There is something very unhealthy about Christianity, or at least a large % of it, in the US today. I hope to use this thread to explain why. The biggest problem with much of 'Christian America', is that...they are not very Christian, in their deeds nor their words. Having travelled to predominantly Christian parts of Europe, to use as a comparison, it is almost like an entirely different religion, the Christianity of Europeans, and that of the US, or should I be kind and call it what it really is 'Christian Zionism'. In Christian Zionism, one thing seems crucial - do not compel others or yourself to live by the teachings of Christ! Indeed, it literally preaches the opposite, for example; Jesus was quite clear what he felt about man killing man - yet someone like John Hagee routinely speaks with passion about acts that would cause the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent and good people. Jesus was quite clear on what they thought about money lenders, you could say the Goldman Sachs or JP Morgan of their day, maybe. Yet, men like Hagee, and he is by no means alone or by no means has a small audience, he stands for gluttony and greed, he even looks like a glutton. Jesus spoke of brotherly love, and loving your perceived enemy, so that they would no longer be an enemy but a brother, while these evangelists, all of whom are Zionists (which has perverted and distorted Christianity in the US), urge war, intolerance, and hate. The truth is this. Large audiences of American Christians have, for some years, but by no means always, been gradually getting preached to by men who not only replace the teachings of Christ entirely, with their own new set of questionable ethics, but they literally speak in a manner which is the polar opposite of the philosophy of Christ! What is the polar opposite of Christ?
So, basically, your problem with American Christianity is: #1 - You view it as monolithic. #2 - You focus on key POLITICAL issues, and have derived from these complex issues a simple solution that you think EVERYONE should get behind. If not, then clearly they are not following the teachings of Christ? Where exactly were you in the run up to the Iraq War? What exactly where the peace elements doing in the US? Walking around with crosses correct? But these do not exist in your mind? Nor apparently is there any mention of the Just War doctrine. It really seems to boil down to Israel for you, and, for a guy that is talking about brotherly love, you appear to be advocating the whole sale slaughter of seven million Jews? Just as you appear to be avoiding and the inter-faith efforts taking place in that neck of the woods to foster peace .... Or, like MANY Christians, this one included, you could be seeking a political solution to the crisis, one that is equitable, enduring, and seeking political rather than military solutions as being paramount in regard to an issues that has two sides.
It's great having the two or three that I have on ignore, on ignore. They are usually there for a personal attack, more likely several, and failure to address points.
So, it great seeing that you have no intent to debate and are systemically avoiding rebuttals to once again just generally slam religion - as atheists tend to do. I see the ignore feature keeps you safely bubble rapped from the reality of rebuttal and debate. The downside when you ignore everyone? No one left to debate. So, be warned when you engage, the intent is clearly to impune you and your religion if you attempt to correct some of the more egregious leaps and connections in this analysis.
what a joke 'we the people' got duped trying to stop any pursuit of war in the middle east many had curlers in their hair [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0haybEo-Tx4"]Jews United Against Zionism, United Nations, January 4, 2009 - YouTube[/ame] except to perhaps wipe out LIARS The is just war! a christian is who invoked the slaughtering: who said this?...................................... stated before a crowd in Munich: "My feeling as a Christian points me to my Lord and Savior as a fighter. It points me to the man who once in loneliness, surrounded only by a few followers, recognized these Jews for what they were and summoned men to fight against them and who, God's truth! was greatest not as a sufferer but as a fighter. In boundless love as a Christian and as a man I read through the passage which tells us how the Lord at last rose in His might and seized the scourge to drive out of the Temple the brood of vipers and adders. How terrific was his fight against the Jewish poison. Today, after two thousand years, with deepest emotion I recognize more profoundly than ever before the fact that it was for this that He had to shed his blood upon the Cross. As a Christian I have no duty to allow myself to be cheated, but I have the duty to be a fighter for truth and justice who had them jews killed??????? In this neck of the woods............... right here................ the effort is to step out the LIARS war had been declared!
Is there any particular "predominately Christian parts of Europe", that you are using to make such a comparison? Please list the names of the particular Countries in which you claim are "predominately Christian parts of Europe."
I would like to say that jesus was only against money lenders who profitted off of worship. He hates that they were profitting off of the people who came to worship god, by claiming that their money was not worth donating. He was not against someone giving loans to people in general, unless they violated the day for cancelling debts.
Is it possible that you might be a little more explanatory on your use of the phrase "profited off of worship"? Also, what is the "day for cancelling debts"?
The Pharasees passed laws that only Israelite money could be donated to the Temple. The money lenders made their money by lending money to people who brought in foreign money. They profitted from people coming to worship. That is what pissed Jesus off.
That would be 'money changers', not lenders. "Mat 21:12 ΒΆ And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, " Reading just that one verse from the story, shows that Jesus was opposed to more than just the "money changers". It also seems that Jesus was opposed to any of those that conducted 'commercial' affairs in the temple. So Jesus is against the people in the temple having commercial affairs being conducted in the temple. My Goodness. That would mean that Jesus is against those temple (church) elders who have converted the temple into a den of thieves (practitioners of commercialism). "Mat 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. " Today, that den of thieves can be recognized by such things as the sale of records, videos, books, (items that are supposed to be a means of praising God) asking for special donations where 75% or more of the donated money is ate up by "administrative" costs (paying those elders of the temple). It has turned into a get rich quicker scheme by all those that are involved, instead of being a House of Prayer.
Only 2 or 3? I'm at 10, about to add a couple of more to my Ignore List. If this is an example of your posts, I think you might make my list real soon.
I think he was referring to the 7th year when debts were forgiven. Not sure what day, maybe all 365 days. LOL
Seems the whole world has either forgotten that day else don't care about it (at least from the corporate perspective).
