The True meaning of Christianity

[Old Major]

Now this is coming from a committed Atheist, and I am not afraid to say controvertial things, because sometimes they need to be said, and If that includes upsetting religious people I really couldn't care less.

I want you to try something. Get a copy of the Bible, and remove the old testament and Revelations. Get rid of all references to God from what you have left and have a look at what you've got. Now this bit won't sound that new, as it is often said that Christ was the first Communist, but what you have left is basically the Communist Manifesto.

Now let's examine what is meant by Christian. I found this definition online: "of, pertaining to, or derived from Jesus Christ or His teachings". So in order to be a christian, all you have to do is follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Well, as we've alreaady seen, Christs teachings are rather socialist, which begs the question, what about the right wing evangelicals who denounce anyone who is slightly left wing as a communist.

They don't follow Christ's teaching's really. They love their Neighbour so long as he isn't a Muslim, a doctor at an Abortion Clinic, a Darwinist, a Socialist, Gay, Jewish, an Atheist, a Single Parent, interested in pornography, Divorced, has a sex life, or simply disagrees with anything they say.

And they call themselves Christian? Hah!

[BurnTheOliveTree]

Well, in my view the bible is reactionary and backward on almost every issue. You know... full of homophobia, racism, sexism, elitism, insane and disgusting levels of violence, absurdities, lies about history and science... blah blah blah.

I think the more important point to recognise though, is that the bible is so full of contradiction that it can be interpret any way you like, essentially. What this translates to in practice is that the popular view of a given holy book is closely linked with what is socially acceptable at the time. You wouldn't get a preacher quoting that passage about how if your best friend or your wife says you should worship another god you have to kill them nowadays, because that isn't socially acceptable.

[Invincible Summer]

I smell KarlMarx1989 coming with his Biblia Sacra tirade...

[Hit The North]

I want you to try something. Get a copy of the Bible, and remove the old testament and Revelations. Get rid of all references to God from what you have left and have a look at what you've got. Now this bit won't sound that new, as it is often said that Christ was the first Communist, but what you have left is basically the Communist Manifesto.



Have you read the Communist Manifesto? There's nothing in it which resembles the teachings of Jesus. Even the best bits of the New Testament have nothing to tell us about the emergence of capitalism, the relation of communists to the proletariat or the various forms of utopian socialism.

Moved to religion, btw.

[Old Major]

Have you read the Communist Manifesto? There's nothing in it which resembles the teachings of Jesus. Even the best bits of the New Testament have nothing to tell us about the emergence of capitalism, the relation of communists to the proletariat or the various forms of utopian socialism.

Moved to religion, btw.
Okay, maybe I was taking it a bit too far, but my point still stands.

Oh, and I'm sorry about putting this in the wrong place. I'm new and still learning my way around.

[Luisrah]

They love their Neighbour so long as he isn't a Muslim, a doctor at an Abortion Clinic, a Darwinist, a Socialist, Gay, Jewish, an Atheist, a Single Parent, interested in pornography, Divorced, has a sex life, or simply disagrees with anything they say.

And they call themselves Christian? Hah!

Heheh, good one :)

[Raúl Duke]

Get rid of all references to God from what you have left and have a look at what you've got. Now this bit won't sound that new, as it is often said that Christ was the first Communist, but what you have left is basically the Communist Manifesto.It only similar in the most most most most most looooose sense.
One major problem that is missing is that this New Testament Manifesto would be missing the concept of a class (or the masses) overthrowing the elite; this is central to the Communist Manifesto. There's also no mention about what moves history (and in the Communist Manifesto that are classes, something that is not mentioned in this re-edit New Testament.)

It could however, if viewed in that light, suggest you a very lifestylist-dual power lifestyle. Kind of like seperate yourself as much as possible from this materialist world and live in communities or so where people follow certain principles kind of thing or just follow certain principles while living amongst society.

[spiltteeth]

Now this is coming from a committed Atheist, and I am not afraid to say controvertial things, because sometimes they need to be said, and If that includes upsetting religious people I really couldn't care less.

I want you to try something. Get a copy of the Bible, and remove the old testament and Revelations. Get rid of all references to God from what you have left and have a look at what you've got. Now this bit won't sound that new, as it is often said that Christ was the first Communist, but what you have left is basically the Communist Manifesto.

Now let's examine what is meant by Christian. I found this definition online: "of, pertaining to, or derived from Jesus Christ or His teachings". So in order to be a christian, all you have to do is follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Well, as we've alreaady seen, Christs teachings are rather socialist, which begs the question, what about the right wing evangelicals who denounce anyone who is slightly left wing as a communist.

They don't follow Christ's teaching's really. They love their Neighbour so long as he isn't a Muslim, a doctor at an Abortion Clinic, a Darwinist, a Socialist, Gay, Jewish, an Atheist, a Single Parent, interested in pornography, Divorced, has a sex life, or simply disagrees with anything they say.

And they call themselves Christian? Hah!

The bible teaches to love, not to tolerate; and true love never precludes killing. I take it you've never been in love.


From A DIALOGUE BETWEEN AN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN AND A GENUINE SEEKER ON THE ORTHODOX FAITH


Orthodox. You know, tolerance is not a Christian virtue. Love is.

Seeker. You amaze me! Is not tolerance a form of love? And is not all hatred forbidden for the Christian?

Orthodox. No. The Lord our God is a zealous God, and He expects zeal from us – zeal for the good, and hatred for the evil. “Ye that love the Lord, see to it that ye hate evil” (Psalm 96.11). What He hates most of all is lukewarmness: “I know your works: ye are neither cold nor hot. Would that ye were cold or hot! So, because ye are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth… So be zealous and repent” (Revelation 3.15-16, 19). St. Gregory of Nyssa wrote: “The Lawgiver of our life has enjoined upon us one single hatred. I mean that of the serpent, for no other purpose has He bidden us exercise this faculty of hatred, but as a resource against wickedness.”

Is why I hate fascists and approve of their death when necessary.

[spiltteeth]

It only similar in the most most most most most looooose sense.
One major problem that is missing is that this New Testament Manifesto would be missing the concept of a class (or the masses) overthrowing the elite; this is central to the Communist Manifesto. There's also no mention about what moves history (and in the Communist Manifesto that are classes, something that is not mentioned in this re-edit New Testament.)

It could however, if viewed in that light, suggest you a very lifestylist-dual power lifestyle. Kind of like seperate yourself as much as possible from this materialist world and live in communities or so where people follow certain principles kind of thing or just follow certain principles while living amongst society.

Really?

http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/ae191/spiltteeth/Progressive_Bible_400.gif

[Raúl Duke]

Really?

http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/ae191/spiltteeth/Progressive_Bible_400.gif

lol

that isn't an answer/argument and if it were true then you would be hearing stories of christians actively attempting to toppling the Roman Empire and abolishing class instead of just living to somewhat communal conditions amongst themselves.

Also, seriously, you probably agree with me that there's not much in the New Testament that explicitly speak of class and even more so the concept of one class eliminating another. If you don't then I ask you to provide some proof that in the New Testament there's something that could be seen as an explicit argument that the masses should actively overthrow the class system instead of the more implicit mentioning that the apostles/early christians lived a communal lifestyle.

Actually, I'm not even sure if that picture is even a good idea to the religious or the point, if any, you might be trying to make...seems to make a bit of fun of religion to me. Moral relativism is against the concept of christianity that depends on a certain set(s) of interpreted ethics

[spiltteeth]

No, I agree with you Raul, Christianity, like most religion, is how to relate to a higher power and other individuals, to mine it for social analysis surly leads to confusion.
I think the best one may be able to say, is that Christianity's anti-wealth, anti-greed, pro-charity attitude is Marx Kosher.

[KarlMarx1989]

Now let's examine what is meant by Christian. I found this definition online: "of, pertaining to, or derived from Jesus Christ or His teachings". So in order to be a christian, all you have to do is follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Well, as we've alreaady seen, Christs teachings are rather socialist, which begs the question, what about the right wing evangelicals who denounce anyone who is slightly left wing as a communist.

They don't follow Christ's teaching's really. They love their Neighbour so long as he isn't a Muslim, a doctor at an Abortion Clinic, a Darwinist, a Socialist, Gay, Jewish, an Atheist, a Single Parent, interested in pornography, Divorced, has a sex life, or simply disagrees with anything they say.

And they call themselves Christian? Hah!
In the US, there are an unprecedented amount of people who don't follow the teachings of Immanuel. There are some in the US, and many around the world, who do; though.

I smell KarlMarx1989 coming with his Biblia Sacra tirade...
I said before and I'll repeat it...again!

Oh, yeah; ***** about the title Biblia Sacra because I didn't call it 'The Bible' but none of you have said anything about my use of The Tanakh which, to you, would be "The Old Testament."

Seriously, fight the whole thing if you're going to fight it. If not, shut up about it. Choosing your battles is not a good way to go about revolution, comrades.

[spiltteeth]

In the US, there are an unprecedented amount of people who don't follow the teachings of Immanuel. There are some in the US, and many around the world, who do; though.

I said before and I'll repeat it...again!

Tanaka? It's spelled 'tank'. What do tanks have to do with religion?

[KarlMarx1989]

The Tanakh That's Tanakh. With an 'H', you know?