The Religious Right is the modern incarnation of how the Bible's authors described the Pharisees -- self-serving, self-righteous.
I'm not so sure the Pharisees weren't unfairly slandered just because they didn't accept Jesus as the Messiah -- if that's the case, then it ironically sets a precedent for the Christian right to become what they falsely accused someone else of being, which is really ironic given the whole Newt Gingrich/Susan Smith thing.
Who they are without a doubt is, the people Jesus railed against in his "Do not pray in the town square, as the Pharisee does, seeking to be heard. He has his reward. Pray in your house, in a closet" speech. The Religious Right's in it for power, or barring that, for self-gratification.
They'd reject Jesus, because he'd preach against them. He'd preach against the war in Iraq. He'd preach against divisive policies in the Middle East. He'd preach against abortion, and he'd preach against the conservatives' tendency to say "ban abortion, but don't make me pay for any kids born out of wedlock" alike. And he'd probably tell John Ashcroft that he sounds like Hermann Goering, because he does.
And they'd shun him, just as they shun anyone who holds their lies up to the light of day. They wouldn't know him from Adam. He'd be more at home among the Unitarians than among the Trinitarians, more in accord with the Buddhists than with the Baptists.
Lemme see... I'll compare the Christian Coalition before I comment
* Christian Coalition - Pro death penalty. * Jesus Christ - Victim of death penalty, probably against it, particularly at the time they were driving spikes through his feet.
* Christian Coalition - A well spring of condemnation, accusation, and moral supiriority. * Jesus Christ - Sat in whore houses and didn't say a word; most of his friends were criminals, beggars, or protistues; actually coined the phrase "he who is without sin cast the first stone".
* Christian Coalition - Market their faith on television, making donations one of the major points of any ministry. * Jesus Christ - Threw out the merchants from the Temple Mount in an act of civil disobedience
As far as I can tell, the only thing they would agree on is the abortion issue, which may be enough for the Christian Coalition, but probably not.
Hmm... yeah. I would love to see him walk among the Christian Coalition and try to show them that his teachings were not based upon fear but upon love ... but I think they would lynch him before he got to speak.
Would they even believe that he was, in fact, Jesus? Seriously...how often does the general public believe someone who claims to be the Son of God - and when they do, how often are they branded as complete lunatics? Even if the second coming was expected, you can be sure that lots of people would be running around going "YAH-HAAHHHH!!! EETS-AH MEEEEE, JEEEEESUS!!!!!"
Not all of them would be doing a Mario impression, of course, but you get what I'm saying, right?
no subject
Date: 2003-11-06 08:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-06 09:01 pm (UTC)"I said, you know they refused Jesus, too, and they said, you're not him."
Date: 2003-11-06 09:46 pm (UTC)I'm not so sure the Pharisees weren't unfairly slandered just because they didn't accept Jesus as the Messiah -- if that's the case, then it ironically sets a precedent for the Christian right to become what they falsely accused someone else of being, which is really ironic given the whole Newt Gingrich/Susan Smith thing.
Who they are without a doubt is, the people Jesus railed against in his "Do not pray in the town square, as the Pharisee does, seeking to be heard. He has his reward. Pray in your house, in a closet" speech. The Religious Right's in it for power, or barring that, for self-gratification.
They'd reject Jesus, because he'd preach against them. He'd preach against the war in Iraq. He'd preach against divisive policies in the Middle East. He'd preach against abortion, and he'd preach against the conservatives' tendency to say "ban abortion, but don't make me pay for any kids born out of wedlock" alike. And he'd probably tell John Ashcroft that he sounds like Hermann Goering, because he does.
And they'd shun him, just as they shun anyone who holds their lies up to the light of day. They wouldn't know him from Adam. He'd be more at home among the Unitarians than among the Trinitarians, more in accord with the Buddhists than with the Baptists.
In my humble opinion.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-07 04:57 am (UTC)* Christian Coalition - Pro death penalty.
* Jesus Christ - Victim of death penalty, probably against it, particularly at the time they were driving spikes through his feet.
* Christian Coalition - A well spring of condemnation, accusation, and moral supiriority.
* Jesus Christ - Sat in whore houses and didn't say a word; most of his friends were criminals, beggars, or protistues; actually coined the phrase "he who is without sin cast the first stone".
* Christian Coalition - Market their faith on television, making donations one of the major points of any ministry.
* Jesus Christ - Threw out the merchants from the Temple Mount in an act of civil disobedience
As far as I can tell, the only thing they would agree on is the abortion issue, which may be enough for the Christian Coalition, but probably not.
Tough Crowd has gotten better hasn't it.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-07 05:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-07 06:51 am (UTC)Oh, and they'd call him a Communist. They'd almost be correct. Christ was a "little 'C'" communist to be sure.
*facepalms* Lordy, sometimes I really despise the public face those asshats are putting on MY faith.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-07 08:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-07 01:01 pm (UTC)Would they even believe that he was, in fact, Jesus? Seriously...how often does the general public believe someone who claims to be the Son of God - and when they do, how often are they branded as complete lunatics? Even if the second coming was expected, you can be sure that lots of people would be running around going "YAH-HAAHHHH!!! EETS-AH MEEEEE, JEEEEESUS!!!!!"
Not all of them would be doing a Mario impression, of course, but you get what I'm saying, right?
no subject
Date: 2003-11-08 07:12 am (UTC)