Jesus then mentions the approach of a Samaritan. The Samaritans are a religious group (they still exist), and at the time of Jesus, the schism between Samaritans and Judeans was still very raw; but the important thing to know about the Samaritans is that the religiously-minded Jews of the time hated the Samaritans. A lot. Jesus' mention of a Samaritan to this religiously-minded man would've been like telling a MAGA that a socialist approached the man.
It's also worth noting that whether the person has done harm to you doesn't affect Jesus' conclusion that they're your neighbor: about a century and a half before Jesus tells this parable, the (Judean) Hasmonean King Hyrcanus had prosecuted a devastating "holy war" against the Samaritan people, destroying their lands and even their temple on Mount Gerizim, meaning that the Samaritan in this story was actually helping someone whose people had devastated his homeland.
“God will not entertain the poor in heaven. You will not go there. I will also stand at the entrance to stop you from going there. We have misunderstood the gospel."
Well, somebody's misunderstood the gospel, that's for sure.
Looking for churches is an interesting experience. Over the years I’ve had opportunity to look for churches many times and I’ve often run into some weird things.
I’m curious what’s the weirdest thing you’ve run into visiting a new church?
My answers in the thread below and in no particular order.
@vwbusguy@jfslicer@Aslanmane Yeah, should've clarified that I'm speaking from a Reformed perspective, hence "dissenting" / "nonconformist" in UK context. As for Church of England, AFAIK yes use of the National Anthem would be liturgically "required" within certain services but these would still be somewhat rare - by no means regular widespread practice. Outside CofE "required" would be too strong a word either way regarding placement or indeed use/non-use of the NA: practice & opinion varies!
@dominicgrant@jfslicer@Aslanmane Indeed. As a Methodist, myself, .... it's complicated. I've seen churches that have the country flag on the alter and do a pledge of allegiance to it during the service and others that see flags in the sanctuary at all as a form of idolatry (I lean to the latter, personally).
The dogmatic formulations of Nicaea, in adopting terms not drawn directly from scripture and in rejecting many of the principal certitudes of centuries of orthodox theology, were radical innovations; in fact, they were disruptions of the tradition as much as they were developments
But they were most definitely obedient to a promise that, looking back from them to the past, appears to pervade the Gospel’s original apocalyptic disruption of religious and historical life.
Preparing the intercessions / prayers tomorrow for Church. It seems to me that when the #Episcopal Church updates the Book of Common Prayer, there is a real need to expand the prayers and meditations to reflect our grief and our calls around #ClimateChange. #Environmental breakdown stresses not only the physical or geological but also the mental, psychological, and spiritual. Religions have a vital role to play going forward.
@deepmud These ideas seem primarily economic but they are ultimately philosophical and spiritual.
I have felt for a while that the key condition of modernity and capitalism is rootlessness. And until we address that - that deep cultural, philosophical, and spiritual malaise - no real change will be possible.
I don't expect everyone to agree with me - I know there are so many opinions about this. Thank you for sharing your views. And again, I apologize if I came off as condescending.
@seanbala thank you for that apology which I accept.
If you haven't read George Orwell's book I recommend it. I think capitalism is not the cause, it is only the symptom of the true cause which is greed. Imo.
Also, people are hierarchical and status seeking. Both of these are largely a waste of time but that's one reason for luxury items, which are also a waste of time.
Buddhism is the only religion I know of that suggests joy in simplicity.
"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." -- Brennan Manning
IMO, it's the distillation of their perverted view of Christianity and Jesus. So much so that the bimper sticker I saw was probably from the brand of the same name.
Known for his improvised & volatile performances, #Trump is now ending many of his rallies w/ churchlike ritual & casting his prosecutions as persecution.
I grew up as a Christian. My father was an Anglican minister. The problem I have with other Christians I've met is the hypocrisy. Many of them seem full of hatred and judgement and pay no heed to the actual teachings of Christ, which surely should be the basis of Christian faith. In the end I walked away from the Church. #christianityisbigotry#christianity
@Jedigirl This is why I reject all religion and consider myself a hardened atheist. I'm Jewish and I've seen this same shit in my culture so I am only Jewish by heritage now.
Nearly 1500 years after Justinian founded a monastery on the Sinai peninsula at the foot of what is believed to be Mt. Sinai, some Christians are looking for Mt. Sinai in Saudi Arabia -- even though the Hebrew Bible gives contradictory location clues and even different names to the mountain of God.
Although the article cites some (fairly unoriginal) textual analysis of the Tenach, its primary angle is about where Christians think Sinai might have been. Using a hashtag that's for 21st century Jews chatting about stuff of 21st century Jewish interest seems a bit like shoehorning to me.
Also, in practical terms, makes it easier for evangelical Christians to find and potentially annoy Jews on Mastodon.
The other day I saw this in a post: “The only way to know the truth is to read and learn the Bible” and I’ve been sitting with it. Here’s the thing: Jesus tells us that HE is the truth. So is the original post saying that the Bible leads to Jesus and therefore truth? Or are we trying to say that the words themselves are the truth? Because if it’s the latter, that’s getting close to idol territory… #Christianity#Bible#Truth#WhatIsTruth
@FrChazzz I was challenged by a friend to find anywhere in the scripture where the writings and teachings of the law, the prophets, or the apostles refer to themselves as “The Word of God”, and that was a helpful exercise. It’s unhelpful, our legacy of anti-intellectualism in American Christianity, which makes it difficult to insist on reading the scripture carefully and interrogating, “what does the scripture says about it’s own authority?”
@FrChazzz so much of deconstruction can feel like walking away from scripture as an authority in our lives into a wild and unordered space out in the world, when for me it was just detangling Scripture from what our heritage of sweaty, revival tent Biblicism says about scripture. In many ways, they were just wrong. Can’t blame them, though, most of them (talking about my own family here) had no connection to The Tradition, they were basically starting from scratch.
A gentle reminder to all Christians that Socialism, anti-Capitalism, and helping the needy were all tenets of Jesus's teachings, and blaming the poor for their poverty is the most unChristianly thing you can do. #christianity
@ned Although there are some - don't know exactly, maybe Calvinists 🤔 - that think being very successful in business is godly. You may guess what they think about the poor!?! 🤔
I was just thinking a bit about taxes and fair shares and one of Jesus' parables popped into my head. See, the church has a flat tax system, or at least, the evangelical church does. Each member of the church is supposed to voluntarily give 10% of their income, which the church is very adamant that God will return to you with interest. I remember hearing stories from clearly well-off Sunday-school teachers telling of how they "used to struggle a lot financially" but would still find ways to make it fit in their budget, and now they were comfortable. This was a story told to children, mind you, and with adult retrospect I can think of some additional context I'd like to ask for in that story.
I am familiar but not well read of the Bible. Jesus advocated for radical compassion. One could suggest that he built from the notion of welcoming the stranger, a custom endemic to the ME. The Greeks embodied it as well. Travelers were welcomed, fed and sheltered, and only then asked their business. Ultimately humanity’s super power is in reciprocity. All of the above examples of its expression.
JC also said its not our job to cull weeds from wheat but care for all.
@scott There’s a pastor on YT, Rev Ed Trevors, an Anglican priest who is useful to sample. He’s a version of Christianity I like to remind myself of, because the other kind has been given a megaphone.
You might listen a bit to some of his posts because he definitely works the compassion angle. Some posts are specifically religious in ways I care little about, but most of them talk about behavior towards others.
So, my take on #Christianity (after exploring several sects -- as well as other religions), and reading some of the texts in the original languages (Hebrew and Koine Greek), as well as studying Greek and Roman history -- that pretty much, the Romans saw the popularity of early Christianity (which was based on earlier mystery cults), as being a threat to their rule. So they incorporated elements of Christianity into Roman Christianity (which later became Roman Catholicism) -- fusing Christian beliefs (myths) into the existing Roman state religious structure (divine ancestor worship, virgin birth, etc) -- and turned it into the colonizing, misogynistic, abusive, xenophobic monster that committed genocide on Indigenous peoples, subjugated women, and erased any religion that wasn't "Christianity." I think that about sums it up...
An Episcopalian priest I know told me recently that the original meaning of "turn the other cheek" may actually refer to inviting your adversary to officially complete their challenge to a duel...
Like, did you just hit me?? Was that an accident or are you actually trying to start a fight? Here, give it to me again on the other cheek so I can be sure I heard you right. I dare you.
That would put a VERY different spin on a lot of things....