[lbo-talk] Time to Get Religion

[wrobert at uci.edu]

Ironically, you can actually challenge this notion with the most orthodox
of Christian thinkers, Paul.  Paul argues that zealousness for the law and
zealousness for the love of god oppose one another.  To be zealous for the
law means that you are missing out on the key element of Christianity,
which is love of God and love of the neighbor.  This is not to say that
the law should be abandoned, because in Paul's eyes these are designed to
get one towards these goals, but the emphasis should be put on them rather
than on the law.  (I really can't believe I could recite that.  It's a
little embarrassing... recent Theo-political class.)  There are certainly
more radical forms of this logic that argue that the law goes against this
love of god and love of the neighbor as well.

                                 robert wood


> Calling it "faith" begs the question. "Faith" in what? If its not
> faith in something you concocted yourself, then its faith
> (unquestioning adherence) in something put forward by some authority,
> thus it is by definition authoritarian. If it is "faith" in something
> you have just made up yourself, then it is something slightly
> different (a claim that you yourself are the prophet (authority) but
> in neither instance is it religion in any real sense of the word.
>
> But answer my question. Does this church, which claims to be
> Christian, believe in obedience to the basic principles of
> Christianity or not? If it doesn't, then it isn't Christianity. If it
> doesn't submit to some authority, then it isn't any kind of religion
> at all. Its as simple as that really.
>
> I'm not being critical of what these people do per se, simply
> challenging their right to claim that they are doing it in the name
> of some religion. Maybe there are tax advantages to doing it that way
> of course, that's a narrow legal question.
>
>>  Although I'm not part of this church, as I am not a Christian, I've
>>attended many services and have spoken at length with members, as
>>well as the minister, an African-American who worked in the
>>Sanctuary Movement during the 80s as well as in El Salvador itself
>>and Nicaragua. Currently, they're engaged in antiwar work, reaching
>>out to local Muslim groups (this area has one of the highest Muslim
>>populations in the States), as well as to Jewish groups in an effort
>>at dialogue and working together against the occupation of the West
>>Bank and the assaults on Gaza. It's really quite amazing to see, and
>>knocks the cynicism right out of you -- unless you need yours, that
>>is.
>
> I'm not being in the least cynical. I don't doubt your claim they do
> good work. But either they acknowledge the ten commandments as
> commandments (rather than suggestions) or they don't. If they can't
> accept the fundamental tenets of Christianity, then I can't for the
> life of me see what possible basis they have for claiming to be
> "Christians". If they aren't willing to unquestioningly accept the
> fundamental basis of any religion, then they can't claim to be of any
> religion.
>
> Bill Bartlett
> Bracknell Tas
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