“Hypocrisy in anything whatever may deceive the cleverest and most penetrating man, but the least wide-awake of children, recognizes it, and is revolted by it, however ingeniously it may be disguised.” Leo Tolstoy
Why? Because lie-detection and truth finding is an evolutionary tool our current big brains developed to outfox one another. We know that serious problems arise when parents lie or ask their children to lie, and when children see parents use violence against others, especially for monetary gain. Yes, a child innately wants his parent to earn, not to take by force. For, truth is justice, and justice is truth. Think about it. Justice is an inherent human universal, a basic criterion of human reason and logic, a deeply rooted Law of Design against unprovoked violence. Social justice was, is, and will always be the message of the Designer.
“My soul exalts the Lord. He has brought down rulers from their thrones and has exalted those who were humble. He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent away the rich empty handed.” Luke 1:46-53
Known now as the Magnificat, the Song of Mary is arguably the most profound statement in the New Testament, less abstract and more politically specific to its time than the older Song of Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1-10) of the Old Testament. It is an introduction to the coming Jesus and the essence of His socio-political philosophy. "My soul exalts the Lord," is theologically so powerful it almost abolishes the line between divine and human will.
Mary lives under the oppression of the rich in Roman-occupied Palestine, shares the people's suffering and dreams of a rural kingdom of justice and peace where shepherds, farmers, and skilled workers are free from violence, unfair taxes and where all must care for the weak. These are the pillars of the Kingdom of God on earth. Therefore, when in many parts of the United States today churches and parents are teaching their children that Jesus loves the rich and despises the poor; it is a crime against God… and His people.
Whether you are a Buddhist or a Muslim, European or African, humans have always admired Jesus' altruism and His message of love and compassion for the weak. We all know His story. The evidence that Jesus defended the poor and died for the poor is overwhelming; the Sermon on the Mount is just another example. So Christians keep asking, what about the moneychangers, the banks and interest on loans, should conglomerates force individual farmers out, should there be two systems of "justice" where the one with more lawyers wins, why is the mortgage deductible but not the rent, and would Jesus condone capitalism?
Big money gofers—the clergy, the politicians or the media—have a single "official" answer to all these questions: "Hey! Give unto Caesar," the most overplayed spin and the stupidest lie in the history of Christendom. It is also the sole evidence these heretics use to show that Jesus is a capitalist. Yet, when you read the story in Luke, you will see that it is but a simple cautionary tale with a simple moral: Do not let them trick you into saying self-incriminating stuff. They try to have Jesus talk against Caesar; Jesus navigates the tight and answers a question with a question, drawing an obvious and clear distinction between two paths, God or Caesar.And it happened, on one of those days, as He [was] teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the Gospel, the priests and the scribes, with the elders, approached [Him]. And having watched [Him] closely, they sent spies, pretending themselves to be righteous, so that they should seize on His word [fig., catch Him in some statement] in order to hand Him over to the rule and the authority of the governor. And they questioned Him, saying, "Teacher, we know that You say and teach correctly, and You do not accept a face [fig., show favoritism], _but_ You teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful for us to give tribute [or, a tax] to Caesar or not?" "Show to Me a denarius [i.e., a Roman, silver coin]. Whose image and inscription does it have?" Then answering, they said, "Caesar's." Then He said to them, "So render the [things] of Caesar to Caesar and the [things] of God to God."
Luke 20:1, 20:20-25
Jesus, the Son of Man, fought for the poor, and died for the poor. This is his everlasting legacy. To say otherwise is heresy, sacrilege, and an egregious offense against the Lord. If you believe the poor deserve to suffer, or you are, for example, against social programs for the poor, you are not a follower of Jesus, and you may not invoke His name, for it is an affront to the true believers of Jesus Christ. So pick another god. After careful research, I found the perfect god that fits all the American Evangelical/Tea baggers criteria: William Graham Sumner. Call yours the Evangelical Church of William Sumner, and take William Sumner to be your Lord and Savior. Doesn't it sound patriotic?
William Graham Sumner: A Yale University political scientist who concocted an ideology driven pseudoscience to rationalize social injustice. Sumner, the most influential social Darwinist of his time, and his followers theorized that millionaires like J. P. Morgan are descendants of the first hominids to stand on two legs, while the poor descend from creatures that lack opposable thumbs and stood on all fours. Sumner decided that business titans of the Gilded Age were "A product of natural selection" and fair "scientific" market competition.
Thoth © 2011
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
Kasia Pater
Kate Mohler
Blinddream
Lyle Elmgren
Linda Bilyeu
Melissa Noble
Salon.com
Comments
True story: I heard a 10-yr-old girl who just came back from church say that the poor deserve to be poor because they did not work hard enough and that Jesus does not want us to help them. The worst part was her parents' smiles of approval and words of encouragement. They looked like Mr. and Mrs. Satan so proud of their little precious demon.
Really? Are these "Christians" that ignorant? How can true believers allow heretics to be so disrespectful of their God and their faith? This malicious rhetoric must stop. What kind of God does not care about the poor and the sick?...........Exactly.
♥R
Beelzebub had sly cohorts too.
Forces/principalities incarnate.
`
Jesus had humor and edified.
He caste down the proud too.
Hubris is nasty arrogant snob.
`
I saved your private PM t me.
I request you don't delete me.
If you do I still save all deletes.
`
Beelzebub means `Lord of flies.
In Greek Jesus saw a camel flop.
Aramaic.
The literal writ was beware of:
scribes, academics, media goon,
and the so-call- now it all debater.
`
There are humble lawyers. Beware.
I am nor sure how to read this post.
If I speak honestly you be my enemy?
`
Corruption is natural law. We decompose.
Where does Spirit go? Read ref Great Wager.
Blaise Pascal.
It's not academic.
It's not persuasive debate.
It's NOT to toss a`religion.
Secular/Spiritual`same-stuff.
Piety (false) Superannuated?
Many Notions are obsolete.
Who's not weary of HUBRIS?
`
I feel like I written Enough.
Jesus was an historical guy.
Josephus mentions`Jesu.
He's seen kissing `Mary.
That was No tampered`
Text.
It was found in `1948.
No tuck bible under`
smelly armpits, no.
Evil folk can seem`
to have a eloquence.
Dark principality`
It's written in old`
`
great literature.
I reckon we die.
Then we become`
`
back to our original
weight? a mass fine
dust.
Skeleton no speaks.
Even bone do change.
To dust we return and
`
I be same as at birth?
Original weight was?
Wet dust @ 8.1 oz.
HUGGGGGGGGG
Thank you for posting this. You make some excellent points.
Damn, finally!
(Jesus, what we gonna do with Sumner if folks take u seriously? Ha, back to Hell for him, say i)
…………………………………………
This is why I admire him, or Him, as a master:
(Gee’s,US!) (Not Sumner)
Do not let them trick you into saying self-incriminating stuff. They try to have Jesus talk against Caesar; Jesus navigates the tight and answers a question with a question, drawing an obvious and clear distinction between two paths, God or Caesar.
Caesar was gonna go away bye bye soon, Jesus & his followers thought. Alas, they only got stronger in these 2 millenia of stony sleep.
are free from violence, unfair taxes
and where all must care for the weak.
These are the pillars of the Kingdom of God on earth. "
Today: to the PsychoPharmacologists, post haste, Mary...
..............................
Glad u are back and in perfect damn form.
e.g.:
"a child innately wants his parent to earn, not to take by force.
For, truth is justice, and justice is truth.
Think about it.
Justice is an inherent human universal,
a basic criterion of human reason and logic,
a deeply rooted Law of Design
against unprovoked violence.
Social justice was, is,
and will always be the message of the Designer. "
amen, brother.
on another topic: these damn universals. Whitehead the phiosopher called them "eternal objects" for our subjectivity.
Lures, he
said.
Lezlie
so say art, who wrote enough, he said.
(meanwhile , there are those who secretly wish him to write more.
shhh!)
say he,
"Where does Spirit go? Read ref Great Wager.
Blaise Pascal.
It's not academic.
It's not persuasive debate.
It's NOT to toss a`religion.
Secular/Spiritual`same-stuff.
Piety (false) Superannuated?
Many Notions are obsolete.
Who's not weary of HUBRIS?"
postmodern deconstruction would be sending out emails
of DETOUR on this one, no doubt.
all notions are obsolete, art, and you know it.
notions are evolution's plaything.
argh to us who entertain them. notions.
poor pascal.
pensees / ? whoops spilled coffee on it.
local library took it out of circulation.
i ask, may i have it then, since u=fining me for it?
no not our policy. argh.
did the same to poor hubert benois, "light of zen in west"
sorry,
guys.
ha.
'
It seems sometimes that humanity's best cultivated advancement is the capacity to justify.. words, actions, laws and philosophies.. specifically to one's own ends.
There are many tenets of faith, but within all of the faiths there is a single simple thread, however it may be worded, in whatever language - and it ain't "Do unto others before they can do unto you."
Interesting comment, that evolution can be the work of the Creator. My own personal philosophy stems from observation of the world around me and the opinion that what is is not an 'accident'.
Who or what created what is? Who really knows? Why does it matter that we 'know'? What will the 'knowing' change? Nothing.
Rated for still another voice in the wilderness..
(I hope that some day these voices will add up and be heard)
What I'd like to see is a way to communicate that there is enough and we can help each other to get our shares.
Because the tea-baggers are misusing religious rhetoric, I try to stay use other paradigms.
That said, the religious discussion is fascinating in its own right. And I'm glad you and I are on the same side.
Wrong, I am sorry. God created an evolving universe.Also…still too heretical to mention…an aspect of Him, not the Eternal One, the temporal one, for God =everything,
Enjoys his creation through us. Tis why we here.
(short course on ‘process theology’ )
…………………….
@ geezer..for the Ultimate Flux that is Deterministic only Upon Universals Easily Particuarized,
Cuz that be one of his games,
Maya, etc,
Because the tea-baggers are misusing religious rhetoric, I try to stay use other paradigms.
Paradigms squirming and shifting and retreating and cocooning, waiting to be born.
Argh, religion really gets people’s goat, huh, thoth? ha
Thank you, my friend. It is always good to see you.
@ jramelle
Why thank you so much for your visit and kind words.
@ Art James,
Your last comment is still there honoring my last post, I will not delete you and the only e-mail I sent you reeks of friendship, I am so grateful to your gracious visit and insight.
@ Linda Seccaspina
I don't care about that, I do care about your visit and comment. Good to see you.
@ Diary of a Hopeful Starving Student
Thank you for reading, looking forward to your next post.
@ scanner
It is really interesting to know about guy; he was something else. Thank you my friend for your fine visit and insight.
@ James M. Emmerling,
That is right, my philosopher friend. It is always a pleasure hearing what you have to say.
@ Lezlie
I know, and it really amazes me how they turn things on their heads; and even more, people start repeating this crap. Always good to see you, L.
artjames' last comment on last blog is
.....................
aa'I think ...
Some discernment is wise
if we claim our personal
redemption. ( DISCERNMENT= THE KEY TO THE KINGDOM)
secular
spiritual
well balanced
healthy
and whole
close to
Nature(SOUNDS LIKE JUST THE FAITH TO ENTERTAIN
IF YOU HAVE ANY DESIRE TO BE SANE!)
Entertains
O, makes
We people
humble
more
sane
(CONNECTION= HUMILITY & SANENESS, INDEED.
MY WEAK SPOT, HUMILITY.
I GET UPPITY.)
It makes one sad that these people give a very dark picture to a great role model. Thanks for your visit and insight.
@ Seer,
Why, thank you so much, my dear friend. Yes, one day they will.
@ Catherine Forsythe
Always good to see you too, my friend. Thank you so much.
@ geezerchick
What a great point you make. The problem, unfortunately, is not how much there is; there is enough. I am sorry to say this, but some people are just that mean. Thanks for your visit and insight.
@ Erica K,
I know! The Paris Hilton/Kim Kardashian craze is why I am on beta blockers. I don't get it, and never will. Excellent point; good to see you.
Thoth, you are a man after my own heart.
I have read the Scrolls they mention nothing of Romans and Jews as the academic henchmen of the rich would have you believe they pertain too. In fact they mention nothing of Jew and Christian only a Teacher of Righteousness and a Wicked Priest who spouted lies. The legend that grew around the discovery of those scrolls is that they were always meant to be revealed at the end of days when the Teacher of Righteousness returned and led his followers into battle against the followers of the Wicked Priest. “if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one”(Luke 22:36) because the time of rendering up to Caesar what is Caesars quickly recedes into the 2000 years of darkness which is our past and it is now time to give God what is Gods. “To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.” (Deuteronomy 32:35)
This post does not reflect my own faith; I am a cynic of the highest water. Yet, I believe that one must know her religion; it is the first sign of faith. It is a crime to tarnish the legacy of such a beloved role model. Supply Side Jesus is a fine analogy. Thank you for your visit...well informed as always, kosher.
@ Christine Geery
Yeah, it has become so over the top. Thanks for your visit and comment.
@ The Good Daughter
I always wondered myself, does not any Christian feel violated when they hear all this crap about their Lord and Savior? You are absolutely right, the faithful should respond...strongly. Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
@ SheilaTGTG55
Hey Sheila, thank you my friend for your gracious visit.
@ Victoria Carlson,
Why, thank you so much for such kind words and gracious visit.
@keri h
I heard that. Thank you, keri.
Don't worry, i am sure if anyone could locate Calamity jane,
who for sure is reading her song of mary, at least to skim,
and hoping for a day when men
get black & white again (those without the gift of
endearing gab vs. the comfy corny guys, like johnny depp, who do)
it would be
jesus. send him off to do something useful for once.
Good to see you again.
"VIRGIN BIRTHS!"
"
Thanks for the informative argument, my wise friend. It is always good to see you.
@ Chicken Maaan
I know, the guy was something else, and he is everything they want in a god. Thank you so much for your visit and insight.
@ fernsy
Hey fernsy, how are you? it is always good to see you.
@ Bellwether Vance
What baffles me is how many people follow this crap. Thank you, my good friend for your visit and insight.
@ Buffy W
Oh no, no, no! The Tea Baggers and the Evangelical Christians have their own kind of Christianity. Only part of 70 million Americans believe in this kind of Christianity; the rest of the world's Christians do not. I am not talking about Christians here; I am talking about a specific kind of American Christianity that believes that Jesus hates the poor. Sorry if I mislead in my post. It is always great to see you. Thank you as always, Buffy, for your support.
Rated.
The world is set free by truth- one can easily see, if one steps back, that Christ's refusal to be taken in by a sucker question showed not only his intellect, but obviously that he was a man, not a god, and had no desire to hurry the fate he ultimately endured.
Once when is set free, as a Jesus Freak would have you believe you can be, than, one wonders why the 2 most telling parts of the New Testament, the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount, are so easily "revealed" to be repetitions of much earlier texts: the Frashokereti, Horus before that, and, in the end, one easily sees that Ra himself begat the "teachings" of Jesus, that our good Lord's resurrection is truly exactly (and why Sunday!) Ra's return after the Winter Solstice, ensuring agrarians survival for yet another year, and Easter Celebration ... only then have Ye Found Truth. Amen.
Given the current climate of darkness, however, I'll take your version any day of the week, twice on Sunday!!!
Thank you so much for reading and the kind words.
@ Oahusurfer
O, everything was said before the Bible even existed, some parts, verbatim. I can never argue with that: Ancient Egyptian text is still engraved in stone. But," given the current climate of darkness," I think Christians should stick to the teachings of love and compassion. Thank you so much for your visit and thoughtful comment.
...and the Trinity! Thanks for your visit and comment.
@ MOMSACOMIC
Well thought out and well said. Thank you for your visit and nice comment.
@ Cathy GF
That is adorable, God bless! Thank you so much, it is always good to see you.
@ Susie Lindau
Why, thank you so much for your kind words.
@ Abrawang
Exactly! You would think a Christian should know about his faith, let alone his God, and not stand silent and watch as the message is spun and destroyed. Thank you my friend for your visit and comment.
Many vote as Republicans just because they're taught simplistically not to turn away from their personal faith, they're taught Democrats don't like Christians. They fear losing their faith more than anything else so they become more extreme, I understand why they fear the left. I don't fear it because no amount of insults will make me turn my heart away from my personal faith. I keep to myself and vote my conscience, to help the poor and the weak.
His asking who the money was made for when they asked if it was lawful to pay taxes was brilliant. Excellent post, wonderful scripture you chose. Faith and worship are a personal thing. Truly, once you say you love Jesus then you must love the poor too, and also pay your taxes.
Hears & sees don't need s's.
English may well be your second language but this is tedium +.
Don't get me started on hypocrisy.
Sumner will reap a karmic consequence.
What a piece of rubbish! If all the verbs were conditional, it could have made sense as a principled objective; in the indicative is a mere propaganda piece that has never had any reality check, au contraire!
The passage you mentioned is from Luke, I did not write it. If you have a problem with the Bible, talk to the Pope. Thank you for reading.
@ Gamble
Thank you for reading, Sir. I read your blog and English seems to be your strong suit, I will definitely consider your advice.
@ Burt Wylen
That sounds like a good interpretation. Regardless, the fact is: Jesus defended the poor, not the rich. Thank you for reading.
No. I know some very rich people that are very good. I am talking here about a certain faction of American Christianity that are anti-poor. The point is so simple, you cannot be anti-poor and a follower of Jesus at the same time. Thank you as always for your gracious visit and thoughtful comment.
Thank you my friend for your nice visit and well thought out comment. It is always good to see you.
@ Linnnn
Exactly, and the story sticks with you because it sticks out. Thank you for reading and nice visit.
@ patricia k
This is what I am trying to say. The one thing we may not change is the wonderful message of love and compassion for the weak. Thank you, Patricia, for the gracious visit and wonderful comment.
You mean what you wrote in a PM was changed- Now?
`
I remember Kerry Lauderman once FAVORITE YOU.
You must be sad if Kerry L. un-favored you. Thanks.
`
We critters sure can learn something `round here @ O.S..
`
I may go Play with a Puzzle over Joan's. She is seventy three.
She is a retired movie actress. She always says`O, Whatever.
`
I may try to work on Joan's PUZZLE. I try to break a record?
Maybe I can get in a Ginny World Book of Records. A prize?
`
Tho box that the Puzzle comes in say:` 3 - TO - 5 Years. Duh.
I bet (I hope so) I can figure out the Puzzle. It has 13- Pieces.
If I can't put a 13 - Piece Puzzle together in less than 3-to-5?
I ask you and Kerry Lauderman? He befriended you. Great!
@ Roberto Luigi,
The passage you mentioned is from Luke, I did not write it. If you have a problem with the Bible, talk to the Pope. Thank you for reading.
So you use it at the start of your post to make your points and then dismiss it, come on! The whole think sounds quite fake like all fundamentalists that seems to transpire....btw, the pope is as alien to me as you now definetely are
I did not dismiss anything, you did. The choice of the Magnificat is perfect. You insulted all Christians by calling a quote from the Bible rubbish. That is your choice, but has nothing to do with this post. The premise of the post is very clear: If you believe that Jesus is your Lord and Savior. This post does not discuss the authenticity of the Bible. You can believe anything you want. But, one more time, if you believe in Jesus you may not not be anti-poor. That is all. Thank you for coming back.
I'm saddened that the popular "leaders" (Robinson, Warren etc) are more concerned with "Sin" than the true message. Figures.
-R-
saluti
Thank you so much as always for your support and gracious presence.
Thank you so much. It is good to have made your acquaintance.
the merits of all the different religious viewpoints.
Legal minded ones! I know thee are Good!
Your moral conundrums gimme a headache , though!
so sayeth Jesus, unattributed...
My soul exalts the Lord. He has brought down rulers from their thrones and has exalted those who were humble. He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent away the rich empty handed.” Luke 1:46-53
is a fine little poem in the , ah, "hyperbolic mode'. I love that mode.
What Luke's soul exalts is a certain state of consciousness
transmitted like a virus to his "followers" due
to his charisma and gravitas.
Indeed, it topples the great.
The people, the so called (poetically, again, relax)
Body of Christ (all Christians, 'believers' in this state
sorry.
Blake , the greatest believer in christianity who ever took
pen to hand, said
1. i read the bible day & night. i read black where u read white.
2.thou art a Man/ God is no more (than this)/thine own humanity/learn to adore.
christianity to me is a goldmine of mytho-poetical thought.
My husband talked me into stepping back into a church after a long absence and soul searching. And a lot of back and forth conversation between him and I. I was sitting there and the man came out that was going to preach that day. After all I learned about the Catholic Church, I could not go back there but I agreed to go try another church.
And to keep on track here I am going to keep out of my comment some of my beliefs that I have developed from different text, anthropological readings, and studying the Bible myself.
So what happened? The man came out and said, " And the Jews nailed Jesus to the cross." I stood up, walked out the door in the middle of the sermon, went to get my son in the daycare to which the lady ask me why I was leaving? I said, "Well, let me ask you do you really think the Jews are to blame for the death of Jesus"? She said, "Yes, they nailed him on the cross." So, I grabbed my son. My husband and daughter were to meet me after I got him. But the lady wanted me to talk to the deacon. So I said, "ok." So I said to the deacon, "Do you think the Jews killed Jesus or nailed him on the cross"? He said, "No, it was the Romans and Pontus Pilate." I said, "Exactly so why is the young man on the stage on there preaching to your whole congregation that it was the fault of the Jews"? He said, "I don't know I will have to get the tape and look at it." And he headed off to do just that as I headed out the door.
So far I do not see Jesus or his message in churches. And as far as the little girl and her parents how do you know they are not demons? There are demons and things unexplainable on this earth. And as for me, I am not sure if I will ever step back into the so called House of the Lord.
I think the House of the Lord is all around you. Nature is the house of the Lord. And that he might even have a Goddess because after all there is a little of the Goddess in all of us women....pagan or not.. :-)
Rated +++++++++++
You were definitely right to feel the way you did, and you actually on to something saying, the House of God is everywhere; it is. We know that that ugly phrase was condemned by the Pope a while ago. Only an idiot would say that now a days. Thank you so much for sharing and for your visit and thoughtful comment.
@ James Emmerling
...And then some, my philosopher friend.
How else would you have such a huge gap in income between the rich and the poor. Unfortunately, most of the violence nowadays is legal. Thank you so much for the visit Algis; it is always a pleasure to see you.
@ blufeather
Thank you so much for reading. Welcome to OS.
You produced a masterpiece of clear thinking here, and the enormous support and agreement you received makes me feel quite hopeful for a sane new world, someday, when the “dross” is cleared away: the silly mythic reality still clung to by the ignorant masses. Not ignorant by birth or genes, no…Kept ignorant by the powers that be, in order to be manipulated emotionally like servile puppets. Cut the strings. Teach the Salt of the Earth to follow their God-given common sense and see the abomination that the false prophets and anti christs & whatnot, whatever you wanna call em, have made of the Word of God. The Word is alive and emergent in every occasion of human communication. The Word is the Body, and we are that Body.
All this terminology is like an opportunistic weed/vine suffocating the jungle of roots that make up our Greek/Hebrew/ Christian
Inheritance, a fine blooming tree always, but susceptible to pests of all kinds, animal vegetable and mineral.
"Teach the Salt of the Earth to follow their God-given common sense."
This tells all. I do believe that the universal common sense must come to compassionate solution. Thanks James for the kind words.
My guess, MONEY. Scary math: Wealth + Religion. Poverty + Religion.
Whichever the cash flow coupling, what seems most important is money, not God and spirituality. The equation too often = EVIL.
Luckily NOT ALL religious people fall down and can't get up. But damn... the ones who do are many of the ones in power. =EVIL
{scary stuff} pick a new God! ja ja ja
You know what, cindy, this point is mind boggling. I think it should be a given that if I believe in a certain god, I should know about that god. If my god lived as a man, I should know about his life, and most importantly about his message. Christians have in Jesus the most humane story of love and compassion. What is being done to tarnish that message is sacrilege. Always good to see you, and thank you for your beautiful comment.
@ Charlie Kazfranco,
Tolstoy was right about the children's ability to detect falseness. And Neitzsche got at least one right when he said, "There was only one Christian and he died on the cross." I think most of these bright philosophers hate religion for one reason; they think, "How can people be so stupid?"
You are right: since the beginning of time, some will resort to violence to take by force from others. Then comes someone to tell the poor they should not lie down and take this injustice and he gets killed. It has always been about money. I put more blame on the gofers; those who work to spread the evil message. Thank you so much for your visit and insight. It is nice to make your acquaintance.
Agreed that it is abominable to believe and/or teach that Jesus/God loves the rich and despises the poor or even vice-versa. We are all "innately" born with a sense of right and wrong and a natural acceptance of all we meet (in general). It is parents/families and religions that teach us to judge one another based on their interpretation of the bible and/or their agenda. Didn't Jesus die for all, not just the poor? It has been my experience that the louder a person claims their christianity, the less likely they are to be a truly Christian person.
Well, that is a perfect response. Thank you as always for your visit and insight.
@ Charlie Kazfranco
Yes, true enough, and no argument there. Thank you so much for the follow up.
Right on the money! Exactly right. Thank you so much for your visit and insight.
Hey, Mary! How have you been? It is always great to see you. Thank you for the gracious visit.
http://my.firedoglake.com/libbyliberal/2009/07/02/jesus-would-advocate-a-universal-single-payer-plan/
Here is an excerpt:
"There are four health care lobbyists per national representative. All that energy, attention and money to bribe, intimidate, seduce, disconnect our representatives from duty and integrity. The trustees of our democratic rights do all they can to ensure corporate profit-making at our expense, but later spin and tweak reality to present the illusion of effort and public concern.
"Jesus would not have taken the money. Jesus would know the difference between morality and amoral opportunism. Amoral pragmatism. Jesus wouldn’t have abided self-aggrandizing corporatists. Jesus raged at the money lenders in the temple.
"Jesus would care that 60 people a day die in America because they cannot afford health care.
"Jesus would care that there is one person going bankrupt every 30 seconds in America due to health care costs.
"“Whatever you do to the least among us, you do unto me.”
"It seems oxymoronic that Congress considers the idea of universal coverage a polarizing partisan one. Comprehensive and universal? Who is really being divisive on this? What about a humanitarian attitude of “a rising tide lifts all boats”? What about “with liberty and justice FOR ALL” in terms of our health care? Our Declaration of Independence said it so well:
".. We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
"These rights don’t seem as evident any more to our leadership.
"Jesus was about unity. About atonement, reconciliation of humankind with God. The origin of "atonement" is from the word “one” — “at-one-ment”. Unity. We as a citizenry need to wrap our hearts around the philosophy of universal healthcare. We need a united public asking for comprehensive protection from our supposed protectors whom we pay with our tax dollars. They legally and morally work for us, not the corporations.
"Jesus honored all the wedding guests by serving them the finest wine miraculously transformed from water.
"What watered down concoction of corporate-toxic kool-aid will Congress be asking us to swallow soon?
"Jesus would be an advocate for a universal Single Payer Plan."
The number of comments and the general tenor is also admirable, reflecting, I believe the quality of this post, and of both the passion and research that went into it.
Well done, my friend.
Thank you so much for yous kind words. It is always good to see you.
@libbiliberalnyc
"Jesus would be an advocate for a universal Single Payer Plan."
Of course He would. To say otherwise is not only heresy, it is an insult. I don't think it is an accident that most, if not all, the world countries have free healthcare. There is something extremely vile about making money from the sick. Excellent post you wrote. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.
@ Nikki Stern
It is always an honor and a pleasure to see you visit, Nikki. Looking forward to your next post.
I have attended many different churches with people in my life of various faiths. My soul tells me there are good people in those churches, but I have also met people like those in that family with the 10-year-old girl who think nothing of making fun of, and judging others who are poor, unattractive in their eyes, fat, gay and follow the wrong football team. These churchgoers go against just about everything Jesus of Nazareth taught, yet feel morally superior and are blind to how foolish they look not only to me, but to the community. Am I judging? Yep. I'll have to figure that out later.
Moving on to the protests against corporations, and I wrote some of these thoughts in response to a post by Jimmy Zuma, I know some middle-class citizens, some elderly, who are wondering if they are targeted as the corporate problem, since they have spent years saving and investing. of course with banks and corporations. When (was it Perry or Romney?) said corporations are people, I think he was referring to stockholders and the employees who file papers, make phone calls, clean the floors of corporate buildings... I have not heard any comments about average, month-to-month bill payers associated with corporations in these ways. ARE people who invest considered part of the problem? I think it is a very reasonable question during this time of anger.
I mean, should "Aunt Edna" feel bad that she joined an investment group with other ladies and owns a percentage of 1000 shares of Walgreens stock? Perhaps as the on-going protest movement is clarified, we'll know.
Moving on the Mr. and Mrs. Satan, I know that not all Christians, Muslims, Jews or, people of any faith follow to the T the teachings of the pastor, rabbi, imam or other clergy of the moment. Like me, they haven't figured out all of it.
I just hope that little girls grows up to know she can use her own mind to question what she was taught, what society is telling or asking of her, and, what her heart says is right. R
Humans by nature admire virtue, and this is why the message and story of Jesus of Nazareth is beloved by all. Good people of all faiths are perceived as good, and bad as bad. The perception of Jesus as anything other than a defender of the poor negates the belief in Him as God. Thank you Natalie for your support.
Regarding your article, I preface any remarks by stating that I am not a Christian. That is, I do not believe that Jesus Christ is my one and only lord and savior. I thought, from the title of the post, that you might be offering up some alternate choices to pick from, but only found the one at the end, offered for that man who thinks evolution can pick a winner.
What I am pleased to see, is the many voices chiming in all kinds of ways here, and the respect and honor given to each voice. I like that. Discussions of religions don't always go that way.
I like many gods, and hope to find more before my brain gives out. I hope to know god in every person and gift of grace. I refuse to be tethered to one and only one, and since that is the rule of Christianity, I can say for sure: I am not a Christian.
Absolutely. The premise here is if you are a Christian you may not tarnish the reputation of your God. What counts is the moral code of any belief, not only Christianity. The relevant part is this. Nowadays you hear many voices against social programs and against helping the poor. Now that is NOT Christian. It is always good to see you, Diana. Thank you as always for your thoughtful comment and gracious visit.
Ha!
I dunno about this Christianity thing. I am back and forth on it.
As a bit of a rascal in my salad days, so to speak,
I acquired a slight criminal record, so I dig the idea that my God and Lord & Savior died a criminal’s death. Still, that g-damn st paul went to asia instead of getting the lowdown on his supposed new god’s REAL LIFE AND TIMES, straight from the horse’s mouths. The apostles.
I guess I like Christ-ianity, but not St paul –inanity.ha.
Hypocrisy and inconsistency drive me crazy
Suddenly the camel can fly right through the eye of the needle because being a job creator has give him mystical powers.
Suddenly we are to believe that what you do unto the Richest of my people, you do unto me because I pay too much taxes.
Now people are choosing to be poor like they choose to be gay.
I just don't get it, but I thank you for writing this clear and
right on the "money" post. And welcome back, hope you are
out of retirement for a while.
rated with love
Poor Jesus, its sad that people take his ideas and twist them to suit their own needs.
But it wasn't just God or Caesar, it was also God or money. You can't serve both God and Mamon. It's easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Lay your treasures not up on earth where moth and rust doth corrupt, but lay your treasures up in the kingdom of heaven.
I'm no Christian, but I once was and anyone who understands the New Testament should be able to easily see that the Christian right's vision of a muscular free market Jesus who hates gays and wants to kick ass on Muslims is simply wrong, wrong, wrong.
These people actually believe that "God helps those who help themselves" comes from the Bible, which it does not.
"No man is an island...ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee" -- John Donne
1.Matthew 21:12
[ Jesus at the Temple ] Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.
Matthew 21:11-13 (in Context) Matthew 21 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2.Mark 11:15
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,
Mark 11:14-16 (in Context) Mark 11 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
3.John 2:15
So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.
John 2:14-16 (in Context) John 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
I think the point to those who know the Bible is clear. Jesus did not like those who went into the Temple with money to change and things to sell. He did not really like the idea behind consumerism I don't think. All things can become idols.
And I believe you are familiar with this and will do nothing but strengthen your argument here:
Matthew 19:24
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Matthew 19:23-25 (in Context) Matthew 19 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Rated.
r.
This post is absolutely brilliant. And this blog is a beacon of reason.
Thank you so much for posting this. Rated with admiration.
I give my children the money for collections when we enter. There are usually two collections. Two weeks ago there was a visiting Priest from Ecuador. He talked about the poor of his Parish and their needs. As the collection started I felt a tug on my arm. I bent down and he wispered "We want to give our doughut money today."
That is a band-aid on a wound that needs surgical closure but, it is a start. We went down stairs briefly and they saw their friends eating their treats and said nothing.
Driving home, I asked them how it felt watching their friends eating their doughnuts and milk. One of them responded "That is okay, they are good kids".
This conservative dad was very proud.
As the
I forgot about this - Thoth God Post.
I thought this was a new Thoth Post.
`
My granddaughter went to a Rural Church.
Mennonites want her for some Farmer Wife.
She said one day after Vacation Bible School:
`
"Pa Pa. Baby Jesus is pumping in my heart."
`
Blaize Pascal's `Penses - Wisdom Of Solomon
`
paraphrased . . .
Who placed us here on the earth? Firmament.
Life is brief . . .
Consider Infinity. Ponder after we die. Gasp.
Eternity Swallows People's Soul Up. Where?
Maybe the elements become Corporeal. Bug?
We're part/parcel and become Swallow Bird?
`
None can refute the body elements decompose.
What about the the unseen hidden spirit souls?
Wager? What if? Souls Migrate? Life astonishes.
God is Hidden. Revelation. Momentary Insights.
`
fun
`
I left yesterday and discussed with cranky people?
People were weary from overwork and hard work.
I say` Live as You/me have eight hours until dead.
I Plan to be irritating? My goal is to be here longer.
Maybe one-hundred? I'll be trapped in sore body.
`
It won't hurt to read Blaise Pascal. He researched.
He read the BC (before computer) esteemed wise.
It's best to admit we know Nothing. We all conks.
"ThenNow What?
Nemo Ask That.
Nemo Be Fish.
He in Bubble.
`
Life's Final Stage is tragic?
We get Burned into Ash?
Some get placed in Hole.
Dirt is Tossed on Head.
Then?
Maybe we all` Nothing.
Maybe we be` Haughty.
Maybe we be` Exposed.
`
I believe in the golden rule. This version: Do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you. What is easier than saying be kind, not cruel. Be charitable not greedy.
The friends that I have who are the most conservative (Tea Party conservative) are Catholic and Lutheran. They are extremely caring people who give generously of their time. One works for the literacy council. One is a teacher who has given up her winter in Florida for the next few years to baby sit with her grand children while the parents work. I don't think it is fair to judge a whole people by a few examples. All Lutherans and Catholics are not conservatives. All conservatives are not necessarily Christian.
My family, includes Jews, Catholics, Protestants and Buddhists.
We are every color. We are liberal, we are conservative and we are moderate. Everyone tries their best to provide for their own and still give time and money to others. This is not necessarily born by faith but by humanity. I have never met a person who believes that their God preached that the poor are to be despised.
Maybe I just don't hang with those folks.
Aside: The sun is shining here today. I'll leave it at that.
`
Consider Infinity. Ponder after we die. Gasp.
Yeah that sums everything up.
~
`
Life's Final Stage is tragic?
We get Burned into Ash?
Some get placed in Hole.
Dirt is Tossed on Head.
Then?
Maybe we all` Nothing.
Maybe we be` Haughty.
Maybe we be` Exposed.
~
I hope not.
“Jesus navigates the tight and answers a question with a question, drawing an obvious and clear distinction between two paths, God or Caesar. “
~
That ‘render’ quote is sticking in my throat,for Jesus had my throat when he said it.
That is the whole brotherhood of man, sons of god thing.
We think alike.
He gets cynical and mean often, jesus. Cool!
That is my strategy too.
~
Give caeser his taxes. He needs it to uphold his ramshackle democracy.
I cannot imagine how he would pay for his oddball wars without it.
“lie-detection and truth finding is an evolutionary tool our current big brains developed to outfox one another.”
We enlightened citizens see through our leaders, like Dylan sang in ‘masters of war’:
‘I see through your words/and I see thru yer brain/ like the water that runs down my drain”
Easy pickings, these fish in a barrel. But..thoth..with understanding, this is where we keep these fuckers. In a barrel.
At least for our own intellectual satisfaction,hm? As for our fellow citizens, how they take these wretched crippled mothers’ sons into their soul is not our business.
Argue politics with a man, me?never
I also thank everyone who took the time to comment. I appreciate this and thank you for the kind words.
You may like a program I did recently on death, resurrection and the space sciences. Let me know if you would like the link.
Best,
No I did not forget. This is the dishonest part. Jesus lived and died for the poor; he knew he was going to die for the poor--because of his views. That is the whole point. I repeat, that is the whole point. The resurrection "thingy" has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus' message to the world and moral code. His Mother introduced His life's work in the Song of Mary. That is it. What happened hundreds of years later at the Council of Nicaea has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus, let alone his message and moral code.
Thank you so much for reading.
Thank you so much for your visit and kind words.
With all these public and direct attacks on the poor on TV from many, many right wing Christians, you cannot tell me that only the adults hate the poor, and they teach their children differently.
Again, I did not say that Conservatives are bad. The argument is simple: anyone who opposes social programs for the poor, for example, cannot call himself a Christian, let alone, follower of Jesus.
Two things. One, only 3% of all Christian charity reach the mark. Two, giving money to the Church and giving alms to the poor are two separate issues. Jesus made it so clear: we should help the poor, we should give to the poor.
Thank you so much for reading.