FROM THE FILES: 3/28/05 How Christian are You?:
Whatever else those of us who criticize the religious right can say, it cannot be said, that they never read the bible. Admittedly, it tends to be the same select non threatening passages which bring comfort and a feeling of self righteousness to their souls. But, they along with most others, are familiar enough with Christ to know his position on many things. So here is my test for how Christian you are, regardless of which Christian sect with which you identify.
All questions are true or false:
If Jesus were the President he would have chosen to drop the 28,000 bombs on Iraq to accomplish any one of the many changing reasons for why it was done.
If Jesus were President he would elect to spend more per capita on military matters than all the other major military powers combined.
If Jesus were President he would react to the growing economic distance between the rich and the poor in this country, higher than any other Western advanced society, by giving more tax breaks to the affluent.
If Jesus were President he would not pose religious duty in terms of personal responsibility, but instead work to have government pass religious laws, a sort of religion by government decree.
If Jesus were President he would lead the way in taking ghetto youths who sell pot and put them in jail for mandatory decade sentences.
If Jesus were President he would find no problem with tax money to educate some children double or triple that to educate other children.
If Jesus were President he would encourage his followers to isolate themselves from the poor, to circle the wagons, send their kids to private schools, and in general keep all contact with non believers, the poor, and the different to an absolute minimum.
If Jesus were President we would have bigger, more elaborate and expensive cathedrals across the land, with gilded altars, stylish garments, glittering head gear, and elaborate ceremonies.
If Jesus were President he would advise those fortunate enough to amass excess wealth to give it to the poor and needy when they die instead of to their offspring.
If Jesus were President he would eliminate all taxes on wealth passed on to family members at time of their death, for excess wealth, accumulated legally, is theirs to keep within the family, not return to the society from which it was extracted.
If Jesus were President he would not favor international courts to decide international disputes, but declare that this country, God's chosen people, has the right and obligation to use military might, if necessary, to decide international disputes in our favor. This country has a special and unique place in God's heart. We cannot fail because God will bless America and God has given America a 'manifest destiny'.
If Jesus were President he would oppose having the minimum wage, like social security and most pensions, from being automatically adjusted based on cost of living changes.
If Jesus were President he would oppose having the richest country in the world providing health insurance to all it's citizens, respecting the rights of those who do not wish to have their hard earned money being used to pay medical benefits for those less fortunate than themselves. Health care is not a right and certainly not a duty of society.
If Jesus were President he would oppose the expenditure of large amounts of tax dollars to provide inexpensive mass transit for the poor. They should, like everyone else, pay for their own mass transit costs. $2 or $3 per ride on a bus or subway is just fine. As a bonus it ensures they can't go too far too often. Based on the minimum wage back in the 50's and the cost of a subway ride in the 50's, today's subway ride should cost about $1.00. Tough. Of course back in those days we didn't spend 10 times more on military matters than any other country. Something has to give.
If Jesus were President he would declare past laws, on the torture of prisoners, obsolete or I guess the term the Bush Attorney General used, was 'quaint', out of date.
If Jesus were President he would dismiss the idea of responsible reproduction and declare the choice to have as many children as you please, at least a right, if not a duty. "Go", Jesus would say, "and multiply and have dominion over all the creations of this earth, obliterate them if they take up space needed by ever increasing number of humans"
Jesus would say that sex and reproduction are one and the same process and one without the other is an aberration of God's intent. Birth control is a sin. Sex for pleasure is even worse.
Jesus would say that Church leaders should have college degrees, or be of a certain sex, or abstain from sex, have no job except be a church leader, live in parishes, and spend 90 or more percent of their time with ceremonies, rituals, organizing and attending church functions, organizing and attending meetings, maintaining church buildings, public appearances to bless this and that, etc. After all this how can there be so many sexual deviates among the stricter of religious sects, Protestant or Catholic? Am I the only one who begins to wonder, about those who project themselves loudly about their purity, how long before we find they are finding some sort of kinky outlet for their pureness? Am i imagining things or does it just seem there are more kids being sexually molested by clergy than any other profession?
Would Jesus agree that God did indeed help Reggie White, Isaac Bruce, and Terrell Owens win football games?
Would Jesus tear up international treaties because they required economic hardship, despite the legitimacy of their goals?
Would Jesus, as President, appear hundreds and hundreds of times before wealthy, business, and religious groups and virtually never appear at gatherings of groups representing the poor, the different, and ethnic minorities? Jesus may have spent most of his time among the poor, the different, etc., but Bush and most of us have risen above that sort of thing.
Would Jesus as President choose as his Vice-President some one who amassed all their millions of great wealth by steering government contracts to select corporations? In Illinois we have been putting such talented gents in jail.
Would Jesus really say some living human cells constitutes a person? Would Jesus really say it is God's will that a person be kept alive or suffer so long as there is human technology to keep at least some of their cells functional? Or would Jesus say that God has blessed humans with the capacity to control their own dying process according to their own unique situation and emotional differences?
Would Jesus be a flag waver or flag burner or just ignore flags?
Would Jesus really condemn love between two people depending on social status, economic status, racial status, gender status, religious affiliation, or the kind of sex involved? Who goes to heaven----those who really are highly sexually charged, or those who have little interest in sex?
Would Jesus preach violence begets violence or use violence as a means to make the world a better place to live?
Would Jesus reject violence as a means of defense if a person or nation is actually attacked? If persons of a particular group (racial or political or religious) attack you, is it legitimate to then attack others in the same group or only those who attacked you?
Would Jesus say those blessed with wealth and health are obligated to be the brother's keeper for the less fortunate? Would that include blacks in DeFar, ghetto kids who sell recreational drugs for profit, affluent kids who use recreational drugs for pleasure (or relief)? the educational opportunities of ghetto kids? the health care of all?
Am tiring of this now. Don't bother to add your points up. Unless there is a huge curve on this exam I guess most of us are heading to hell. I have an advantage. God may declare me too off the wall, too outside the box, and maybe too difficult to fit in anywhere. I am hoping for a sentence delay.
