Peaceful Religions

The question posed today:

If Christianity is such a peaceful religion, why is so much violence done in its name?

I believe there is a distinction between studying theology and reading the original holy works.

Even so, each religion has a historical record of war, or violence.

Some embrace conflict or war, calling it Duty.

Christ embodied the spirit of Forgiveness.

The Old Testament and the Torah had plenty of conflict, and those conflicts continue to the present day.

Hinduism speaks of rising above the battle, but in the Bhagavad Gita Krishna teaches the necessity of battle as a part of Duty.

Even Christ took a whip to the money changers who had defiled his temple.

There is also religious persecution, as happened to the early Christians, the Jewish people, the Mormons, and just about anyone now who is not part of the mainstream religion in their country of residence. The US is hardly an exception to this as it has become xenophobic, and religiophobic.

So let’s look at these two levels of consciousness: The level of the Battle and the Level Above.

Krishna would have us do our Duty no matter how sickening, but in our spirit remain true to Love.  As depicted in the Bhagavad Gita, only then would the Gates of Heaven open.

Christ laid down his life to illustrate this lesson, and simultaneously showed mercy as he prayed for those who crucified him.  He lived and died the principle of Rising above the battle.

So why did Ghandi say:

I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians.  Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.

I could point out that the Christian Bible was assembled from many different books during the Councils of Nicaea going back to 325 AD.  There the church fathers decided which books were to be included and others rejected.  There are accusations of editing and book burnings from that time.  I myself have read an alternative gospel which makes Jesus even more divine in terms of character but also more human.  It is clearly impossible for the average man or woman to aspire to such purity.

So the story of Jesus may be somewhat edited.  Some learned people have suggested that Jesus may be a composite character, and that there were several enigmatic characters from that time whose stories merged.  That could explain why one Jesus had a whip and the same man allowed himself to die like a lamb for his principles.  One gospel has a single, meat-eating Jesus, another unfavored manuscript tells of an angelic child for whom flowers sprung up at his feet, who heals small creatures, and who later married and arrived too late to save his own wife.  This widowed Jesus was vegetarian and died because he broke Jewish law when he refused to sacrifice the lamb for Passover.  To me, the gentle animal-loving Jesus makes perfect sense.  He was a zealot, a rebel, and pure of heart. His life was difficult but he had compassion for others.

Today’s Christians are taught that Jesus died for them.  They expect their lives to be protected and blessed by Him, and they expect to go to heaven because his death paid for their sins.

These are clearly two different stories.  Jesus’ life was an example.  If you don’t learn anything from it, you didn’t rise above the battle.  You are here because God wants to see YOU in action.  It’s not going to be easy.  You need to show your real character, and when you see you have fallen short, own it and try to be the best version of yourself.

So many Christians are unlike Christ because they don’t know him. The Council of Nicaea argued the question of Christ’s divinity.  A divine Christ who washes away the sins of the world with his blood takes away guilt and sin, and Christ did believe in Forgiveness.  It also takes away personal responsibility for one’s behavior.

Christ forgave everyone:  That is true, but it is theologically taken out of context.

From the agony of the cross, Christ looked upon those who had done this to him, and uttered the words ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.’

This is your lesson, expect forgiveness, but you should also expect consequences.

Christ suffered here on earth and rose in spirit above the hate and above the horrific reality.

Today as in every age we have choices to make.  We have ourselves to feed and protect, we have those we love.  We have others, even those we perceive as enemies to deal with.  Every choice, every action is measured in that it affects us all.  How you treat your brother is how you treat God’s children.

So Mother Teresa said she saw the face of Christ in every crowd of impoverished people, and she lived to serve them.

        I see Jesus in every human being. I say to myself, this is hungry Jesus, I must feed him. This is sick Jesus. This one has leprosy or gangrene; I must wash him and tend to him. I serve because I love Jesus.

Mother Teresa