GREAT post. Probably the worst thing that happened to Christianity was Constantine adopting it as his personal religion (and then trying to run the Nicene council his way) and then Theodocious. Before that, Christianity still tried hard to obey what Jesus actually said in the Gospels... For one thing, most of them didn't believe a Christian could be a Roman soldier for a number of reasons (like having to offer incense to the Emperor). After that, though... suddenly it was all power, power, power! With no hesitation on what they did with it.
And we are, sadly, still there. I was on-line last year with a White Christian Nationalist who was on a roll, and rather than respond with my own words, I quoted the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats to him. His response: "Don't try to turn my Jesus into some sort of free-love radical hippie." That's when I realized I was just banging my head against the wall...
Wow, that is a great quote. It reminds me of the struggles that some Evangelical pastors reported about parishioners saying that the Sermon on the Mount was "too weak". It would be one thing if they could engage in some sort of actual discussion about biblical texts, but they literally do not care about what the Bible says or what it actually means. And there is no way to have a conversation with someone about the topic at that point.
Excellent essay. So much to think about and absorb.
Thank you! :-)
great post
Thank you!
GREAT post. Probably the worst thing that happened to Christianity was Constantine adopting it as his personal religion (and then trying to run the Nicene council his way) and then Theodocious. Before that, Christianity still tried hard to obey what Jesus actually said in the Gospels... For one thing, most of them didn't believe a Christian could be a Roman soldier for a number of reasons (like having to offer incense to the Emperor). After that, though... suddenly it was all power, power, power! With no hesitation on what they did with it.
And we are, sadly, still there. I was on-line last year with a White Christian Nationalist who was on a roll, and rather than respond with my own words, I quoted the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats to him. His response: "Don't try to turn my Jesus into some sort of free-love radical hippie." That's when I realized I was just banging my head against the wall...
Wow, that is a great quote. It reminds me of the struggles that some Evangelical pastors reported about parishioners saying that the Sermon on the Mount was "too weak". It would be one thing if they could engage in some sort of actual discussion about biblical texts, but they literally do not care about what the Bible says or what it actually means. And there is no way to have a conversation with someone about the topic at that point.