USA Midterms....
- Thread starter Fab Foodie
- Start date
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BoldonLad
Old man on a bike. Not a member of a clique.
- Location
- South Tyneside
Is there ANY religion which embraces socialism? I can’t think of one, but, as a non-believer, I am not exactly an expert on religion.
bobzmyunkle
Über Member
Some of these folks might have crossed the line. Not an expert myself.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_theology
All uphill
Senior Member
Thanks for that.
Frank Zappa comes across (to me) as normal and the other guys seem like something unpleasant from a previous age - oh so sure of their positions and power.
All uphill
Senior Member
I'm a non believer but I'd say the message of Jesus was pretty socialist - looking after the poor and vulnerable, for example. His attitude to women was pretty positive too.
Of course the organised churches took that message and used it to hoard wealth and power, controlling the lives of millions.
BoldonLad
Old man on a bike. Not a member of a clique.
- Location
- South Tyneside
Wouldn’t disagree with that, but, not sure I believe all the Jesus stuff, as we are presented with it.
AndyRM
Elder Goth
This.
C R
Guru
The polish pope was not happy with them, though.
ebikeerwidnes
Senior Member
Yes - but a lot of the "gospels" were totally destroyed - probably
the Church seems to work more on the basis of the works of Paul rather than Jesus in terms of organisation and worship
apparently there were a lot of more left wing "Books" - I think the Gnostic versions of Christianity used them
but they were deemed heretical
I do wonder if any ancient version of "unknown" books are lying deep in the depth of the Vatican library
ebikeerwidnes
Senior Member
In terms of left wing stuff
I have come across quite a few Church people that are very left wing - but at the low levels in the hierarchy - to get higher you seem to have to do more of the other stuff
for example - we used to go on holiday in the very South of Ireland when I was a kid
we did a lot of fishing and caught far more than we could use - the rest was dumped on the pier in old bags and left
at some point a local would appear a vehicel and take it to the local church where the Priest organised it ll to be preserved and kept in the cellars
Then over the winter he would distribute ti to the needy - apparently with no regard to their visits to the Church or anything - just based on need
kinda like a Foodbank
He was very well thought of
and there are others
but then there are some Priest - well you know the rest
I think it happens in a lot of religions - to get to the top it is difficult - or nearly impossible - to stick to the message of the founder
anyway - enough woffle
I have come across quite a few Church people that are very left wing - but at the low levels in the hierarchy - to get higher you seem to have to do more of the other stuff
for example - we used to go on holiday in the very South of Ireland when I was a kid
we did a lot of fishing and caught far more than we could use - the rest was dumped on the pier in old bags and left
at some point a local would appear a vehicel and take it to the local church where the Priest organised it ll to be preserved and kept in the cellars
Then over the winter he would distribute ti to the needy - apparently with no regard to their visits to the Church or anything - just based on need
kinda like a Foodbank
He was very well thought of
and there are others
but then there are some Priest - well you know the rest
I think it happens in a lot of religions - to get to the top it is difficult - or nearly impossible - to stick to the message of the founder
anyway - enough woffle
AuroraSaab
Pharaoh
It seems to be human nature that when movements make the move from small scale endeavours into large scale long term enterprises the opportunity for personal power and wealth proves too hard to resist. It applies to practically every religion and every political movement, regardless of the original good intentions.
winjim
Welcome yourself into the new modern crisis
So...
AndyRM
Elder Goth
Jainism and Buddhism come close.
icowden
Shaman
Probably because the Dharmic religions are more about self-improvement and self management than coercive control.
It's the Abrahamic religions that tend to be the problem as they essentially take a simple doctrine and then use that to coercively control a group of people. It's entirely based around "do this or bad things will happen to you" - a position that you won't find in Jesus's teachings.
The Dharmic religions don't require you to join in or believe in anything. It's about you yourself finding ways to be at peace with yourself. You can come and go as you please.
Abrahamic religions require that you are a believer in whichever one true religion you believe in and destroy anyone who isn't in your religion and / or cannot be converted to it. It's not about belief, it's about control.
All uphill
Senior Member
Great post.
Reminds me of Sunday School - being told about gentle Jesus, meek and mild. He seemed pretty cool, until I approached confirmation and was told of all the (enjoyable) things I mustn't do, and told about all the old men in gowns I had to respect. Psshaww!