Lately all I see in the news is the people that purport to follow the life and teachings of Jesus, but do anything that follows what Jesus preached. Remember when Jesus said in Matthew (chapter 22) when he was asked about the greatest commandment?
Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22
Yet, all too many of his followers feel that preaching hatred towards other people of the same species is what Jesus portrayed in his life. They fail to understand that they are living against his teachings and what his life meant. Yes, they attempt to qualify it with hating the sin, loving the sinner. Of course, most people with a brain can see just how judgmental and condescending that statement is. It doesn't stop these fanatics of course.
In addition though, if you don't happen to follow their beliefs, then they act as if you are the one with the problem. It isn't like, let me listen so I can understand where you are coming from. Instead, it is either you accept my beliefs and what I say 100% or you can go kiss my behind. Truly, if you look at what these religious fanatics do, you will see that. My own father probably stated it more simply as this is my house and you will follow my rules. If you don't like it, don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Going back to our species, these religious fanatics are the ones destroying human civilization and life as we know it today. I've got some great friends who are Christians and I'll take them any day against the religious fanatics out there. It is one thing to have beliefs and hold them as sacred, but it is another to force them upon everyone else that does not see things the way you do.
In order for a species to survive though, they must work together. Calling for a segment of them to be killed or going to war to annihilate them doesn't help. We've seen that with Hitler and the African Americans in history. Yet, we are once again trying to repeat history because we did not learn our lessons.
There is much more important things in life than beliefs and that is how each one of us evolves as humans. Love is the essence of Jesus's life and his teachings. Love is the essence of human evolution and increased consciousness. Yet, how can someone that purports to follow these things chase after the lowest form of evolution by promoting hatred and killing?
As you have already seen, there have been numerous reports about churches preaching for the annihilation and killing of gays. They throw their scripture verses out in an attempt to justify their action and they incite other religious fanatics to take action. Is this right? In their mind it is, but in a civilized society and a civilized species, it is not right.
I believe that one day most who hold these religious fanatical views will find that they have spent their entire life focused on hating others, rather than showing love to others. No one of us knows what will happen when we die, and you can have all the faith you want or hold to the beliefs you want, but in the end we don't know what happens until we are gone from this world. It is fine to have your beliefs, but when they get in the way of the development of our civilization, then you should be questioned with vigor.
I can only close this post out with the words to the song, One Tin Soldier.
Go ahead and hate your neighbor; go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of heaven; you can justify it in the end.
Blog Post And Images (c) 5/31/12 Don Shetterly - use and reprint by permission only http://www.donshetterly.com You are welcomed to share the link to this blog post, but ask for for permission before reprinting this article. Thanks!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment
NOTICE:
LINKS IN COMMENTS WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED.
SEE COMMENT POLICY