The new Jesus-free Christianity

[Jade Fox]

This great article in the current Harpers Magazine is a must read for
everyone.

http://www.harpers.org/ExcerptTheChristianParadox.html

Turns out we are right: These Right-wing Christians have essentially
exorcised the values of Jesus right out of the religion they are
espousing. Other Christians should be calling them on this. Don't
use the guy's name if you're gonna completely ignor his teachings!

[Wetzelbill]

1. good post

I'm going to have to get that mag.

[dweller]

8. also includes: “None Dare Call it Stolen”

http://www.harpers.org/WhatWentWrongInOhio.html


dp

[Wetzelbill]

9. thanks for that info

this is definitely on my list.

[lvx35]

2. I've had this thought for a long time; they're neo-jews or something.

Its like they threw out the new Testament, So their religious texts are like the jews, except for the book of revelations which they accept...So its sort of like some wierd mean spirited apacolyptic judaism or something.

[Jade Fox]

5. They have also ripped off...

a lot New Age stuff--watered down, with the word "Christian" tacked on
the front end. Some of it's ridiculous: Christian fittness groups (Jesus
pumped iron, didn't he?), etc.

[dchill]

3. Who need Jesus...

when you got Gee Dubya?

[GoreDean2008]

4. Jesus Is Liberal!!!

Check this website at http://www.jesusisaliberal.org/index.html.

I recently quit my church and decided not to attend church anymore. My pastor, though not political, became materially greedy. His sermons did not have much to do with the real teachings of Jesus. He justed demanded more tithings, which is not even in the Bible, by comparing not paying tithe to cholesterol buildup in your heart in this bad economy. I began reading the Four Gospels because his sermons were just terrible. I was struck by what Jesus said because these days you rarely hear the real teachings of Jesus in the Christian church worship services! These Corporate Christian churches completely commercialize Jesus's teaching to gain political power and economic profit from the followers. There is a world of difference between what pastors teach in the name of Jesus and what Jesus actually taught.

Simply put, if you attend church regularly, you are more likely to stay further away from Jesus's real teachings. For those who really want to follow Jesus, I would not recommend them to attend church regularly. Just buy a New International Version of the Bible and read the Four Gospels. You will begin to love Jesus because He is on the left side and He hates the ancient-day Jerry Falwells and John Ashcrofts.

[Jade Fox]

6. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[RagAss]

7. For me it was the Gospel of Thomas

One of the earliest and one of the first to be suppressed by the political movement that took over the early church.

[Wetzelbill]

10. thanks for the website

[More Than A Feeling]

11. When are the ex-communications scheduled for?

Seriously, people who call themselves Christian and don't do what Jesus said aren't all of a sudden not Christian. They are just really lousy Christians.

[Jade Fox]

12. When you attribute everything you do to Jesus....

yet ignor his teaching, you've got some 'splainin to do.

No one said anything about ex-communication.

[Coastie for Truth]

13. Thought you were talking about something else

(we are "Friends of the Unitarian Universalist Association" -- not "enrolled" and therefore non-voting; just dues paying and attending for good speakers and programs, and "cafeteria" Reform Jews.)

We have just started reading Forrest Church's "Thomas Jefferson's Bible" - which is a "liberal" New testament stripped of Voo-Doo, miracles, etc. Very interesting slant.