globeandmail.com: Taking Christ out of Christianity



From Saturday's Globe and Mail

March 22, 2008 at 12:38 AM EDT


I did not know there was a "movement" against traditional religion. I thought it was more of a drifting away.
When I read this article, I kept thinking of Revelation.

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That's pretty sad...

A couple of steps above calling Christmas "Winter Holiday"...

Complete sanitization...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

I've long been of the opinion that Christianity needs more Jesus rather than less. The way I look at it, there is Jesus and his teachings, and then there is the reigion that was formed around Him. Now, the religion owes much to Paul and those like Augustine who have influenced it through the years, and along with their influence comes their interpretations. Original sin, for instance, is an Augustinian construct, so much of that which Christians take for granted is from sources other than Jesus, Himself.

THis may be considered heretical by some, but I think many people are following Paul more than they are Jesus, and what Christianity needs is an emphasis on those red letters you see in the red letter edition. If it were up to me, I'd strip away much of the mumbo jumbo added by others and focus on the teachings. When Jesus said "Believe in Me...", I don't really think he meant "all you have to do is believe in all this doctrinal stuff and you get a free get out of jail card", but "Believe in what I teach, and FOLLOW such teachings".


Seems to me that when Jesus warned His followers to beware of wolves in sheep's clothing, he was warning against those such as the Pharisees who placed primacy on ritual and function, for whom displays of piety were calculated for the eyes of others. The wolves are still running about as if they were sheep and the Pharisees still abound, so what Christians need, IMO, is to keep in mind what Jesus actualy taught and compare that to the actions and attitudes of those who claim to represent Him.

I hope this church foregoes the "Christian" descriptor because it seems to me they are becoming nothing more than Uniterian Universalists; pretty much a church for atheists who haven't broken the habit of going to church.

Universalism always sounded more like a Church for Agnostics than Atheists...

I think it is disgusting to take Christ out of "Christian"religions... not that I am pro-religion at all, but if you are to join a church, or claim a religion, at least believe in all of it...

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I think part of the issue here, is one of compliance. If indeed Christians placed the Christ in his fitting position, they would need to follow his teachings more closely. If that were to happen much of the function of todays church would be forbidden, and the very institution that reclaimed these teachings would be decimated.

Personally, I know I could not follow his lessons completely...though I try.

Christians are not perfect but they are forgiven! Jesus "knew" that we would continue to sin..example..Peter. I'm a Christian first and a Catholic a "distant" second. The words and teachings of Christ shall always trump religious dogma. Yes the church is important but lets keep Jesus in his proper perspective,he is our savior and king! Following Christ's teachings can indeed be a daily struggle and in that struggle,we begin to see the light as long as we remain focused and seek first the kingdom of God.

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