So far, Crossan's book has presented a picture of Jesus as an advocate for universal equality. If this is truly the case, then what might Jesus say about those modern practitioners of Christianity who use the Bible to justify all sorts of discrimination, ranging from racism, to homophobia, to sexism, to discrimination on the basis of religion? While it appears that Jesus may have been something of a feminist, do we have any idea how he felt about other issues, like race relations or homosexuality?
If he intended to keep his message consistent, it seems likely that Jesus would have supported equality for all of the above minority groups. Ironically, it seems that in modern society Christianity (as with many religions, actually) has been used more frequently to preach in favour of various forms of discrimination than it has to support universal equality. It is both amusing and sad that some people appear to have taken Jesus' messages and used them to support exactly the sort of agenda he was most vehemently opposed to.
I agree with all the things you've said in this post. When I was younger, my family and I would go to church on Sunday's. However, the more we went, the more my mother realized she didn't want me or my brother to be a part of the church, and this was largely due to the fact that the christian churches these days are so against gays. My mother didn't want me or my brother growing up hearing the sort of things that the church preached, how gay marriage was wrong, and how being gay was considered a sin. It really is rather ironic- for a religion that preached equality so strongly, they really aren't good at it...
ReplyDeleteI agree very much with your post. This right here is what has always turned me off from Christianity and many other religions. The good things they do are overshadowed by the bigotry they spread. During the slave days, Christianity was used to keep African Americans in "their place" and soooo many other times, in history this is exactly what religion has done-- been a tool for those in power to keep their power and control the masses. It is a shame because Jesus's original message as with the original message of most religious figures is a message of love and unity and good will and yet religion is so often used to segregate and spread hatred or ill will.
ReplyDeleteMany Christian sects and congregations have been far ahead of the curve in supporting progressive social issues. It is a dangerous stereotype to assume that Christianity is uniformly homophobic, etc.
ReplyDeleteNot uniformly, of course, but it is certainly used to support such discrimanatory agendas far too often. Given Jesus' views, I think any use of Christianity to discriminate is too much.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. Up here in the North discrimination against race or sexual orientation isn't to bad, but down South where religion is very prominent these issues are huge.
ReplyDeleteI went to a Baptist school for several years during my middle school years, and the people who were part of that church were extremely judgmental, especially when it came to gay people. Even now if I go to lunch with an old friend from there--their disdain for people who are different then themselves is maddening.