Does Jesus want us to be patriotic?

I don't think he does. For example, when he says "pay unto ceaser..." I think that's a dog whistle basically saying "the kingdom of heaven makes your petty concerns of state and country seem irrelevant"

I dunno, what do you think?

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ArishMell · 70-79, M

I don't know what "dog whistle" means, but Jesus was more likely calling for a sense of proportion, whilst still elevating God above the affairs of Man.

As for being "patriotic", patriotic to whom? Palestine, including the territory that has become Israel, was under Roman occupation with a governor anxious to keep things quiet and please the Emperor Caesar, and local temple elders anxious to protect their own power over their congregations.

CorvusBlackthorne · 100+, M

@ArishMell A dog whistle is a kind of coded message. Usually, the term has negative connotations, because messages that aren't stated directly are usually ones that are going to offend. For example, a certain president who lost the 2020 election once told a crowd of white people at a rally in Wisconsin that they looked like they had good genes. (There wasn't a single black or Mexican at the rally. But we're supposed to believe that isn't what he meant.)

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@CorvusBlackthorne Ah, I see. Thank you.