Wirt Atmar wrote:
> Larry asks:
>
>
>>The question then is what is 'true' Christianity?
>
>
> The kind of Christianity I learned as a child emphasized hope, tolerance,
> faith, love and charity above all else, charity being the greatest of these. If
> these values are to be held dear, then some form of communal life is mandated
> by the faith. Unfortunately, I see almost no evidence of the expression of
> these ideals in the current Christian leaders who pound pulpits on television,
> defend the flag with manufactured hatreds, rail against the sins of others and
> all the while plead for more money.
>
> As for a core definition of the moral philosophy implicit to Christianity,
> I'm perfectly pleased to let Paul speak for me:
>
> =======================================
>
> 1 Corinthians, chapter 13
>
> "1": Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not
> charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
>
> "2": And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries,
> and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove
> mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
>
> "3": And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my
> body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
>
> "4": Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity
> vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
>
> "5": Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily
> provoked, thinketh no evil;
>
> "6": Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
>
> "7": Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth
> all things.
>
> "8": Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;
> whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it
> shall vanish away.
>
> "9": For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
>
> "10": But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part
> shall be done away.
>
> "11": When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I
> thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
>
> "12": For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I
> know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
>
> "13": And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of
> these is charity.
>
> ========================================
>
> Wirt Atmar
>
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>

Absolutely! But consider that the same person (Jesus) that inspired Paul
to write this also gave this vision to John in Revelation 19

11   And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat
upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth
judge and make war.

  (What?! God actually makes *war* on his creatures?!)

12   His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns;
and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13   And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is
called The Word of God.
14   And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses,
clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

(Hmm, heaven has armies)

15   And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should
smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he
treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16   And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF
KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
17   And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud
voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and
gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18   That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and
the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit
on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

(Sounds very horrific)

19   And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies,
gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and
against his army.


(Hmm, seems that God is not entirely opposed to war. I think we mirror
his attitude, it is a last, but still viable, resort)

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