Compassionate Spirituality

[nailit]

If you were to become a 'spiritual seeker' (as I was, as a teenager, many moons ago) and you were looking in to religious and/or spiritual traditions and ideologies today, would the religious ambassadors on AB convince you that their own brand of belief was compassionate in any way?

(compassionate toward you, your fellow human beings, nature, the planet etc)

[jno]

AB evangelists of any sort have no effect on me (I'm not outraged at their effrontery as some seem to be). Quite a few ABers display a me-first approach with very limited compassion for others, but it doesn't seem to me to align with any particular belief, or lack of one.

[Theland]

Christianity IS compassion.

[Theland]

Don't get confused between religion and the teachings of Jesus. A big difference.

[mibn2cweus]

Compassion is compassion. Christianity is as Christianity does.

[Theland]

Jesus is compassion. Religion is a burden.

[nailit]

Jesus was not very compassionate at all. Gospel examples available upon request...

[Theland]

Yes please. Examples.

[naomi24]

When refusing to heal the daughter of a Canaanite.

//"I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." Jesus, Matthew 15:24//

How do you feel about not being one of the lost sheep of Israel, Theland?

Actually, I’ve always thought he was rather hurtful to his mum too. Kids! Who'd 'av 'em, eh? ;o)

[andy-hughes]

Theland - Throwing tax collectors out of the temple ring any bells?

[nailit]

Not forgetting Naomi, that jesus also compared her to a dog.
A few more examples of the 'compassionate' jesus for you Theland...
He refused to let a man go and bury his dead father (Matthew 8: 22).
He tell us that in order to be his disciple that we would have to hate our own families (Luke 14:26)
He drowned a herd of pigs (Matthew 8)
He cursed a fig tree in a fit of anger (mark 11) bizarrely because it wasn't bearing fruit OUT of season.
He tell us to forgive our enemies while condeming his own to an eternal torture chamber.
Would you like anymore examples Theland?

[Theland]

All a bit superfluous and take very much out of context. Now I wonder why the theologians over hundreds of years never thought of those?

[nailit]

// I wonder why the theologians over hundreds of years never thought of those?//
Because theologians don't 'think', they try and rationalise it away. And please feel free to put the above 'in context' and enlighten us.

[naomi24]

Theland, that's the second time in two days you've said that I've taken biblical text out of context. I haven't. Read it.

[nailit]

Christians always like to say that non-believers take things out of context but always fail to explain how killing, rape, murder, genocide etc (at the behest of a benevolent God) makes any sense in ANY kind of context.

[naomi24]

I always think of the story of Job. Poor, poor Job. What sort of mind would enter into such a wager? Only a twisted one.

[naomi24]

.... and then of course there's Abraham and the vile, sick, trick played on him ....

[vulcan42]

" Now I wonder why the theologians over hundreds of years never thought of those?"
They probably did Theland but like you they conveniently ignored them.

[andy-hughes]

I have pointed out many times during various debates, that human nature is the same the world over, and has been since mankind was sophisticated enough to think outside himself - which is when 'worship' came into existence, be it the moon, the sun, trees, God, whatever.

That human nature allows us to be comfortable with ourselves by simply not seeing truths that don't suit our view of the world. That is why Christians like Theland are able to pick out bits of scripture that support their view, and ignore bits that don't.

[jennyjoan]

Nailit - why don't give your head some peace and forget anything that resents tortuous to you. Walk each day calmly and serenely and stop over thinking on every subject of your life.

[Old_Geezer]

Aren't you puzzled about the old testament rather than the new ? I'm no expert but it seems to me the OT was more to do with manipulating primitive tribes to do what was beneficial to the tribe. The NT is more about love and everlasting existence and suchlike, and is more the basis of the Christian philosophy even if the bad stuff creeps in. Although many will point out anything can be used for manipulation and power grabbing.