Was Jesus a Socialist?

[CC27]

Joanne98 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Sun Dec-26-10 08:48 AM
Original message
Was Jesus a Socialist?
   
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,

Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

--William Butler Yeats, The Second Coming, 1920

One of the techniques of successful propaganda is to repeat a statement over and over again until people believe it to be true, as any encounter with the media and the pulpit amply demonstrates. So, to transform the world into a sustainable and progressive place, we must deconstruct the underlying lies promulgated by the mouthpieces of plutocratic propaganda, by which they justify the current state of affairs.

Given the increasing gap between rich and poor, the sharp spike in religious fundamentalism, and the impunity with which corporate-controlled states seize resources to which they have no legitimate claim, one of our first priorities must be to disable the use of religious dogma to justify greed and war.

Since surveys indicate that three-quarters of Americans consider themselves to be Christians, let's begin there. <1>

It has become a tenet of faith for many Christians that they can simultaneously practice their religion and conduct economic affairs in their own self interest. Indeed, ever since the Protestant Reformation arose from the pressures of the Industrial Revolution, the pulpits of Christianity have been used to turn wealth (economic success) into an indication of favor from God.

Let's go back to the source of Christianity and see if such thinking holds up.

The statements attributed to Jesus on the subject of wealth are almost unanimously clear on this, for example:

"You cannot serve God and Mammon." <2> (Matthew 6:19-24)

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Was-Jesus-a-Socialist-...

I hate it when they quote the Bible.  

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x578192

[diesel driver]

Was Jesus a socialist?

Short answer:  No.

[Carl]

They hate and blaspheme God every day of the year,they detest Jesus and reach points of complete demonic rage at Christianity yet insist on cherry picking less then 10 verses out of the Bible to insist Christ was one of "them".

I have a feeling that for these things they will have a dear price to pay one day.

[Vagabond]

Yes, as Jesus clearly states, any wealth above what  one absolutely needs to exist is to be siezed by the state, skimmed by a dozen state beauracacies for their benefit, and given to "the poor" regardless of whether they could produce or not.  Perhaps I don't remember him saying that because he didn't.

I do remember Jesus saying somethong like, if you are able to work and don't, then you can starve.  DUmmies don't like that statement, even though none less than Lenin and Stalin said the same thing.

DUmmies don't like the notion that Jesus didn't much care for the middle man government.  He said that we are to undertake care of the poor ourselves.  Christian organizations do that.

[Randy]

They hate and blaspheme God every day of the year,they detest Jesus and reach points of complete demonic rage at Christianity yet insist on cherry picking less then 10 verses out of the Bible to insist Christ was one of "them".

I have a feeling that for these things they will have a dear price to pay one day.

Very very well put! +1

[AllosaursRus]

Yep, Jesus was a socialist! He wanted to tell us which oil lamp to use, what food to eat, what horse to buy, what mule to ride, what toys to put into the Happy Hanuka meals, etc, etc.......

You keep believin' that DUmbass!

[compaqxp]

It's quite obvious he would have been Socialist in at least someway, most people all. Was he completely Socialist? Definitely not. He would have been no more Socialist then the average person here.

[BlueStateSaint]

It's quite obvious he would have been Socialist in at least someway, most people all. Was he completely Socialist? Definitely not. He would have been no more Socialist then the average person here.

You're back to BSed.  How would He have been a Socialist?  You mean in how He said that you should give all of your wealth to the Romans so that they would give it to the poor Jews across Israel? . . .

[ChuckJ]

hobbit709 Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Sun Dec-26-10 08:54 AM
Response to Original message
2. Let's see now
   
Heal the sick-check
Feed the hungry-check
Chased the banksters out of the temple-check
Said to do more for the least among us-check

Sounds like one of those radicals to me.

Heal the sick-Jesus himself used his power to heal the sick. He did NOT go around stealing money from other people to heal the sick. In other words, not socialist.

Feed the hungry-Jesus used his power to feed the hungry. He did NOT go around stealing money from other people to feed the hungry. In other words, not socialist.

Chased the banksters out of the temple-Jesus chased the money changers from the temple because their activity was defiling the temple. He did NOT do it because they were making money. In other words, not socialist.

Said to do more for the least among us-Jesus did indeed expect us to help the less fortunate (notice I said "less fortunate" and not "those too lazy to work"). He did not however expect the government to steal from other people to help the less fortunate. In other words, not socialist.

[Airwolf]

I hope that for everytime someone says Jesus was a socialist that when he returns he gives them a litle extra to suffer for it by disparaging His Name and deeds and the manner in which He helped his fellow man.

[true_blood]

Jesus, a socialist?!?
Stupid running rampant on the DUmp.

[Freeper]

I tell you what liberals find me one Bible verse where we are commanded to petition the govt to take the wealth of others and redistribute them to the poor. Just one.
That's right, you can't because in every verse it says to dig into your own pocket and help those in need.

Do you really think Jesus would be impressed if you told him you supported legislation to feed the poor?
No, he would ask you what have you done to feed the poor using your own time and resources.
Simply saying that you support the govt feeding the poor does not count.
When you dig in your own pocket and use your last dollar to buy a hungry person a meal then Jesus just may be impressed.

It's just like that thread where that DUmmy woman was saying she supported all kinds of govt programs for poor people. So much so she ached. But, not one single mention of her reaching in her own pocket and helping anyone. Even if she cant afford to give money she could volunteer time in a soup kitchen or go pound nails with Jimmy Carter and build houses for the poor.

Liberals love to talk about how much they care yet they don't do a damn thing but bitch and moan that some rich guy won't get an extra 5% taken out of his check every month.
 

[Freeper]

It's quite obvious he would have been Socialist in at least someway, most people all. Was he completely Socialist? Definitely not. He would have been no more Socialist then the average person here.

When the socialists start preaching about reaching in your own pocket and helping people then you may have a point.

[true_blood]

It's quite obvious he would have been Socialist in at least someway, most people all. Was he completely Socialist? Definitely not. He would have been no more Socialist then the average person here.

You're dumb.
How would you know? You don't read the bible. You said you're an atheist, right? So, don't tell us he was even "a little bit" socialist.