I know I'm not the only one who becomes slightly confused when a group of "USA! USA!" chanting folk with their 'I <3 Jesus' t-shirts to go along with the occasional 'John 3:16' poster turn around and demand we act to commit uncaring & unloving actions that go against everything I was ever taught about Christianity.
I mean, the only Jesus I've ever read about in ANYONE's bible is always telling those people around Him to love each other and to help each other. He's also real big on forgiveness, even going so far as kissing and forgiving the man He understands is responsible for His own upcoming death by slow and agonizing semi-passive torture.
As I've been unable to fit my own religious views up with many of the actions taken by that group of conservatives who want to make sure that you understand how they consider themselves to be Christians, their repeated affirmations of what crewel actions they want has done little more than leave me slightly wary of Christianity. I can only certainly hope that this wasn't the intention.
I mean, I thought the word Christianity had something to do with the name Jesus Christ, a teacher who never worked to promulgate hatred and revenge. Outright pointing out these facts to one of them seldom has any effect other than their telling me 'you don't understand' or 'it's in the bible' or 'you're going to Hell'.
I will admit that I've not studied the old testament much. When I have looked into it briefly, there is plenty of the hatred. Plenty that goes against what is taught by Jesus Christ. You'd think that a Christian would follow the teachings of Jesus and not those that were written before He was born. Teachings derived from what was followed by those who put Him to death.
Look beyond that orange squiggle to see what I finally decided may be the source of my confusion:
Recently I had a song in my head:
http://www.youtube.com/...
And I do admit that the singing is a church-hymn about as much as the Jesus I was taught of would make every effort to crush and destroy every single person who may have once looked at him funny.
The well-loved Jesus of these 'Christians' that don't follow what I was taught Christianity to be, are simply following their own personal Jesus!
Another look at Religion by metalnun
http://www.dailykos.com/...
The Conservative Hymn by BlueConvert
http://www.dailykos.com/...
What is a Christian by WTFurious
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Good Christians by Lakabux
http://www.dailykos.com/...