Some thoughts on Christianity
Dec. 5th, 2008 01:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aelfieI was raised within the Roman Catholic Church. Yet today, not only am I a non-practicing Catholic, I hesitate to call myself a Christian. I’m not all that faithful, and I’m willing to admit, I might be wrong. I’m still searching for a “right” answer.
Okay, here’s my thoughts.
Catholics aren’t really big on teaching/studying the Bible. Or at least it wasn’t when I was in school and CCD. And thanks to a strong liberal arts program, I view the Bible as nothing but hearsay. I agree it’s a book inspired by God, but written by Man. We know for a fact that, for example, the Gospels were written years (sometimes hundreds) after the death of Jesus, usually by people who didn’t know him. Its an oral story that was finally written down. So we don’t actually know that Jesus said “Blah.” What we have is a book that says that someone said, that someone said, that someone said, Jesus said “Blah.” And I know I’m not the only one who’s ever played Telephone before. Even the simplest message gets seriously fucked up. So I take anything that quotes Jesus (or anyone else for that matter) with a large grain of salt.
That being the said, when I read something in the Bible, I tend to look for a deeper, simpler message. I take the Golden Rule away from the Gospels. That’s the basic message he was trying to convey. I think Douglas Adams summed it up best.
“And then, on Thursday, nearly two thousand years after one man had been nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be to be nice to people for a change...”
I think that message still has relevance today. But, it doesn’t roll off the tongue very well. Neither does the Golden Rule.
While driving today, I was pondering this, and realized that another author made it even more succinct and uses a phrase that should resonate with today’s modern person much better. What went across my mind was:
I think it works. Maybe I should set up a Café Press site and make some money off it. Can't you imagine that a T-shirt? Think of all the cash those WWJD people made.
Okay, here’s my thoughts.
Catholics aren’t really big on teaching/studying the Bible. Or at least it wasn’t when I was in school and CCD. And thanks to a strong liberal arts program, I view the Bible as nothing but hearsay. I agree it’s a book inspired by God, but written by Man. We know for a fact that, for example, the Gospels were written years (sometimes hundreds) after the death of Jesus, usually by people who didn’t know him. Its an oral story that was finally written down. So we don’t actually know that Jesus said “Blah.” What we have is a book that says that someone said, that someone said, that someone said, Jesus said “Blah.” And I know I’m not the only one who’s ever played Telephone before. Even the simplest message gets seriously fucked up. So I take anything that quotes Jesus (or anyone else for that matter) with a large grain of salt.
That being the said, when I read something in the Bible, I tend to look for a deeper, simpler message. I take the Golden Rule away from the Gospels. That’s the basic message he was trying to convey. I think Douglas Adams summed it up best.
“And then, on Thursday, nearly two thousand years after one man had been nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be to be nice to people for a change...”
While driving today, I was pondering this, and realized that another author made it even more succinct and uses a phrase that should resonate with today’s modern person much better. What went across my mind was:
Jesus says: “Don’t be a dick”
Which then gives me this image:I think it works. Maybe I should set up a Café Press site and make some money off it. Can't you imagine that a T-shirt? Think of all the cash those WWJD people made.
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That's It, I need a Wil Wheaton icon. Probably the clown shirt
Date: 2008-12-05 09:57 pm (UTC)Re: That's It, I need a Wil Wheaton icon. Probably the clown shirt
Date: 2008-12-05 11:16 pm (UTC)(But go here to get the beginning of the arc.)
Re: That's It, I need a Wil Wheaton icon. Probably the clown shirt
Date: 2008-12-05 11:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-05 10:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-05 10:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-06 02:59 am (UTC)Also, my mother banned me from Catholic church after my one and only visit. I became squirmy during the Invocation of the Spirit of Christ and asking if the church didn't burn people for chanting in strange languages & burning incense. She also didn't answer when I asked whether not taking me to Catholic church meant she was deliberately condeming me to Hell. Er..she hasn't spoken to me in about a decade. :o)
Hi. I like to make journal entries in your posts. How are the kids? Ready for Christmas?
no subject
Date: 2008-12-06 03:53 am (UTC)The kids are good. One's asleep, Joe's putting a second to bed, and the third is watching TV 'cause she took a nap this afternoon.
Other than a bunch of giftcards and two custom dolls for the girls, I've purchased everything I need. I went to Target last night and got the last of it (including stocking stuffers). Now I just need to wrap everything (bleh) and I HAVE to get two packages ready by thursday so I can ship 'em...and I still have cards to do. Wheee! Don't you just love the holidays! =)
no subject
Date: 2008-12-06 06:42 am (UTC)I like wrapping presents, but I have mild OCD about it so it takes forever. The paper has to be super tight & flat. I'm going to try to do cards, but it's dependent upon my remembering where the post office is, to buy stamps.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-06 04:10 pm (UTC)It also helps that all of them have much different sleep needs. Some HAVE to go to bed first to get that extra bit of sleep. And if someone has had a nap, they don't need to go at the normal bed time.