Christians: Sirona's Palm Sunday rant

[Sirona]

Today its Palm Sunday and many Christian denominations probably expect their believers to mentally go through the Passion of Christ (at least Catholics do). Yesterday I got a magazine from a Christian human rights organization that I used to volunteer for as a translator. Looks like some 2000 years after Jesus' death, people still get abused, tortured or executed. I don’t see how lamenting over the death of Jesus can change anything about this. It may have a cathartic effect on those who may interpret their own problems as Jesus’ problems, but it doesn’t change a thing about the fact that this world is still filled with abuse of power and injustice.

Edit: I thought again about my motive for this post. It is incredibly difficult to get people interested in, for example, human rights activities (my personal interest). As a former Christian, I used to take the Passion story "for granted", but only from a distance did I realize what a cruel and saddening story it is. I think that an activity like living through the Passion has no meaning if you are not motivated to actually do something about bad things in the world in consequence. However, I think that many worshipers may not do this. Maybe I am completely wrong or I put the stake much too high, but I just think that a mental exercise like living through the Passion should be followed by real activities for improvement, otherwise I consider it useless torment. Convince me otherwise.

 

[Estro Felino]

I really thank you for starting this thread.

Exactly. It shocks me that Christianity is the first religion, and yet there is so much injustice, abuse, selfishness, after 2000 years.

Mensch, Prima. Vielen Dank

 

[RestlessSoul]

 

[RestlessSoul]

 

[DharmaCatLamp]

Today its Palm Sunday and many Christian denominations probably expect their believers to mentally go through the Passion of Christ (at least Catholics do). Yesterday I got a magazine from a Christian human rights organization that I used to volunteer for as a translator. Looks like some 2000 years after Jesus' death, people still get abused, tortured or executed. I don’t see how lamenting over the death of Jesus can change anything about this. It may have a cathartic effect on those who may interpret their own problems as Jesus’ problems, but it doesn’t change a thing about the fact that this world is still filled with abuse of power and injustice.

I think it's an interesting thing to witness. Heck when I came into work tonight I talked with one of the guys here who is a pastor. We were talking about a variety of topics but one thing that stuck out to me was when he said Christians in the united states were oppressed. I thought that was silly.

I think part of the problem is that Christianity is a religion which doesn't look highly on people in power. It's a religion which talks about oppression and how the wealthy are of this world.
John 15 verses 19-20 say
19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

Mathew 19:24 says
"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Both times that is Jesus speaking. So think about it, how can you square the circle and be one of Jesus's followers if you are also the most powerful religion in the world? When often you are the one who persecute and the ones who abuse? You lament Jesus's death and make it about you. You make it so that in your own mind you are persecuted and suffering all the time because if you pay attention you know these verses above often condemn you and the life you have lived.

That is at least part of the reason I think Christians are so obsessed with the passion and their own ideas about victim hood in relation to Palm Sunday.

 

[Sirona]

So think about it, how can you square the circle and be one of Jesus's followers if you are also the most powerful religion in the world? When often you are the one who persecute and the ones who abuse? You lament Jesus's death and make it about you. You make it so that in your own mind you are persecuted and suffering all the time because if you pay attention you know these verses above often condemn you and the life you have lived.

That's a very interesting viewpoint, I hadn't thought about that. Thanks for sharing.

 

[DharmaCatLamp]

View attachment 62028

I like this picture, thanks for sharing it!

 

[exchemist]

Today its Palm Sunday and many Christian denominations probably expect their believers to mentally go through the Passion of Christ (at least Catholics do). Yesterday I got a magazine from a Christian human rights organization that I used to volunteer for as a translator. Looks like some 2000 years after Jesus' death, people still get abused, tortured or executed. I don’t see how lamenting over the death of Jesus can change anything about this. It may have a cathartic effect on those who may interpret their own problems as Jesus’ problems, but it doesn’t change a thing about the fact that this world is still filled with abuse of power and injustice.

And a spanner is useless for frying eggs, too.

 

[DharmaCatLamp]

And a spanner is useless for frying eggs, too.

You know you say that but I bet you could at least try to flip an egg with a spanner if you wanted to lol

 

[Kenny]

Today its Palm Sunday and many Christian denominations probably expect their believers to mentally go through the Passion of Christ (at least Catholics do). Yesterday I got a magazine from a Christian human rights organization that I used to volunteer for as a translator. Looks like some 2000 years after Jesus' death, people still get abused, tortured or executed. I don’t see how lamenting over the death of Jesus can change anything about this. It may have a cathartic effect on those who may interpret their own problems as Jesus’ problems, but it doesn’t change a thing about the fact that this world is still filled with abuse of power and injustice.

Edit: I thought again about my motive for this post. It is incredibly difficult to get people interested in, for example, human rights activities (my personal interest). As a former Christian, I used to take the Passion story "for granted", but only from a distance did I realize what a cruel and saddening story it is. I think that an activity like living through the Passion has no meaning if you are not motivated to actually do something about bad things in the world in consequence. However, I think that many worshipers may not do this. Maybe I am completely wrong or I put the stake much too high, but I just think that a mental exercise like living through the Passion should be followed by real activities for improvement, otherwise I consider it useless torment. Convince me otherwise.

I'm really confused.

As a Christian, do I lament over the death of Christ or rejoice? (or maybe my interpretation of what you said is wrong?)

I wonder if there is some truth to "AMPC To the pure [in heart and conscience] all things are pure, but to the defiled and corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are defiled and polluted."

We see what we want to see?

 

[Rival]

***THREAD MOVED TO GENERAL RELIGIOUS DEBATES***​

 

[pearl]

It is incredibly difficult to get people interested in, for example, human rights activities (my personal interest). As a former Christian, I used to take the Passion story "for granted", but only from a distance did I realize what a cruel and saddening story it is. I think that an activity like living through the Passion has no meaning if you are not motivated to actually do something about bad things in the world in consequence.

The call for Christian action towards others Jesus stated in 'whatsoever you do....' Compassion is not mere sympathy for another, but a call to action for change. The Stations, for Catholics, is a meditation on the events of the Passion.

 

[pearl]

As a Christian, do I lament over the death of Christ or rejoice?

According the John's Gospel, both. Jesus' raising up on the cross is His moment of glory, the D/R for John is one event.