HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS

[helderheid]

Fundamentalist Christians send me hate mail. Religious zealots have banned my last book. Along with meditation, yoga, and sex for fun, the powers-that-be at the Vatican has declared astrology to be dangerous to your spiritual health.

All of these people would no doubt be shocked if they learned that Jesus Christ is one of the Main High Dudes in my pantheon of gods. They seem to believe that people like me -- goddess-worshiping tantric sufi Qabalist Buddhist pagans who hang around with zen trickster witches and espouse a socialist libertarian political philosophy -- couldn't possibly have an intimate relationship with the cosmic hero they claim to own. They must think they have commandeered the trademark to one of the sweetest avatars in history!

But I do have an intimate relationship with Jesus. How could I not? He was a champion of women's rights, a threat to the established political order, and a radical spiritual activist who worked outside religious institutions. The dude owned nothing and was a passionate advocate for the poor and underprivileged. He was uncompromisingly opposed to violence and war. Besides that, he was a master of love and he devoted his life to serving the Divine Intelligence. I want to be like him when I grow up!

"It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle," he allegedly said, "than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." That's a pretty clear statement of his position towards plutocratic accumulators of property and wealth.

"Love your enemies," he said, "do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." How any militarist promoting global arms sales and pre-emptive war could claim an affinity with Jesus is incomprehensible.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

-Rob Brezny

[L A Woman]

1. Oh yeah...

Amen! :-) Thanks for posting. Jesus rocks! :headbang:

[jefferson_dem]

2. Thank you for the wonderful post! I'm a huge fan of the Man.

Though not a Christian in the conventional sense, I am proud to say i love Jesus and what he stood - stands for.

Cheers!

[Kurovski]

3. "Heathens and the damned" for Jesus. Count me in.

Happy b-day JC, and merry Christmas.

[Erika]

4. I'm an atheist but if we all lived as Christ taught

this would be a far better world. W decimated Christ's Golden Rule and W is probably the most anti-Christ president we've ever known.

[buddysmellgood]

7. I find myself repeating this, but I really do find that some of the best christians I know are

atheists.

[Erika]

11. When an atheist dies they don't plan on eternal life

They know they only got a few dacades to do it right for their fellow man.

[L A Woman]

22. is that why Josef Stalin was such a great person?

there's something to be said for believing that there are ultimate consequences to your actions.

[RedCappedBandit]

31. Sorry..

that argument means nothing to me.

IMO, an athiest who behaves morally and helps others simply because he or she believes that is the right path is more respectable than a christian who does so out of fear.

[L A Woman]

36. The very fact that you would post in this thread...

disproves your point. You see a thread entitled, "Happy Birthday, Jesus" and you (and others) actually take the time to post that you don't believe in Jesus or that atheists are better people. Wouldn't a good person be respectful and leave the thread alone if they didn't believe the same thing???? on Christmas?????

And why would you assume that Christians are good people "out of fear?" Martin Luther King, Jr. was only a good person because of fear?

And where do atheists get their standards governing how to be good people? Is it innate? No, it sure isn't. Not killing other creatures is not built into our brains - you need only study ancient (atheistic) societies to see that. Our standards of behavior come directly through religious texts. PERIOD.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

41. Ancient societies were atheistic? You know absolutely nothing about history, don't you?

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

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[trotsky]

54. Wow, religious bigotry laid bare.

It's an ugly thing.

[beam me up scottie]

56. Not just bigotry, ignorance.

That post illustrates why it's so easy to buy into bigoted stereotypes when you know nothing at all about people who are different than you.

[NMMNG]

61. "Our standards of behavior come directly through religious texts. PERIOD."

You are so right. It is through religious texts that we learn how to sell our daughters into slavery, kill our children for disobeying their parents or teasing other adults, stone to death women who are not virgins on their wedding night, rape then take as prisoners women of neighboring villages (after killing off their men), beat women for being insubordinate to their husbands, take joy in dashing our babies to death on rocks and so much more. Isn't it wonderful that we have these texts to guide us away from being the horrid, immoral beasts we'd otherwise be? :sarcasm:

[donco6]

42. So Josef Stalin is equivalent to all atheists?

Oh brother.

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

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[L A Woman]

23. oh that's too bad...

you must not know many Christians. Most Atheists I know are young college students with little life experience and a strong desire to appear intellectually superior by challenging everything their parents believed, even though it takes no effort to believe in no God. Most Christians (or members of other religions) I know are thoughtful, intelligent, conscientious, optimistic, generous and enjoy life as a gift given to us by a higher being. But I hang out with people who are a lot more like MLK, Jr. than Fred Phelps. It's sad that most DUers can't tell a fake Christian from a real one.

[buddysmellgood]

24. I know plenty of people who don't believe in god but are very good people. They

live their lives in manner that matches the ethic of Christ. I also know plenty of people who claim to be Christians that are complete hypocrites. You do too.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

27. Atheists do good things not for future rewards

Atheists are considered to be morally superior to Christians.

Christians do good, expecting to be rewarded after death with eternal life in Heaven.

Atheists (and people in Eastern religions, and Jews) do good things on earth, because we don't know what's happening after death, and we only pass this way but once.

And because we are decent people and It's the RIGHT THING TO DO.

Read Lin Yutang's "The Importance of Living" for his discussion with a Taoist on this subject.

[RedCappedBandit]

33. So..

Most athiests you know are people who have little life experience, and you think you're able to pass judgement on athiesm in its entirety? I'm afraid it is you who must not know many athiests, not the other way around.

[donco6]

43. It would be a lot easier to tell them apart,

if today's "Christianity" didn't produce so many phonies in the first place. Don't blame us for not being able to tell them apart. That's YOUR problem.

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

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[Goblinmonger]

52. Aren't you the superior one.

I'm 40 and an atheist. Plenty of life experience. As is the case with many of the atheists in R/T. How about you stop using such hasty generalizations in your induction, you might get pull a muscle.

And if you think life as an atheist is all beer and skittles, open your eyes and get a grip. If you loudly proclaim your Christianity, the world give you warm fucking fuzzies. If I do the same, I would be better off saying I was the anti-christ (though many people will assume that is the case anyway).

Finally, I can recognize a "real" Christian. Didn't Jesus say not to judge others. Seems you aren't so "real" in your post.

[beam me up scottie]

57. "most atheists"? "fake" christians?

When christians use ignorant and bigoted stereotypes on DU that are exactly like the ones found on the freeper sites, there is no difference.

[Az]

5. Not sure he ever existed but enough people love the idea of him

So yeah... Happy B-Day Jesus. There are a lot of really good ideas attributed to you. If only more people learned them it would be a better world.

[buddysmellgood]

8. EXACTLY! Merry Christmas. It used to be synonymous with Peace on Earth, Joy to the World,

Love they neighbor, Whatsoever you do, turn the other cheek...Now what we hear associated with Christmas is War and hate, thanks to refreaklicans.

[Erika]

10. Republicans have signed on to hate and terror

"There is no peace on Earth, for hate is strong and mocks the song of Peace on Earth, Good will to Man"

The W creed. Hate...fear...hate...and more fear.

But the elitists and oilmen are happy.

[helderheid]

18. Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth? - Willie Nelson

Download the MP3

http://www.xmission.com/~njenson/poe.mp3

Willie wrote this song on Christmas, 2003, and will perform it for the first time at the Kucinich for President fundraising concert in Austin, Texas, on Jan. 3, 2004.

Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth? - Willie Nelson

There's so many things going on in the world
Babies dying
Mothers crying
How much oil is one human life worth
And what ever happened to peace on earth

We believe everything that they tell us
They're gonna' kill us
So we gotta' kill them first
But I remember a commandment
Thou shall not kill
How much is that soldier's life worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

So I guess it's just
Do unto others before they do it to you
Let's just kill em' all and let God sort em' out
Is this what God wants us to do

And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

Now you probably won't hear this on your radio
Probably not on your local TV
But if there's a time, and if you're ever so inclined
You can always hear it from me
How much is one picker's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

But don't confuse caring for weakness
You can't put that label on me
The truth is my weapon of mass protection
And I believe truth sets you free

And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

[Kurovski]

51. And what happened to Jesus' birthday party here?

Some of the guests are up there arguing.

No cake and ice cream for them! No, siree.:spank: :D

[Patchuli]

59. Thank you for mentioning that!

The thread was getting lost in bickering. Happy Birthday to Jesus was the subject. :party:

I care about everyone, no matter what their personal faith. I was commanded to. We also have every right to proclaim our faith, while respecting that of others. If someone doesn't like us to declare our beliefs, that's their problem and I wish them luck working through it.

[buddysmellgood]

6. I have a character that I think could become famous. He's called "Republican Jesus"

It will probably happen without me. It seems pretty obvious, but some brave soul will take a lot of shit for performing it.
The character is robed with long hair, but just a bit too neat. There are accessories that suggest a power tie. Republican Jesus gets up in front of the crowd to explain that "When I said 'It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.' I was stating the market opportunity. I was trying to emphasize the difficulty of threading needles. It's obvious that rich people will go to heaven! My example was meant to get you thinking about a better way to thread needles. It's a big problem for old people and those with poor manual dexterity!
Sheesh! I really did not plan my second coming to be all about clarification, but what's a divine savior going to do?
Ok, let's clear up a few other things.
Remember that time I vandalized all the merchants tables in the temple? Well, I was pissed and I'm sorry, but those merchants were very low rent. If you're going to sell in church, have a little class! We like glass cathedrals, tears, song and lots of cosmetics. A little theater goes a long way...faith healing, tongues, snakes... you know..Broadway!!!

[Erika]

9. You gave Jesus a chuckle just now! n/t

[renate]

16. that character would make it pretty obvious that Jesus wasn't a Republican

Almost everything about the current Republican party makes it obvious that Jesus wasn't a Republican.

Oh well... after 2000 years a guy's message is bound to get diluted a little.

[helderheid]

25. that is hilarious!!

[otherlander]

28. Haha.... nice.

I remember seeing a cartoon online once called "supply-side Jesus" but I don't know where it is.

[Kingshakabobo]

53. Ask and ye shall receive. Al Franken's "Supply Side Jesus" on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK7gI5lMB7M

[donco6]

58. Already done, dude . . .

[Contrite]

12. Happy Birthday, Mithras! n/t

[Patchuli]

13. Happy Birthday to my Messiah

and my lifesaver, Our Blessed Lord, Jesus. And if I offend anyone in saying so, you need to get over it! :-)

[Zhade]

44. Maybe he's YOUR lord, but he ain't everybody's.

It's incredibly offensive that you think you speak for everyone.

But I'll just "get over it". Nah, not really. You're arrogant, and you should get over THAT.

[Patchuli]

45. I speak for myself

and it's incredibly unbelievable that you think otherwise and need to be offensive about it.

Hope you had a nice whatever anyhow...

[bananas]

14. sex for fun?

That got my attention.
Merry Christmas, helderheid! Let's have sex for fun! Dressed as elves!

[helderheid]

19. I'm really short - wouldn't be a stretch!

:rofl:

[Bluebear]

15. HAPPY THE BIRTHDAY OF JESUS CHRIST THE GIRL

[tabasco]

17. Jesus was a progressive.

No doubt about that.

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS! You seem like you were a pretty cool dude.

Not like these money-worshipping fools who go around using your name.

[Mad_Dem_X]

20. Amen!

Even if those who don't consider themselves Christians (such as myself) can still appreciate the teachings and messages of Jesus.

Happy Birthday, JC!

[smoogatz]

21. Jesus was born in June, wasn't he?

Isn't that what the astronomers figured out, based on the star the shepherds saw? What we celebrate in late December is really the pre-christian Yuletide--a wonderful Pagan antidote to seasonal effective disorder and the dark days of the winter solstice--at least here in the northern hemisphere.

[johnaries]

48. Some say he was born on September 11th. Strange, huh?

http://members.cox.net/8thday/birth.html

I've seen arguments for him being born in Spring, Summer, and Fall. Pretty much anytime BUT December!

[ArmchairMeme]

26. A great idea whose time keeps coming back

I prefer to think of the idea of Jesus as one of spirituality rather than religion. A big edifice not needed, billions of $s not needed just good works of people, those that choose love and inclusiveness of people.

[philly_bob]

29. Happy b-day and thanks for the Golden Rule.

I don't think you were the first to enunciate the Golden Rule, Jesus. But by saying it, you cast your vote with a powerful bloc of religious leaders.


Wikipedia has a list (under "Ethic of Reciprocity"):

The ethic of reciprocity or "The Golden Rule" is a fundamental moral principle found in virtually all major religions and cultures, which simply means "treat others as you would like to be treated." It is arguably the most essential basis for the modern concept of human rights. Principal philosophers and religious figures have stated it in different ways:

* "Love your neighbor as yourself." — Moses (ca. 1525-1405 BCE) in the Torah, Leviticus 19:18
* "What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others." — Confucius (ca. 551–479 BCE)
* "It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly." - Epicurus (ca. 300 BCE)
* "What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man." — Hillel (ca. 50 BCE-10 CE)
* "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." — Jesus (ca. 5 BCE—33 CE) in the Gospels, Luke 6:31; Luke 10:27 (affirming of Moses)— Matthew 7:12
* "Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you." — Muhammad (c. 571 – 632 CE) in The Farewell Sermon.

[helderheid]

30. Kick for one cool dude.

[johnfunk]

32. Jesus the C gives great karma

... he was practically a Jewish Gandhi 2000 years before the fact. Let Pope Ratso XVI, "Doctor" James Dobson and Joel O$teen chew on that dharma for a while...

[tinfoilinfor2005]

34. Happy Birthday to my best friend, and Merry Christmas to you.

I thought I was the only one who prayed for my enemies every night. Not my favorite part of my evening prayer. But God loves every single person He has created, so we have to recognize and respect this. Thanks for your post!

[helderheid]

35. Christmas kick

[dogday]

37. Happy Birthday Jesus--Happy Birthday Dogday

I kind of share this holiday, cause my birthday is today....

[helderheid]

38. Happy Birthday to you!!

[dogday]

39. Thank you very much

What a Christmas I am having this year.... I am happy to be in my home with my family and that is all I need..... Hope your day is the best ever:toast: :bounce: :party:

[Hidden Stillness]

40. Many Ways to Truth

I agree with you that there is nothing wrong with your appreciation of Jesus and the further truth; the true nature of things is infinitely complex, infinite and eternal, and the best we can try to do is grasp it, and try to make it all coherent to ourselves: "For now we see though a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13:12.)

Many people have the truth, and true goodness, and it takes away nothing from any one of them, to appreciate and learn from them all; all we can do is search, and find--God unknown is beyond them all, and will teach us "face to face" someday: "There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification." (1 Corinthians 14:10.) The names we give things as we search, are not their true natures, but only what seems real to us from our perspective; a combination of "us" and "them." We can have understanding, but ultimate truth will come from God-we-cannot-name.

Also, to the hateful, arrogant atheist on this thread who told us how superior atheists are, and recommended Lin Yutang's "Importance of Living"--I love Lin Yutang, and my beloved late Mom did, too. Read Lin Yutang's later "From Pagan to Christian," and learn something.

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (1 Timothy 3:16.) This life on the Earth has significance beyond its appearance here.

[johnaries]

47. Ya gotta love Brezny. He's strange, but ya gotta love him. nt

[SmokingJacket]

55. He was probably born in the spring.

"Shepherds watched their flocks by night" -- they only watched their flocks at night when the sheep were lambing.

Church elders chose December 25 in order to compete with the Roman feast day Natalis Solis Invictus.

Though I don't disagree with your sentiment! ;)

[Dr Fate]

60. Jesus did the John Lennon thing 2000 years before- and did it much better...

...except John had better tunes.