The Apostle Paul wrote, in Ephesians: "Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you."
Thomas Aquinas wrote: "Religious perfection consists chiefly in the imitation of Christ."
Then there's the 15th century best-seller "The Imitation of Christ," by Thomas à Kempis.
Of course, I'm not saying Trump has been living up to this standard. I am only questioning those who seem to be saying that there is something blasphemous about equating a human being to Jesus Christ. The standard seems too high, and yet it has been tradition in Christianity to speak in terms of that standard. The name "Christian" contains the thought that we are called to be Christlike.
Here's a good C.S. Lewis passage, speaking of Christians as "little Christs":
“It is easy to think that the Church has a lot of different objects—education, building, missions, holding services. Just as it is easy to think the State has a lot of different objects—military, political, economic, and what not. But in a way things are much simpler than that. The State exists simply to promote and to protect the ordinary happiness of human beings in this life. A husband and wife chatting over a fire, a couple of friends having a game of darts in a pub, a man reading a book in his own room or digging in his own garden—that is what the State is there for. And unless they are helping to increase and prolong and protect such moments, all the laws, parliaments, armies, courts, police, economics, etc., are simply a waste of time. In the same way the Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time.”
પોસ્ટ્સ
78 ટિપ્પણીઓ:
Yes we're taught to imitate Christ, but as soon as we compare ourselves to him, we're called out as crazy or hubristic. Ask Mayor Bilandic. CC, JSM
IMO you are conflating very different flavors and eras of Christianity. Saint Augustine was born in the year 354 AD. Thomas Aquinas was born in the year 1225 AD. The 'controversial' Trump image references 20th-century USA Christian standards and norms.
The post-Martin Luther (b. 1483) Protestants (1) burned down Catholic buildings and killed Catholics in England, (2) moved aggressively against the corruption, "idolatry" and "graven images" of the Catholics. Swiss churches, for example, were scrubbed bare and became simple stone.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation_in_Switzerland
Image of burning the "icons" or "idols" in Zurich here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation_in_Switzerland#/media/File:Destruction_of_icons_in_Zurich_1524.jpg
Not to mention how the Eastern Orthodox church split from the decadent Roman church long before 1500. Not to mention how post-Christian Islam also "frowns on" or bans images of Muhammed and humans...
Christ frequently told the people he healed not to tell others what had happened, though most couldn't help themselves and many of his miracles were quite public. The image Trump posted seems to be about exalting Trump for his (supposed) healing powers. It has a vibe that I don't get from reading the Gospels.
Is anyone really comparing Trump to Jesus? Or just saying Trump...Jesus.
Trump is correct
Commentary on Sanhedrin 98b-99a
"We have just seen that the Messiah is the just man who suffers, who has taken on the suffering of others. Who finally takes on the suffering of others, if not the being who says Me?
"The fact of not evading the burden imposed by the suffering of others defines ipseity itself. All persons are the Messiah."
Levinas, _Difficult Freedom: Essays of Judaism_, Messianic Texts, p.89
In a country that's close to 50/50, dumping on religious beliefs is a serious error.
To be fair, the Catholic Church's leaders are latter day Mensheviks, welcome in the secular materialist socialist Democratic Party coalition for the time being. Their usefulness will eventually end. The same can be said for most other religious denominations. Once they cross the line into policy and governance, they are fair game. Their reason for being is the human hunger for transcendence. Once they get their hands dirty, people see the real Wizards of Oz.
We're gonna miss the Deity when it's gone.
Today the US expanded its blockade of Iranian-supportive shipping in a significant manner, to include worldwide stop and sieze operations against all sanctioned interactions and dual use cargo, including oil and lubricants. There go the full tankers that Iran has at sea outside the Gulf, trying to raise cash for the mullahs.
“In addition to enforcing the blockade, all Iranian vessels, vessels with active OFAC sanctions, and vessels suspected of carrying contraband, are subject to belligerent right to visit and search,” U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) announced on Thursday. But here's where it gets really interesting: "These vessels, regardless of location, are subject to visit, board, search, and seizure.”
But please, this was a mean tweet, so continue with full court coverage of such really important stuff and things!
Other people are creating on-line images of Trump as Jesus or Christ-like.
Trump sometimes re-posts them. He isn't creating these images.
For all we know - it's a leftist who is creating the images.
Trump needs to be careful what he re-posts. The origins could be something other than what might seem obvious.
Women, children and LGBTQ+ Houthis hardest hit.
Now if they start comaring Trump to the Beatles, that would be something!
Donald, come down from that cross.
You look ridiculous.
I prefer the Obama votive candles.
What a stupid thing to spend time talking about. And Trump will create another hilarious issue next week to occupy the media dullards. The media buys ink by the barrel, and spends it on foolishness.
I’m a church musician. I play for both Catholic and Methodist congregations. I listen to the Gospels repeatedly year after year. Christ’s personality and character… well that’s pretty sketchy. He’s not that defined in the Scriptures. Catholics are sola scriptura, so the depiction of Christ isn’t even entirely based on the Gospels. The Methodist and Protestant versions of the personality and character of Christ are most romanticized Medieval and Renaissance inventions. Especially the Methodist stories about Christ as the greater lover of children, as our friend and companion, seem almost entirely invented by the Wesleys. So, how can anybody tell what it is to be “Christ-like?” His most comprehensive statement is the “Sermon on the Mount,” and that’s really about it.
Correction. “Catholics are not sola scriptura.”
I'm unclear if this is on-topic or not:
Jesus! The stock market hit another all-time high today.
Shouting, you can get glimpses of JC’s personality in the gospels. Especially when he is engaging in Torah battles with the sucka MCs. One of my favorite Bible verses is one of his Al Jaffee snappy answers, in John 8:25. They ask him “who are you?” and he answers “what I have told you from the beginning.” But some translations give it as “why do I talk to you?”. That really captures Smart-Alec Jesus for me. CC, JSM
Just more of Trump trolling. Whatever Democrat heathens claim we think, Christians know Trump is not Jesus Christ and we know Trump knows it too. Norman Podhoretz characterized Trump well as “an unworthy vessel chosen by God [as are all leaders, Romans 13:1] to save us from the evil on the Left.”
Trying to live life from your higher power (imitate Christ) means surrender your ego-driven control. Or living form your higher self for non-believers - shifting from ego-driven judgment to compassion. Trump seems self-absorbed and in love with himself. The orb belongs to the humble heads.
rhhardin said...
Trump is correct
Commentary on Sanhedrin 98b-99a
"We have just seen that the Messiah is the just man who suffers, who has taken on the suffering of others. Who finally takes on the suffering of others, if not the being who says Me?”
OMG - So Trump fits the Talmud’s suffering ‘Leper Messiah’ idea more than our triumphant Christ?
That’s some holy shit.
I may take a break from writing Althouse- The Musical! and write a Hamilton-style hip hop musical about JC.
I’m the King of Shabbat!/There’s none higher./Sucka rebbes/Call me Sire! &c
Of course have an AA actor play him. Maybe Colman Domingo.
And Caiphas could do arias set to a Klezmer beat kind of like how G3 does his harpsichord stuff in Hamilton or Pharaoh does his Elvis tribute in Dreamcoat. Auf Mir Bis Du Trayf or something like that. Nathan Lane?
To heck with making Judas the tragic hero like in JCS. Maybe go deeper with Pilate, as sort of an Aaron Burr who doesn’t understand why things don’t go well for him when he’s ticked all the boxes. Set his numbers to classical-ish tracks. Hugh Jackman? With Kylie as Claudia, so the accents match?
And in keeping with the recent tradition of portraying Herod as a louche voluptuary, make his songs all Goth rock. Maybe get Robert Smith up on stage.
I suppose I could flesh this comment out into instructions for an AI? CC, JSM
The von sydow and jeffrey hunter portrayals are surprisingly passive he was more combative in speech
It might have been interesting if the Protestant Lewis and the Catholic Chesterton had discussed this. Chesterton would have loudly applauded Lewis's praise for "ordinary happiness of human beings in this life. A husband and wife chatting over a fire, a couple of friends having a game of darts in a pub, a man reading a book in his own room or digging in his own garden," but he might have been puzzled or troubled or intrigued by Lewis's talk of becoming "little Christs." Up to a point, there's something true about Lewis's idea, but it can be problematic. People who actually think that they are "little Christs" can be troubling.
Pilate is an officious bureaucrat like gal du kat, or krennic like herod is a horror (the whole nasty brood)
And of course the Jesus Musical would be biblically accurate and have a resurrection. Maybe change the actor, to show how JCs close associates didn’t recognize him in the garden and the road to emmaus. Adrian Lester?
Other casting:
Mother Mary - Gal Gadot (that’s right honey)
The Magdalene - Kristen Chenoweth (and no prostitution backstory or weird Gnostic marriage)
Assorted apostles- the Jonas Bros
Peter - Josh Kiszka from Greta Van Fleet
Judas - Ian Astbury from The Cult
John - Tom Holland (the actor not the historian. Ok, the historian can do the Sunday matinee)
Satan - Bryan Ferry
CC, JSM
On second thought, our Christ is the Leper Messiah first - suffering servant before the ascension triumph. So we get our Trump Christ back. All’s well.
Jesus uses socratic stylings trying to lead people to the answer understandably because one wrong answer could br fatal
He was reading from isiah from the beginning
I mean Tom Holland as John son of Zebedee. Don’t know if my musical will include the Baptizer. If it does, then obviously Steve Hogarth of Marillion. CC, JSM
Professor you are being intentionally obtuse. Certainly you understand the difference in imitating Christ's work and cosplaying Jesus. I know you are smart enough to understand the difference. Is it "blasphemous"? I don't know? Could be. Is it stupid and do the people who defend it sound stupid and willfully obtuse? Yup.
These seem like bad faith arguments, Professor. Can you defend Trump without making bad faith arguments? Remains to be seen.
Donald Fagen could be Annas, Caiphas’s father in law and the de facto high priest. Could just state the facts in sprightly jazz stylings: “He’s a danger to us all/have to nail him to the wall/that’s the way it goes when you’re a Client State.” CC, JSM
And one wondered why with that lot they were captive for 400 years before hogarth would be.too old
Then maybe Francis from Francis And The Lights. Or Sombr. CC, JSM
Ok youre just being deliberate obscure
Or the girl from Fitz and the Tantrums could be Mother Mary. Don’t know if Gal Gadot can sing. CC, JSM
Well John the B was deliberately obscure.
I don't know much about the subject, but I wonder: did Jesus ever tell someone something along the lines of "Wow, that's really awesome what you did there. Keep up the great work."?
We see him as a very human man who has done good things for believers he is flawed he doesnt deny it his bout with death suggests redemptions to do some things others havent even tried
He praised the centurion who had greater faith than any in Israel. He sort of praised the young man who answered his first few questions well. CC, JSM
I see this event as meaningful for only two allied groups, but not Trump's opponents:
1. True believer Christian supporters who are offended. They they have their own standards, and some were indeed upset. If they voted for Trump they may be less likely to vote for his team moving forward.
2. Ideological splits about the suitability of the imagery. I suspect that older white generations are most offended, as this goes against old time standards for religious modesty and respect. Consider that white USA people almost never name their boys "Jesus" while "Jesus" (heh-SOOS) is a common Latin American boys name. I suspect that, if created by supporters, this image looked cool in a video game sense but lacked awareness of how their parents and grandparents would receive it.
If this was made by a troll or political opponent, the only issue is that Trump posted it without understanding the implications. Trump does do that.
When people dress up as super heroes, is it usually because they want to emulate them, not degrade the character?
This is why the Pope lives in a giant golden castle estate with servants, so he can't be accused of trying to cosplay Jesus?
Christ invited his followers "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
If I had a painting done of me carrying a cross, would I be accused of blasphemy? What if it was intended to remind me of my duty to carry burdens, even other people's burdens?
Christ also didn't seem to reserve doing miracles to himself as his sole right. He said "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do;"
If I showed a picture of myself holding out my hand to a lame person in front of the temple, and pulling them to restored legs and feet, would that be blasphemy?
I think we're supposed to imitate Jesus Christ, to the extent we can, in our behavior, not pretend to be the Son of God. Or portray ourselves as the Son of God.
As for icon smashing Protestants, that's just another thing wrong with Protestantism. Once you cut yourself off from the Catholic or Eastern Orthodox Church, its everyone is own Pope. And you get all kinds of loonies and nutjubs saying they've read the bible and blahdeblah. Before you know it, you're in Christian Zionist territory or handling snakes.
The problem with hubris
is nemesis soon follows
(I know, different religion)
Donald Trump is a lame duck
so pissing off the voters isn't really a factor for him
he could, of course, wreck the mid-terms
if I was a Senator or a Congressman he would be hearing shit from me about the 1st Commandment
and I'd be inviting him to Bible study all the time
just out of stress of losing my job
"I've got Christians in my district, Mr. President, what the fuck are you doing?"
So if you're wondering why Trump deleted a tweet
I imagine irritable Christians who are facing re-election said some shit to him
Trump the Christ crucified by the Pompous Pilates crowd.
https://x.com/KevinRobertsTX/status/2044781870072627226
I don't know much about the subject, but I wonder: did Jesus ever tell someone something along the lines of "Wow, that's really awesome what you did there. Keep up the great work."?
If you're really interested, why don't you come to a Bible study and find out?
@RCOCEAN II As for icon smashing Protestants, that's just another thing wrong with Protestantism.
Here RCOCEAN II confirms that the concepts of "voting blocs" and "election enthusiasm" go clean over his head.
Shouting Thomas at 11:10
you might like Beautiful Outlaw
"Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality of Jesus."
Beautiful Outlaw
Jesus was a human being. As such, he had DNA. If his DNA were tested, what would it have revealed about the identity of the provider of the seed that fertilized the egg in Mary?
A lot of theological doctrine is founded upon a primitively magical concept of the way the world works. All those demons being cast out of people, and sent into stampeding farm animals, for instance. And we are expected to simply have "faith".
People who have a vested interest in not having their belief systems closely scrutinized ought to be careful when they pontificate.
Howard the Duck.
Good Halloween costume though:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DXG7g3vinf0/?igsh=MTNhZWh5cXBldGpnaQ==
Excellent casting, Mr. Mosby!
DeeDee Driver would make a good Judas. A backstabbing idiot.
Don’t forget Black Francis, Mr. Mosby.
"If you're really interested, why don't you come to a Bible study and find out?"
Too much of a good thing. I can just ask A.I..
There's another job being put on the chopping block by technology.
I am not religious and dislike much of what Catholicism represents and has done to so many people so I just never thought I'd have any reason to say this. But Pope Leo is doing fantastic work in taking Trump and his fellow imposters completely to pieces and with consummate ease.
I dont think AI can accurately cover the Word
Eh, Clinton thought he could play the Saxaphone.
I was upset with this whole business until I realized that Jesus Trump's mother's name is Mary. Now, I'm convinced.
Trump’s depiction of himself as Jesus was by all accounts tasteless and perhaps even blasphemous. But what about the quality of the art itself?
I tell people that I have 3 goals.
First that everyone I meet is made more joyful.
Second, that I make people think.
Third, that I reflect God perfectly. This requires much polishing. When you see me, you will see God, but I am not God.
The problem is that most people act as if they are a god.
The true practice is the paradox of being a seeker after wisdom, and a defender of the faith at the same time. A seeker after wisdom knows he knows nothing. The defender of the faith knows he knows everything. The theologic paradox.
Simple, not easy.
I see President Trump as a current model of the men found in Judges, imperfect men called to be God"s instruments. I give you Sampson.
Howard @12:49, thanks for the laugh!
Such a tempest in a teapot. As if anyone thinks Obama, when presented publicly with a halo, or as the Lightbringer*, wasn't pleased about it. At least, despite his longtime church membership, I never heard that he begged the press not to make such comparisons.
But Obama was Jesus on Palm Sunday, entering the gates in triumph with people throwing down their robes so not even his mount touches the ground. Trump so far has been likened to Good Friday Jesus, persecuted by the Pharisees, and apparently to pre-Passion Jesus, reaching out to the poor and sick and healing them. No triumph involved. Yet Trump is blasphemous.
* It literally just occurred to me while writing this comment that "Lightbringer" is a lot closer to "Lucifer" than "Christ." So maybe that whole thing was an op.
He is a appropriating the stereotypcial appearance of Christ, not imitating the behavior of Christ.
It's as deep as an ad slogan: things go better with Christ.
A flawed vessel is what Christians told themselves about Trump. Apparently a little more flawed than they thought.
The Bible is a text document. It can be searched and presented well by AI.
@ John Mosby - Brother, if you want to make a guaranteed fortune, I suggest you set your talents to writing "Hamas, the Musical". Make the hero an aspiring boy jihadist named Muhammad whose father is a humble falafel shop owner in Brooklyn. It will be a sensation. Just think of the rainbow cast all in chorus singing rollicking numbers of Jew-hate.
A flawed vessel is what Christians told themselves about Trump. Apparently a little more flawed than they thought.
Why do you say that? What makes you think that those who voted for and/or support Trump, a man who's been married multiple times and is known to have had affairs, just to keep it in the realm of adultery to say nothing of his other possible or probable sins, don't know he's a serious sinner?
The thing is, he's better than the moral exemplars on your side (assuming they exist), at the very least with regard to policy.
Orthodox Christians believe in the doctrine of theosis: https://www.orthodoxroad.com/understanding-theosis/
Not that I think President Trump is really trying that out. Just pointing out it is a thing.
The Bible is a text document. It can be searched and presented well by AI.
You are mistaken. You need the Holy Spirit to find Jesus. Forget your Cliff's notes and your A.I. shortcuts. Christianity is not a bunch of words to be memorized and regurgitated. It's a love that will overpower you and change your life.
Matthew 18:20
Althouse is saying that the Christian doctrine that urges the imitation of Christ somehow puts in question "those who seem to be saying that there is something blasphemous about equating a human being to Jesus Christ."
Two thoughts. Urging that someone imitate someone or something does not imply equating the two. I will try to imitate Mel Brooks' brilliant realism and sense of humor; I will never equal him.
When you move to the divine sphere, where Jesus is God the son, present at the creation and before, but also a human being who lived in the world, human imitation is possible, because he was a flesh and blood human being who thought, spoke and acted, but equation is blasphemous.
Of course Trump's own self presentation as Jesus like was comically false, given his own committments. For more, see the next post.
In the WSJ, Peggy Noonan, a conservative and a Catholic, wrote in part as follows:
"A reader sent a note this week saying he’d been following the president’s attack on the pope and his follow-up posting of the artificial-intelligence image depicting him as Christ healing the sick, and it sent him to the Sermon on the Mount. Consider what Jesus said, the reader urged, and the things Trump says. I did.
Christ: “Blessed are you who are poor.”
Mr. Trump: “Part of the beauty of me is that I’m very rich.” “My whole life I’ve been greedy, greedy, greedy. I’ve grabbed all the money I could get.”
Christ: “Blessed are the meek.”
Mr. Trump: “It has been stated by many that the first month of our presidency . . . is the most successful in the history of our nation.” “You know who No. 2 is? George Washington.”
Christ: “Blessed are the merciful.”
Mr. Trump: “I am your retribution.” “Why are we having all these people from s— hole countries come here?”
Christ: “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
Mr. Trump: “A whole civilization will die tonight.” “He died like a dog.” “He died after running into a dead-end tunnel whimpering and crying and screaming.”
Christ: “Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you.”
Mr. Trump: “I love getting even with people.” “I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them, I’m sorry.”
Noonan concluded: "Mr. Trump’s statements seem the photographic negative of the Sermon on the Mount."
The blaspheny accusations recall to my mind the admonition in John 8:7: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." I say well done, heathen heretical blasphemous amoral and utterly anti-Christian media, at ignoring that admonition and tossing all together!
ટિપ્પણી પોસ્ટ કરો
Please use the comments forum to respond to the post. Don't fight with each other. Be substantive... or interesting... or funny. Comments should go up immediately... unless you're commenting on a post older than 4 days. Then you have to wait for us to moderate you through. It's also possible to get shunted into spam by the machine. We try to keep an eye on that and release the miscaught good stuff. We do delete some comments, but not for viewpoint... for bad faith.