Guest DragonflyKid Report post Posted May 13, 2002 I'm just curious as to what Jesus' politics would be if he were alive today. I saw a newspaper article on some Christian sect that frowns apon the modern world and strictly adheres to the new testament. I was wondering if they are true modern Christians and everybody else poseurs who do as they feel and disregard what it means to be Christian. Would he(Jesus) be in favor of capitalism where a small group hold the majority of the power(different social classes)? Is the U.S. unchristian for being a consumeristic society? Do modern Christians forsake sacrifice, forgiveness, pity, humility, etc.(Christian virtues), and think of themselves as Christian if they merely were babtized and wear a cross? Have modern Christians become complacent when it comes to living a Christian life? Is the lust for power, status, etc., that dominates modern society unchristian? Has Christianty evolved away from Christ's original philosophy(Love your neighbor, love God). Has money become something that takes precedent over God in a largely Christian society? Can worship of the Christian God and the lust for the power money affords co-exist? Is not allowing Mexicans or any other foreigners into the U.S. unchristian if you should truly love thy neighbor. Are distinctions between diffrent races and nationalities unchristian? Would Jesus be for crime and punishment in not in the hand of God but in people who cast judgement(Turn the other cheek). Is war and it's violence unchristian? Was he an anarchist?, would he be an anarchist now(A free-market,libertarian I have heard him be called)? Would he be against the institutionalized church (Kierkegaard's Christianity/Christendom concept)? Thanks or any help. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Frank Zappa Mask Report post Posted May 14, 2002 It is quite true that there are a lot of people who don't so much worship Jesus as they worship such things as money and consumerism. These same people may claim to be practicing Christians, but that just means church on Sunday without so much as an actual thought as to what Jesus represented. I always say Jesus isn't the problem. The problem is the people who use the power of his name to earn power, wealth, and prestige. This is more of an objective fact than a judgement, and it's not a blanket statement, because there will always be an equally large group of people who truly understand matters of the spirit, and the responibility that entails in living your life and in treating your fellow human beings. I don't think Jesus would be happy at all with the state of the world today, and I hope I don't have to explain why........ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Risk Report post Posted May 14, 2002 Jesus wouldn't be for anarchy. He could have had his followers fight Rome, but he didn't. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DragonflyKid Report post Posted May 14, 2002 I didn't mean nihilistic,violent anarchy against the state, I meant detachment from the artificial establishments which try to impose their wills even if they conflict with an individual's own values and beliefs. Here is some scripture from the New Testament, does this conflict with the current war on terrorism headed by a Christian(Bush)? "Ye hath heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say onto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which dispitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth the rain on the just and on the unjust." -Matt 5:43-5 "Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head." -Romans 12:19 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say onto you, that ye resist no evil: but whoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matt 5:38-9 "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place onto wrath: for it is written, vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Romans 12:19 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Kahran Ramsus Report post Posted May 14, 2002 Jesus is above politics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted May 15, 2002 Jesus always respected the distinction between state and church (as seen by the coin incident) so he probably wouldn't have a defined political belief although most people would take his message as political.. His religous/ethical politics are probably closer to a liberal Protestants than any other christian denomation. He believed in the indivual having a relationship with God, was against the Rabbais (read Catholic Priests) and was against racism (although we can't be sure he was in favour of religous equality). Although he was liberal and welcomed everyone he probably wasn't a socialist. Indeed his treatment of the poor probably has more in common with Bush and his use of charities to look after the poor. If he was around today he would almost certainly end up in trouble with the authorities, etc. William Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted May 17, 2002 Jesus (the jesus of history here - the jesus of faith is an entirely different proposition, though that debate is for a different thread entirely) would have been arguably, an intensely political/religous figure, coming as he did, from a time and place where the church and state were inseperable. Also, today he would be rather than being in trouble with the authorities, more than likely be considered an expert in 'spin doctoring' and events manipulation (see the incident in the temple with the money lenders). His message would have been intentionally political, as expected of the 'messiah' in judaic terms, and thus, probably not one of religious tolerance. Ian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
