Firstly, it's sounding that you are mixing the traditions of both, old & new testaments. Many people do, not realizing that the two represent different "theologies" for lack of a better term. Too, you are looking at "the Gospels" through tainted eyes; that is to say that the level of exposure most of us in the western world get when it comes to christian fanaticism has poisoned our views, causing us to put all the chicks in the same basket when such isn't accurate.
Yes, any theocratic society is fascist by nature; this is MAN doing what man does -- bastardizing the simple by inserting both, ego and personal/group agenda into the language of scripture or, as we've seen a lot in the past couple of decades, THE LAW... which, when you really break it all down, is to a large extent what the bible (both testaments) is all about...
(and this is a very big but) what 99.9% of all Christians fail to weigh is the number of non-Christians/non-Jews within the two aspects of scripture, "God" and his prophets praise and honor... everyone from the 3 Wise-men (Astrologers, no less) and the Good Samaritan to the mage's and priests of various mystical orders noted in the old testament as messengers -- mystics NOT part of "the faith" but more to the point, individuals and cultures "god" doesn't condemn. But there's more to weigh here... JC himself hung around and was best associated with the "dredges" of society; prostitutes, thieves, drunkards, even tax collectors and murderers as well as the poor... the very people today's church-goers would toss out on their ear without a second's thought. Sure, they are "charitable" but ALWAYS with strings attached -- Convert or Die! -- just ask any nation conquered in the name of Christianity... including most of the present day UK (HINT: Ireland never had snakes, there is no fossil record supporting said tale. However, they did have a sect of Druids known as Adders who used snakes as part of their crest and too, the beaded prayer "belt" they were known for... kind of like a Rosary)
When it comes to any religious ideology, we must always understand that the philosophy itself is typically neutral for the most part, it's what MEN (primarily) do with it that corrupts it. With the exception of Confucianism every major teachings known to humankind has suffered this indignity; the Confucian teachings offering one of the only real non-violent cultures in history with Buddhism coming in at a close second. We can't say that about ANY of the three Abrahamic traditions; all three have had their blood-flowing eras and each still retain strong dogmatic attitudes. When it comes to the big 3 the attitude has always been militaristic, but then this has always been the chief mode of eliciting converts... and yes, Judaism is just as guilty, a quick look at the various conquests and acts of genocide waged by the Jews in the Old Testament and it becomes apparent... they really have reaped what was sewn. But, it's even more obvious how the FRINGE aspects of Islam and Christianity rely not on the scriptures but an iron hand, when it comes to sustaining their prejudices and cult influence in the world. Statistics: Posted by Craig Browning — 25 Jul 2010, 22:12
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