This is what happens when the Bible becomes a divine rule book instead of a sacred text, and Christianity is just a contract to keep someone out of hell rather than a life giving way to live.
LC might know the original poster (I don't read Beliefnet any more; it wasn't good for my blood pressure!) but there are also people who have been abused who struggle with unconditional love and forgiveness.
They may feel that the commandment to love their enemies unconditionally means that they have to stay with an abusive partner or put themselves in danger. I don't actually believe that this is the case, but I can see how abused people might struggle with this.
good Lord... what is with these folks who are so afraid they might slip and love somebody else TOO MUCH? and the result would be disaster, chaos, tohu bohu on all sides. Sick, sad, and stupid.
I don't think anyone here is hating on these folks, Anonymous. We're just scratching our heads at the disconnect between what they're saying and what the Gospels say. It's not about being "stupid"; it's about being [i]wrong[/i], and wrong about the pivotal point of Christian ethics. I don't understand how you can come away from the Gospels -- and from Paul's treatises on Christian ethics, for that matter -- with the idea that as a Christian you're entitled to hate, rather than being commanded to love. I know their translations aren't that different than the NRSV.;-)
10 comments:
That's why I don't read Beliefnet . . .
What part of "Love God, love your neighbor" was unclear to them? Crikey.
This is what happens when the Bible becomes a divine rule book instead of a sacred text, and Christianity is just a contract to keep someone out of hell rather than a life giving way to live.
Sadly, this is pretty common for B-net.
HOLY CRAP! (or Wholly crap)
The commentator had it in one.
LC might know the original poster (I don't read Beliefnet any more; it wasn't good for my blood pressure!) but there are also people who have been abused who struggle with unconditional love and forgiveness.
They may feel that the commandment to love their enemies unconditionally means that they have to stay with an abusive partner or put themselves in danger. I don't actually believe that this is the case, but I can see how abused people might struggle with this.
good Lord... what is with these folks who are so afraid they might slip and love somebody else TOO MUCH? and the result would be disaster, chaos, tohu bohu on all sides.
Sick, sad, and stupid.
I wish they were kidding.
Why do some people think Christianity is about who we're entitled to hate rather than who we're required to love?
When calling someone "stupid", isn't it a good idea to look in the mirror first?
IOW, it's interesting that little unconditional love has been demonstrated here as well.
I don't think anyone here is hating on these folks, Anonymous. We're just scratching our heads at the disconnect between what they're saying and what the Gospels say. It's not about being "stupid"; it's about being [i]wrong[/i], and wrong about the pivotal point of Christian ethics. I don't understand how you can come away from the Gospels -- and from Paul's treatises on Christian ethics, for that matter -- with the idea that as a Christian you're entitled to hate, rather than being commanded to love. I know their translations aren't that different than the NRSV.;-)
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