Look, if you step back, the claim that Jesus was God only makes sense if you already accept the religion. To me, he was a thoughtful Jewish teacher whose followers later built up his story over time. That doesn't make him divine, it makes him human.

I think we both agree Jesus was a real person who said some powerful things. But being a great teacher doesn’t make someone God. History shows his followers shaped his message after he died, and that’s a very human process. To me, that’s far more believable than a divine claim.

Think about how people remember a beloved teacher or coach after they pass. Stories grow and they become almost superhuman in our minds. That's just human nature. I believe that's what happened with Jesus. His wisdom was real, but the divine claims came later from followers wanting to make sense of his death.