tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310981.post4868933812141775321..comments2024-03-04T07:45:15.155-07:00Comments on Hackman's Musings: I Got Jesus' Back!Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12494823779999456396noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310981.post-60920101646900229322012-10-09T00:16:33.869-06:002012-10-09T00:16:33.869-06:00I think the Bhagavad Gita has the most insightful ...I think the Bhagavad Gita has the most insightful thing to say about war--at least as I understand it. God basically tells Arjuna to go into battle, not because it is important, but because it isn't important. That is, not for some selfish or even altruistic end, but because it was his dharma, his calling, his duty. Put another way, when you become "awakened" or "liberated" or "saved" (as a Christian might call it), what is there left to do? Is it still important to...say...feed yourself? Not really. But you do it anyway, in a sense because you're still you. You're still John Doe, so you do what John Doe does.The Arkwelderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03156847150929492694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310981.post-61831251405122817642012-10-05T08:19:11.180-06:002012-10-05T08:19:11.180-06:00I've been having these conversations with Chri...I've been having these conversations with Christians for years and I arrive at the same conclusion you do - always. <br /><br />They really don't want to take Jesus that seriously - they like aspects - but they love country and flag more - and they confuse Jesus' teachings with that of their own country and those priorities. <br /><br />The war debate is an interesting one since I think it is normal for countries to defend themselves and their citizens from harm. Now where a Christian is supposed to line up on there - well - this is where the debate gets intriguing. <br /><br />I see Jesus as a non-violent person (you mention Rome and the zealots)...I think he was opposed to their way of doing business (which included violent overthrow and oppression). But Christians have a place in the army - we do need medics after all. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310981.post-7901009303785187882012-10-03T19:27:24.656-06:002012-10-03T19:27:24.656-06:00"For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.&..."For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." I actually don't think Christianity is meant to be all that hard. What's hard is "letting go". The Sermon on the Mount seems to be asking us to do incredible, masochistic things, i.e., "And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out," but I think many of us are missing the deeper meaning, which is to not be so concerned with your own self-preservation. "Whosoever shall save his life shall lose it." Ironically, Christianity is hard not because of its rules, but because of its lack of rules--because it is asking us to be calm, peaceful, in-the-moment, etc. It's asking us to go against our instincts and stop fighting, stop resisting, stop struggling. Admittedly, that is hard in a sense, but for those who feel world-weary and battle-worn, there's a definite easiness about it.The Arkwelderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03156847150929492694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310981.post-39829688103015418932012-09-19T22:21:27.937-06:002012-09-19T22:21:27.937-06:00Heh ;)Heh ;)Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12494823779999456396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310981.post-60598930730838243062012-09-19T20:42:45.629-06:002012-09-19T20:42:45.629-06:00Ha ha Andrew, I TOLD you you were still a Christia...Ha ha Andrew, I TOLD you you were still a Christian ;)Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11272544252649766985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310981.post-53863499238433314202012-09-17T17:52:00.070-06:002012-09-17T17:52:00.070-06:00Uh huh. Of course the teachings of Jesus are hard....Uh huh. Of course the teachings of Jesus are hard. I tend to believe that what most people think of as Christianity really isn't. The irony is that atheists and agnostics are among the few people aware of it.JanetDaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16876481020985690754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310981.post-39233732983439178982012-09-16T20:49:29.209-06:002012-09-16T20:49:29.209-06:00Yep Bruce, we all know that agnostics and atheists...Yep Bruce, we all know that agnostics and atheists wouldn't be agnostics and atheists if they would just read their bible. ;) My problem is lack of bible knowledge!<br /><br />The thing is, I can sympathize with the Christian who says "Turning the cheek is a hard thing, if it came down to it, I am not sure I could". Great, nothing wrong with being honest.<br /><br />However, these three out the gate were completely rejecting the idea as ridiculous... and "I" was defending the teachings of Jesus... dark comedy at its finest.<br /><br />and I loved the justification that we need not work for peace because that won't come til after the tribulation... I haven't heard that thinking in years... laughable and frightening at the same time.<br /><br />There may have been a time when politics buttressed religion, but it is clear to me that Christianity, by and large, is simply a tool to buttress folks political notions.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12494823779999456396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5310981.post-18596177178297074182012-09-16T19:07:34.903-06:002012-09-16T19:07:34.903-06:00Ah yes, gotta love multiple personality disorder m...Ah yes, gotta love multiple personality disorder many Evangelicals have. :)<br /><br />Of course the core issue is that politics and religion have been merged and this results in the bizarre, laughable, and sad thinking evidenced in the discussion.<br /><br />The funniest person was the one who told you to study the Bible. Never thought to do that did you Andrew? :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com