Jesus, War, Charity

[Moby]

On the far right you have people that want war, like war and think that fighting is good. They also seem to be believe in lack of charity from government programs such as cutting spending on the elderly.

On the far right you have people that want peace and a government that provides for the needy and elderly.

Which one do you think Jesus would prefer?

[Mr. Blue]

I don't think Jesus would care much for either party for various reasons.

I always think of the Shakespeare quote, "The devil can cite scripture for his purpose."

Politics and Religion don't mix and it's one of the reasons I shunned the republican party a long time ago. I'm not sure when Republicans became such hypocritical bible thumpers, but I wish they'd return to being cold heartless businessmen that believes in smaller government, tax cuts, etc.

[Tommy]

I only see charity for other Christians and bigotry for everyone else

remember around 6 months ago that catholic school fired that single teacher for getting pregnant

I always thought it was unbelievable that the catholic church openly discriminates

more children have been hurt by the church (priests) then any other reason

more people have been killed in the name of god then for any other reason

Religion is one of the worst things that ever happened to Mankind

[Mr. Blue]

Yep, Religion is one of the worst things. Even though, I think if there were no religion people would cling to some other institution because people are basically sheep, they need to be under one umbrella otherwise they feel too uncomfortable. It's amazing how scared people are to stand on their own two feet.

[ecchi]

Ironically it is against the Christian religion to bring out laws on religious grounds. 'Mankind' is supposed to be being 'tested' by God. We are supposed to obey God's law because we 'love and honour' God. If we have to obey God's law because it is also the law of the country and we get sent to jail for not obeying it, then the Government is working AGAINST God's plan.

This don't stop most right wing Christians pushing religious laws though.

[Bill]

Jesus said, "I come not to bring peace, but a sword.".

[Bill]

He also said, "Let the dead bury the dead.".

[docholly]

Religion is one of the worst things that ever happened to Mankind

So Dark the Con of Man

[Linkster]

The advent of religion playing a huge part in politics really took off in the 1950s - spurred on by groups like the John Birch society and equating communism to non-religious beliefs by the presidents and congress. That was the time when things like "under god" were added to the pledge of allegience etc.
The very conservative republicans of the day like Goldwater et al were staunch supporters of this move as it helped solidify their base amongst US civilians in the "cold war" Add to that the demonic plague brought on by McCarthy and his rants against anyone that thought for themselves instead of following the government line, and you had the start of fundamentalism in the party.

Since that time, fundies have done everything in their power to ensure that religion was injected into the political arena and into government (against the very courageous patriots wishes that built the foundations of this country like B Franklin, J Adams etc - they were all anti-religion when it came to government)
The coincidences I have seen over my lifetime that just dont play as solitary events have probably jaded my views some - from Kennedys assasination just as we was starting secret talks with Castro against the desires of the CIA, to 100s of incidents that are occuring every day now - hidden away in the press but they are occuring.

I guess the opinion I have to have now is that the original patriots that started the great republic would be labelled as terrorists and traitors by the current administration and locked away in a cell in Cuba - kinda hits you funny when thats exactly what they were called in the late 1700s by the British king and governors in the colonies for the same expression of their thoughts that Fox news anchors now label as traitor talk

[NobleSavage]

I guess the opinion I have to have now is that the original patriots that started the great republic would be labelled as terrorists and traitors by the current administration and locked away in a cell in Cuba - kinda hits you funny when thats exactly what they were called in the late 1700s by the British king and governors in the colonies for the same expression of their thoughts that Fox news anchors now label as traitor talk

:thumbsup: Well said.

[Moby]

Jesus said, "I come not to bring peace, but a sword.".
The passage that you quote is the same passage that I'm sure is used in Extreme Muslim propaganda to help promote their cause just we will take a phrase or two from the Koran to promote ours.

Did Jesus instruct his disciples to commit violence or "To heal the sick, cleanse the lepers ...."?

A single phrase by itself is meaningless. When you put the teachings of Jesus into place where he speaks about dividing families isn't it possible that he was not advocating violence but warning of pitting "father against son" and "mother against daughter" in the belief structure that they will follow? Few things can divide a family like religion and Jesus was warning them about the fights the division "sword" between them and none believers.

Jesus spent most of his life promoting helping others and peace. If this is a passage that promotes war then what was he teaching in almost every other statement?

[Linkster]

Jesus said, "I come not to bring peace, but a sword.".

Now quote the whole part instead of picking out a phrase:
From Matthew 10 when he was sending his twelve disciples out to drive out evil spirits and heal disease:
34 Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.
I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come to turn `a man against his father, a daughter
against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law -
36 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'
37 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me
is not worthy of me;
anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me
is not worthy of me;
38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me
is not worthy of me.

Note it says "a sword" not "the sword" - he is not referring to an actual instrument of war - he is talking about the division that will occur - the split between believers and non etc..... its what his believers will have to suffer not what they should wield!

Unfortunately there are very few true Christians in the church - Pope John Paul II was a true pacifist and thats why he kept trying to talk everyone out of the Iraq war - as he knew that religious wars are totally against the Christian faith

But when you have a president who truly believes that god has talked to him and told him to go to war - youve got a lot bigger problems

[Bill]

Sophist arguments like that are always used against the Bible and the faithful.

We Christians know what Jesus meant - Jesus himself was very special, so his fight for the faith didn't require him picking up a sword, but as his words clearly show us, the time may come, as it has in the past, when we have to fight for the integrity of our Christianity.

If you attended church, you would know that.

[Linkster]

Maybe I misunderstand here - but to me sophism is the act of proffering wisdom from your own knowledge - at least thats the way Plato wrote about it
So I would have to agree that while some would think that what I was offerring was written in opposition to religion - it was merely written to pass on knowledge that could be used by some to enlighten themselves rather than doing what most in the US do, by just saying whatever the crowd is chanting
Since I have never attended church once in my life - I guess that Im safe from all of those fake Christians that believe everything they are told

[Citizen]

On the far right you have people that want war, like war and think that fighting is good. They also seem to be believe in lack of charity from government programs such as cutting spending on the elderly.

On the far right you have people that want peace and a government that provides for the needy and elderly.

Which one do you think Jesus would prefer?

Wait, who wants war?

[MintJulep]

On the far right you have people that want war, like war and think that fighting is good. They also seem to be believe in lack of charity from government programs such as cutting spending on the elderly.

On the far right you have people that want peace and a government that provides for the needy and elderly.

Which one do you think Jesus would prefer?Say WHUT?........:confused:

[Udo Dirkschneider]

Jebus likin' him some OIL

:lmao2: :lmao2: :lmao2: