Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Brian’s Reflection: Thursday, June 14, 2012





Cruel leaders are replaced
only to have new leaders turn cruel.

Che Guevara, a just human being; he was
born on this date, 1928, in Argentina.
He was assassinated with the direct collusion
of the American CIA in 1967.


Why is Jesus, why is the Buddha, why is Gandhi so attractive? Why is Muhammad not so attractive   -  and this is an issue that Islam has to deal with? Because the former did not “turn cruel” – and to the “modern ear”, Muhammad turned cruel … this is why I shy away from him … and why I so long for Islam to get to the place where they will examine their Scripture, and Muhammad, and bring scholarship to bear on the examination of their Scripture.

I’m a Christian as my major spiritual path. I was born into a Christian culture … and it’s pretty hard to move to another path. However, the Gospel of Jesus (as opposed to what “Christianity” has made of Him and His teaching) is, as John Howe implies, an authentic path to the fullness of being human, by a standard attributed to Divine Love. I have found it so.

Cruelty is not of the Gospel. But it is of “the World” ... and we see it in America today in spades, especially in the so-called Christianity which has rejected Compassion, Justice, Love, and Brother/Sisterhood in favor of power and of rank hate for those whom Jesus embraced and loved and chose to live His life with.

Che gave his life, as Jesus did, in love for people oppressed and dehumanized by their cruel leaders. Such cruel leaders are with us today.

I have two thoughts. First, stop electing such leaders. And secondly, banish cruelty from your heart.

Brian+

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