November 10, 2004

  • I am a Christian. 

     

    Some people have tried to tell me.  Maybe so.

     

    But I do not limit myself to the bible to understand what Jesus meant.  I do not limit myself to The King James version or any other version, or any one translation. 

     

    I do not limit myself to Christianity, even, or Christian writings, or Christian teachings and history, although I do consider them, for there are like lessons to be gleaned and compared in other traditions.

     

    And I read the Gospels of Thomas, written by the disciple Thomas, which have only recently come to light.

     

    I read what Religious scholars have said, about the context in which the bible was written, and the implications of the original text in different languages, and how they may have been mistranslated.  I read what scholars say about interpretation, and what different schools of thought exist.

     

    I temper what I read with my own thoughts, to reconcile in my mind the seeming contradictions to a general theme, and to what I feel in my heart.

     

    I learn from contemporary Christians that I look up to, Jimmy Carter, Martin Luther King, Jr., and the people they looked up to, whether Christian or not, like Ghandi.  I look for similarities in comparative religion, to add strength and a global consensus to my own beliefs.

     

    And I do not rely on Men who tell me not to question them.  Jesus questioned.  If you can say anything about Jesus, it was that he questioned.  I would do what Jesus did.

    I leave this for those who seek to be true Christians.  Something to think about from the Gospels of Thomas:

    Jesus said, "I am not your teacher. Because you have drunk, you have become intoxicated from the bubbling spring that I have tended."

Comments (14)

  • but what about the moon??

  • What Would Jesus Do?

    I'm convinced He would have trouble figuring out how some people can call themselves Christians but are anything but.

    Pete

  • You write so eloquently exactly how I feel about Christianity.

    Those so-called christians who disdain liberals would crucify Jesus if He walked the earth today...you can't get any more liberal-minded than the One who challenged the religious "right" of 2,000 years ago.

    ~Laura

  • wow, days to move. that's...a lot of time. you ever play on chess.net or fics or anything like that?

  • mighty, I some times play chess on yahoo, but I don't usually have time to sit down and actually play a timed game, so the correspondence chess works best for me. 

    I usually move once or twice a day.  Give it a try.  We'll let the chess board decide who is right.

  • Let me clarify - we'll let the chess game decide whether anyone really walked on the moon.

  • the kingdom of heaven is inside you and all around you, not in house built of wood or stone..lift a pieceof stone and you will find me break a piece of wood and i am there..

    st thomas's gospel was envigorating

  • sayyadina - I was thinking on the way in to work this morning of pendantes and neclaces and rings and such that say JWC.  And that's not Jesus Walker Christ, but Jesus Without Churches.

    Free Jesus!

  • Jesus is free

  • Oh, and I'm surprised you don't have an opinion on the moon issue. I thought you, of all people, would have a vehement argument for one side or the other.

  • It's not even really worth a response.  Now, if you told me there isn't really a war in Iraq, I would at least be hopeful.

  • not worth a response? is that code for "i haven't ever thought about it"?

  • I'm getting a Thomas Mertonish feel from you, Prom.

  • Thanks for the reference Herzog.  I had to look up the name, in that I had not heard of him.  I don't think I'm that far gone yet.

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