We can respect people even if we don’t agree with their policies, viewpoints or personal preferences, as long as their values match our own. Any religion that builds paths of good intentions and love on my values of truth, tolerance, integrity, fairness, and justice, I can appreciate.
The foundation of major diverse religions are based on its various historic treasures and teachings. For example, for Christians, their bible of behavior is the actual Bible.
The Bible has beautiful psalms and quotes. I admit to often finding myself flummoxed, however, by the followers of the literal Bible. I stare with concern at the Bible in my hotel drawer…why this particular historic foundation and not another? What passage will be lifted out of context? I speed up my walking past the street corners where people with Bibles in hands hawk that we sinners can’t be saved because we are not on their path.
Enter Christmas, the socially accepted birthday of Jesus Christ, and season’s greetings.
There are many religious and social holidays during the winter season, and Christmas and New Year are mine. I love all things Christmas and cheerfully shout out both “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays” to folks, with thoughtfulness as to which holiday the folks are actually celebrating. I guess I could shout out “Goodwill and peace to all!” to everyone, as a kind of universal acknowledgement of the hope the season brings. To choose Christianity as a reason for one or the other, makes no sense, especially when you look at the Bible itself.
The original Bible, the Old Testament, was written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. It was written over 1,500 years ago by multiple men (no women), including kings, prophets and fishermen. The original version has been translated into 776 languages.
The New Testament introduces Jesus, who spoke Aramaic, and was written only in Greek. Thus, it is a Greek translation of what Jesus spoke in Aramaic. The New Testament has been translated into an additional 1,798 languages.
To read the original Bible for accurate teachings and intent, you would need some knowledge of Koine Greek and Biblical Hebrew.
In 1604, King James convened a meeting to address issues within the Church of England. He assigned over 50 scholars (men, no women) to translate the Bible into English. After 7 years, the scholars gathered their individual studied sections of the Bible to discuss their findings, and to agree to a consensus on the final translation. The culturally influential King James version of The New Testament was published in 1611. It is the preferred version of Protestant Christian churches.
“Christian” is interpreted as someone who follows the teaching of Jesus Christ. It is often neglected to note that Jesus was a Jew who regularly worshipped in Jewish synagogues. Jesus himself was not a Christian, as the Christianity movement is based on his last name and came after his death. His physical appearance is portrayed as a man similar to all the men in his time, background and geographic regions: olive skinned and with a beard. It is a regular phenomenon in the Christian faiths that his likenesses are often portrayed as white skinned and sometimes, blue-eyed. He was neither.
The Ten Commandments are incorrectly attributed to Jesus. They were not presented to Jesus, they were presented to Moses. Moses was a Hebrew prophet, leader, and lawgiver. Those who follow the Ten Commandments follow Moses. A follower of Moses is called an Israelite or Jew but historically a follower was also referred to as a Hebrew. What is directly attributed to Jesus are The Beatitudes.
Jesus delivered The Beatitudes during his Sermon on The Mount, and is the basis for the “Golden Rule” philosophy.
To be a true follower of Jesus and his teachings, i.e., a “Christian”, is to recognize him as a Jew who asked his followers to honor and live the Beatitudes.
The Beatitudes:
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- Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
- Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.
- Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
- Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
- Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
- Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
- Blessed are they that sufferpersecutiion for justice’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
There is often a stark contrast between those of today who label themselves a “Christian” and follow the Beatitudes, and those who label themselves as “Christian” and defy both the Beatitudes and The Commandments.
And Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ? In the 4th century, December 25 was chosen to celebrate Christmas. But there is no historical evidence that on this day of Christmas, Jesus Christ was born. Those declaring that Jesus needs to be brought back into Christmas are neglecting the fact that he was never there in the first place.
I hope you had a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday, and whoever you are and whatever your beliefs…follow the Beatitudes into the New Year.
May there be peace on earth, and goodwill to all.
St. John Journals 