I am a lurking fan of pastordan, an avid cheerleader of anti-Christian Fundamentalist diaries, and a recent commenter in the IGTNT diary series. This morning, the second Sunday of Advent, I read Kurt Vonnegut's A Man Without A Country, his final book. Incredibly, Devilstower gave me the gift of his beautifully written With God On Our Side which complements Vonnegut's sentiments perfectly. Vonnegut and Devilstower inspired me to re-read the The Sermon on the Mount, also known as The Beatitudes, Luke 6: 20-23.
These words are those of a humanist, thinker, progressive. They are the touchstone of Jesus' message, which I prefer to see as the best of humanity rather than God's word. Vonnegut, a humanist, understood the power of simplicity -- because the words cut to the core of what it means to be a good human being.
[I]f Christ hadn't delivered the Sermon on the Mount, with its message of mercy and pity, I wouldn't want to be a human being.
I'd just as soon be a rattlesnake . . . .
I am using the King James Bible translation for two reasons:
- It is a beautiful (albeit not direct) translation;
- My family bible is the King James even though we are Catholic. My mother's side diluted the "purity" factor.
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
I've re-read Devilstower's diary several times now in conjunction with The Beatitudes. Amazingly, one who has the nom de plume, Devilstower, and writes for the Orange Satan has actually summed up Jesus' plea to the multitude:
If your position is that your being able to keep all your money is more important than a child being fed, then I simply think you're wrong. And sick. You want to keep that money? You better beat me at the polls.
Jesus was beaten at the polls when his followers didn't get enough votes to keep him off the cross. I've read enough Church history to know that the simple words of Jesus on that Mount had been distorted or ignored pretty early on. The current crew of "Christian Fundamentalists" are not new; they just have more power. I include in this group: Evangelicals, Protestant, Catholic and Episcopalian hard-liners. It is tragic that some of Jesus' best material is completely ignored by "Christians" who base their beliefs on a literal reading of the Old Testament only.
I don't actually care what folks hold as religious beliefs, but I do care when politicians pander at the expense of our fundamental tenets of Constitutional government.
Again, back to Jesus:
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth
but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
and Vonnegut
How do humanists feel about Jesus? I say of Jesus, as all humanists do, "If what he said is good, and so much of it is absolutely beautiful, what does it matter if he is God or not?"
. . . .
For some reason, the most vocal Christians among us never mention the Beatitudes. But, often with tears in their eyes they demand that the Ten Commandments be posted in public buildings. . . . I haven't heard one of them demand that the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitutdes, be posted anywhere.
"Blessed are the merciful" in a courtroom?
"Blessed are the peacemakers" in the Pentagon?
Give me a break!
and Devilstower
The strategy of vultures gives us both a party and a nation that would embarrass John Kennedy. The erosion of that barrier between the interest of the state and that of the church gives us a church that Jesus would not recognize. As an American and a Christian, I find both results terrifying.