Bobzammel

Frequently, Christian sermons tell people to "forsake" the world and what not. In the bible-in particular the Gospel of John and the Epistles-the term "The World" seems to apply to human society, although the Greek word used can also be applied to the Earth itself(But wouldn't that be a little gnostic?).
Anyway, Christians are told in the scriptures to erase love and fellowship for the world, and that Satan is ruler of all non-Christian organizations. Strangely, though, the same texts-often in the same letter-ask that respect is paid to governing authorities!
Plus most of these "Unworldly" Christians seem to use computers and what-not, like any athiest. They also seem to participate in worldly 'activities'. Even cults use 'pagan institutions' from time to time.
Perhaps the seperation asked for is merely a moral one; but others have stated it is not...

Any thoughts?

Muffinstuffer

No. I'm a Christian, so by definition I don't think for myself.

BioBeing

They just cherry pick the bits they don't like out. Like forsaking wordly goods...

Rhea

I never have understood how they manage to overlook the bits about forsaking the world and camel and needle eyes and such.

Inconvenient, I guess.

Gemma Therese

Try this link:

Carthusians

Gemma Therese

Rhea

Gemma, are you saying that this shows the way that all True Christians™ ought to live?

Gemma Therese

No, Rhea, I am showing men and women who have all but totally divorced themselves from "the world."

Gemma Therese

Rhea

So are they showing the right way to follow the bible? I'm just curious your take because the original post is asking why Christians don't follow those passages. And you are saying, "but these people do" and so I'm asking "are they the only true christians then?"

Maybe I need to ask YOU, "GT, I'm curious, why don't YOU follow those passages in your bible?"

Gemma Therese

Rhea,

The call to the cloistered, contemplative life is a very unique vocation within the Church. It is not a lesser or greater vocation than the call to Holy Orders, marriage, the single life, or an active religious community (like the Dominicans or Franciscans.)

The Apostles lived in the world; they were not hermits.

Gemma Therese

Rational BAC

Well -------this cherry picker says--------------

There are many odd things in the Bible. Forsaking earthly pleasures is one of them -----------which I don't think anybody halfway sane at any time in history (except for the very early Christians) ---and certainly not in modern day materialistic times---really does.

On the same subject --------The whole Sermon on the Mount is fascinating really-----that is one of the parts of the Bible that I think (in my weaker moments) may have been divinely inspired, if any of it was---------------mostly because it is hard to believe that any Man, all by his lonesome, would have thought of any of that.

Only reason not to believe that the Sermon on the mount is divinely inspired, but not the rest of the Gospel-------Because I believe that God should at least be consistent ----(then again --hell--what do I know --maybe the essence of God is inconsistency---God can be and do any damned thing He pleases or He would not be God you know?)

(Way too many negatives on last paragraph. I hope it was understandable in some way.)

In any event, the Sermon on the Mount and the idea that there is no value in this present world---there is only value after this world---does seem quite divine.----in the sense that I cannot imagine a human thinking of any of that stuff all by himself.

Comments?