The ideas of human rights we have... derived directly from the teachings of Jesus. And when I say we, I mean the world that pontificates about human rights.
"That higher standard was nailed to a cross by Romans who mocked (the so called) weakness" !!!
Beautifully stated !
You are correct when you said that : more people long for a higher standard - which I call it the inevitable evolution of the Human Spirit
For far too long they tried to keep the Human Spirit in a cage / locked in doctrines and stiff, dead laws .
I can sense that a change is coming... a change that will give us back the Freedom of the Human Spirit and ultimately make the World that was given to us by God (some may call it Universe) a beautiful and amazing place to live where LOVE and Respect are the fundamental laws that people will abide by (just as Jesus taught us) !
Mr Shaeffer, I’ll be sure to get this Tom Holland book, and learn a bit about Mary Beard!
Speaking to an agnostic who also wants to talk about Jesus; what you’ve said here has such a synergy with my take on ‘Love your enemies’ being both the most revolutionary demand in history and right now the most urgent advice for humanity, particularly for your country but also such as mine, Australia, which follows yours slavishly. Thank you so much.
Do drop this capacity to make factual, historical distinctions on the legal community -- lawyers and judges -- that suffers from the same inability to make fine -- and therefore just -- distinctions as the public. Without that capacity, judicial decisions are made using the same background -- grossly drawn, ahistorical, anti- factual, anti- evidentiary standards.
Can you put what you just said in a book? People in power and out of power need to be held to their (our) gross-overgeneraliz- ations that are harmful in fact.
For example, about the alleged lack of value of fidelity for both the individual and American society.... Would there even be any child sex slavery if there were widespread commitment to fidelity?
And about the rape of little boys by Alfred Kinsey and his continuing fame and fortune -- despite these felonies....
And the others. These need to be in a book. At the time of the writing of the U.S.Constitution, there were many pamphleteers communicating and debating among the Public of the 13 colonies, liberty, equality, the might as right of the British.
I’m sorry, Mr Schaeffer- you don’t really sound like an atheist to me 😉(unless I have no idea what your definition of atheism is-)🧐🤔
I believe you have retained many good things that your father and mother raised you with. (..”raise up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it…”). My prayer, 🙏🏻, since you still ask for and receive them, is that the God who made us all will surround you and your family with unconditional love. I PRAY you will be so caught up in that- there will be no denying the Supreme Being’s existence! AND why do you now still see the wisdom in Jesus’ words(?)🤔Anyway, blessings into you and thank you for being vulnerable enough to share your thoughts! Perhaps some who truly do question whether God exists or cares about them will be open to listening to you (and despite you) will believe in God! 😊. Peace be unto you, your family, and your community!🩷
Hi Frank, I've been following you from Norway for quite some time now and I really appreciate your substack posts - they are allways food for thoughts.
However, you might want to check out your assumptions on Islam!
Having lived with a muslim husband for 25 years I've learned a bit and read much more.
Islam is rooted in Judaism and Christianity, but like you they don't believe in Jesus literally being the son of God (Allah means God in arabic and is also used by arabic speaking Christians.)
Instead they consider Jesus (Issa in arabic) as the most important prophet to live before Mohammad PBUH and in many ways live closer to his teachings than many Christians.
Hospitality is a holy duty in Islam - you are responsible for your guest with your life - and having visited several muslim countries I can vouch for the unsurpassed hospitality and kindness you are met with as a guest.
All the old testament stories we all grew up on in Western christianity based societies are also told in Islam - with some very interesting and thoughtprovoking nuances in some of them🤔😺
After all, the Abrahamic religions are all based on the same foundation - they just branched out as different cultures evolved.
I wouldn't call myself an atheist but rather an agnostic.
My problem isn't peoples faith, my problem is religious institutions because historically they invariably become instruments for abuse of power.
Lastly, a word about dividing us by claiming one faith is of more value than another (or more correct etc.).
It was said by my very wise muslim mother-in-law after having talked about faith and prayer and such:
'I don't think it matters if you pray in one way or another as long as you have a good heart'
Like Mike Johnson living two lives. One as "follower of Christ" with his sex check with his son and Speaker Mike Johnson, taking all the garbage that comes his way to appease Donald Trump and other Trump loyalists no matter how against Christ's teachings they are. I have to wonder about the mental gymnastics he has to do in order to make peace with himself. Which to me speaks to the hypocrisy of this form of Christianity.
The man Jesus was a Buddhist trying hard to bring the great teaching to Jews. Constantine realized he could use his teaching to unite the Roman Empire. We got a bastardized Buddhist teaching called Christianity, which did lead to a great nation. All eventually fall.
Quite an evangelical message, even coming from an atheist, more evangelical than many so called “evangelicals”!
Wow! That was a deep dive. It almost left me breathless.
Love the nuances in your insightful argument about the uniqueness - that “stick of dynamite”, as you put it - of Western Civilization. 👍
Great stuff Frank!
Ooooooo this was so good! TY! ❤️
"That higher standard was nailed to a cross by Romans who mocked (the so called) weakness" !!!
Beautifully stated !
You are correct when you said that : more people long for a higher standard - which I call it the inevitable evolution of the Human Spirit
For far too long they tried to keep the Human Spirit in a cage / locked in doctrines and stiff, dead laws .
I can sense that a change is coming... a change that will give us back the Freedom of the Human Spirit and ultimately make the World that was given to us by God (some may call it Universe) a beautiful and amazing place to live where LOVE and Respect are the fundamental laws that people will abide by (just as Jesus taught us) !
Thank you for the message 🙏❤️
Thank you.
Mr Shaeffer, I’ll be sure to get this Tom Holland book, and learn a bit about Mary Beard!
Speaking to an agnostic who also wants to talk about Jesus; what you’ve said here has such a synergy with my take on ‘Love your enemies’ being both the most revolutionary demand in history and right now the most urgent advice for humanity, particularly for your country but also such as mine, Australia, which follows yours slavishly. Thank you so much.
Do drop this capacity to make factual, historical distinctions on the legal community -- lawyers and judges -- that suffers from the same inability to make fine -- and therefore just -- distinctions as the public. Without that capacity, judicial decisions are made using the same background -- grossly drawn, ahistorical, anti- factual, anti- evidentiary standards.
Can you put what you just said in a book? People in power and out of power need to be held to their (our) gross-overgeneraliz- ations that are harmful in fact.
For example, about the alleged lack of value of fidelity for both the individual and American society.... Would there even be any child sex slavery if there were widespread commitment to fidelity?
And about the rape of little boys by Alfred Kinsey and his continuing fame and fortune -- despite these felonies....
And the others. These need to be in a book. At the time of the writing of the U.S.Constitution, there were many pamphleteers communicating and debating among the Public of the 13 colonies, liberty, equality, the might as right of the British.
There is a great need.
I’m sorry, Mr Schaeffer- you don’t really sound like an atheist to me 😉(unless I have no idea what your definition of atheism is-)🧐🤔
I believe you have retained many good things that your father and mother raised you with. (..”raise up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it…”). My prayer, 🙏🏻, since you still ask for and receive them, is that the God who made us all will surround you and your family with unconditional love. I PRAY you will be so caught up in that- there will be no denying the Supreme Being’s existence! AND why do you now still see the wisdom in Jesus’ words(?)🤔Anyway, blessings into you and thank you for being vulnerable enough to share your thoughts! Perhaps some who truly do question whether God exists or cares about them will be open to listening to you (and despite you) will believe in God! 😊. Peace be unto you, your family, and your community!🩷
Hi Frank, I've been following you from Norway for quite some time now and I really appreciate your substack posts - they are allways food for thoughts.
However, you might want to check out your assumptions on Islam!
Having lived with a muslim husband for 25 years I've learned a bit and read much more.
Islam is rooted in Judaism and Christianity, but like you they don't believe in Jesus literally being the son of God (Allah means God in arabic and is also used by arabic speaking Christians.)
Instead they consider Jesus (Issa in arabic) as the most important prophet to live before Mohammad PBUH and in many ways live closer to his teachings than many Christians.
Hospitality is a holy duty in Islam - you are responsible for your guest with your life - and having visited several muslim countries I can vouch for the unsurpassed hospitality and kindness you are met with as a guest.
All the old testament stories we all grew up on in Western christianity based societies are also told in Islam - with some very interesting and thoughtprovoking nuances in some of them🤔😺
After all, the Abrahamic religions are all based on the same foundation - they just branched out as different cultures evolved.
I wouldn't call myself an atheist but rather an agnostic.
My problem isn't peoples faith, my problem is religious institutions because historically they invariably become instruments for abuse of power.
Lastly, a word about dividing us by claiming one faith is of more value than another (or more correct etc.).
It was said by my very wise muslim mother-in-law after having talked about faith and prayer and such:
'I don't think it matters if you pray in one way or another as long as you have a good heart'
😸☮️💕
Like Mike Johnson living two lives. One as "follower of Christ" with his sex check with his son and Speaker Mike Johnson, taking all the garbage that comes his way to appease Donald Trump and other Trump loyalists no matter how against Christ's teachings they are. I have to wonder about the mental gymnastics he has to do in order to make peace with himself. Which to me speaks to the hypocrisy of this form of Christianity.
The man Jesus was a Buddhist trying hard to bring the great teaching to Jews. Constantine realized he could use his teaching to unite the Roman Empire. We got a bastardized Buddhist teaching called Christianity, which did lead to a great nation. All eventually fall.
I thank you Frank! I’m also an atheist who loves Jesus. He’s the only hero I have. Who could disagree with his teachings.
It’s a beautiful legacy I appreciate it more than words could say.
Your ending challenge was both a surprise and unexpected sting. Have not cried like that for years.
Please find a completely different Understanding of the life & teaching of Saint Jesus of Galilee via these three references.
http://www.dabase.org/up-5-1.htm The Forgotten Spiritual Esotericism of Saint Jesus of Galilee
http://www.dabase.org/up-5-2.htm The Universal non-religious Teaching of Saint Jesus
http://www.dabase.org/up-6.htm The Spiritual Gospel of Saint Jesus Retold