Jesus and his ministry were socialist...so why do conservative Christians try to go against Jesus?
Top | Newest First | Oldest First
Abstraction · 61-69, M
Do you mean apart from the fact that 'socialism' is now a meaningless term in USA, used as a dog whistle to imply all the worst excesses of communist dictatorships and crushing of freedoms must apply to anyone who is not a right wing republican or shows any compassion for the poor, or supports social protections so that poor children can access basic healthcare and education, or who doesn't swallow the doctrine that private enterprise always in every case runs everything more efficiently than government (patently incorrect)...? And that almost all use of the term socialism in US is by people who don't actually comprehend what it really is?
The main reason is because in 1930s a well-documented group loosely known as the 'family', funded by a few wealthy people, started a movement to use Christianity to promote right wing conservative politics. No, I'm not a conspiracy theory follower, this really happened in history and it was very far-reaching. From the perspective of democracy, there is nothing wrong with seeking to do that. From the teachings of Jesus (and I know these pretty well) it is quite questionable.
[b][i]And so ...people have confused their political prejudices with their faith, all baked together. They can't seem to separate them, it's all too deeply emotionally ingrained, just as you can't get the yeast out of baked bread. [/i][/b]
The main reason is because in 1930s a well-documented group loosely known as the 'family', funded by a few wealthy people, started a movement to use Christianity to promote right wing conservative politics. No, I'm not a conspiracy theory follower, this really happened in history and it was very far-reaching. From the perspective of democracy, there is nothing wrong with seeking to do that. From the teachings of Jesus (and I know these pretty well) it is quite questionable.
[b][i]And so ...people have confused their political prejudices with their faith, all baked together. They can't seem to separate them, it's all too deeply emotionally ingrained, just as you can't get the yeast out of baked bread. [/i][/b]
This comment is hidden.
Show Comment
SatyrService · M
@Pikachu why do you think this comment is "[i]hidden[/i]"
reflectingmonkey · 51-55, M
I never understood how christians can be against universal healthcare. I once asked one of them if they think Jesus would have been for or against U.H. and he said he'd be against, I don't remember his argument but I know it was weak. the term "hospital" actually comes from a christian order who would take care of the sick. pretty sure they wouldn't have refused to help someone because he had no money.
LeopoldBloom · M
Roadsterrider · 56-60, M
@Graylight I have read the old and the new.
Graylight · 51-55, F
@Roadsterrider Great. Now study it to understand it.
Roadsterrider · 56-60, M
@Graylight I have studied it, and read and studied the writings of those that want to make it socialism. I am confident in my studies, never is there any involvement with charity as a government function, or ruling class function. It is always an individual choice and action. When Jesus said it would be easier to get through the eye of the needle than to get to heaven for a rich man, it wasn't at statement against wealth, it was a statement about putting wealth ahead of God. And the Eye of the Needle wasn't the eye of a sewing needle, it was just a small gate in the wall of the city of Jerusalem. no where in there is the instruction to take from anyone to give money or property to someone else as a governmental policy. There are several places where it says that a man that doesn't work, doesn't eat, not that everyone should be equally poor.
deadgerbil · 22-25
Roundandroundwego · 61-69
@deadgerbil Jesus taught that God favors the rich.
Abstraction · 61-69, M
@Roundandroundwego Jesus? Where? I don't think so. He said you can't serve God and money. Difficult for rich to enter the kingdom. Challenged a rich man to give away everything to the poor. Described riches as deceitful. Lived a life of poverty. Taught to focus on the poor. Called the poor, hungry, meek, those in mourning blessed and pronounced 'woe to the rich' for they have received their consolation.
robingoodfellow · M
Jesus in modern America has been reinvented into a crusader against liberals. I don't think American Christians care to see Jesus in any light other than the one they want him to be.
Also it was my observation that they receive far more spiritual emotion from his sacrifice than from any of his teachings. The sacrifice seems to be the crux of it all in their hearts.
Also it was my observation that they receive far more spiritual emotion from his sacrifice than from any of his teachings. The sacrifice seems to be the crux of it all in their hearts.
independentone · M
astrosandorbits · 26-30, M
Can you elaborate on how jesus and his ministry were socialist? I see this come up from time to time, and I find it comical subscribing Jesus and his ministry to any specific political ideology. I know your point isn't necessarily to do that lol as in i know you aren't saying jesus identified as a socialist of course lol
But yah do explain :)
But yah do explain :)
@astrosandorbits
The things Jesus taught and the parables he uses often correlate very strongly with socialist principles.
EG>
Radical redistribution of wealth and resources making a more equal society.
Considering the needs of everybody and taking care of the vulnerable.
Distributing wealth equally and not based only on individual merits.
The things Jesus taught and the parables he uses often correlate very strongly with socialist principles.
EG>
Radical redistribution of wealth and resources making a more equal society.
Considering the needs of everybody and taking care of the vulnerable.
Distributing wealth equally and not based only on individual merits.
sunnudenow · 70-79, M
ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M
Wandering around living off the donations of others isn't socialist, it's mendicancy.
ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M
@Pikachu Well, he did have the makings of a great caterer, what with feeding thousands or whatever with a bit of bread and a fish or two. All of which is based on whether he actually ever existed and said anything.
Crazywaterspring · 61-69, M
The Christianity conservatives use is of their own invention. Other Christians never call out these heretics.
Christianity is dying, and that is a relief.
Christianity is dying, and that is a relief.
REMsleep · 41-45, F
The politically conservative brand of Christianity was born out of a political agenda and not a religious one and many people blindly follow the political leaders but you must keep in mind that this is not really a religious movement of any kind.
If you talk to most real Christians on a personal level even very conservative ones who vote Republican they're actually pretty generous people and maybe actively involved in some activities that you would consider socialist but they don't frame it that way and they don't believe in the government taking part of it.
If you talk to most real Christians on a personal level even very conservative ones who vote Republican they're actually pretty generous people and maybe actively involved in some activities that you would consider socialist but they don't frame it that way and they don't believe in the government taking part of it.
REMsleep · 41-45, F
@Pikachu Long story on that one. I am not conservative but I grew up in a very conservative state and an individual freedom state and even I kinda understand that mindset. I don't trust the gov to handle much either.
Also keep in mind that looong before the Christian Conservative term was ever coined the idea of socialism =communisim=anti American aka treason and the fall of USA was a huge idea.
Many grew up with this idea.
Also keep in mind that looong before the Christian Conservative term was ever coined the idea of socialism =communisim=anti American aka treason and the fall of USA was a huge idea.
Many grew up with this idea.
Roundandroundwego · 61-69
Jesus wasn't a socialist. He didn't have a carpenters union.
reflectingmonkey · 51-55, M
@Roundandroundwego funny you'd say that. before writing the manifesto of the communist party marx was fist of all a historian who observed that history could be analysed as various states of struggle between those who own the means of production and those who don't. in primitive times there was no unions because their were no social classes with a higher class exploiting a lower class. the first "unions" were guilds that protected the art and organised agreements between businesses to maintain peace. its very possible Jesus's father was part of some kind oof guild.
sunnudenow · 70-79, M
And not all who cry -"Lord Lord" are followers of Christ .
This comment is hidden.
Show Comment
This comment is hidden.
Show Comment
This comment is hidden.
Show Comment
Abstraction · 61-69, M
@Penny Socialism isn't seizing wealth, it's an economic system that says rather than a few extremely wealthy owning everything (eg, major shareholders) and taking the profits of everyone's labour whilst paying workers low wages... it teaches that all people involved can share ownership and get profits from their work. It's also wrong to hold back people's wages. In capitalism people often pay workers a wage that doesn't allow them to feed their children properly. That doesn't mean capitalism is wrong, it means those employers are wrong. In some countries where they set out to implement socialism they did seize wealth. That doesn't mean socialism is wrong, it meant those governments were wrong.