i don't know what temperature this take is, but I think it's ahistorical to attribute communism, or socialism, or anarchism to Jesus, either as a religious icon, or a real historical figure that the religious icon is based on. While I certainly understand why many on the left are eager to reclaim Jesus for themselves, and why I can certainly understand why many on the left see elements of their ideologies reflected in the words and actions attributed to Jesus, we are fundamentally talking about a figure from classical antiquity, from Roman-occupied Judea, 2000 years ago. That was a completely different time. None of our post-enlightenment political ideologies existed back then. And even though Jesus drove the moneylenders from the temple and spoke of how difficult it would be for a rich man to enter heaven, he ultimately conceived of a "Kingdom of Heaven." To Jesus, the universe is a strict hierarchy with the lord God on top.
The first part is obviously correct, but it breaks down towards the end. The use of the term ,"Kingdom" does not in any manner suggest that there would be a hierarchy between humans, though it suggests of course that God is king. I would point you towards Kant's "Kingdom of Ends", where there is not a strict hierarchy and the defining trait of society is that everyone is treated as being an end in and of themselves that they themselves decide. Kant is also a good writer on the subject of the authority of God, as he argues (like many Christians before and after) that being good must not depend on the authority of the dictates of God but on the door's own moral reasoning, and if God said to do wrong (though He wouldn't), He must be disobeyed because there is no teleological suspension of the ethical.
i don't know what temperature this take is, but I think it's ahistorical to attribute communism, or socialism, or anarchism to Jesus, either as a religious icon, or a real historical figure that the religious icon is based on. While I certainly understand why many on the left are eager to reclaim Jesus for themselves, and why I can certainly understand why many on the left see elements of their ideologies reflected in the words and actions attributed to Jesus, we are fundamentally talking about a figure from classical antiquity, from Roman-occupied Judea, 2000 years ago. That was a completely different time. None of our post-enlightenment political ideologies existed back then. And even though Jesus drove the moneylenders from the temple and spoke of how difficult it would be for a rich man to enter heaven, he ultimately conceived of a "Kingdom of Heaven." To Jesus, the universe is a strict hierarchy with the lord God on top.
The first part is obviously correct, but it breaks down towards the end. The use of the term ,"Kingdom" does not in any manner suggest that there would be a hierarchy between humans, though it suggests of course that God is king. I would point you towards Kant's "Kingdom of Ends", where there is not a strict hierarchy and the defining trait of society is that everyone is treated as being an end in and of themselves that they themselves decide. Kant is also a good writer on the subject of the authority of God, as he argues (like many Christians before and after) that being good must not depend on the authority of the dictates of God but on the door's own moral reasoning, and if God said to do wrong (though He wouldn't), He must be disobeyed because there is no teleological suspension of the ethical.
Here is a bit on that last part and the obvious objection one might raise about the Binding of Isaac. tldr Abraham's conviction was praiseworthy but his reasoning was inadequate, a conclusion normal people would probably agree with today.
In short, I think Jesus can coherently be interpreted as more progressive than you give him credit for.
I'll give it a read when I have a chance, thanks for sharing your thoughts on the matter
I was just joking! I don't really have any opinion on him. I'm not well read on the topic.
wasn't directed at you, it's a trend I've noticed for years