Religion
Related: About this forumChristians must wake up and see the threat the President poses to their values
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/anti-trump-easter-awakening-article-1.3056807?cid=bitlyThree days ago, on the day we Christians call Good Friday, the church marked and commemorated the death of Jesus of Nazareth, killed by the Roman governor in collusion with the local religious authorities.
He was killed because he was perceived to be a threat to their power, a fact we too often seem to forget. The brutal execution method of crucifixion was regularly used for political criminals.
On this Easter Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which signifies the ultimate victory and vindication of the way of Jesus justice, love and peace over the ways of wealth, violence and power preferred by the rulers who had him killed.
But we easily forget that too in America in the young but pernicious political era of Donald Trump.
Instead, many Christians merely personalize the meaning and message of Jesus coming to believe that to save us from our individual sins, and his resurrection assures our going to Heaven after him.
In the meantime, they believe, we can feel free to ignore or even collaborate with the wealth, power and violence of the state (and, yes, even the church). We can make our private religious well-being a substitute for what Jesus called the Kingdom of God that is intended to change the world and us with it.
msongs
(67,502 posts)Who are just as Christian as the ones who voted against him.
There is absolutely no sense in those two groups of Christians pointing and screaming at each other "YOU'RE NOT A REAL CHRISTIAN!"
Htom Sirveaux
(1,242 posts)of a sport you don't follow. No investment at all in the answer.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)Since someone is likely gonna try to implement laws based on THEIR version of Christianity, I'm gonna have to live under those laws too.
So I do have some skin in that game.
Htom Sirveaux
(1,242 posts)win more law-making power as a result (assuming for a second that it were possible to gain the upper hand, which you possibly don't think that it is)?
trotsky
(49,533 posts)I and my LGBT and female friends have absolutely nothing to worry about depending on who wins the "battle" to determine what a real Christian is.
I am so very sorry to have expressed my concern. Silly me, thinking that the sooner all of us realize that there is NO FREAKING POINT declaring who the "true" follower of a religion is, the sooner we can focus on real solutions to the problems we face rather than determining which solution will make god happy.
Thank you for setting me straight, Htom.
Htom Sirveaux
(1,242 posts)whether they or the authoritarians are more legitimate Christians? But aren't you also saying there are real negative consequences if the authoritarians win that argument?
trotsky
(49,533 posts)You will NEVER, EVER resolve that. You've had 2000 fucking years and the only progress you've made is to create MORE groups to argue with each other.
The problem is in thinking that it fucking matters when making policy.
I don't want EITHER of you making laws based on what you think god wants.
But the more you both fight, the more you make it about pleasing your god, and the less you make it about solving the problem.
At least you've made it clear you think I'm very confused and stupid. Feeling that trademark Christian love for sure.
Htom Sirveaux
(1,242 posts)who would legislate their "christian values" when it comes to lgbt and reproductive rights, but turn into Ayn Rand when it comes to caring for the poor and the sick? If so, well, that's certainly one point of view. It would be even better if said Christians also remembered the many non-Christians in America and that this is a nation of separation of church and state, but I see no reason why those arguments can't be made simultaneously.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)Because hypocrisy is in the eye of the beholder.
You ignore or spin away the bible verses you don't like, just as they do. I have right-wing relatives who are Christians. They don't think the government should be spending money on the poor. They honestly believe that if the "big gubmint" wasn't taking taxes out of our paychecks, we'd all have enough money to donate to churches and charities who can take care of the poor better. The money doesn't add up, however within the framework of their religious beliefs, it's perfectly logical.
The sooner all Christians realize that they're just picking and choosing what they want to believe, the better.
But good luck with your crusade to convince every other Christian on earth that they're wrong, and you're right.
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)"the death of Jesus of Nazareth, killed by the Roman governor in collusion with the local religious authorities"
Assumes facts not in evidence.
rug
(82,333 posts)AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)Granted, the Romans might have executed a guy by that name and who knows what sort of spiritual leader he may have been.
But the biblical character of jesus, plus resurrection? Zero credibility.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)I realize it's an op-ed but they really should use disclaimers when writing something like that.
Lordquinton
(7,886 posts)Wasn't Jesus crucified with thieves?