My interpretation of Jesus's intentions: He openly claimed "I have not come to unite, but to set people against each other!" He formed his philosophy based on John the Baptist's teachings and through communion with the Lord.

Jesus seemed to want to do away with organized religion. He didn't form a church and give himself a title. He was just "Jesus of Nazareth". Others named him King of the Jews, which he denied each time it was leveled at him.

His teachings and connection to God terrified the pharisees. He threatened their power structure. This is why they had him tortured and murdered in a very graphic, public manner. I believe that the "temple splitting in half from an earthquake" at the moment of Jesus's death is a metaphor- the faith was now divided. He came to divide, and that was a symbolic representation of him completing his mission on earth.

Does any of this make sense to you? I am sort of... a recent convert. I do not attend church or anything, I read my Bible when I can and I pray. I do not believe in organized religion- based on my interpretation of the Bible and Jesus's teachings, organized religion is a form of HERESY. Catholics are like the ultimate heretics- lustful, greedy, idolatrous, ambitious... these are not the traits Jesus would want out of men.

If Jesus had laid out clear instructions about "When I am gone, form groups with a preacher to spread my word, everyone will attend church on Sundays and simulate my final meal with a ritual, etc..", then I may feel differently. As of now, I think that... faith is a personal thing. God and his Son know your heart. They know you better than you will ever know yourself. If you lead a good life, and you have accepted Jesus- you are saved. No other prerequisites.

Btw- I have long been struggling with faith. I want to believe, but maybe I'm too autistic to shut off that rational part of my mind? But God would know this of me. He played a major role in making me who I am. He would be understanding, would He not? I began praying recently, and I know you're not supposed to talk about what you pray about, but it was clot-shot related. I am being pressured at work to get the clot-shot, and I almost caved in. But that night, I prayed- and I felt stronger in my conviction. Is this the hand of God lending me strength? I'd like to think so. When I finally turned to Him in my time of distress, when I finally acknowledged Him and accepted him... so much just poured out of me, it was quite cathartic.

Or the meatbag hanging off the cross, exactly what Jesus wants to see

I think this is a form of idolatry as well. First commandment- Thou shalt not have other gods before Me.

By placing his Son as the "centerpiece" in a massive, gilded church, you are placing the Son before the father. You are supposed to worship GOD, not Jesus. But the way I see most "traditional" Christians, they seem to worship Jesus over all else. Jesus is to be revered, his teachings studied and followed- but ultimately it is He whom we kneel before, and no one else.