Jesus was a Liberal

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I candidly do not think this is super productive discussion to have. It is dangerous to try to project anything from 2000 years ago - especially anything religious - onto our modern political context. The world we live in today is so different from the world of the New Testament that making any sort of comparison - or trying to glean biblical messages relevant to a world that may as well be an alien planet compared to Jesus' world - is a fools' errand.

With that said, it is certainly true that Jesus embodied and preached about many things that would get labeled "social justice" today by those who oppose such things.
 
I'm with rodo. I don't think it's a super productive or even super pertinent conversation to debate what Jesus's political leanings would be in today's environment. What I do think is super pertinent, is that the holy text of Christianity is very, very explicitly clear about how Jesus Christ Himself said that we should treat our neighbors, our enemies, the hungry, the sick, the needy, and the stranger/immigrant.
 
I would love to see an analysis of sermons preached in Evangelical churches based on whether they were based on the OT. the Gospels or the works of Paul. It would also be neat to see if they use snippets or complete passages.
 
Milk and Cookies said:
He was cool with slavery so which party wants to claim that position?
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As was everybody else in the world who wasn't a slave and even many of them. Slavery in ancient Hebrew custom was generally for seven years and had to be made permanent by agreement or something along those lines. Been so long since I read it, I don't remember exactly.

No famous man of virtue would be considered that if their lives were scrutinized my today's standards. That's good because that means future generations may grow enough that they don't put dickheads like Trump in charge. WE don't need to be breaking any arms to pat ourselves on the back.
 
In my opinion, this statement has two drawbacks: it is both untrue and ineffectual.

The latter drawback is more important. Calling Jesus a liberal will just turn off any conservative Christian, so I think it makes more sense to talk to them about what Jesus does in the synoptic gospels. Be sure to skip the magic shows and John in its entirety.
 
Jesus told a Canaanite woman that he was only sent to save 'the lost sheep of Israel', i.e., the Jews, and then said “it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs [Canaanites].” So Jesus was a bigot and MAGA to the core.
 
Bobfripp said:
Jesus told a Canaanite woman that he was only sent to save 'the lost sheep of Israel', i.e., the Jews, and then said “it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs [Canaanites].” So Jesus was a bigot and MAGA to the core.
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What's interesting about that verse is that she immediately claps back at him--in other words, the literary effect is to call her a bitch. h/t Amy-Jill Levine at Vanderbilt U.
 
breepf said:
What's interesting about that verse is that she immediately claps back at him--in other words, the literary effect is to call her a bitch. h/t Amy-Jill Levine at Vanderbilt U.
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The clap-back worked. Jesus was like 'Whoa, nice come back ... I'll heal your daughter pro gratis!"
 
finesse said:
As was everybody else in the world who wasn't a slave and even many of them. Slavery in ancient Hebrew custom was generally for seven years and had to be made permanent by agreement or something along those lines. Been so long since I read it, I don't remember exactly.

No famous man of virtue would be considered that if their lives were scrutinized my today's standards. That's good because that means future generations may grow enough that they don't put dickheads like Trump in charge. WE don't need to be breaking any arms to pat ourselves on the back.
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Only male hebrews had the possibility of release after 6 years. But if their master tricked them into taking a wife, then the only way for the slave to stay with his wife and children would be to pierce his ear and become his master's property forever. The wife and children would stay with the master too of course.

On the other hand, hebrew fathers could sell their daughters into slavery forever. Humans as property.
And non-hebrews who were forced into slavery were the same way. They become the property of their masters forever, to be passed down. They could be bought from foreigners, kidnapped, taken as slaves after war, etc.

These are the laws of Moses that Jesus said should be followed. I have better morality than that Jesus.
 
rodoheel said:
I candidly do not think this is super productive discussion to have. It is dangerous to try to project anything from 2000 years ago - especially anything religious - onto our modern political context. The world we live in today is so different from the world of the New Testament that making any sort of comparison - or trying to glean biblical messages relevant to a world that may as well be an alien planet compared to Jesus' world - is a fools' errand.

With that said, it is certainly true that Jesus embodied and preached about many things that would get labeled "social justice" today by those who oppose such things.
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Exactly.

I just wish those who use the Bible to support their bigotry would realize the facts you have started.
 
I believe Jesus was talking about personal attributes not government policy. My parents were new deal dems but lived very conservative lives. Very different things
 
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