Jesus was a manual laborer who became homeless to travel and preach his message. He made a point to spend time with lepers and the dregs of society, tax collectors being the worse of them all, because they served the occupying army.
His message was for everyone to love each other. It wasn’t open to interpretation. He made no exceptions. The less fortunate and oppressed were even more deserving of love and support from individuals and from the community.
It wasn’t open to interpretation.
And yet, 2000 years later, here we are.
Thats what happens when people decide to interpret. Suddenly Jedus is white, despite that making NO sense, and the bible gets a sequal full of contradictions.
You know how the Romans collected taxes in there less “Roman” providences? They have rich guys a contract to basically raise taxes and the rich guys payed up front what was owed for their division of it. Then they were allowed to collect taxes beyond what they paid the Romans to make a profit. This is mainly why they were hated so much. Many people might imagine some official going around and collecting taxes fairly, but the reality was they were operating much more like a Mafia extorting protection money out of people, and taking more then most people owed, often to peoples ruin or near ruin. You can also imagine how nepotic this becomes. People who have loyalty to the dominant ruling class would often catch a break, while those disfavored by the dominant faction would often be harassed.
Well that would certainly explain why the tax collectors get such a bad rap in the Gospels.
It’s also the origin of some anti-semitic tropes. After Christianity rose to prominence in the Roman Empire, Christians considered lending money with interest to be a sin, so they were forbidden from working related jobs. This resulted in Jews, who were forbidden from owning land and many other professions, taking up the role of merchants, money lenders, and tax collectors. In the Christian view of the time, they were doing the “dirty work” because they were immoral and sinful, and the nature of the work made them easy scapegoats for many of society’s ills. The reputation has followed Jews into modernity.
I’m honestly not sure how you’re helping defeat any stereotypes here because no one was even talking about Jews until you brought it up.
You know Christianity is an offshoot of Judaism, right? How early roman christians viewed and treated Jewish people is reasonable context to include in a conversation about the history.
Sure it is, in the same way that Satanism is an offshoot of Christianity, I guess.
Perhaps that is not how it is practiced these days, but that IS how Christ intended it to be. Just read Matthew 23 in case you have any doubts. If that is not a scathing repudiation of any Rabbinic teaching that was around at the time, then IDK what is. If you can find a more eloquent way to say “shove all this crap up your own ass and die from it”, I can’t wait to hear it.
Remember, they had the guy killed just for saying that.
It’s not that you’re not supposed to care, it’s that you’re supposed to despise with blood thirsty hatred the out group, and take pleasure in their suffering.
MAGA christians are fucking evil. I’ve experienced a few of these people firsthand. They’re cruel as fuck to their core.
That was a huge plot point in the new South Park.
It was also a huge plot point of the Bible.
Could you point out where?
But America wasn’t a thing or even an idea when the Bible was written.
(I totally get what you are saying, though.)
Not if you’re Mormon!
Um. Ackshually 👆🤓 the Mormons are KJV only loyalists, so their Bible does indeed predate the USA.
The Book of Mormon, however, does not (unless you’re Mormon, in which case you believe it was translated from the golden plates, engraved ~400AD and based on earlier plates which Mormon (the person) and his son Moroni found and compiled). Think of it more as an addition to, rather than replacement of, biblical canon.
I will now remind the teacher that they did, indeed, forget to collect the homework. I have an appointment with a locker, after all.
Hasa diga eebowai.
What’s even weirder is being raised by Christians, taught to hate the blacks and mistrust the Jews (using the usual inappropriate slurs at every opportunity), never going to church outside of a few Easters, and growing up slowly learning that your parents were full of shit and they never actually read the book they said was so super important.
I’ve never understood things like pervasive distrust of Jews, but blanket approval of all things done by Israel because Jewish people are “God’s chosen people.” It’s so much mental gymnastics to selectively justify hating Muslims and any Jew living in a large city, and completely ignores the point of the NT, which was to not make the religion tied to blood lines.
like pervasive distrust of Jews
Historically that’s a manufactured thing. Christians were not allowed usury, charging interest on loans. Jews didn’t have that limitation. One solution they came up with was barring Jews from doing other jobs and forcing them into the money lender role, with the Christian landlord asking for their cut in fees. That gave Jews a reputation for being distrustful greedy bankers.
Israel is integral to their eschatology. They can’t have Armageddon without certain conditions being met. Supporting Israel is intended to facilitate the the creation of those conditions.
They hate jews but worship a jew. So fucking weird.
If they identified as Christian but never read the book or rarely go to church, what connection do they have to the religion and why do you feel they wished to impart it on you?
Hierarchy. The invisible sky wizard makes the rules, and if we don’t follow them we burn. And so on down the line, priests, pastors, presidents (unless they’re black, hoo boy did that send them over the edge), police, parents. Do as you’re told. Do not question authority. It’s practical preparation for school and the workforce at least.
Meanwhile, all of my birthday parties were keggers because the weather was nice and the adults liked to party. And I was at most 4 years old when I learned that I shouldn’t touch the small squares of mirror. Or the plastic film canisters.
There’s nothing quite like the smell of hypocrisy in the morning. Overflowing ash trays and last night’s beer cans when you’re trying to eat breakfast comes close though.
Meanwhile, all of my birthday parties were keggers
Wisconsin?
Ain’t no love like Christian hate!
South Park just tackled this very issue. Don’t worry, Jesus is a chud now
Dammit. Back in my day, Jesus was just a humble public access TV host.
This Old House?
Took me awhile but I finally got the reference.
I’m European. My mother tried to get me into Christianity. When I was 7 or 8 I asked “If God created everything, then who created God?” I got no answer, ever since that moment, I didn’t want to be religious. My mother tried until I was 14. It failed.
Also, I find american Christians weird. They twist and contort Christianity into something to suit their ideological needs, racism, homophobia, capitalism, nationalism, unilateralism, etc.
That’s not just Americans that do that… That’s pretty much anywhere with any religion.
I’m an atheist, but I would probably guess that those type of Christians aren’t real Christians at all. It seems to be common in America for people to associate “traditional family values” with Christianity. Which very basically translates to racism and homophobia. So they hide behind Christianity like they’re holyier then thou. These people aren’t Christians, their bigots with disassociative disorders. You were raised by bigots.
Oh I was raised by bigots. Both full narcissists. Its why democrat and republican mean nothing to me. My democrat dad switched to a republican without changing one racist bigoted opinion. Made sure everyone knew how generous he was. Only he was generous when no one was around to see. Then he was cruel and mean. When I stopped being his victim he disowned me. Of all those christians he was hanging around ninety percent of them were just like him. They were incrediblly mean to people and always justified it using the bible. If their afterlife were a real thing then they wouldn’t be that way. The reason why they can be that way is that they know its all a scam. If jesus ever existed that jewish dude wouldn’t be someone they cared for.
I long for the day they are taxed for their donations and then we will see how christian they are. Whats left might be worthy of my repsect. But I doubt it.
You can be all of those things and be Christian.
I don’t agree when you say “racism and homophobia”. American Christian values are racism and homophobia and misogyny.
Yeah so I was raised in a reasonably devout household, and I’ve never really been able to resolve this.
Its related to the fundamental attribution error - we judge others by their actions but ourselves by intentions. Except its more than that because religion creates this us vs them dynamic, where anyone who is “us” has good intentions, but anyone who is them does not.
Let’s suppose a “good” person is one who performs acts of altruism, has integrity, and a high level of emptiness self awareness.
In my experience these “good” people are a small part of any group. Any race, creed, city, social group, whatever.
With that in mind, I don’t think religion makes people good - rather its a system of beliefs that allows people to perceive themselves and their friends as good.
Really I think this explains why religion is so prevalent. Ultimately being “good” isn’t a very good gig. Imagine doing destitute because you’ve spent your life performing acts of altruism. OTOH if it merely allows one to form a cohesive group of “good” people, i can see how that would be perpetuated.
I only realised this after I was well past my “Angry Atheist” phase: There are good verses in the Bible and there are also bad verses. Most of the Christians cherry pick. How they cherry pick depends on who they are. In my opinion, there aren’t any real or fake christians. There’s only good christians and bad christians.
It sounds like all the positive things Christians say about themselves for are just marketing
And my mother wonders why I’m agnostic
supply side jesus.
yeah, in jesus’s image, right. I wonder if jesus gave a fuck about other people…
Literally so hard this. I was raised by christians and they were disappointed when I turned out to not be a christian adult. I tried so hard to point out the hypocrisy of them teaching me to always treat others with respect and to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” but being hardcore right-wingers and trump supporters, being racists af and hating trans and queer people. They still don’t seem to get it.
“If Jesus was here, he would join the front lines”, my incredibly Catholic relative that needs to re-read the sermon on the mount.
…and that’s how I converted to Gnosticism.
How is this a shitpost?
