PsycheDelia

growing up christian in india i often heard gandhi's quote on christianity about liking christ but disliking christians:

i was thinking of what gandhi said recently when i was debating the bible with a fundy who kept talking about why war and killing are sometimes necessary (the just war concept that disgusts me), and that women need to be guided by men, and that slavery is okay as long as the slaves are treated with justice etc. etc. after a while i lost my temper and told him that he should consider calling himself something other than christian because he holds on to antiquated ideas that are so different from what christ taught. i also said that i was probably more christian than he was (i was raised catholic, but am now non-practising, and very non-religious) because i still try to live a life of tolerance and non-violence much in keeping with the teachings of christ. then again i hold in esteem any person historical or currently alive who preaches tolerance AND lives that way - christ, the buddha, gandhi and plenty of people i can think of who are still alive and active today.

using the term christ-like to mean a person who lives a life in keeping with the message of peace and tolerance in the gospels, it just made me realise that so many christians today are not christ-like at all with their emphasis on the old testment, and so many non-christians are just the opposite and should probably stop calling themselves christian and find a new term to describe themselves.

sorry, should have linked to the source of the above quote at the top.

Opera Nut

Not only what you said, but you have to throw out the violent/kick ass parts of what Jeshua ben Josef supposedly said: I come not in peace but with a sword, throwing the money changers out of the temple, cussing out a fig tree for doing what is in its nature to do at that time of the year,etc.

Sabine Grant

Bonsoir Psychedelia ! I very much value Gandhi's position because he knew how to look for what was good and apply it. Despite of his separate spiritual path , he had the wisedom to seek what he could learn from the teachings of Christ. And I am sure he was equaly inspired by other teachings from other people. He could separate human failures from the essence of the message.

Sabine Grant

I think " followers of Christ " may be a better term as the word " christian" has been stereotyped so much that it carries a very negative notion. Many thoughts are attributed almost automaticaly to a person who claims to be a christian ( especialy in the US). Assumptions are made without giving much opportunity for that person to show his or her individuality.

Opera Nut

Yes, I keep looking for individuality in Christians in America and they are depressingly similar and predictable. They are in two different camps and that's about it. I can predict which camp they are in by what kind of church they go to. Not difficult.


All the fun people like Sagan, Feynman, Einstein, Gandhi, Alan Watts, Yogananda and other assorted hell raisers will be in Hell, anyway.

Rushianbeing

My husband always said that he'd much rather land in Hell because all the good bands would be there.

Thank you, PsycheDelia, for the Gandhi quote and for your thoughts. I have always thought the same thing, and my opinion has been bolstered since moving to this hellhole of Southern Baptist hypocrisy. The only people I have met who are TRULY benevolent and kind are non-theists. Most of the people I've met are "nice" because they are jockeying for position with Jebus and/or the big guy in the sky.
And most of them yak on and on about the kindness and tolerance espoused by Christ, yet show little to none of it in their own lives (my own righteous in-laws nearly disowned me, and DID succeed in upsetting my husband so much that he got physically ill, over a pro-choice letter I wrote to the local newspaper).
As Mark Twain I believe once said: "If Christ were here now, there is one thing he would not be: a Christian."

Peace

111111

God-consciousness requires GOD, not necessarily Christ. I fully stand behind the notion that Gandhi was a man of God whom God loved and took unto Himself upon death. Perhaps Gandhi now watches over his home country, as a sort of "patron saint?"

While I believe that Christianity allows for the greatest dosage of God-consciousness, this does not invalidate other spiritual paths. I believe with all my heart and soul that God blesses and approves of all spiritual paths. There's more than Christians in Heaven, my friends....

Ronin

Good consciousness requires no Gods...good people will be good people in spite of God doctrines.

Since you believe that Christianity allows for the greatest dosage of God-consciousness...and we have been shown the Christian God's divine and tyrannical will proclaiming the tortuous Hell doctrine for good atheists ~ you are just another dimestore mystic who sells fog to avoid the truth about your brand of God.

Enjoy your stay...I'm sure we'll meet again.

111111

My friend, don't think about the Bible in a literal sense, in any way shape or form; that road only leads to confusion and anger. There is no Hell.....there is no Heaven. It's all metaphor and symbolism representing higher truths. Consider the tyrranical nature of the Old Testament God; that is merely a representation of how ancient Men viewed the Almighty. They lived in a violent world surrounded by enemies....thus, they desired a Deity that was warlike and strong. They placed upon the Source of All the traits they desired Him to have.

111111

Consider "Heaven" to be "union with God," and Hell to be "total seperation from God," and you understand my views entirely. They are not literal places.