Was Jesus a Communist?

[The Alma Mater]

Jesus was pretty explicit about giving away your wealth. If you have wealth, you're placing your temporal comfort above Jesus' will - and that means you're no real Christian.

Funnily enough, Jesus never once used the word 'Christian'.

Read the post, and show me where I said he did?

Your argument relies on it as its premise. A Christian is not defined by a specific lifestyle, it only refers to someone who worships Jesus and believes he is the saviour of mankind, by definition.

Why Jesus and not a random other Christ ? The title was as common as "boss" is nowadays.

[Sanctus Angelus]

NEW IDEA:
Okay, maybe Jesus wasn't the modern "long live the revolution!" communist, but he did seem to have many of the ideologies of modern socialism/communism. Thoughts?

How? Because he preached social Justice? I fail to see the communism in the teachings of early Christianity...and something tells me that Karl Marx didn't have Jesus in mind when he wrote the manifesto.

[Grave_n_idle]

Jesus was pretty explicit about giving away your wealth. If you have wealth, you're placing your temporal comfort above Jesus' will - and that means you're no real Christian.

Funnily enough, Jesus never once used the word 'Christian'.

Read the post, and show me where I said he did?

Your argument relies on it as its premise. A Christian is not defined by a specific lifestyle, it only refers to someone who worships Jesus and believes he is the saviour of mankind, by definition.

A Christian is defined by following Christ. If you're not following Christ, you're not a Christian. If you don't follow Christ, and you DO call yourself a Christian, you're lying.

If you're rich, and call yourself a Christian, you're a liar.

[Hydesland]

A Christian is defined by following Christ. If you're not following Christ, you're not a Christian. If you don't follow Christ, and you DO call yourself a Christian, you're lying.

Actually, ONE definition is someone who attempts to follow Christ, nobody is perfect. In order to live up to your definition, you have to be perfect, so your definition is pointless.

Of course, another definition literally is:

a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination

(princeton)

[Grave_n_idle]

Actually, ONE definition is someone who attempts to follow Christ, nobody is perfect. In order to live up to your definition, you have to be perfect, so your definition is pointless.

What twaddle. No one said you had to be perfect. Trying and failing is no sin, but you're trying to excuse failing to even try.

Jesus told Christians what to do. If they follow him, they'll try to do it. If they don't try to do it, they're not following him.

Of course, another definition literally is:

a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination

(princeton)

Sure. And a Christian is also someone who attends a Christian church. Or who is 'culturally' Christian.

On the other hand, if those people don't actually follow the Christ, they're wearing a deceptive label.

[The Alma Mater]

Of course, another definition literally is:

a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination

(princeton)

"The Christ prophesied about in the Old Testament" to be nitpicky
I myself after all am also a Christ.

[Rolamec]

No, he was Jewish.

Just like Karl Marx, Lev Trockij and Rosa Luxemborg... yep, Communism is a notorious Jewish plot.

Exactly, it's the cabal.

[Hydesland]

On the other hand, if those people don't actually follow the Christ, they're wearing a deceptive label.

No, it's not deceptive, because nobody uses the definition in such a way that would preclude almost every single person in the west (who mostly have some superfluous wealth) from ever being a Christian. Also, it's pretty clear what the Bible says you must do (you know, that being the book they are supposed to follow and all):

"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

[Class Warhair]

The only reason that Jesus wasn't a hippie commie was because the dudes that wrote the bible didn't have the luxury of having Marx come up with his little manifesto yet. The idea of authoritarian communism is pretty much religion on steroids.

Karl Marx described religion as opium for the masses.

But opium was cool then. He didn't mean "religion is a horrible addictive drug which makes you into a thieving asshole" but rather "religion eases the pain of the people".

Obviously, he didn't advocate temporary reliefs of the pain of the people. Treating the causes of their supposed pain, however ...

Which is something Jesus would never associate with.

Sure he would. There are plenty of references in the Bible to Jesus personally soothing, setting minds at rest, giving succour and generally pleasing people. Or in the old testy, to God doing likewise.

[Class Warhair]

Of course, another definition literally is:

a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination

(princeton)

"The Christ prophesied about in the Old Testament" to be nitpicky
I myself after all am also a Christ.

I will follow you!

... just long enough to pick your pocket, that is.

[The Alma Mater]

Of course, another definition literally is:

a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination

(princeton)

"The Christ prophesied about in the Old Testament" to be nitpicky
I myself after all am also a Christ.

I will follow you!

... just long enough to pick your pocket, that is.

*Throws some scented oil at you and says a few holy words*

There. Now YOU are a Christ as well.

But are you a commie ? You seem in favour of redistribution of wealth...

[Class Warhair]

Jesus was pretty explicit about giving away your wealth. If you have wealth, you're placing your temporal comfort above Jesus' will - and that means you're no real Christian.

Funnily enough, Jesus never once used the word 'Christian'.

Read the post, and show me where I said he did?

Your argument relies on it as its premise. A Christian is not defined by a specific lifestyle, it only refers to someone who worships Jesus and believes he is the saviour of mankind, by definition.

So tell me: if I worship Jesus and believe he is the saviour of mankind, but I DON'T follow the Commandments and I don't ever repent ... will I go to Heaven?

Or will I go to Hell with millions of other Christians?

I know this might be a hard question, but I'm not mocking you. Seriously: would I be saved? Can one be a Christian and not be saved?

[Class Warhair]

Of course, another definition literally is:

a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination

(princeton)

"The Christ prophesied about in the Old Testament" to be nitpicky
I myself after all am also a Christ.

I will follow you!

... just long enough to pick your pocket, that is.

*Throws some scented oil at you and says a few holy words*

There. Now YOU are a Christ as well.

But are you a commie ? You seem in favour of redistribution of wealth...

I'm in favour of the redistribution of YOUR wealth.

I feel like something of a hypocrit, actually. I don't live as though I'm in the communist society I would like to live in. Strong head, weak heart.

[Ashmoria]

Of course, another definition literally is:

a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination

(princeton)

"The Christ prophesied about in the Old Testament" to be nitpicky
I myself after all am also a Christ.

was there a "christ" in OT prophecy?

[You-Gi-Owe]

Of course, another definition literally is:

a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination

(princeton)

"The Christ prophesied about in the Old Testament" to be nitpicky
I myself after all am also a Christ.

was there a "christ" in OT prophecy?

The OT word is Messiah

[Hydesland]

"The Christ prophesied about in the Old Testament" to be nitpicky
I myself after all am also a Christ.

o rly?

[The Alma Mater]

Of course, another definition literally is:

a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination

(princeton)

"The Christ prophesied about in the Old Testament" to be nitpicky
I myself after all am also a Christ.

was there a "christ" in OT prophecy?

Χριστός is the Greek translation of messiah

"The Christ prophesied about in the Old Testament" to be nitpicky
I myself after all am also a Christ.

o rly?

Yep. Scented oils have been rubbed on me during a religious ritual. I was annointed.

But not a communist

[Hydesland]

So tell me: if I worship Jesus and believe he is the saviour of mankind, but I DON'T follow the Commandments and I don't ever repent ... will I go to Heaven?

Or will I go to Hell with millions of other Christians?

I know this might be a hard question, but I'm not mocking you. Seriously: would I be saved? Can one be a Christian and not be saved?

I have no idea, that's one of those age old questions. I'm not a Christian myself btw.

[Ashmoria]

Of course, another definition literally is:

a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination

(princeton)

"The Christ prophesied about in the Old Testament" to be nitpicky
I myself after all am also a Christ.

was there a "christ" in OT prophecy?

The OT word is Messiah

thats what im thinking but .....for all *I* know some of those late OT books might use a different word. they are pretty greekish.

[The Alma Mater]

thats what im thinking but .....for all *I* know some of those late OT books might use a different word. they are pretty greekish.

Christos, Messiah, Annointed One... different languages saying the same thing

[Mad hatters in jeans]

After watching some religious crap, it seems that Jesus hated the rich and loved the poor. To me, it seems that Jesus constantly stated that the rich had no power over the poor. Jesus even said himself:
"It's very hard for a rich man to get into Heaven. It's easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle."
This says to me that unless you're poor, you're going to Hell. Thoughts?

NOTE: PLEASE DON'T TURN THIS INTO A RELIGION DISCUSSION!

how can you not have this thread be about religion when in the very first sentence of your OP you say "religious crap"?

[Georgism]

Jesus was a Libertarian, who believed in The Free Market, Family Values and who smoked a hell of a lot of weed.

[Mad hatters in jeans]

Jesus was a Libertarian, who believed in The Free Market, Family Values and who smoked a hell of a lot of weed.

i think it'd be more likely he took opium.
or sniffed glue. you know what those carpenters are like.

[Class Warhair]

(self-quote)

Or will I go to Hell with millions of other Christians?

This isn't an extreme claim.

About 2 billion (2 x 10^9) people alive now identify as Christians.

ASSUME that 90% of them worship Jesus and believe he is the saviour of mankind. The other 10% are just saying that they're Christians because it's convenient. They're talking the talk, but they don't walk the walk.

That's 1800 million Christians, by Hydesland's definition.

If 1% of them do not follow the Commandments and do not repent of that before dying, then:

there will be more than a million Christians in hell.

IF there are more than a billion self-identified Christians, or more than one in ten of them is a 'real' Christian, or more than 1% of them do not follow the Commandments, then there will be more than 1.8 million Christians in Hell. Probably a lot more. In addition to the Christians who are there already!

[Ashmoria]

thats what im thinking but .....for all *I* know some of those late OT books might use a different word. they are pretty greekish.

Christos, Messiah, Annointed One... different languages saying the same thing

no i dont think they really mean the same thing at all.

not that jesus fits the requirements of the OT messiah anyway....christians get around that by pretending that the jews were mistaken about what those requirements really were.