Freethought & Rationalism Archive

NearNihil Experience · 08-20-2004, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbernier

Yes. And I think that is precisely the point of the cross: This world is one in which power strives to maintain and attain power; however, the way to be most authentically human is not to strive for power (knowing that such striving inevitably entails violence of some form or another) but rather to renounce power as the transitory thing that it is; this, however, is not how this world works and the powers-that-be and the powers-that-want-to-be will be threatened by those who say that the very thing they hold most dear - power - is actually the very thing which stands at the core of human strife; power, then, seeks to destroy this threat; hence why Jesus was killed and why those who follow him should not be surprised when they, too, enter into conflict with the powers-that-be. But let us be clear: This conflict should not be because Christians are trying to get their own way in "culture wars" or anything of the sort. It should be because Christians refuse to participate in the vain strivings of and for power.

btw, the above comes largely from my readings both of Paul and of contemporary writings about Paul. In short it is a deeply Pauline theology.

Thank goodness. I thought the radical love and radical rejection of "the world" had died a quite death at the hands of rampaging fundamentalism and ad hoc cherry picking Xtians. :down:

I think I may actully be proud to meet such a Christian.

:thumbs:

And not that I actually agree with much of it in practice, but the idea stands as one of the brighter points in the history of mankind. Personally I find rejection of "the world" as throwing the baby out with the bathwater...you are here and you are required to participate...I simply don't have the idea of Heaven waiting on me to reward me for letting someone trample over me in life, then God sending them to Hell because I refused the fight. Its kinda of like letting God do your revenge for you, which to me is still revenge, but its kinda cowardly not doing it yourself. But indeed, He did say, "Vengence is Mine." So if I were Christian, I'd probably flow from the same river as you, my friend.

I, however, have trod quite a different path...probably because I understood what all this(what we are speaking of) meant early in life and had decided to go down a different road...one a little more bent on making my own way in life and dealing with interference, power struggles, and vengence as was necessary, not as I desired.

Anyhoo, :wave: .

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