Just in time for Easter, I’ve made this previously paywalled essay about how Jesus was a jerk available for free. If this makes you angry, count to ten or something; I really don’t care www.bugbeardispatch.com/p/easter-rep...
Exposing the Dark Side of the Gospels
The death of the self to the self is of course a major aspect of Buddhism, and I often wonder if early Christianity took it from that earlier faith. But while monasticism is encouraged, no one talks about not respecting family love and ties. Cf. Vimalakirti Sutra regarding position of lay people.
Interesting points, but I'm a secular person in a secular society and I've been an Agnostic since 2007 I feel like I shouldn't have to care. More so the last 20 years have made me very tired of God. Kind of feel like some of the issues with Christianity might be cuz like you said Jesus was a jerk.
Thanks for sharing this freely; I have passed it along to two women whose brother is dead because his parents "loved Jesus" more (I initially wrote "...more than they loved him", but I do not believe they loved any of their children. Being parents was part of their religious performative bullshit).
At best, the historical Jesus was no different than any modern day cult leader.
Thank you for this. A sad irony is that the same people who would use that verse to justify shunning a queer child (my grandparents were like this) would in any other context insist that Christianity promotes "family values" and we really don't know what that verse means.
I really liked this essay. There is a lot of talk among liberal Christians about how Jesus is their role model, and I think they fail to fully interrogate all of his record. As you point out, that record ain’t just loaves and fishes.