Would Jesus be a Republican?

[jansu]

http://www.jesusnorepublican.org/

Just found this site today and thought you might find some good things on it, also. After hearing so much about The Passion, I think it is time that we get a movie made about the true Jesus, what he taught, what he practiced and this is a good place to start. Do any of you know a Hollywood type who could get this started? We need to get the other message out, that Jesus was about the poor, the tired, the downtrodden, the yearning to be free, (sound like another place you use to know?) before the election! So many our saying, who saw this movie, "Thank God, that God placed George Bush in the President's office"! Interesting, that this movie was released at the same time that Bush started his election campaign. This movie is so many things, but one that I don't think has been addressed, is the Political aspects of it! It is a powerful "Vote Republican cause God is on our side" propaganda movie, that we have to answer it with truth about Jesus' life not just his death! This movie is made to make everyone feel guilty that this happened, because of us! Of course, it also happened to most criminals at that time!

We need to make a movie of the highest production values BEFORE the elections! Oh which shows that Jesus really was a liberal and practiced Democratic values!

[bif]

1. He'd be a socialist

n/t

[ixion]

2. yeah, I would imagine so

eom

[Screaming Lord Byron]

3. Seems pretty hard to refute that.

[E-Z Rider]

11. no way

As much as Jesus taught of the spiritual uselessness of possesing wealth, I can't imagine He'd support a government forcibly redistributing income, Robin-Hood stlye. He was all about people personally giving to the poor. When you *have* to "donate" under penalty of law, it kind of defeats the point.

As far as government goes, I could ony imagine He would be for a type that allowed the maximum freedom for its citizens. The responsibilty for Christians to do 'christian things' is up to each individual believer, not to the government or even the church.

peace

[bif]

15. So he'd be a Libertarian?

Hmmm...

[truizm]

35. Libertarian Socialist

[mistertrickster]

18. I heard once that the Jesus cult gained a lot of adherents early on

because "they held all things in common." In other words, they were communists--but EZ is right, it was purely voluntary.

In a world that had no insurance or health care, the Christian community with its mutual self-help was very attractive to the have-nots.

Too bad it's just another business today.

[Muddleoftheroad]

19. Not a business to most of us.

But you knew that, you just enjoyed the dig?

[Lindacooks]

20. Yes, religion is a business

I worked for a church while getting my degree. And the pastor said, every day, that this is a business. It needs to collect funds, control its members, balance a budget, get it's 'product' out in the public domain, and so forth.

[Dob Bole]

22. So religion is a business because.....

a church you worked for needed to balance its budget? Sorry, I don't buy the whole "I believe in God therefore the Opiate of the People makes me dole out money stupidly to blah, blah" line of thought. I'm an ex-atheist.

[Muddleoftheroad]

23. The pastor was wrong

Religion is about faith and belief. Churches need to be run like businesses because they handle money, hire staff, do building upkeep, etc.

Non-profits are not businesses either, but they must run like them.

[mistertrickster]

34. Heh, that WAS a dig, wasn't it . . . what I really meant was that a lot

of "religious" people seem to see it that way. Not that there are no sincere believers.

[Muddleoftheroad]

14. He'd be an independent

No party affiliations, just him.

[nannygoat]

4. My most favorite commentary on Jesus and the right-wing

Jesus wouldn't have a prayer among the far right
http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/012903/opi_aprayer.shtml

<snip>
The Trinity of Robertson, Falwell and Swaggart, the American Axis of Good, has been busy preaching to its flocks on the evils of the religion of Islam.

These scholars, who only a short time ago thought Muslim was a coarse weave fabric Jimmy encountered under his liaisons in the cheaper motels, are today world-renowned experts, with Falwell credited with inciting riots in India.

Falwell called Muhammad, the founder of Islam, "a terrorist ... a man of war," while another reverent man of God, noting that one of Muhammad's many wives was but 9 years old, labeled him a "demon-possessed pedophile."

That is hardly the worst that has been said, but it does highlight the Right's usual prurient preoccupation with sex and violence.

more...

[Pillowbiter]

5. Only if you cast Ethan from Survivor as Jesus

After he has been in the heat for a while.

Heck, after all, Jesus was jewish.

PB

[H2O Man]

6. if Jesus were alive today....

... Sean Hannity would be demanding he be crucified, and Fox would plan to cover the trial.

[enki23]

7. he's probably vote for nader

.

[Nikia]

8. No, Religious Right Republicans are Pharisees

I don't know how anyone who is familiar with the Gospels do not see the comparisions. They both claimed to be more holy than everyone else, they focused on legalistic ways to condemn people, they were hypocrites,they held legalism higher than love, and they were greedy for money and power. The Pharisees were the type of people that Jesus preached against. If his ministry was during the present, he's be preaching aginst the Reigious Right.

[salin]

10. plus... can't think Christ would be to comfortable with all the gopers...

hyping him to raise money, and merchandising his message to make money. I don't get the sense that those among the ranks of the politicized religious right would get the fact that Christ's anger at the money changers in the temple... suggests that Christ might not quite see his teachings as perfectly aligned with the social darwin form of capitalism that rushetal extol.

[GreenArrow]

25. that kind of thing,

that merchandising, etc. falls under the heading: "Taking the Lord's name in vain."

[salin]

30. with a little bit of

idolotry (of money) thrown in.

[pacifictiger]

13. Isn't it sad

that most "christians," except for the mother teresa's of the world, would not recognize Jesus if they fell over him: homeless and wandering from house to house on the streets, carrying no posessions, only love. They would imprison him as a filthy vagrant and blame him for protesting against war and corrupt politicians.

[salin]

27. I actually know a whole lot of folks

who work hard to try to carry out the social justice demonstrated by Christ... they just aren't the loud ones, the brassy ones, the self-righteous condeming ones, you know the ones who follow Pat Robertson/Dobson/Falwell right into Ashcroft and Bush's arms.

Many, many different stripes of Christians... just the politicized fundamentalists (who have grown in size and influence) who fit the bill you describe.

[MarianJack]

9. No way...

...would Jesus be a rethuglican!

[eissa]

12. How could He have been?

Long hair, sandals, questioned authority, spoke out against greed, mingled with criminals, the poor and the outcasts, was a pacifist, stood up against religious leaders, and firmly believed in the separation of church and state (give unto Caesar.....). Jesus wasn't exactly playing golf at the Jerusalem Country Club.

I think this is what angers me most about Mel's film (no, I don't want to hijack this thread with another Passion post!), BUT, I wish that in this day and age, a PG film about the REAL teachings of Jesus would have been made that highlighted his more "liberal" leanings.

[seabeyond]

16. the embracing the prostitute jesus

yes...........this is exactly what is need the jesus that says remove the bushel and shine our lite, our own christ conscious

[patricia92243]

17. Jesus was not political, but if he was, he'd be a Democrat

[La Lioness Priyanka]

26. i think he would stay out of politics

but be a socialist

[Cleita]

21. So remember the story about the miracle of the fish and loaves?

It was about sharing what you had with those who had none. What a commie idea. Nope I don't think Jesus was a Republican.

[Robroy]

24. I thought he was a capricorn..

and ate organic food.
He believed in love and peace and never wore no shoes
Long-haired beard and sandals
And a funky bunch of friends
Reckon they'd just nail him up
If he'd come down again....Thanks Kris.

[Mick Knox]

28. Doubtless .. DU would label him a fundie..

and he would be none to appreciated by many here.

[Generic Other]

29. jesus was a long haired radical socialist jew

Rather than asking whether he would be a Republican, one might better ask whether he would be ministering to the Palestinians.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

31. More likely than not he'd be a political prisoner just as he was in his

reported time on earth.

Given the circles he traveled in then, he would be framed under some flimsy premise in order to silence him given his reported reach and persuasion back then.

[YNGW]

32. He'd be the same today as he was then.

Apolitical.

[eissa]

33. Now that I think of it

He'd probably be imprisoned in Gitmo.