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all religions say we must live as brothers and sisters. yet no one lives that way, we all see other humans as our potential enemies. we shun religion, that is why we suffer.
Actually my view of humanity is more of a mixture of the two, with humanity reaching ever greater heights as our human nature is deified by God's grace (theosis) thus becoming more truly human. If you want some real "Christian" misanthropy, go read about Calvinism. Now there's some sadistically misanthropic depravity (which I guess suits them as they think humans are totally depraved, anyway). My theology is from Catholicism but leans more towards Eastern Christianity.
yes. religion is a way of living, a lifestyle. it gives us laws of how we should live our lives.Can you at least provide your definition of religion?
I choose this.Either expanding one's sense of in-group to encompass everybody else.
I disagree on both points.Jesus didn't preach religion, he preached love.
Sometimes. Other times, he threatened his neighbours with Hell or attacked them with improvised weapons.Leviticus says 'love your neighbor as yourselves.' Jesus quoted it and even extended it to more than as yourself, but 'love one another as I have loved you.'
What slander?Its pretty ridiculous to slanderize Jesus' message.
yes. religion is a way of living, a lifestyle. it gives us laws of how we should live our lives.
religion makes these rules into unbreakable laws. there is no ''point of view'' in religion so that anyone could bend the laws. for example, ''don't kill'' is the law in religion, there are no ''buts'' and ''ifs''. religion is the norm.Doesn't that make everybody religious? We all have a way of living / lifestyle and rules for our lives however noble or depraved those might be. Extending the application of this term to that degree renders it useless. We already have words for world view, ideology, and life style. Why add religion to that pile, and then have no word for world views and life styles characterized by god beliefs?
Its pretty ridiculous to slanderize Jesus' message.
Overstated. Many religions and denominations, especially nowadays, do believe and teach that the individual does have the right to determine what their personal beliefs are and what their own actions may be even if it goes against what the religion/denomination teaches. Didn't use to be that way historically though, no doubt.religion makes these rules into unbreakable laws.
religion makes these rules into unbreakable laws
there is no ''point of view'' in religion so that anyone could bend the laws. for example, ''don't kill'' is the law in religion, there are no ''buts'' and ''ifs''. religion is the norm.
Why?Tribalism seems a bit silly in this day and age.
Who did he preach to hate?I disagree on both points.
Going the Bible, he preached a new sort of religion that was different from the religion around him, and a mixture of love for some and hatred for others.
Jesus' message is just as subject to critical analysis as any other. Much of what is attributed to Him is bad advice, and Christians seem to understand that when they modify the meaning of the words.
- What's blessed about being meek? Meekness is a character defect, not a virtue. It is spinelessness, and represents a poverty or smallness of spirit - a form of cowardice. The meek are used. They are easily exploited. Humility, cooperation, being of service, and politeness are all laudable deferential behaviors, but not meekness.
- Likewise with turning the other cheek. This only invites a second blow. My advice? Try to negotiate a peace if possible, or walk away if your attacker is uninterested. If unable to do either, at least put up your fists to protect your face. Offering the other cheek a mistake.
Would this be an instance of ridiculously slandering Jesus' message? I say that it's legitimate criticism.
- And again regarding loving enemies. Why would you love somebody that has chosen to be your enemy? Do you love ISIS terrorists or the Christian terrorists at Charlottesville? I don't. The best that enemies should hope for is that no revenge is exacted, that they are excluded from one's life, and that they are regarded with indifference rather than hatred. Love is for family, friends, and strangers. Enemies are people that are willing to hurt us. How do you love somebody that would drive a car into a crowd that you were part of?
I could go on. What do these three have in common with one another and with ideas such as that it is good to be long-suffering and blessed to be poor - that they will be rewarded after death if they just accept their miserable lot on earth?
Collectively, these are a set of instructions for people to not resist being treated unfairly.
The following are not the words of Jesus, but presumably, they represent His teaching to Peter
"Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh."
Who gives advice like this to people that they care about? This is what you tell people whom you intend to exploit and hope that they will accept your exploitation without rising up.
This is what Constantine undoubtedly wanted from his subjects, and probably what he found so appealing about this particular religion.
Confucius and Buddha didn't give advice like that. Their writings wouldn't be of any use to somebody like Constantine or the emperors and kings that followed him.
The Christian apologist will tell you that none of these mean what they say, that they are all mistranslated. All of them? And all in the same direction from good and loving advice to a code apparently intended to inhibit fortitude or courage in the face of power or authority?
Napoleon understood:
So did Seneca:\
- "How can you have order in a state without religion? For, when one man is dying of hunger near another who is ill of surfeit, he cannot resign himself to this difference unless there is an authority which declares 'God wills it thus.' Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet." - Napoleon Bonaparte
- "Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful." -Seneca the Younger
The moneychangers in the temple, the "scribes and pharisees", the well-fed... I could probably think of a few others if I thought about it.Who did he preach to hate?
He was about a new take on Judaism, which is a religion. Whether he was looking to reform Judaism or establish a new religion I don't know, but he was very much about religion.And he wasn't about religion. Men turned his teachings into a religion.
all religions say we must live as brothers and sisters. yet no one lives that way, we all see other humans as our potential enemies. we shun religion, that is why we suffer.
Can you be more specific than that. I agree that religion is a way of life that provides laws, but does employment, the IRS, and pretty much every organization.yes. religion is a way of living, a lifestyle. it gives us laws of how we should live our lives.