|
|
|
|
|
|
by lapis_fenrir
3355 days ago
|
|
|
When I was a child growing up in the Southern Baptist Church system, I struggled with the paradox that the Christian God is supposedly the only god that exists, yet in the Old Testament that same god clearly told his followers that they should not worship "those other gods". I recall asking my pastor and other church leaders, even my own parents, about this paradox and I received non-answers, diversions, a lot of "gee, I don't know" or "you're right, that is strange" responses, and was even totally ignored once by a pastor who was visibly disturbed that a small child would dare ask a hard question. Of course, as I got older and was exposed to the Internet I was able to research the history of religion and break out of the bubble. I learned that the Christianity of today is nothing whatsoever like early Christianity in its infancy just after Christ's death, and a large part of what is taught in traditional Protestant churches is wholly incompatible with his message. If you follow his commandment that we "love one another, that is the fulfillment of the Law", suddenly all of the -isms have no place in a Christian's heart. Racism, sexism, homophobia, elitism, all violate the creed of "love your neighbor". Yet the most racist, sexist, phobic people I've ever met identify as Christians; yet another paradox to ponder. |
|
|
there are plenty of texts discussing 'false gods' as well -
e.g. put all together: there is 1 'true god', the others are 'false gods', and they should not be worshipped.
This base theology is very straightforward and consistent throughout the hebraic scriptures, and also in the NT if you view from the various premises of jesus messiahood in the gospels/epistles.
> what is taught in traditional Protestant churches
... Was invented ~500 years ago, and (imho) in reaction to other theological (RC) and sociological shifts (embryonic capitalism), and so this is not at all surprising...
> "homophobia"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_the_New_Testa...
Dangerous words here, but disagreement with homosexuality is only automatically a "phobia" if one presumes disagreement to be 'denial' of a 'reality' out of a 'fear'; if one is ambivalent on this 'truth', there can be 'phobic' people and those that simply disagree.
Either way, quite clear from the canonical texts that sexual purity (of all stripes - including heterosexual married couples) and ascetical purity in general were part of "early Christianity in its infancy just after Christ's death".. I will certainly agree however that what attitudes one takes towards adopting this (humility vs pride), is another matter and quite often many believers fall short.
Any doctrine can be abused to suit the ego gratification of its adherent -
Plenty of rabid and non-neighbor loving athiests, LGBT activists, libre software coders, etc as well..
Conversely, broad statements such as 'love thy neighbor' can be twisted to mean 'view anything as valid no matter what it says'..
it is in subtlety where the distinctions are found..