonite. But what if I were to do some kind of blasphemy against it.... do you think it could set me free?

Have you thought about joining Isis, that should just about do the trick

i think the bible is a great owners manual
but as far as religion , it scares me , i have seen to much blood shed over it

keep doing your research : )
only one who can tell you what is right is yourself

best wishes on your hunt

That or you could become blind for a few days and end up becoming a new apostle to the Gentiles.... Tread wisely...

Okay, I love Pansytilly's reference to the Apostle Paul or Saul being struck blind while on the road to Damascus.

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Really, how important is Your assumption as to what Jesus actually looked like?

Maybe, the blasphemy is the habitual belief that a would-be image of Jesus, is something to be venerated.

Idolatry, is Idolatry.

The only thing we really know about what the Messiah looked like is he was a Hebrew. he would look Middle Eastern. Not like the pictures we have escpecially of the Halo over his head..

Judas had to Kiss him for the soldiers to know who he was. so he looked like everyone else

Jesus was Aryan. He was also very anti-Semitic.

'splain Red,'splain!

Ok, Conrad, I will. His "teachings" were basically criticisms of the way Jews live. He obviously despised their practices, and their morality. And if you look at any of his pictures, you'll see he has blonde hair and blue eyes.

I find it confusing that you describe the image of Christ being what sucks you back in; typically what does this is fear of hell or other such condemnation. If that is what you may have meant, in that you would be looked upon unfavorably by the image you have of your religious figurehead, then there are organizations out there to help overcome this fear and provide a social network for you should you become ostracized from your community by rejecting their faith. You shouldn't be forced to stay in a religion that wasn't your choice to become indoctrinated into in the first place because of fear or a misplaced loyalty (I think a comparison to house slaves back in the pre-Civil War days is an appropriate analogy here).

If your problem is something else, however, and you communicated it in such a way that it was inscrutable to myself and presumably others, then good luck sorting it out in whatever manner you choose.

<---- This is me laughing ---<<<

I'm envisioning Jesus doing the Goose-Step, while Richard Wagner plays in the back-ground.

Okay...! It's more tolerable now.

Nope...! Conrad, I need another adult-diaper.

Why Conrad, You handsome Devil...!

I didn't know You had blonde hair and blue eyes.

(This Just Gets Better All The Time)