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ThoughtCriminal

(14,598 posts)
16. Religious Right Fundamentalists have abandoned Christ
Sun Mar 18, 2012, 07:57 PM
Mar 2012

One thing I noticed many years ago at any service at a conservative, fundamentalist protestant church is that while Jesus is frequently mentioned, he is hardly ever quoted. Entire sermons about "Jesus" and "Salvation" without even one "Red Letter" read or mentioned. Mostly, it's a bit of Old Testament and lots and lots of Paul. (This is my own experience, not a study).

Paul was not one the Disciples, and never met Jesus. How did he get to define what Christianity would become and stand for? He was a genius at marketing I suppose, but it seems to me that he seriously undermined the teachings of Jesus. I sometimes wonder if that was his actual intent (Can't beat them, join them and subvert the message).

Where does the Sermon on the Mount fit in with Religious Right theology? Supply Side Jesus? Prospertity Gospel? Smart-Bomb your enemy? Worship Walmart? Pray in public so nobody suspects you're cheating on your spouse? Worry about witches? Elect leaders that you beleive will help make Armageddon happen so we can all go to a super vacation resort for eternity while everybody else burns in an eternal concentration camp?

If Satan existed and wanted to create a church to undermine the teachings of Christ and really make humanity suffer, I don't think it could do any better than what the religious right has become.


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The problem is all of those things and more. PDJane Mar 2012 #1
Where do those of us go who want to believe in some sort of "More?" Something GreenPartyVoter Mar 2012 #6
I'm curious, why do you need to "go" anywhere? Arugula Latte Mar 2012 #12
I mean "go" as in gather with likeminded others, I guess? That's part of the "More" to me, the GreenPartyVoter Mar 2012 #23
Oh, okay. ... I've heard Unitarian "churches" are good for that sort of thing. Arugula Latte Mar 2012 #25
No, but I think I should. :^) GreenPartyVoter Mar 2012 #26
I totally understand Delphinus Mar 2012 #18
It seems like a good place to search for the "More" I am talking about. :^) GreenPartyVoter Mar 2012 #24
IMHO bluedave Mar 2012 #2
Although I am a atheist I really enjoyed your movonne Mar 2012 #3
Thanks for the post. shcrane71 Mar 2012 #4
The Bible thumping of Dubya Bush and his followers Ishoutandscream2 Mar 2012 #5
I am not a member of any organized fredamae Mar 2012 #7
They Used To "Suggest" From The Pulpit grilled onions Mar 2012 #8
I stopped going to Mass and Communion at 15 years old HockeyMom Mar 2012 #9
the bath water karened1 Mar 2012 #10
What is "the church of Jesus Christ" to which you refer, Karen? Liberal Insights Mar 2012 #28
This message was self-deleted by its author felix_numinous Mar 2012 #11
Good Read. Thank You & Read My Tag Line. as you stated.. Blaze Diem Mar 2012 #13
It's hard to have "faith" in Bronze Age mythology in an age full of instant information Arugula Latte Mar 2012 #14
Seems that the church will never learn. When it becomes political siding against the people it loses jwirr Mar 2012 #15
Religious Right Fundamentalists have abandoned Christ ThoughtCriminal Mar 2012 #16
I call them Paulist since it's him they are really following LynneSin Mar 2012 #20
you got that right, ThoughtCriminal and Lynne! Liberal Insights Mar 2012 #29
You forgot something... RoccoR5955 Mar 2012 #17
I think alot of it depends on the church LynneSin Mar 2012 #19
Does anyone know about other than just churches??/Temples lunasun Mar 2012 #21
I don't think you can extrapolate much by looking at people under 30 Warpy Mar 2012 #22
Enjoyed reading your posting... ChuckGG Mar 2012 #27
We need to be true to ourselves. topcat007 Jan 2013 #30
stay curious topcat007 Jan 2013 #31
Agreed - we need vision Anonymousecoview Mar 2013 #32
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