I agree completely, and my story is similar.doc_loliday wrote:GrumpyCatFace wrote:The problem is that when Jesus is invoked (at least in American culture), it has little or nothing to do with those values.DrYouth wrote: Pretty much.
I'm pretty much good with Jesus.
He was a healer.
The inner child... able to see the innocence within... the divine spark.
The problem is the implicit warning/threat/admonition against the recipient.
That isn't true, even if there is admonishment, and there are hypocrites, and even though Christians can never live up to Jesus, there are millions of Christians striving to be just like him. I grew up with them, I couldnt begin to tell you how seriously people take this, both inwardly, regarding virtues, and outwardly, through service and charity.
My brother and I are both non believers now and he holds a similiar opinion. All he remembers are the personal faults, and the contradictions in the scriptures. But I remember the countless hours where we were instructed to be kind and honest and fair. I also recall endless service projects and continual giving. The members did and continue to quietly give their time and money to the needy, both locally and abroad.
I laugh at dressing up like a sheppard, but he's angry about it. Just gotta see the whole picture.
I'm not saying that there's anything inherently wrong with holding those beliefs, and there are, of course, good people in any faith. But those aren't the people waving signs and lobbying congress for religious law. Those aren't the people in megachurch corporations, or covering up pedophilia.
I used to knock on doors and help spread The Word. I helped lay bricks for churches, and build outbuildings for church members. I went to the pot-lucks, and the bible studies, and dressed as a shepherd for Passover. It was a good childhood, but I'm not a child anymore.