Inversion
Isn't it amazing how Christianity tries to completely invert human nature? By nature, we, like other animals, are pleasure-seeking, pain-avoiding creatures. But Christianity's mould for the ideal human, created in imitation of founder, leader, and deity Jesus is the inverse: pain-seeking and pleasure-avoiding. Yet Christianity was revolutionary in that for the first time in monotheistic history, heaven was open to all. Eternal bliss was democratised and opened up for the masses - as long as they could complete the inversion, deny their animal past and instincts to gain a more-than-human future once past the veil of death. Sadly, most Christians can't achieve the inversion of the saints and bounce wildly between guilt and holiness. I couldn't manage it, despite trying quite hard when I was a moody teen. It was the mystery of sex that dragged me back into the world, I must confess.
Also, I wonder whether Christianity has a true claim to be monotheistic. The mainstream Christian doctrine of the Trinity argues that there is but one God, who has a mysterious triune nature, the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. There's more than a hint of pantheism there. Interestingly, Jesus was mysteriously absent between his precocious youth and his triumphant return to Jerusalem. Between 13 and 30, there are no stories recorded of his deeds. Many Buddhists and a few critical Christians have noted the parallels between Christianity and Buddhism. Christianity was a drastic shift away from the vengeful Jewish God of the Old Testament; this version of God was kindlier, more forgiving. Non-violence and compassion are hallmarks of Buddhism. And pantheism has a long history in India. Could it be that the missing years cover a pilgrimage to India? The BBC doco "Did Jesus Die?" argues persuasively that this is the case. The theory would explain a number of incongruities - the shift away from revenge and sacrifice in the Jewish era, the missing years, and the hint of Pantheism. The doco goes on to suggest that perhaps Jesus did not die on the cross, instead being smuggled out of his tomb and back to India.
From the doco site:
Isn't it amazing how Christianity tries to completely invert human nature? By nature, we, like other animals, are pleasure-seeking, pain-avoiding creatures. But Christianity's mould for the ideal human, created in imitation of founder, leader, and deity Jesus is the inverse: pain-seeking and pleasure-avoiding. Yet Christianity was revolutionary in that for the first time in monotheistic history, heaven was open to all. Eternal bliss was democratised and opened up for the masses - as long as they could complete the inversion, deny their animal past and instincts to gain a more-than-human future once past the veil of death. Sadly, most Christians can't achieve the inversion of the saints and bounce wildly between guilt and holiness. I couldn't manage it, despite trying quite hard when I was a moody teen. It was the mystery of sex that dragged me back into the world, I must confess.
Also, I wonder whether Christianity has a true claim to be monotheistic. The mainstream Christian doctrine of the Trinity argues that there is but one God, who has a mysterious triune nature, the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. There's more than a hint of pantheism there. Interestingly, Jesus was mysteriously absent between his precocious youth and his triumphant return to Jerusalem. Between 13 and 30, there are no stories recorded of his deeds. Many Buddhists and a few critical Christians have noted the parallels between Christianity and Buddhism. Christianity was a drastic shift away from the vengeful Jewish God of the Old Testament; this version of God was kindlier, more forgiving. Non-violence and compassion are hallmarks of Buddhism. And pantheism has a long history in India. Could it be that the missing years cover a pilgrimage to India? The BBC doco "Did Jesus Die?" argues persuasively that this is the case. The theory would explain a number of incongruities - the shift away from revenge and sacrifice in the Jewish era, the missing years, and the hint of Pantheism. The doco goes on to suggest that perhaps Jesus did not die on the cross, instead being smuggled out of his tomb and back to India.
From the doco site:
One of the most remarkable stories concerns the charismatic preacher Jus Asaf (Leader of the Healed) who arrived in Kashmir in around 30 AD. Just before he died at the age of 80, Jus Asaf claimed that he was in fact Jesus Christ and the programme shows his tomb, next to which are his carved footprints which bear the scars of crucifixion.
posted by Doug @ 9/12/2005 12:54:00 pm
<< Home