*to Hanlon's razor: Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.
Κυνόσαργες

Friday 28 October 2011

Quote of the Day: 'Occupy London' at St. Paul's

"Money is the number one moral issue in the Bible and the way the Church of England goes on you would think it was sex," he says. "It's easily the number one issue in the Bible … but how many sermons do you get about that? Very few."
"my red line was about using violence in the name of the church to clear people on. It has been very peaceful, the camp, and I feel that the church cannot answer peaceful protest with violence".
- Giles Fraser, the Canon of St. Paul's: a rare 'man of the cloth' who understands the Jesus of the Gospels did not equivocate on his ultimatums about wealth for all 'Christians', unlike the "the continuing silence of the senior clergy on such matters as greed, avarice, inequality and social justice – just a few of Jesus' favourite topics."

I am an atheist, but know the best words come from The Man, Himself:

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.
Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'
And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'"
(Matthew 25.35-40)

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
(Matthew 6.31-34)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
(Matthew 5.3-12)

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
(Matthew 6:24)

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?
(Mark 8.34-36)
Jesus wasn't a god before Paul of Tarsus' Hellenic crap, but there was once a man who had the best lines ever.

2 comments:

  1. He was definitely a great Orator whatever else you believe.

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  2. Amen to that.

    I only wish I believed in an all powerful and just god, so I'd believe there was any payback for 'God fearing' hypocrites. I cured myself of believing in self-serving fictions in my teens. That's not an insult on religion (I have others), but an comment on the way I saw all the Catholics think in my family and school

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