geistkiesel
Valued Senior Member
In a current thread by Rknssshllreign, extremist Christians are quoted in their extreme attack on atheists. While I generally agree with the theme of that thread, I feel that the thread is so lopsided as to describe a very, very small number of religious scamps, and therefore is misleading, and thuis felt that this thread here was necessary, as an introduction into the [title of this thread, of a new topic.
Religion, and Christianity of course, like any other socially identifiable group, are never immune to critiicism. However, if those criticisms are drenched entirely, or nearly so, in mere opinion, reflecting a minority as suggesting catholic represention of the total, then the criticisms fail as uselful additions to the general understanding of human relationships with religion, and indeed, of humanity itself in its intrinsic wholeness.
To characterize religion, especially "Christianity" as totally unreasonable, even those grossests diversions from what may be decent threads of religion [and Christianity] are, for lack of a better word, harmful. All Christians do not believe as the extreme are pictured. A few extremists, or even those simply manifesting absurd misreadings and quotations of the bible (or other religious 'scriptures'), aren't necessarily evil or sinful because of errors in interpretation or understanding of the words as written and intrended; there are Christians with similarities only in fantasy and with, perhaps, pathological imaginations, even though all might confess to a deep and profound faith in similar language.
The "get Jesus or get out" is a model of Christians that only rarely, if ever, fit a picture I have experienced first hand, and I am certainly no Christian, nor even an apologist for any religion including Christianity.
I have a criticism based on what I see as obvious and irrefutable and, I might add, widespread 'diversion' of religious commands from the Master and namesake of Christianity itself. This criticism is claimed to be immune from an attack of 'taking a subject matter out of context' and ignoring other references that might topple the integrity of the meaning of what is asserted.
The New testament offers an interesting plum for consideration. Quoting Jesus, Mathew, 6:5-6 says, paraphrasing, 6:5 'when you pray do not pray as the hypocrites do when praying in the broad streets and the synagogues for all to see.
[Instead] 6:6 When you pray go into your private room and lock your door and then pray.
This sounds reasonable to me, universal even, whoever the author, as who but the individual, even the child, or the mentally challenged, know what is best for themselves as individuals on this most and very intimate subject of soul and the relationship to what is viewed as "God"? I say it is not for anyone else, 'tis a religious crime perhaps, for Pope or country boy preacher, to design and offer prayer, to or for, anyone other than themselves.
The Mathew Chapter 6 then goes on to give what is now known as the "Lord's Prayer" as an example of how to pray, instead of repeating a list of things one wants from "God". Now, as the Lord's Prayer was an example of how an individual should pray in private, then what do we call those churches or synagogues that regularly have the Lords Prayer read allowed by the Priest/Preacher/Deacon/Rabbi/Imman, where the congregation is asked to join in?
Chapter 6:1 begins with a warning to "beware" (In some biblical versions)
of those preceeding their arrival with pronouncements of their piety, with word or symbol - crosses, white collars, priestly garb, whatever? I repeat, in agreement with Jesus, beware of those professing their individual piety and "spiritual goodness"!!
Jesus, or someone other, who originally wrote these words ascribed by Mr. Matthew, seemed to have a solid grasp on religious sagacity as it applies to some modern versions of "Chtristianity". The "Get Jesus or Get out" crowd fits most squarely in the group of which Mathew 6:1 warns, perhaps even to those castigating the 'get J' crowd are equally claiming some 'piety' of which we ought to be wary [of]. One might even claim that the author of this thread has, likewise, announced his arrival with boasts and claims of piety, of which the reader ought to take clear and certain note..:shrug: