It depends on how one defines Christians, by word or by deed. Jesus was a Jew who taught certain values, upon which Western civil law is based. Fervor directed in a civil way is not destructive. Irrational fervor can become a frenzied killing spree. I seem always to come back to human fear of death, or even of being ignored, and our need for validation, everyones need to justify their existence. Every time I bring up over-population, the human need to procreate overwhelms rational thought, but it seems to me that our biggest dilemma is a fight for a place in the world, not heaven.
But wait, I was taught that our laws were based on the Greeks and Romans, with a bit of help from the original people's covenants, the very ones the "pilgrims" massacred. I'm embarrassed to say that I can't remember the exact tribe at this moment, even though it was mentioned.
I think the whole "we owe our nation's laws (ie values) to Christianity" is a dangerous simplification.
Many of our greatest founding fathers rejected the Judeo-Christian-Muslim tradition in favor of agnosticism or deism, largely because of the history of war and oppression associated with Christianity in their own motherland.
Seems to me Christian numbers are decreasing, but their fervor might be increasing?
It depends on how one defines Christians, by word or by deed. Jesus was a Jew who taught certain values, upon which Western civil law is based. Fervor directed in a civil way is not destructive. Irrational fervor can become a frenzied killing spree. I seem always to come back to human fear of death, or even of being ignored, and our need for validation, everyones need to justify their existence. Every time I bring up over-population, the human need to procreate overwhelms rational thought, but it seems to me that our biggest dilemma is a fight for a place in the world, not heaven.
Yup, irrational fervor
But wait, I was taught that our laws were based on the Greeks and Romans, with a bit of help from the original people's covenants, the very ones the "pilgrims" massacred. I'm embarrassed to say that I can't remember the exact tribe at this moment, even though it was mentioned.
I think the whole "we owe our nation's laws (ie values) to Christianity" is a dangerous simplification.
Many of our greatest founding fathers rejected the Judeo-Christian-Muslim tradition in favor of agnosticism or deism, largely because of the history of war and oppression associated with Christianity in their own motherland.
Yes itтАЩs an everyday fight.