You are viewing a single comment's thread from:
RE: I'm Not Asking You To Believe
"I was raised that way"
Exactly!
It's called "imprinting. Happens to birds too. The first thing that they see when they hatch is their "mother".
If you had been raised under the religious family traditions of another faith, you would now be writing a similar post to this one, but asking us to read another literary work.
I have found there to be deep spiritual insights in the works of many religions. But maybe, like a choice of career/profession, it is more efficient to choose and focus on one. I'm not sure.
Hi, @onceuponatime, Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.
Part of my point in writing this — and I'm sure I could have expressed it better — is that although I was "raised this way," I have gone back often and reexamined the core of what I was taught. This reexamination has strengthened my core beliefs.
However, similar to others who have abandoned "Christianity," there are plenty of the trappings and traditions of the church that I have abandoned.
I agree that there are deep spiritual insights in other religious writings. However, and probably grist for another article sometime, I'll mention briefly two elements of what I consider "real Christianity" that, for me personally, radically differentiate it from any other religion of which I am aware.
First, Christianity is based on the concept of grace and does not require me to be or become something, nor to "achieve" status by my works.
Second, Christianity is authentically historical (in contrast to "mythical"), well attested to by written eyewitness accounts of exceptional events and of a singular person, namely Jesus.
If you can suggest another or other religions that share those specific distinctives, I would be interested in investigating. One of my hopes in recommending the Gospel of John to my readers is that they might notice those distinctives and think about their implications. ;)
Thanks again for your comment!
How Jesus Condemns Christianity
"Modern Christianity is something Jesus would condemn."
https://www.freemansperspective.com/how-jesus-condemns-christianity/
And I (mostly) agree with Paul; "modern christianity" or perhaps more accurately "modern churchianity" has become a warmongering, judgmental, oppressive organized system that strongly supports and is hard to distinguish from "modern human government." As a principled anarchist (more accurately, "thearchist"), I repudiate all of that.
BTW, I had noticed earlier today that among your posts and comments you've spoken well of Paul Rosenberg. I am also a big fan of his, and I receive his newsletters (yes, I read this one earlier today). I once had the privilege of meeting him at a Libertopia conference in San Diego.
Do I see "eye to eye" with him? No, not on everything; but my intent here is not to pick apart what he says in his blog. I love the way he takes a fresh run at things; he has often made me think. He is a true gentleman in every sense of the word, and I have even tried personally to persuade him to sign on to Steemit (so far, without success... Paul, if you're reading this... What's holding you back? ;)
If you have a chance, I invite you to investigate my Topical Table of Contents for my blog - just click the GIF below - and I expect that, should you care to, you'll find that I'm not quite "mainstream" in my practice and beliefs of Christianity. Having said all that, I do not reject the fundamental tenets of the Christian faith; just (as I've said before) some of the "trappings and traditions" that have grown up around it, and certainly the practices and teachings of the "organized church" that run counter to truth.
Thanks again, @onceuponatime, for interacting here, and also for bringing Paul Rosenberg to the attention of my audience. 😄😇😄
Perhaps you have read "The Grand Inquisitor" myth, chapter 5 of Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov?
https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/pol116/grand.htm
It makes an excellent sequel to your suggestion :-)
I'm sure that I have, but probably about a million years ago in some high school or college class... In other words, I'm sure it will be worth reading and thinking about again from my present perspective.
Thank you for the recommendation! :)
Having now re-read that chapter, I have no argument with Dostoevsky's characterization of the organized church or its minions. Obviously, the Jesus pictured therein was not the motivator behind the oppressive and murderous activities of "the church." Nor is the Jesus in Whom I believe the author of present day evils.
Sadly, we see similar pogroms being enacted today, similarly supported by governments and organized religions side by side, using whatever convenient propaganda and rationale may lie at hand.
Likewise it was in Jesus' day. The world has not changed; in the Gospel of John, we see clearly displayed the perfidy of the "leaders" of the "church" of the day, plotting (and ultimately succeeding) to have Jesus subjected to "capital punishment" - i.e., murdered by the state. Along the way, also plotting to have the man who Jesus brought back to life, Lazarus, also murdered.
I'll once more summarize my thoughts and intent; I believe that Jesus was an historical person, literally the Creator/God of the universe, become a man. I find the Gospel of John to be a credible account of the most significant elements of Jesus' life and teaching. I recommend it to my readers for either their initial or re-consideration, because I think that it is compelling and potentially enlightening.
Thanks again, @onceuponatime, for interacting with me on this topic! ;)
I'm sure God gets a really good chuckle out of all of our finite conceptions of the Infinite!
Yes, I believe He does... Have you, for instance, read my "tongue in cheek" comments about His sense of humor here?: 🏄Great Surfers of the Bible🏄