Having grown up in a Bavarian village, I learnt a lot about the ideas and values of Christianity. I read the bible many times so far, the old and new testament. While I felt God as described in the old testament was revengeful, unforgiving and angry, I liked most of what Jesus had to say. Looking in vain to find the original, beautiful principals of “Christianity” in today’s American society and its’ “Christian Movement” left me totally dumbfounded.
Jesus repeatedly encouraged forgiveness. He told the prostitute to “walk free and sin no more” after having defended her against an angry mob that intended to stone her. He said “who is without sin throw the first stone”. America today is the only remaining Western “First World Country” that still allows the death penalty. This I cannot understand.
Jesus is reported saying that heaven belongs to the poor – and that a camel would rather fit through the hole of a needle than a rich person could enter paradise – yet, all prominent Christian preachers in America are multi-millionaires and often charge dearly for their services. The very goal of the American dream, as simplified by 50 Cents in “Get Rich or Die Trying” is in total, direct contradiction with Jesus’ teachings. So, how can a country be Christian and believe in robber baron capitalism at the same time?
Jesus is reported to sleep with his “favorite disciple by his chest” and having “kissed various other male disciples in love”. Nowhere in the bible I found statements against gay or lesbian relationships. Still, the Christian church condemns them. Why? On what basis?
The obvious one: warfare. Jesus teaches love and encourages us to hold out the other cheek to the one who strikes us. Yet, the Christian America has started most wars in recent history and has killed over 30 million humans world wide – more people than have been killed in all of World War II.
If people call themselves “Christians”, I would expect them to at least read the bible and become aware in how many ways their daily life stands in direct contradiction to Jesus’ words. Just as Jesus was a rebel in his time, persecuted by the Roman government and its’ authorities, maybe its time some brave individuals follow the original text, despite the fashionable Capitalist version of Christianity.