The Problem with Christianity in a Nutshell

And Jesus, yes I do beleive he actually existed, was a zealot that was willing to die to make the prophecies come true with lots of rich help.

While I, for the most part, tend to agree with this article, having myself left organized religion, I also think the article overlooks some important things.

First, one of the important things about Christianity-as-religion as compared to Christianity-as-path is the aspect of Community. Jesus said "wherever two or more are gathered in my name...," he didn't say "with each individual." Christians are *supposed* to be trying to emulate Christ, and to follow his teachings. Ignoring that exhortation to commune with others of the faith is a very big break with what Jesus taught, and hard to justify within a Christian framework. Of course, this gathering does *not* need to be within a formal framework like a church (in fact, that is precisely what he was saying with the "two or more gather in my name" statement). But still, ignoring the very real function of community that Christianity-as-religion provides is a huge oversight.

Second, the problem is not with Christianity, it is with Christianity-as-religion, in general, and with the imperfect humans who practice it. There are a great many Christians who intentionally do *not* try to enforce rules or dictate actions. I sometime fail, but I try very hard to walk the line of stating what Jesus taught without telling others how they *must* or *should* act. I will state (as the author does here) that Jesus taught love, and that Jesus' guidance was to love others, even those with whom we disagree. But I don't tell people (or I try very hard not to) that if they chose to not love someone, then they aren't Christian, or that if they *are* Christian, then they *must* love this person or that person. But even in these failings (including my own), the problem isn't Christianity - it is with the imperfect humans who are trying to practice it. the author seems to be saying that because imperfect humans are imperfect, and because they are failing to follow Christ's teaching perfectly, therefore the teachings themselves are flawed.

And I can understand how an argument *could* be made that any rule which is created with the knowledge that everyone will break it it a flawed rule. I would even agree with that argument. Which is why many forms of Christianity-as-religion has a problem. Creating these as *rules* destines us all to fail. However, if Christ's teachings are viewed not as rules, but rather as aspirations, things become totally different. We are expected to fail at our aspirations. We are expected to fail again, and again, and again. But keep trying. And getting better, and closer to those goals. If the goal is unconditional love for all people at all times, we know we cannot achieve this. But we can sure as hell try. And when we fail, we acknowledge our failure, and resolve to do better next time. And when we fail again, we acknowledge our failure, again, and resolve to do *even better* next time. And so on and so on. And... there are some Christian sects who teach this very thing. They rely not on rules, but on aspirations, goals, and morals. They state what we should be *trying* to do, not what we *must* do.

As I said, I mostly agree with the author. I just believe he has oversimplified and/or overlooked important aspects of Christianity-as-religion and chosen to proclaim that *all* Christianity is bad, because of these oversimplifications and oversights.

The problem with the article is Jesus Christ is left out, Jesus sacrifice on the cross is what allows God into our hearts and opens us up to God and allows our failings to be over looked. Jesus is the embodiment of the love God has for us. The Bible says “ For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that who so ever believes in him should not parish”. The other problem I see with the author, apparently , is that he doesn’t want his life to become encumbered with actually living as a Christian. He reminds me of a fellow who meets the most attractive, intellectually stimulating vibrant person he has ever met who is deeply in love with him and he demonstrates zero love or caring about her commitment to him, you want to shake him into his senses at what he is throwing away. Christianity is about finding and responding to what God wants you to do. This has manifested itself in remarkable ways. Saint Judes Children’s Hospital coming out of a promise Danny Thomas made to God. A fellow watching over his neighbor, a medical missionary caring for EBOLA patients, some guy coming up with a cheap, portable water well drilling system to provide clean water to third world countries etc etc etc. Nobody demanded, excoriated, etc people like Mother Theresa to care for the untouchables of India. Many times there are back stories involved in people who become recognized for the things they do that are humbling. A good father or faithful mother as in the case of Ben Carson, a kind neighbor etc. Read the Bible and do something.