NewLeb
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A common Christian talking point is that Christianity is uniquely different from Judaism and Islam in terms of how the second oldest Abrahamic faith approaches the political question.
“Render unto Ceaser.” Yes, these are the first famous words uttered by Jesus when answering the Jew’s questions about the poll tax. It is from this statement that Western democracies derive the notion of a separation between church and state, religion and politics.
Here’s why the Christian interpretation of what Jesus (allegedly) said is unsound and self-defeatist:
1. Since Western Europe and the rest of the Western political world doesn’t take into consideration what the Bible teaches, a lot of things that are allowed to promulgate in their societies act as very viruses for Christianity as a whole.
For example, ideas and lifestyles like Communism and homosexual marriage are allowed to be freely adopted, and publicly consumed. The result of all this is an ever-eroding landscape of Christian values, and the further alienation of Christianity as a relevant source of inspiration on all levels of civilization.
2. It acts as a corollary from our first point to declare that the outer reflection of a society that does not refer to Christian apologetics will exhibit behavior that is often the polar opposite of Christian teachings. For instance, one can blame the horrific actions of the past crusaders on the insistence of the West to separate Christianity from state affairs. Indeed, if the crusaders were referring to “love thy enemy,” they wouldn’t have murdered over 10,000 civilians in the conquest Jerusalem.
Indeed, this is why Christianity lacks rules for things like war, or rules for pretty much anything related to state affairs. Because Christians don’t follow the Law, their faith can be characterized as mostly a private affair; a “feel-good” religion that may add some structure to an individual’s life, but nevertheless fails to occupy every dimension of human affairs.
Yes, this is why Christianity lacks Islamic concepts like Adab. This is also why “Christian” societies, or individuals who claim to be ardent Christians, see no problem in lampooning and denigrating non-Christian spiritual figures (Charlie Hebdo springs to mind). The reason for this may be because Christianity is rooted in the acceptance of personalities (Jesus); rather than to the submission to concepts like Oneness.
This explains why personal conviction (“Jesus died on the cross for me”) seems to be more important than outward conduct. Such an approach however is not good in the long run, nor is it sustainable.
“Render unto Ceaser.” Yes, these are the first famous words uttered by Jesus when answering the Jew’s questions about the poll tax. It is from this statement that Western democracies derive the notion of a separation between church and state, religion and politics.
Here’s why the Christian interpretation of what Jesus (allegedly) said is unsound and self-defeatist:
1. Since Western Europe and the rest of the Western political world doesn’t take into consideration what the Bible teaches, a lot of things that are allowed to promulgate in their societies act as very viruses for Christianity as a whole.
For example, ideas and lifestyles like Communism and homosexual marriage are allowed to be freely adopted, and publicly consumed. The result of all this is an ever-eroding landscape of Christian values, and the further alienation of Christianity as a relevant source of inspiration on all levels of civilization.
2. It acts as a corollary from our first point to declare that the outer reflection of a society that does not refer to Christian apologetics will exhibit behavior that is often the polar opposite of Christian teachings. For instance, one can blame the horrific actions of the past crusaders on the insistence of the West to separate Christianity from state affairs. Indeed, if the crusaders were referring to “love thy enemy,” they wouldn’t have murdered over 10,000 civilians in the conquest Jerusalem.
Indeed, this is why Christianity lacks rules for things like war, or rules for pretty much anything related to state affairs. Because Christians don’t follow the Law, their faith can be characterized as mostly a private affair; a “feel-good” religion that may add some structure to an individual’s life, but nevertheless fails to occupy every dimension of human affairs.
Yes, this is why Christianity lacks Islamic concepts like Adab. This is also why “Christian” societies, or individuals who claim to be ardent Christians, see no problem in lampooning and denigrating non-Christian spiritual figures (Charlie Hebdo springs to mind). The reason for this may be because Christianity is rooted in the acceptance of personalities (Jesus); rather than to the submission to concepts like Oneness.
This explains why personal conviction (“Jesus died on the cross for me”) seems to be more important than outward conduct. Such an approach however is not good in the long run, nor is it sustainable.