Saramago

And one knows it's been figured out "right"...how? When it seems to make sense? That's circular.

Imnotspecial

Perhaps it is circular, but how do you make decisions in your life? A good Christian (if there is such an animal) would use the beatitudes as a guide in informing himself as to what the decision should be. Much of it speaks to no more than sincerity and love for your neighbor - and an honest heart. Be true to what you know to be right in the first place.
Much of what Jesus said is in juxtaposition to what the practice of the pharisees was. He did not like them - which contradicts a lot of his own sayings right there) Nevertheless millions of Christians have found his sayings to be useful one way or another. They do tuck at your conscience and can help you avoid being a total a-hole.

Splarnst

If the stuff about giving away one's possessions is hyperbole, then why do monks and friars and nuns do it?

Imnotspecial

Sorry, I did not say it was and I thought I explained what the thinking of the Church is quite well. It comes down to how much trust you want to place in God. "Seek you first the kingdom of God and all else will be added unto you". They take that too literally in my view.

rhutchin

This is not the only demand that is placed on the Christian. For example, Paul says, "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. "(1 Timothy 5:8). As it says, "...specially for those of his own house,...", then we can conclude that "...if any provide not for his own..." applies to a group that extends beyond his own house, or family. This probably encompasses those within the body of Christ (generally, his church/denomination).

The Christian is to give consistent with his ability to give and with the need for the gift. Jesus begins this teaching by saying, "But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you." One would not give if it would not accomplish good. If a man asked him for money so that he could buy drugs, then the Christian can easily say, No. If a man asks for money so as to avoid having to work for a living, the Christian could again say, No. Where the need is legitimate and the Christian is fulfilling his other obligations, then the Christian can give and should give.

Johnny Skeptic

It doesn't matter since the Bible is not a trustworthy source of information.

Consider the following from another thread:

Consider the following claims:

1. The God of the Bible created the heavens and the earth.

2. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

3. Jesus was born of a virgin.

4. Jesus never sinned.

5. Jesus physically rose from the dead.

6. Jesus' shed blood and death atoned for the sins of mankind.

I assume that those claims are among the ten most important claims in the Bible. There is little or no need to have discussions about interpreting those claims. The claims are either true, or they are false.

All of those claims except for item 5 must be accepted entirely by faith or rejected.

Since it is a virtual certainty that a global flood did not occur, it is reasonable to assume on that basis alone that the Bible contains errors. If the claim that the Ten Plagues occured in Egypt is included, and the claim that God would give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar as a compensation for his failure to defeat Tyre, and the claim that Jesus performed many miracles in Jerusalem, and throughout all of Galilee, and throughout all of Syria, and that great multitudes of people sometimes followed him, and that the entire group of women at the tomb forgot that Jesus said that he would rise from the dead, the case against the Bible becomes even stronger.

How can the truthfulness of the claims in the preceding paragraph not be an issue at this point? If the claims are false, by implication there is not reasonable proof that, for example, Jesus and Timothy said what the Bible says they said.

The Gospels say that Jesus fed some hungry people because he had compassion for them. If that is true, why didn't he give food to hungry people all over the world? Why did God refuse to give food to millions of hungry people who died of starvation? Why does God want Christians to give food to hungry people? Human effort alone is not nearly able to provide enough food for everyone in the world to eat.

GenesisNemesis

Do you think Jesus was really asking you to love thy neighbor?

Imnotspecial

If you read the book carefully you will find that you can either pluck out your eyes or love your neighbor. Take your pick.

joedad

I think the gospel dude is saying that if you don't pluck you can't love. There's no lovin' where there's no pluckin'.

Imnotspecial

Nice one!