I am no stranger to the Christian religion. The minister in the church I attended growing up was a learned man who deserved the doctorate degree he held. His sermons were philosophical and erudite. I have studied religious doctrine. I have had intensely profound religious and spiritual experiences. I know the teachings that form the basis of the religion so it is with some authority that I can say much of what passes for Christianity today is a profane travesty.

Jesus Christ was a radical. His friends were poor and outcast. He taught tolerance and compassion. He was humble. He preached love and non-violence. He was not an addendum to the history of the Jewish people as recorded in the "Old Testament" but rather the founder of a new order. It was his message of love and hope-especially for the poor and oppressed-that created the religion.

The perversion of Christianity into a tool for war and tyranny is not new but it seems remarkable that in the 21st century we have moved further away from the heart of the Christian faith.

It does not take much reflection to know that a "Christian" god would not lead us to war, advocate the enslavement of children, place the acquisition of wealth above the welfare of living creatures or ignore the damage being done to the planet. Even the most cursory reading of the "New Testament" reveals the central teachings of love and peace so how is it that Christianity is now a celebration of both personal and political actions that are anathema to the philosophy of Jesus?

When I was growing up, I understood, because the adults around me understood, that it took effort-it took work-to be the best person one could be. The standards to which people aspired had to do with honesty and integrity, compassion and generosity. The standards were based in the fundamental teachings of Christ.

Ministers who preached hatred were shunned. And I never heard a minister support war or violence. Even as the State of Israel agitated for more American support for its wars of acquisition, the ministers I knew opposed war because of the teachings of their faith.

For many years now violent and corrupt men and women have dominated the Christian religion. Masquerading as preachers and teachers, these power hungry hate mongers have gathered around them the insecure, the miserly, the bullies and the masochists. They have mustered a mob of nasty people who need to feel self-righteous in their petty meanness. People who enjoy the suffering of others, smugly anticipate nightmarish "end times" and contribute to the pain in the world in small and large ways. That mob has elevated its priorities of violence, domination and greed to the pedestal of sacred.

The very actions that Jesus condemned are now cornerstones of Christian behavior.

Again, this is not new. Remember the Crusades. Remember slavery.

What I do not understand is why the true and genuine followers of Christ's path do not speak out against this horrible sacrilege.

Much is made of Christ's confrontation with the moneychangers and merchants in the temple in Jerusalem. It is often held up as a justification for violence. The story, however, which was about outrage not violence, demonstrates the need for Christians to insist that their religion adhere to its principles. It is a template for resistance to greed, hypocrisy and the victimization of the poor. It serves as a reminder that Jesus repudiated the actions and beliefs that govern many, perhaps most, of the Christian right.

As I grew up the elders who taught me about conscience, generosity, kindness and love were, one and all, Christians. Their faith was not an excuse for inaction or meanness but instead the standard against which all behavior was measured. Striving always to adhere to the principles that governed the actions of Christ, they taught not only kindness and forgiveness but also a stubborn refusal to bow down to the doctrines of greed, mendacity and tyranny. Their strength was derived from humility and a genuine concern for people. "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise," (Luke 6:31, King James Version) was the foundation of their code.

I know people who still adhere to the Christianity I knew growing up. Millions of Americans are dedicated to conscience and just action. Millions of Americans are grounded in the true teachings of their religion. But they are silent in the face of the abomination that has named itself "Christianity." They do not raise their voice as the world-the whole world-suffers at the hands of a country that uses the religion of peace to make war on children. It is past time for those people, including church leaders, to speak up and reclaim their religion and their faith. We cannot continue to live in a world in which the dogma of ignorance, superstition and violence is allowed to go unchecked even as the proponents of that dogma usurp the language of love. The imposters who claim to speak for Christianity must be exposed, not by people outside the Christian faith, but by those within.
(c) 2008 Victoria Stewart is the editor of Issues & Alibis magazine.


http://www.issuesandalibis.org/

So,what r u saying,exactly?

You can interpit it any way you wish.

It absolutely could not have been written better. : ) Wonderful! I know you just had to copy/paste, lol, but way to find an essay that hits the nail right on its hypocritical head.

yes it was verry well writen. a gem for sure

Good job, u know i whole-heartedly aggree, People like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell are the ones that the Relgious Right have pushed to the for-front and they have no idea what it truly means to be a christian. I to was raised in the non-denominational "christian" church and it totally turned me off, the hypocrisy is rampant and there belief that you should not think for yourself and be a blindless puppet made me wanna vomit.


In my eyes, Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell are both Terriorists and have and will do more damage to the country than Osama Bin Laden or any other "Islamic Extremeist" ever did or thought about doing!

Bravo Bravo

Can someone answer this question?

Who is the enemies of the Chrisians, (specifically the Evangelical Christians)and why ???

Can't display more hatred towards the majority of Christian Americans, or Christians in general throughout the world, than through that statement.

how do you figure that?..."Christianity", specifically the neo-con, politically active, evangelisism that is so predominant in the US is the antithisis of Christianity..

Madisonman, can you find a credible source for once? The site you used first of us is ridiculous, and you have used it again and again. And, I would love to see the credentials of this Victoria Stewart person.

Ernest Stewart, her husband:

Ernest Stewart a.k.a. Uncle Ernie is an unabashed radical, author, stand-up comic, DJ, actor, political pundit and for the last 7 years managing editor and publisher of Issues & Alibis magazine. In his spare time he is an actor, writer and an associate producer for the new motion picture "W."

Very credible stuff. The internet age, what filth has come out of the caves.

She does not say: "The very actions that Jesus condemned are now cornerstones of EVANGELICAL Christian behavior"

CORNERSTONE of CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR. She is saying all Christians, not just Evangelicals. And, do remember it is these Evangelicals who have donated the most in aid that had flooded all of the worse regions on Earth saving and providing medical, food, and all types of human service to them.

I do not agree with it all, certainly do not for I do not even support organized Christianity anymore, but to paint them all as evil people is completely ridiculous, to even paint a clear majority as well is completely ridiculous.

However, she did not even state that, she stated ALL Christians were the antithesis of Christianity.

Victoria Stewart is on her own Masquerading Crusade.

dont be such a hater

The athiests, agnostics, pagans, wiccans, panthiests, and on and on.

They hate Jesus Christ and the Lord God Almighty.

They prefer the spirit of satan.

oh for gawdsakes

This is sooooo not true at all. Only a person who does not know these other religions would spout this lie.

Hi Art I agree

I did not see any hatred there I saw a person who believes that the current hyped religions are not following Jesus teachings, I have heard that from some christians on this site also. I do not believe in christianity nor follow that closely the current trends so I cannot say it is not true.

Hi Dragoness