Is America Really Christian? : Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Honest Abe

» RichardSpeaks - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Honest Abe

In response to Pinky102

There are those who say that "liberal" and "Christian" are mutually exclusive terms. But it's not up to me to make that determination. Just thought you'd like to know that.

"Live and let live" sounds good in theory, but it hardly ever works in a civilized society. That's why there are laws, even in a democracy, and perhaps especially in a democracy. These laws are intended to protect the civil rights of the individuals within that society. Religious law rarely addresses that. I can't think of a single truly democratic major western religion. However, Buddhism and Taoism in the east come close. They recognize the need for social coherence as well as the need for individual spiritual growth. The two can be harmonious, if the society will let them. But, greed, power hunger, and other such things tend to interfere. Hence the need for justice.

I do take issue with you on one very salient point. You said, "To follow Christ is to seek justice." But didn't Jesus say, "Love one another, even as I have loved you"? And "Vengeance is mine"? He was the ultimate justice. He loved humanity into heaven through his own sacrifice. He took upon himself the sin of the world (original sin) and left it in the grave. Now, here's the part that Christians don't like: we play no part in salvation; only Jesus does. We are saved whether we believe it or not. If we have to make a choice in order to be saved, then the power of salvation rests in our own hands. It does not. The world is saved, from Adam to the last Zen master, because of what Jesus did, not because of our belief, no matter what Paul, or even Jesus himself supposedly says in scripture. That's love; that's justice.

Too bad I don't believe a word of that.

-- posted by RichardSpeaks