There is much within Christianity that is noble and commendable. For example the instruction of Jesus that we should do unto others as we have them do unto us. Most of us believe in the Golden Rule and it is an excellent barometer of moral discipline. But Jesus was merely one of many who invoked it. He wasn't even the first. Confucius and Buddha both referenced it before him. There are other guidelines as to how to live with each other : The Seven Commandments and The Parables. But once again these are universal truths, not confined to one belief. They are a moral agenda for how we should all live our lives, not just the religious.
What is wrong is the way in which Christians attempt to monopolise this and create the false assumption that these fundamentals only apply to them or that they have insight the rest of us don't. It isn't the message itself that is wrong therefore, but the way in which it is being manipulated. Do I have to believe In God to know it is wrong to kill ? Or steal ? Or lie ? Of course not. The religious may be moral, but they don't have a monopoly on it. In actual fact the roots of morality lie not with religion at all, but with psychology. So as far as the positive aspects of Christianity are concerned, I have zero problem with. Just the belief that one can discover truth from a single source which is evidently wrong. Otherwise we would all be Christians.
It is too easy sometimes to emphasise the differences that exist between us. We have much more in common than we care to realise. But highlighting similarities isn't as exciting as referencing alternatives. And I am just as guilty as anyone in that respect. Let us remember that we all share one planet and should strive to get along as much as possible. After all when the Sun implodes in five billion years time and reduces Earth to atomic dust, will it really matter whether we believed in God or not ?
What is wrong is the way in which Christians attempt to monopolise this and create the false assumption that these fundamentals only apply to them or that they have insight the rest of us don't. It isn't the message itself that is wrong therefore, but the way in which it is being manipulated. Do I have to believe In God to know it is wrong to kill ? Or steal ? Or lie ? Of course not. The religious may be moral, but they don't have a monopoly on it. In actual fact the roots of morality lie not with religion at all, but with psychology. So as far as the positive aspects of Christianity are concerned, I have zero problem with. Just the belief that one can discover truth from a single source which is evidently wrong. Otherwise we would all be Christians.
It is too easy sometimes to emphasise the differences that exist between us. We have much more in common than we care to realise. But highlighting similarities isn't as exciting as referencing alternatives. And I am just as guilty as anyone in that respect. Let us remember that we all share one planet and should strive to get along as much as possible. After all when the Sun implodes in five billion years time and reduces Earth to atomic dust, will it really matter whether we believed in God or not ?
A MIND IS LIKE A PARACHUTE : IT DOES NOT WORK UNLESS IT IS OPEN