Angyson

I have a suspicion that Christians today talk the talk but do not walk the walk. Do Christians today follow the teachings of Jesus ?

Please express your opinion.

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The problem with that question is deterimining what defines a Christian? Which flavor of Christian are you talking about?

Of course, it doesn't matter which denomination you ask, they will all tell you the same thing---THEY are following the teachings of Jesus and all the others are mistaken.

Angyson

Chris Weimer

nope. Even when I try to point out this to them they refuse and call me Satan! something like "get thee hence, billy, get deh shot gun, looka like we got annutta loony on our hands. Dear Jeesus, give meh da strenk (strength) ta pool dis trigga. ay-men!"

This is frustrating during deconversion, because a lot of them don't even know the Bible. They don't know that Jesus told his disciples to go gather the lost tribes of israel, and stay away from Gentiles. They don't know about not casting stones unless they're without sin also. They don't know about giving up treasures on earth where moth eat and rust decay. They don't know about turning the other cheek. They're really unfamiliar with the Torah, which Jesus repeatedly admitted following whole-heartedly. And the worst: they blatantly ignore the hypocrisy of it all, that which Jesus condemned so vehemently.

Christians? You mean followers of Paul, no wait, they can't even follow that.

Peter Kirby

In the context of this thread, the "Teachings of Jesus" are those words on the lips of the character Jesus in the Four Gospels. That is, of course, because this was not started as BCH-style thread.

best,
Peter Kirby

Toto

This is a more complex question than the OP would let on. It is not just a matter of Christian hypocricy, although there is enough of that. The teachings of Jesus are relatively obscure, in the form of parables or generally cryptic messages, or else they are clearly dysfunctional and will lead to disaster if followed. (Not defending yourself, not worrying about material things, giving away all your possessions, etc.)

Anyone who tried to follow everything Jesus said would have to live like the Catholic Worker movement does, in a commune, working at low wage jobs. I question whether this is good for society or anyone.

My only question is why people consider themselves Christians and feel free to ignore everything Jesus is alleged to have said. At some point, does not cognitive dissonance become too great? There are many more rationally based moral systems, that are more effective.

Prester John

Thiests who believe but pay lip service, or only follow favoured parts of their religious texts confuse me. After all if it is true, then surely you should follow it to your utmost. The rewards and punishments seem pretty extreme, so my logic tells me, if you're going to believe it should be the whole shebang, lock stock and barrel, without hesitation and to the letter.

OdysseusTheInnkeeper

No. They follow an artificial misconception in their religious institutions- God institutionalized, Jesus as s/he would be if s/he were incarcerated in a mental hospital. :huh: :banghead:


The real jesus(es) was more of a surfer dudette
:rolling: :thumbs: :worried: :wave:

Jamie_L

The problem is less one of defining the "Christian", but more defining the "Teachings of Jesus". The Bible is inconsistent enough that you can find support for all kinds of behavior, even for conflicting behaviors.

I've known some Christians who really tried to "walk the walk". I think many Christians these days, however, have a moral code of their own that they come to believe is "Chrisian". The get this code from their upbrining, from society, and from their own conclusions about how people ought to behave. They develop a "moral sense" based on this. As devout believers, they come to associate "God" with "good", but rather than seeking God's definition of good, they overlay their definition of good on God.

This is fine with me, by the way, as this is the same way non-religious people come by their moral sense (minus the last step, of course). Of course, it also makes room for the jerks who come up with loopy moral decisions and then use God to justify them.

Jamie

Jamie_L

I answered this in another forum. Why 2 threads? Oh well, I'll give an abbreviated version of my other response:

Most Christians form their "moral sense" in the same way as non-religious folk: through upbringing, cultural influence, and personal reflection. Then they associate that moral sense with God/Jesus, because they're taught that God/Jesus is the "ultimate good". An contradictions between their personal moral sense and the Bible are ignored.

Jamie