O'Darby III
Member
The statement was made on another thread that Christianity is a religion. I responded no, it isn't. It's really five or six quite different religions, fractured and fragmented within themselves and among themselves beyond any pretense of cohesiveness. The fact that they all mouth the name of Jesus tells us pretty much nothing. Paramahansa Yogananda, a Hindu yogi, spoke of Jesus as much and as convincingly as any Southern Baptist preacher.
If there is a "Christianity," it comprises individuals whom God will decide are fit to enter His eternal kingdom. They will likely come from all segments of belief - Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and possibly Mormon, Hindu and Buddhist for all I know. I don't think any of us can articulate a convincing definition of "Christian" or could pick the Christians out of a crowd if we tried. Only God can make the determination.
I also said that "Christianity" as it exists today is mostly a worldly power structure, or group of competing power structures, little different from secular corporations. The power structure exists to preserve and increase its power and wealth, simple as that, just as Ford and Burger King exist to increase their market shares and profits. I don't believe this is a cynical view of the religion but a simple statement of obvious fact.
Many people think Constantine was the worst thing that ever happened to Christianity. By recognizing it as an official state religion, he elevated it from what Jesus intended - a transforming movement of individual disciples - into just another worldly power structure.
As a retired lawyer, I love Charles Dickens' novel Bleak House. A once-vast estate has been bogged down in the legal system for generations. The novel is about the last remaining young heirs. On the day when the estate is finally going to be settled and the young heirs are filled with hope, the courtroom erupts in laughter as the judge announces that legal fees and court costs have consumed the entire estate. The dispute is over only because there is nothing left.
"How is this possible?" the young heirs ask. What about evidence, truth, justice and all the other wonderful things our legal system is supposed to be about???
You don't get it, a wise old character explains. The legal system, from top to bottom, has NOTHING to do with truth or justice. It exists for one reason: TO PERPETUATE ITSELF.
Not only did I find this a sadly accurate description of my own observations of the legal system, but it occurred to me that it's also a sadly accurate description of the "Christian" power structure. People who think for themselves aren't "heretics" - they're simply a threat to the power structure.
All just my opinion, of course.
If there is a "Christianity," it comprises individuals whom God will decide are fit to enter His eternal kingdom. They will likely come from all segments of belief - Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and possibly Mormon, Hindu and Buddhist for all I know. I don't think any of us can articulate a convincing definition of "Christian" or could pick the Christians out of a crowd if we tried. Only God can make the determination.
I also said that "Christianity" as it exists today is mostly a worldly power structure, or group of competing power structures, little different from secular corporations. The power structure exists to preserve and increase its power and wealth, simple as that, just as Ford and Burger King exist to increase their market shares and profits. I don't believe this is a cynical view of the religion but a simple statement of obvious fact.
Many people think Constantine was the worst thing that ever happened to Christianity. By recognizing it as an official state religion, he elevated it from what Jesus intended - a transforming movement of individual disciples - into just another worldly power structure.
As a retired lawyer, I love Charles Dickens' novel Bleak House. A once-vast estate has been bogged down in the legal system for generations. The novel is about the last remaining young heirs. On the day when the estate is finally going to be settled and the young heirs are filled with hope, the courtroom erupts in laughter as the judge announces that legal fees and court costs have consumed the entire estate. The dispute is over only because there is nothing left.
"How is this possible?" the young heirs ask. What about evidence, truth, justice and all the other wonderful things our legal system is supposed to be about???
You don't get it, a wise old character explains. The legal system, from top to bottom, has NOTHING to do with truth or justice. It exists for one reason: TO PERPETUATE ITSELF.
Not only did I find this a sadly accurate description of my own observations of the legal system, but it occurred to me that it's also a sadly accurate description of the "Christian" power structure. People who think for themselves aren't "heretics" - they're simply a threat to the power structure.
All just my opinion, of course.