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The Essence of Christianity

Intolerant and provocative articles have recently abused the Christians in an increasing number on the pages of IM UR Daily Magazine at im-ur.com.

The recent question by Qu1nce “Should the Christians kill gay people?” provoked the Christians to either kill the gays or admit to gross hypocrisy.

Qu1nce’s thesis was based on a quote from the Old Testament, whereas a group of learned men of the time wrote: the man who sleeps with a man like the man sleeps with the woman should be killed.

Qu1nce’s argument comes from the platform of monstrous ignorance that he/she prudently acknowledged in the debate that followed in IM UR. Qu1nce grossly over simplified the faith by fabricating a self-style cornerstone for Christians out of a short passage taken from a 3,000 year or older book written well before Christianity.

It is time to put the records right by a non-religious person.

Christianity is dated and originates from Jesus Christ, hence the term Christian.

Jesus Christ was a living person, not a myth. Documents of the Roman Empire referred to him as Jesus of Nazareth. Joseph Flavius, a Hebrew scribe taken from the land of Israelites to Rome as a slave, also referred to Jesus in his book The History of Jewish Wars.

Christ’s mission was to present the caring and forgiving face of God in contrast with the unforgiving, cruel and vengeful God of the Old Testament.

The Old Testament is a historical text written by the intellectual elite of the time, recording God’s manifestations as descriptively as they were able at the cultural level of their time. They also added moralistic, interpretative passages to their respective books. Since the writers of the Biblical Books represented the best morals and intellects of the time, the Old Testament is as good and faithful record of that time as it can be.

The Christians, in particular the Catholics of Apostles Paul and Peter, respect the Old Testament as a record and some teaching, but they do not live by it.

The Christians follow the teaching of Christ as recorded in the New Testament. It teaches tolerance, respect, forgiveness, it commands the custodians of any power to take good care of those in their charge. It teaches labouring, to be helpful and charitable, respect to the authority, to apply reasoned choice so that they shall not be to the detriment of others.

They are the fundamental principles of considerate, peaceful and prosperous coexistence.

Those, who breach the Christian norms, are sinners. Being a sinner is not a terminal state. The sinner can redeem him/herself, may make mends and may seek forgiveness. The Christian response is to forgive, to embrace and assist those seeking redemption.

Judgement calls for reasoning on Christian principles. For example, the one in need should ask, not to take. However, the one who takes in need because he/she asked, but was not given, is not necessarily a sinner. It may well be that the ones, who should have given but did not give; or the custodians of power did not apply good care of their charge. In such cases they may be in breach of Christian norms and, for this reason, they may be the sinners.

As for homosexuality, the practice is not natural. It contravenes the fundamental rule of Nature that, in response, deems the practitioner unfit. The Christian way of life fosters and promotes good health of body and mind, social cohesion and healthy propagation of life. Hence homosexuality is not a Christian alternative.

Homosexual Christian is a sinner. To redeem him/herself on the Christian platform he/she has to make efforts not to sin again. Under modern circumstances, facilities are available for the person to determine whether his/her unnatural sexual practice comes from lust for the unusual, social pressure, psychiatric conditions, or genetic defect. Once the cause is identified, it can be eliminated or remedied in most cases. He/she has to make what is needed to eliminate the causes, and efforts not to sin again.

In the Christian belief it is not God’s command to kill the sinner. God has forbidden killing. The Christian way is to seek redemption, make amend, forgive and embrace. “Go in peace and do not sin again” – the words of Christ.

[Agricola 2000, 25 May 2001]

Debate on The Essence of Christianity

Why should one couple find social sympathy whilst the other couple faces vilification

You say "Once the cause is identified, it can be eliminated or remedied in most cases."

IN MOST CASES: This statement begs the question: what of those cases that cannot be remedied? What scrap heap must they be relegated to?

I would also ask why happily homosexual individuals should be pressured to change, when the perception of abnormality is yours, not theirs. They do not ask you to change your lifestyle. Many heterosexual couples cannot produce offspring due to hormonal imbalances with which they are born. How do their marriages differ from those of a homosexual couple? And why should one couple find social sympathy & support whilst the other couple faces a constant barrage of vilification from those who consider them abnormal??

What happened to the much-vaunted Christian ethic of forgiveness and love for one's fellow man, and the tenet that judgement is the privilege of God alone??

In some native societies, such humans are considered as having been touched by God, and are revered and respected accordingly. Condemnation, it seems, is predominantly a "Christian" attitude!

I am very happily heterosexual. The parsimonious condemnation of other human beings for the snide observation of "difference" (for that, read "sinful" and/or "unacceptable") is anathema to me. Difference is precious to humans - without it there would be no creativity in any field of endeavour. Our world would be dull and grey. To condemn a person for any difference smacks of arrogance and perhaps even jealousy, that one can live happily outside the pale whilst others are confined within it by their prejudice.

[PB (who loves to set the cat among the pigeons!) 23 June 2001]

Nature passed its verdict with no place for appeal

The leading article is about the platform of Christianity. It is not judgemental. It states the fundamentals of Christianity, as found by an unbiased search for the truth independently from the official dogma and church hierarchy.

The Christian platform does not need to adopt the opportunistic views of interest groups, which float and scrap ideologies to suite self-interests of the moment. Christianity is an eternal and steady choice for seekers.

The concept of Christianity about reproductive practices coincides with and parallels the Nature. The natural purpose of sexual act is reproduction. Homosexual union does not produce offspring. The homosexuality is, therefore, unnatural. If it did lead to natural conception and birth, the practice would be natural, but it does not. At the highset level of judgement, the Nature has passed its verdict with no place for appeal.

Those choosing to be Christian are also bound to choose the norms of faith. Whether a Christian chooses to live in sin is his/her own choice together with bearing the consequences that flow on.

Indeed, the condemnation of sin and sinful practices is a Christian norm. It does not need defence.

The Christianity also commands compassion for those having physical or intellectual defect. Instead of condemnation, compassion is extended to humans with reproductive defects.

As for quitting the unnatural habit, psychology, psychiatry, medicine and genetics have diagnostic and remedial capacities. Whether seeking remedial help in an effort to function by the order of Nature, it is again an individual choice, and one has to live with his/her own choices and their consequences.

[Agricola 2000, 23 June 2001]

Contact: agricola2000@bigpond.com

Last revisited: 11 October, 2001