I’ve recently given thought that Christianity wasn’t supposed to be related to Judaism at all ... it was to be “whole, in itself” ... love and caring for one another the law.
That's what the New Testament tries for! Albeit in a very rough effort. The Old Testament is something different entirely. I am still investigating these matters, but my understanding is that devout Jews are still waiting for their Messiah.
I don’t write as well as you do. The most I can say is that I’m well-read. I’ve used logical fallacies extensively as an editorial artist in the past, so I know what they are. Now, I paint puzzles, book covers, posters, commercial stuff and the occasional editorial. Steve Brodner is a master of logical fallacies. He uses them in some of his editorials; it goes with the territory. Unfortunately it also seems a bit unfair to the ignorant out there who are easily manipulated. The fact that he also happens to be a brilliant artist makes his editorials even more powerful than about 99% of artists in the field. I’m surprised when excellent writers like you use cartoonlike descriptions of religions like “Christianity, a lousy copy of Judaism” that don’t make much sense. That description shows a profound level of ignorance of both faiths. You probably have a better understanding of Islam, but, since I’ve not studied it as much as I’ve studied my faith, I’m not sure. As a Christian, I know Islam’s origins, but, not much more. Your essays are simplistic, essentializing people of faith, but interesting and beautifully written. I understand it would take many pages to flesh out some of the ideas you cover, so maybe I’m being unfair. You argue sometimes using non-sequiturs, evident in your interpretations about the slavery of the Bible and how it was used as justification for some Americans to hold slaves. The fact that men used the Bible, which is neutral in the New Testament on the matter of slavery, to claim it was the will of God that African Americans were enslaved, is not an indictment of the Bible, but of men. The verses you pointed to have nothing to do with the approval of slavery as an institution, but how enslaved Christians should act toward their masters, and how masters should treat their slaves. As a Christian, I’m instructed to be a slave to Christ. Many biblical references to slavery have to do with our relationship as Christians to Christ. Interestingly, Christians, specifically from Puritan New England and Quaker Pennsylvania, finally ended slavery in America by turning popular opinion in the North against it. William Wilberforce, a Christian, was the main voice of the Abolition Movement in England leading to the end of the English slave trade. His life was dramatized in the movie, “Amazing Grace.”
I don’t respond to what you write to troll. I just wanted to point out that you seem to hold what you think are superior moral views, but to defend those views, you demonize Christians and conservatives in ways that are not well-thought-out or logically sound. You dismiss history and its record of the amazing contributions to the world, to science, to math and much more Christians and conservatives have made by reducing us to tumors and mentally ill. I won’t bother you anymore if you wish, but I’ve found that I think better, more logically when my views are challenged. I have a feeling you are the same way. I do envy your ability. I’ve always wanted to be able to fashion sentences in ways that are unusually colorful, eloquent and thought-provoking, but I can’t. You are gifted.
I am not trying to demonize Christians as a group, but rather the body of dogma that is claimed to be the authoritative word of a deity. Christians do good things despite their holy book, not because of it. Many people who wear the label Christian are wonderfully moral. The same is true of Islam and Muslims.
My essays are simplistic because they need to be to explain my position effectively. Christianity itself has contributed mostly dissonance to the world, because the main text of Christianity is dissonant. Christians often rise above that dissonance to create and contribute wonderful things to humanity(often following some of the examples set by Jesus from the New Testament). Math is not Christian. Science is not Christian.
Whatever good William Wilberforce did in his life could just as easily have been done if he called himself any other religion's adherent or none at all. We don't need religions to be moral humans. What idea does Christianity offer that no other worldview can provide?
I’ve recently given thought that Christianity wasn’t supposed to be related to Judaism at all ... it was to be “whole, in itself” ... love and caring for one another the law.
That's what the New Testament tries for! Albeit in a very rough effort. The Old Testament is something different entirely. I am still investigating these matters, but my understanding is that devout Jews are still waiting for their Messiah.
Well, of course “rough effort” because Catholic Church ... which... is actually a government. My humble opinion, of course.
Yes, the Catholic church is setup like a government and the Vatican is definitely a city-state that rules and directs the lives of the faithful.
And yes, I believe you are correct. Orthodox Jews are still waiting for their Messiah.
I don’t write as well as you do. The most I can say is that I’m well-read. I’ve used logical fallacies extensively as an editorial artist in the past, so I know what they are. Now, I paint puzzles, book covers, posters, commercial stuff and the occasional editorial. Steve Brodner is a master of logical fallacies. He uses them in some of his editorials; it goes with the territory. Unfortunately it also seems a bit unfair to the ignorant out there who are easily manipulated. The fact that he also happens to be a brilliant artist makes his editorials even more powerful than about 99% of artists in the field. I’m surprised when excellent writers like you use cartoonlike descriptions of religions like “Christianity, a lousy copy of Judaism” that don’t make much sense. That description shows a profound level of ignorance of both faiths. You probably have a better understanding of Islam, but, since I’ve not studied it as much as I’ve studied my faith, I’m not sure. As a Christian, I know Islam’s origins, but, not much more. Your essays are simplistic, essentializing people of faith, but interesting and beautifully written. I understand it would take many pages to flesh out some of the ideas you cover, so maybe I’m being unfair. You argue sometimes using non-sequiturs, evident in your interpretations about the slavery of the Bible and how it was used as justification for some Americans to hold slaves. The fact that men used the Bible, which is neutral in the New Testament on the matter of slavery, to claim it was the will of God that African Americans were enslaved, is not an indictment of the Bible, but of men. The verses you pointed to have nothing to do with the approval of slavery as an institution, but how enslaved Christians should act toward their masters, and how masters should treat their slaves. As a Christian, I’m instructed to be a slave to Christ. Many biblical references to slavery have to do with our relationship as Christians to Christ. Interestingly, Christians, specifically from Puritan New England and Quaker Pennsylvania, finally ended slavery in America by turning popular opinion in the North against it. William Wilberforce, a Christian, was the main voice of the Abolition Movement in England leading to the end of the English slave trade. His life was dramatized in the movie, “Amazing Grace.”
I don’t respond to what you write to troll. I just wanted to point out that you seem to hold what you think are superior moral views, but to defend those views, you demonize Christians and conservatives in ways that are not well-thought-out or logically sound. You dismiss history and its record of the amazing contributions to the world, to science, to math and much more Christians and conservatives have made by reducing us to tumors and mentally ill. I won’t bother you anymore if you wish, but I’ve found that I think better, more logically when my views are challenged. I have a feeling you are the same way. I do envy your ability. I’ve always wanted to be able to fashion sentences in ways that are unusually colorful, eloquent and thought-provoking, but I can’t. You are gifted.
Mark,
I am not trying to demonize Christians as a group, but rather the body of dogma that is claimed to be the authoritative word of a deity. Christians do good things despite their holy book, not because of it. Many people who wear the label Christian are wonderfully moral. The same is true of Islam and Muslims.
My essays are simplistic because they need to be to explain my position effectively. Christianity itself has contributed mostly dissonance to the world, because the main text of Christianity is dissonant. Christians often rise above that dissonance to create and contribute wonderful things to humanity(often following some of the examples set by Jesus from the New Testament). Math is not Christian. Science is not Christian.
Whatever good William Wilberforce did in his life could just as easily have been done if he called himself any other religion's adherent or none at all. We don't need religions to be moral humans. What idea does Christianity offer that no other worldview can provide?