What If Our Democracy Can't Survive Without Christianity?

What? Someone asking a question of the person who continuously posts question after question on Too Woke …… is “trying to start a fight”??!!

Good grief, do you have any self-awareness ….. or objective perspective of your own activity on Too Woke??

 

No dude, one side is clearly the victim here. Poor MAGA. Always being victimized by the mean 'ole liberals. We should really treat them with more sensitivity and compassion.

 

Yeah, I don't get the continual 'But ... but ... you guys say bad things about us!' stuff.

 

Waa! Someone get them their binkies.

 

In the past 25 years I've studied several of the world's religions, some intently, ultimately returning to the faith of my fathers and mothers, finding within it the simplistic truths that could save mankind, this planet, if we learn what it is we need to know and follow the guidance given by Abraham and Moses in one language, elucidated by Jesus in a similar one, dissimilarly by the Buddha, and others through time who also knew and spoke those same truths in the language and culture of those times. In answer to the quoted question, Christianity is the prevalent tradition of faith most likely to spread a much needed message in the world of today.

Every religious tradition known shares an over arching principle, that of reciprocity. Whether it is worded in the positive or the negative, this law of reciprocity - the Golden Rule - exhorts us all to treat or deal with others the same as we ourselves want to be treated. Don't do to others what we don't want done to ourself. To the degree or standard we judge others we also will be judged. We open ourselves and those we love and care for, to receive the same treatment we dispense to others.

There are great perennial truths and themes found within both biblical testaments as well as the Sutras of Buddha in the Tripitaka. Love encourages, forgives, builds, creates, and sustains. Hate damages, destroys, diminishes. Succumbing to temptation is our downfall. Holding on to anger, grudges, or grievances subjects body and soul to physical and mental harm. Greed, selfishness, pride, lies, jealousy, theft and deceit are insidious ills that damage us, harm us, and when left unchecked that damage is endlessly perpetuated onto others who will likewise project it yet forward. In addition to ourself the effects of our short comings (sins) are most definitely also visited on those in our wake, and those who negatively react as Karmic retribution. These repetitive cycles of offense will continue until we learn how we can benefit and improve the world around us by breaking destructive patterns, to encourage and foster the healing and repair the world sorely needs. Peace comes to those who exercise Good Will towards others and there is much too little of that exercised in the world. The chaotic state of the world - and the rampant hostility displayed on this forum - reflects that devastation. We should ever strive to be the change we want to see. Tikkun Olam.

French wrote he has spoken with Jonathan Rauch - a declared atheist who is also a Jewish homosexual - a lot in the the last several years and is impressed by his commitment to understanding the role Christianity plays in American politics. The interview with Rauch is an excellent read. He displays an insightful understanding of Christianity and how it best guides, or should impact those adhering to its tenets in good faith. He speaks of Christianity as being thin, sharp, or thick in practice, or in my estimation as 'lip service' Christianity, shifting to sharp as people look to politics to supply what the find missing in their nominal practice of faith. Thick Christians practice their faith in selfless action, adhering to the principles Jesus taught his followers (read Christians) - give generously and unselfishly to help those who are in sore need. And there is no shortage of people who need help in this cruel world.

In stead we are inundated with complaints from 'Christians' desiring to dispense thin, inadequate gruel for a brief time, then send the indigent and poor 'back to where they belong,' subverting the instructions Jesus gave his faithful followers. Rauch and French and others are concerned with these deficiencies.

If the reader is shut out from the article by a paywall, it can be heard in 20 minutes at this youtube link. I highly recommend giving it a listen.

 

I think the word atheist has been vilified as part of a primarily judeo Christian society. I’d consider myself atheist. I don’t believe there is any sort of diety or god as viewed by any known religions. I don’t summarily dismiss the existence of a “higher power”, which could mean a lot of different things, including things we don’t understand.

What I do find confusing is those who consider themselves atheists but treat atheism as a religion of sorts. Forming groups that surround the lack of belief in a particular thing seems odd on the face of it.

 

“For democracy, any man would give his only begotten son.”

 

So are you agnostic on the existence of the Flying Spaghetti Monster? While anything is possible, I’d qualify as being reasonably possible. Can I say anything is absolutely impossible? No. Perhaps I am surrounded by invisible fairies that are laughing at me. Can I definitely say that isn’t the case? Perhaps not, but I’d consider myself an atheist as to the existence of that possibility. I do not believe it to be true.

 

That has struck me, as well. See: Reagan tv ad.

 

I'm beginning to think there's not much difference between and atheist and an agnostic ...other than the latter seems more acceptable than the former.

 

At least

 

What if Christianity wasn’t democratic ?

Would the question still make sense ?

 

Hinduism is interesting because you can look at it metaphorically or literally and there's no real conflict. Christianity desperately needs some kind of update in this respect (and others) as the fundamentalist interpretation is completely at odds with modernity. I feel like humanity needs some kind of revolution and/or blending of the faiths for them to stay relevant going forward.

 

Yes, hard pass on the humanized deity thing.

 

An athiest is SURE there is nothing supernatural. Everything is part of the natural world.

Agnostics just don't know and, if like myself, don't waste a lot of time chasing answers that will never be known. Better to focus on the here and now. I'm pretty sure it isn't the Bible or anything in the Abrahamic tradition. Just too cartoonish to be believable in the modern world. Hinduism is interesting in its early form, in particular it's age and the kinds of things they were talking about (Earth round, revolving around the sun, part of a greater universe and even calculating the age of said universe and being in the ballpark) before the Abrahamic religions even existed.

 

“that will never be known” sounds like an absolutist statement. How can you ever know this is the case ?

 

Cool. Spend your life looking for it. Perhaps you will find the "meaning of life". Me? I'm going to stick to more tangible things, like today's agenda.