hi
>kate bennet wrote
>I love & am inspired by many of Jesus's teachings, as well as
Buddha, Lao
>Tsu, & many others.
>
>I have no respect for any belief that says it is the only way or
tries to
>reform others. I get really uncomfortable listening to preachers or
>ministers or new age spiritual teachers who exude an attitude as if
they
>have some special connection with god or knowledge which they are
imparting
>to those who they presume to be, what, less connected or
knowledgeable? My
can i disagree here, without being offensive?
im not too sure here how you could possibly love/be inspired by jesus
teachings, when the basic cornerstone of those teachings were that he is/was
the *only* way to god - a point he repeatedly emphasised.
it is not an easy teaching to accept, or understand, and one which i still
have major trouble grasping.
unfortunately all too many *christians* ( i consider myself a backslider -
not a christian, 'cause i dont live the life anymore) seem to have
absolutely no problem with grabbing this point, and with absolutely no grasp
of the implications, use it to abuse and insult other people, without any of
the compassion, love or pain with which jesus said it. i do not get his
stand on the point as being a cold, heartless way of saying that everyone
else is wrong, and deserves no love, respect, or compassion, but as a love
inspired, heartfelt & compassionate plea/statement/presentation of an
unpleasant, but unalterable truth.
joni (of course) got this vital distinction between christians and christ
right on the nail in the magdalene laundries
These bloodless brides of Jesus,
If they had just once glimpsed their groom,
Then they'd know, and they'd drop the stones
Concealed behind their rosaries.
They wilt the grass they walk upon.
They leech the light out of a room.
They'd like to drive us down the drain
At the Magdalene laundries.
substitute "magdalene laundries" with pretty much any churches name - it
still works, unfortunately.
the bible also did a pretty good job - says that gods name is mocked among
the non-believers, because of the "believers"
on the subject of religion and politics. i find it absolutely impossible to
believe that *any* person can possibly have christian beliefs and be
successful in the dirty business of politics. i have to conclude that it is
only a show to get votes - but not personally knowing the people - i suppose
ill never know for sure.
ron
np - emmylou harris - tragedy
