Christians: Missing the point on a massive scale.

[CarbonDate]

Yes, I'm an atheist. But there was a time when I was studying to be a pastor. Hear me out.

It seems to me that Christians are awfully hung up on a few things:

1) Is the Bible true?
2) What happens to me when I die?
3) What can I do to serve Jesus?

Just as a sample. But let's take the story of Jesus and look at it as an allegory, which is what I happen to believe it is. The catch-phrase among Christians is, "WWJD", or "what would Jesus do"? Well, let's take a look at the story.

Here is a god-man, man-god, demigod, whatever you want to call him. He is born to save man from the taint of "original sin", and only by sacrificing himself can he save mankind from its taint. Here's where Christians get caught up on the unimportant details: "Are we saved by grace or by works?" Instead, they need to take a look at what he actually did. Jesus, a LIVING GOD, sacrificed himself to save a bunch of poor schmucks. Rather than worry about why we're so schmuck-like, or how to best take advantage of that sacrifice, Christians could perhaps live by his example. Which is to say, rather than devoting yourself to this higher power, devote yourself and your life to helping those less powerful and raising up those who might even be less worthy. Jesus's crucifixion was the ultimate act of charity, and I think that example is lost on most Christians. Even a lot of liberal Christians get caught up on studying his teachings instead of following his example. Give all of yourself to those below you, and it won't matter whether you are saved through works or through grace, or even if the story is actually true. The allegory, if applied as an example of how to live, is much more powerful than the doctrinal navel-gazing that goes on in so many circles.

Stop looking so much at the trees, and take a look at the forest. There's much to be gleaned from it.

Your friendly neighborhood atheist....

[SpiralHawk]

1. Most people overlook it, but the true question that was posed

in the original book "In His Steps," was not "What would Jesus do?"

The true question was: "What would I do if I were Christ?"

Big difference.

Triggers a whole different brain sequence.

Much distorted in the popular propaganda form.

[DIKB]

2. "I like your Jesus...

but I do not like your christians, for they are nothing like your Jesus." -Ghandi

There are valuable lessons in the bible (if you can find them mixed in with all the BS)Pacifism, giving to the needy, perfection of self, etc. With these things that Jesus actually PREACHED about, why do fundamental christians focus on the wrong things: Abortion, homosexuality, racism, patriotism, death penalties, and Christmas ?

[Goblinmonger]

3. You said "taint." Twice. Anyway, on a more mature level.

I was in a high school catholic seminary for three years (ironically confirmed my agnoticism which turned to atheism in college). What surprised me the most was that FAR more of our time was spent learning the rules of the church than was spent learning what Christ actually preached. We read the bible more than your average catholic, but still didn't focus on what to do to actual BE LIKE HIM.

And the bumper sticker on my car is "Who Would Jesus Bomb." The fundie kids at the school where I teach don't get it, and the progressive ones think it is hilarious.

[ShockediSay]

4. To your point

the Word of God speaks not without parables (or allegories, or metaphors) Mark 4

I guess I agree with you that the greatest truths of the Bible are allegories or metaphors.

Your friendly neighborhood believer....

[catbert836]

5. Yes, it's all true.

The main reason I stopped being a Christian was that I could no longer reconcile the beliefs and actions of Jesus with those of the modern Christian movement. I suspect if we're going to talk about "true" Christianity and not, we could say the only true Christian ever died on the cross.

[nemo137]

6. You know, you hit the point more succinctly than most Christians ever hope

That's exactly the point, that we're supposed to imitate Christ. Most fundementalists and evangelical get some hung up on the atonement aspect of the crucifixion ("See how He suffered! He took so much pain to save you from the everlasting torment of hell!"), the miss the self-sacrificial, what you call charitable, aspect ("Look, he took the sins of the world, of his own free will, to make life better!"). And that's not even getting into Jesus' ministry to the down and out, and how much that pissed off the powers of his day.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. Live the teachings

Have you ever met someone who sincerely and humbly tries to live by the teachings of Jesus? I have and they are beautiful people, non judgemental, gentle, far more worried about their own shortcomings than pointing out the shortcomings of others. They do, indeed, help the poor, but not in any flashy way, but with no thought of reward. But the most interesting thing is to meet up with a similar person who is living the teachings of Buddha, or Muhammed or Zoroaster--the teachings are the teachings are the treachings.

[freestyle]

8. Jesus' new commandment "Love one another as I have loved you"

The point is right there, even in red letters in some bibles. Jesus also said "there is no greater love than this, to lay down your life for your friends" Some of us do get the point, but thank you very much. It is important to be reminded that is is not really all that complicated. Difficult at times, but not complicated.

edited for unintentional snarkiness. still waking up.

[kwassa]

9. The trickier part of the question it the paradox involved

Many of the same faiths that preach a dogmatic form of Christianity also perform great civic works for the disadvantaged, in a wide variety of service areas. That is the Christian part of Christianity, to me, but the dogma is not necessarily separated from the service.

Catholic Charities is the largest private charity organization in the world and performs all kinds of social services. Many Christian churches and organizations have components of service outreach, in a variety of areas. So do Jewish and Islamic organizations.

[trotsky]

10. Catholic Charities gets about 2/3 of its funding from government.

Kind of a stretch to call it "private" these days.

[kwassa]

11. So?

It is private, regardless of funding sources, as their programs are self-administered.

They are still out there doing the work. The Christian mission.

[trotsky]

12. But without the massive public funding,

could they do what they do? Seems to me that if Christians were "all that" for their "mission" they wouldn't need the help of us evil secularists and non-Christians and our taxes. It's quite easy to be generous with other people's money.

Not to mention the overall problem of public tax dollars going to a religious organization. I thought we liberals opposed faith-based funding.

[kwassa]

13. Liberals don't necessarily oppose faith-based social programs

The line that was drawn a long time ago, and that has gotten fuzzy, is that they can make no religious requirement of those they help. I approve of that.

Religous social service organizations such as Catholic Charities, Lutheran Family Services, and Jewish Family Services, ones I know most about, perform all types of social service functions. I used to work for Catholic Charities in a refugee program, and the subject of religion never came up in that program.