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Title: HUFFINGTON POST: Why Evangelicals Hate Jesus (White Evangelical Christians polled on actual teachings of Jesus)
Source:
huffingtonpost.com
URL Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/phil- ... elicals-hate-jes_b_830237.html
Published: Mar 15, 2011
Author: Phil Zuckerman
Post Date: 2011-03-15 19:08:52 by Ferret Mike
Keywords: None
Views: 25006
Comments: 37
This article was co-authored by Dan Cady is an assistant professor of history at California State University, Fresno. He publishes on the history of the American West, music, and religion.
The results from a recent poll published by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (http://www.pewforum.org/Politics-and-Elections/Tea-Party-and-Religion.aspx) reveal what social scientists have known for a long time: White Evangelical Christians are the group least likely to support politicians or policies that reflect the actual teachings of Jesus. It is perhaps one of the strangest, most dumb-founding ironies in contemporary American culture. Evangelical Christians, who most fiercely proclaim to have a personal relationship with Christ, who most confidently declare their belief that the Bible is the inerrant word of God, who go to church on a regular basis, pray daily, listen to Christian music, and place God and His Only Begotten Son at the center of their lives, are simultaneously the very people most likely to reject his teachings and despise his radical message.
Jesus unambiguously preached mercy and forgiveness. These are supposed to be cardinal virtues of the Christian faith. And yet Evangelicals are the most supportive of the death penalty, draconian sentencing, punitive punishment over rehabilitation, and the governmental use of torture. Jesus exhorted humans to be loving, peaceful, and non-violent. And yet Evangelicals are the group of Americans most supportive of easy-access weaponry, little-to-no regulation of handgun and semi-automatic gun ownership, not to mention the violent military invasion of various countries around the world. Jesus was very clear that the pursuit of wealth was inimical to the Kingdom of God, that the rich are to be condemned, and that to be a follower of Him means to give one's money to the poor. And yet Evangelicals are the most supportive of corporate greed and capitalistic excess, and they are the most opposed to institutional help for the nation's poor -- especially poor children. They hate anything that smacks of "socialism," even though that is essentially what their Savior preached. They despise food stamp programs, subsidies for schools, hospitals, job training -- anything that might dare to help out those in need. Even though helping out those in need was exactly what Jesus urged humans to do. In short, Evangelicals are that segment of America which is the most pro-militaristic, pro-gun, and pro-corporate, while simultaneously claiming to be most ardent lovers of the Prince of Peace.
What's the deal?
Before attempting an answer, allow a quick clarification. Evangelicals don't exactly hate Jesus -- as we've provocatively asserted in the title of this piece. They do love him dearly. But not because of what he tried to teach humanity. Rather, Evangelicals love Jesus for what he does for them. Through his magical grace, and by shedding his precious blood, Jesus saves Evangelicals from everlasting torture in hell, and guarantees them a premium, luxury villa in heaven. For this, and this only, they love him. They can't stop thanking him. And yet, as for Jesus himself -- his core values of peace, his core teachings of social justice, his core commandments of goodwill -- most Evangelicals seem to have nothing but disdain.
And this is nothing new. At the end of World War I, the more rabid, and often less educated Evangelicals decried the influence of the Social Gospel amongst liberal churches. According to these self-proclaimed torch-bearers of a religion born in the Middle East, progressive church-goers had been infected by foreign ideas such as German Rationalism, Soviet-style Communism, and, of course, atheistic Darwinism. In the 1950s, the anti-Social Gospel message piggybacked the rhetoric of anti-communism, which slashed and burned its way through the Old South and onward through the Sunbelt, turning liberal churches into vacant lots along the way. It was here that the spirit and the body collided, leaving us with a prototypical Christian nationalist, hell-bent on prosperity. Charity was thus rebranded as collectivism and self-denial gave way to the gospel of accumulation. Church-to-church, sermon-to-sermon, evangelical preachers grew less comfortable with the fish and loaves Jesus who lived on earth, and more committed to the angry Jesus of the future. By the 1990s, this divine Terminator gained "most-favored Jesus status" among America's mega churches; and with that, even the mention of the former "social justice" Messiah drove the socially conscious from their larger, meaner flock.
In addition to such historical developments, there may very well simply be an underlying, all-too-human social-psychological process at root, one that probably plays itself out among all religious individuals: they see in their religion what they want to see, and deny or despise the rest. That is, religion is one big Rorschach test. People look at the content of their religious tradition -- its teachings, its creeds, its prophet's proclamations -- and they basically pick and choose what suits their own secular outlook. They see in their faith what they want to see as they live their daily lives, and simultaneously ignore the rest. And as is the case for most White Evangelical Christians, what they are ignoring is actually the very heart and soul of Jesus's message -- a message that emphasizes sharing, not greed. Peace-making, not war-mongering. Love, not violence.
Of course, conservative Americans have every right to support corporate greed, militarism, gun possession, and the death penalty, and to oppose welfare, food stamps, health care for those in need, etc. -- it is just strange and contradictory when they claim these positions as somehow "Christian." They aren't.
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#1. To: Ferret Mike (#0)
It wasn't all that long ago that any Christian proclaiming that they know they're "saved" would have been condemned for the sin of pride. Now these idiots attend their weekly circle jerk and talk about how everyone who doesn't believe exactly what they do is headed straight to hell. Give me that old time religion where everybody was going to hell.
"Am I for or against abstinence?" - Sarah Palin
I tend to be a bombastic person. I like to say, "Send down another one, we'll nail him up too," to any right wing wing nut that beats their chest about their alleged Christian faith when I know they have the conflict between what their Savior is said to have believed in the Bible v. what they believe socially and politically. This usually shocks and angers them; but it gets their attention which is my point. Many of them are poor listeners and usually just think of what they want to say while I'm talking. I then -- once I have their attention and focus -- point out that if the Jesus in the Bible came out and started doing the 'Prince of Peace' act, they would be outraged and want to nail the sucker up for not supporting our wars, the death penalty, the fascist line of crap that being liberal is a mental disease, and other crapola not at all what Christianity is supposed to be about. They usually want a silent icon useful to hang their belief system on. And if that icon ever showed up and started talking the 'liberal trash' Jesus is said to have believed in the Bible, they would be upset and the dude would need Secret Service protection from some of them.
Dan Cady is an assistant professor of history at California State University, Fresno Jesus exhorted humans to be loving, peaceful, and non-violent. And yet Evangelicals are the group of Americans most supportive of easy-access weaponry, little-to-no regulation of handgun and semi-automatic gun ownership These satanic cult heathens from Fresno, must be reading the Communist Manifesto. Jesus told his disciples to sell their cloaks and buy a sword. No Christian group could possibly butcher the Holy Bible, as badly as these clowns.
I recall a re-run of MASH I saw where this uber right winger named Colonel Flagg... You are a disingenuous half wit. And I who am not of this faith obviously know more than you do about it. Next you'll tell me Jesus was an NRA member and packed a piece.
This must be where all of the Athiests hang out. Has anyone here ever read the Old Testament or maybe even the Book of Revelation? God has a loving and merciful side. But, don't think that you can shove Him out of His Universe. He is not one you want to anger. Psalm 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Yes Don, but as you point out, this is Old Testament verbiage. This piece points out the hypocrisy many have over what Jesus is said to have believed and taught that is in the New Testament. And by the way Don, I am not an an atheist as you infer in an very unchristian- like manner. Merely not being of your faith does not make one one of those folks.
"Evangelicals" = Dispensationalists -- a view of Christianity that was concocted 150 years ago. This is a tiny subset of Christianity. Dispensationalists are more about the putative Old Testament than the redemptive New Testament. I remember very clearly the days after 9/11. Colin Powell saw this horror as an opportunity to move the world forward. He told the world: You may have been against us in the past, but if you are with us today, all will be forgiven. He actually said this and meant it. He was echoing Christ's message. It was a redemptive message of progress. Unfortunately, Bush listened to his Old Testament advisors and took a different path. Powell was fired. Bush said he was a Christian. Obama claims that he is a Christian. I see little evidence of either claim.
Looking at the responses, I can safely infer there are athiests here. I don't know what your faith is or if you have one. You say you do have a faith, so be it. Yes, Christ did teach love. Have you missed that He will also judge mankind? He will also send people to Hell. He teaches forgiveness. However, Christians are also told from the NT, Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. People often say things like, that is very Unchristian of you. It is even said knowing that Christians are told to spread the gospel and say that those who don't accept Christ as Savior will be judged by God. But,on Judgement Day, there won't be love and forgiveness because that Judgement of God will be to judge those who didn't accept Christ as Savior. If I am Unchristian like, God will certainly tell me. He is not one who minces words or actions on those who are His or those whose Father is Satan. John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. Let each one judge for himself to whom he belongs. It isn't to me to do it. One more thing is the Book of Revelation is from the New Testament. There will be much suffering and most of mankind will die in those days. That is the day when God's anger will be plain for all to see. No one should believe that God doesn't care or doesn't exist when He waits for men to seek their salvation. There will be a time when it will be too late for them.
Which was put there as a sales pitch of a very unforgiving and intolerant Jihad minded and overly proselytizing fool who wrote that. "Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated," is the philosophy of the Borg of Star Trek. However, it is a truth borrowed from Christianity by this entertainment franchise. Mine is a faith that is a reconstitution of Goddess based faith rubbed out by Christian fanaticism. I'm sure you have heard of it, it is called Wicca. I have no use for this shallow ploy ensconced in your Bible.
Wiccans can hardly be said to have been rubbed out when you exist and so do others. Type Wiccan into the Yahoo search engine and see how many hits you get. You may not have a use for that "shallow ploy," but that doesn't erase the fact that the Day of Judgement is coming in the future, and it may not be that far in the future. Who knows?
For not believing in Christ's redemptive message -- all will be forgiven if you believe. The Old Testament neo-cons don't believe. Too many Christians are being deceived today.
ping
Our religion was rubbed out. But though the ceremonies, traditions and details of our paradigm of belief were rubbed out by Jihad minded Christians, the truth my faith emanates from cannot be destroyed, and thus it is only expectable to see us rise again.
There were many books written about Christ in the 100 years or so after he was crucified. When the New Testament was being assembled in the 4th century (300 to 400 years after Christ was crucified), there were many writings that were in dispute. Hebrews, 2 Peter, James, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation were all in dispute for various reasons, including their authenticity. The Eastern (Orthodox Church) didn't want to include any of these because they didn't believe that they were authentic. But they did want to include Barnabas. The Western (ROMAN CATHOLIC) church insisted that they be include. The Catholics won because Rome was the political powerhouse of the day. So, the book that dispenationalists most believe in (Revelation) was only included in the New Testament because their arch-enemy (Catholics, who they believe to be the anti-Christ) insisted that it be included. How ironic. The Catholics did NOT believe Revelations predicted the future. They believe that it was an accounting of an awful period of the Roman Empire. There were New Testaments produced as late as 396 AD that didn't include Revelation, but did include Barnabas. About 10 years ago I sat next to an Evangelical preacher on an airplane. We had a great conversation. He told me that they have no scene of history and they long for some sense continuity. He was looking at the Orthodox Church as a model for change.
Mike, your faith will be destroyed in the Lake of Fire. It is not Satan who is in charge, he isn't God.
As soon as Jesus instructed, render unto Washington that which is Washington's, Grover Norquiest would have a hit out on him.
You have the courage to tell the masses what no politician told them: you are inferior and all the improvements in your conditions which you simply take for granted you owe to the efforts of men who are better than you. Ludwig von Mises in a letter to Ayn Rand
I think that means the only thing worth fearing is God, and once you realize He's not going to do you in, you are free from fear and can rejoice in that knowledge. "He who is free in Christ is free indeed!"
You have the courage to tell the masses what no politician told them: you are inferior and all the improvements in your conditions which you simply take for granted you owe to the efforts of men who are better than you. Ludwig von Mises in a letter to Ayn Rand
Satan means the accuser, so who does Satan accuse?
You have the courage to tell the masses what no politician told them: you are inferior and all the improvements in your conditions which you simply take for granted you owe to the efforts of men who are better than you. Ludwig von Mises in a letter to Ayn Rand
Which is exactly what it was. In fact, reading any of the bible without taking into account the reality of the time it was written in is to miss the whole point, something evangelicals do with amazing frequency.
"Am I for or against abstinence?" - Sarah Palin
He accuses the people of God. See the Book of Job in the OT for an example.
You are extremely sure of this, then. How did you get your sure knowledge?
I do research. You ought to try it.
"Am I for or against abstinence?" - Sarah Palin
The "Satan" in the book of Job isn't the "Satan" of all evil. The Satin in Job was one of God's buds.
"Am I for or against abstinence?" - Sarah Palin
Satan means the accuser, so who does Satan accuse? Jews and Muslims view Satan as working for God as a prosector general or faith tester. Satan being an enemy of God and a fallen angel is unique in Christian theology as far as I can tell.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
Isn't that the role Satan played when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness?
You have the courage to tell the masses what no politician told them: you are inferior and all the improvements in your conditions which you simply take for granted you owe to the efforts of men who are better than you. Ludwig von Mises in a letter to Ayn Rand
Well the serpent's meaning throughout cultures always meant "knowledge" so we don't know if the serpent in Eden as told in that myth was a bad guy or good guy but you do notice the serpent was not cast out of heaven but Adam and Eve. So the Serpent is still in heaven it seems from that reading.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
Maybe somebody should have told that to the money changers in the Temple.
Now, I know I’m not going to change the minds of any of the True Believers…those who read all of Reverend Al’s sermons, and say things like, “You know, global warming can mean warmer OR colder, wetter OR drier, cloudier OR sunnier, windier OR calmer, …”. Can I get an ‘amen’??
Maybe somebody should have told that to the money changers in the Temple. How does confronting a wrong rule out mercy and forgiveness?
You have the courage to tell the masses what no politician told them: you are inferior and all the improvements in your conditions which you simply take for granted you owe to the efforts of men who are better than you. Ludwig von Mises in a letter to Ayn Rand
What guys like no gnu taxes wants to worship is super hero Jesus and his Justice League disciples - fighting crime and kicking super villain ass.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
One can worship a super hero but can't reasonably be expected to follow in his footsteps.
You have the courage to tell the masses what no politician told them: you are inferior and all the improvements in your conditions which you simply take for granted you owe to the efforts of men who are better than you. Ludwig von Mises in a letter to Ayn Rand
The kooks really hate the idea of a merciful loving Jesus so much so that the infamous Chick tracts - animated below - go through a whole lot of trouble trying to make Jesus seem less of a sissy (because to their minds a loving Jesus is a sissy Jesus). So if you want to understand the pathology of the right wing kook movement read Chick tracts.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
I believe that Jesus also said it would be finished during the lives of the generation he was preaching to. It's such a money maker though that the good pastors can't help slipping it in to their sermons to keep the cash registers ringing.
"http://first-draft-blog.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c5ced53ef0148c7a28c4b970c-320wi"
He most certainly did, which is why he told his followers to get rid of all their earthly belongings, and why he didn't bother to set up his own church. It was only years later, after his death, that his followers decided to start inventing the religion about Jesus rather than preach the religion of Jesus, once it became obvious that Jesus was wrong. The religion of Christianity was created in whole by Paul, a man who never met Jesus. Jesus was just one of many apocalyptic Jews wandering around in those days, all preaching the end times were near.
"Am I for or against abstinence?" - Sarah Palin
I have always been amazed that most Christians absolutely refuse to emulate their leader, yet can be considered of good standing in their respective churches. And that behavior seems to be honed to a very fine point on this forum.
"http://first-draft-blog.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c5ced53ef0148c7a28c4b970c-320wi"
Not just that, but every single one of them will tell you that they're "saved", something I was taught decades ago only God could decide. If there's anything at all to their religion, I think there are going to be a lot of surprised "christians" at the end.
"Am I for or against abstinence?" - Sarah Palin
Jesus saves Evangelicals from everlasting torture in hell, and guarantees them a premium, luxury villa in heaven.
#2. To: Skip Intro (#1)
(Edited)
#3. To: Ferret Mike (#0)
huffingtonpost.com Phil Zuckerman
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
Godwinson posted on 2011-02-23 11:47:32 ET
http://libertysflame.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=18011&Disp=46#C46
#4. To: hondo68 (#3)
#5. To: Ferret Mike (#0)
#6. To: Don (#5)
#7. To: Ferret Mike (#0)
(Edited)
Jesus unambiguously preached mercy and forgiveness. These are supposed to be cardinal virtues of the Christian faith. And yet Evangelicals are the most supportive of the death penalty, draconian sentencing, punitive punishment over rehabilitation, and the governmental use of torture.
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899
#8. To: Ferret Mike (#6)
#9. To: Don (#8)
"One more thing is the Book of Revelation is from the New Testament. There will be much suffering and most of mankind will die in those days. That is the day when God's anger will be plain for all to see. No one should believe that God doesn't care or doesn't exist when He waits for men to seek their salvation. There will be a time when it will be too late for them."
#10. To: Ferret Mike (#9)
#11. To: Don (#8)
(Edited)
He will also judge mankind
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899
#12. To: All, aka stone (#11)
ping
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899
#13. To: All, aka stone (#7)
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899
#14. To: Don (#10)
#15. To: Don (#8)
(Edited)
the Book of Revelation
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."-- Charles Duell, Commissioner of US Patent Office, 1899
#16. To: Ferret Mike (#14)
Our religion was rubbed out. But though the ceremonies, traditions and details of our paradigm of belief were rubbed out by Jihad minded Christians, the truth my faith emanates from cannot be destroyed, and thus it is only expectable to see us rise again.
#17. To: Ferret Mike (#2)
#18. To: Don (#5)
Psalm 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
#19. To: Don (#8)
He is not one who minces words or actions on those who are His or those whose Father is Satan.
#20. To: jwpegler (#15)
The Catholics did NOT believe Revelations predicted the future. They believe that it was an accounting of an awful period of the Roman Empire.
#21. To: lucysmom (#19)
who does Satan accuse?
#22. To: Skip Intro (#20)
Which is exactly what it was.
#23. To: Don (#22)
You are extremely sure of this, then. How did you get your sure knowledge?
#24. To: Don (#21)
He accuses the people of God. See the Book of Job in the OT for an example.
#25. To: lucysmom, Don (#19)
He is not one who minces words or actions on those who are His or those whose Father is Satan.
#26. To: Godwinson (#25)
Jews and Muslims view Satan as working for God as a prosector general or faith tester.
#27. To: lucysmom (#26)
(Edited)
#28. To: lucysmom (#26)
#29. To: Ferret Mike (#0)
Jesus unambiguously preached mercy and forgiveness.
#30. To: no gnu taxes, Ferret Mike (#29)
Jesus unambiguously preached mercy and forgiveness.
#31. To: lucysmom, no gnu taxes, Ferret Mike (#30)
#32. To: Godwinson (#31)
What guys like no gnu taxes wants to worship is super hero Jesus and his Justice League disciples - fighting crime and kicking super villain ass.
#33. To: lucysmom, no gnu taxes, Ferret Mike (#32)
#34. To: Skip Intro (#20)
In fact, reading any of the bible without taking into account the reality of the time it was written in is to miss the whole point, something evangelicals do with amazing frequency.
#35. To: Rek (#34)
(Edited)
I believe that Jesus also said it would be finished during the lives of the generation he was preaching to.
#36. To: Skip Intro (#35)
He most certainly did, which is why he told his followers to get rid of all their earthly belongings, and why he didn't bother to set up his own church.
#37. To: Rek (#36)
I have always been amazed that most Christians absolutely refuse to emulate their leader, yet can be considered of good standing in their respective churches.
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