I consider myself a Christian simply because I identify with the Christian concept of God, because it's what I grew up with. I've always had problems with micro-examinations of God's word instead of people looking at the bigger picture.
It's inconceivable to me how people, even experts, can presume to decide what God's word or God's intentions are. Basically, the dissent started as soon as the first text post Jesus was written. What a mess !
It is obvious that the Bible is not used to illuminate God's wish, but to elevate RELIGION to god-like status. How can this contemporary web page writer still argue the difference between Judaism and Christianity ? It's like the difference between leather and vinyl. Or you can call it "naugahyde", but in the end it's still vinyl.
Except that these days, people will argue that vinyl is better than leather. Think of all the arguments, then think of the arguments about the various texts. God gave us leather, but did he deliberately inspire us to artificially create vinyl ?
Does it matter ?
The whole point of "grace" vs. "law" totally disregards what God was trying to say. Why did Jesus himself not produce any writing which might have answered all of mankind's questions ? Oh, we could speculate for days whether He was teaching us a lesson, whether He challenged is to think for ourselves, whether He created us with a purpose etc.
Religion gives people meaning. Religion is a HUMAN CONSTRUCT which is proven by religion itself in its myriad forms on our planet today. If there were one God and one word of God, then we'd all be on the same page.
Klaatu said that in our primitive existence, we need lots of war and conflict in order to form a perfect society on our own. Is that what God had in mind ?
We COULD all be on the same page if we just surrendered our ENDLESS VANITY, with each human thinking they are superior to the next human. I'm absolutely certain that's NOT what God had in mind. I'm absolutely certain that Jesus was trying to convey a very different message; one of peace and humility. But just like Henry VIII who started his own religion solely to allow him quick disposal of spouses past their expiration date, ALL religion has been formed with a purpose by mankind, and invariably, a selfish purpose.
That's not to say a selfish purpose can't be altruistic, but it takes truly devoted people to make it so, and that we regard as God's image - Buddha, the Dalai Lama, Jainism, the Amish..... and there is evident commonality among these. Unfortunately, the brash and the loud who seek to cloak themselves in the mantle of God will always claim the spotlight and sway the weak and morally bankrupt with promises of special privilege as in, this applies to others but doesn't apply to you because YOU are a true believer. The inherent contradiction in saying a true believer does not have to truly believe because of some miraculous dispensation is easily glossed over by those who want to believe that invoking the name of God to judge OTHER people is perfectly acceptable.
