Trump admin to withdraw from UN human rights council

[Dill]

(06-20-2018, 02:37 PM)Griever Wrote: ummmm

the main tenant of christianity is basically "obey or you will burn in hell for eternity"

(06-20-2018, 02:43 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: No, actually, it isn't.

(06-20-2018, 02:54 PM)PhilHos Wrote: Someone gets it. 

Actually guys, there is not a simple answer to this question of basic tenets if we look to the historical practice of Christianity. During its first millennium, Christianity was spread as much, or more, by the sword as by "love."  The Spanish Conquest of Central and South America was an early modern version of that "Jihad." But the Church also supported the poor, usually through agency of priests and nuns who vowed poverty.

In our own country, there are millions who do believe that one cannot make it to heaven without acceptance of Jesus as personal savior, plus a hefty dose of "obedience" to religious and (the right) secular authority. For those millions, and millions more around the world, it would be accurate to say BELIEF in Jesus (as the son of God) is necessary for salvation. And I have listened in as Christian sects have debated whether other Christian sects could make it to heaven. (Many in my parents' church refused to say whether Catholics could or could not; my Catholic mother-in-law just did not see how people outside the true church could.) Christianity has supported "obedience" to the powers that be for two millennia. (That is the Christianity Sessions deploys when he conflates US law and the Bible when defending the new policy of tearing families apart).

In the "developed" West, however, there are many Christians who do not hold to that, or claim not to know for sure, while holding up as Christian tenets the teaching found in the Gospels, which authorize resistance to established authority and empathy for the poor and downtrodden. There are hundreds of religious organizations providing food and shelter for poor Americans, the homeless, veterans, and refugees, not to mention ministering to our substantial prison population.  Some are resolutely apolitical, but many also actively oppose "unchristian" policies by harboring refugees and supporting sanctuary cities and opposing the death penalty.  Black churches have been at the forefront of civil rights issues. Remember the response of so many family members to the Charleston shooting--forgiveness of the white supremacist killer.
So it is fair to say many Christians believe/have believed the choice is between Jesus or hell. But it is not fair to dismiss Christianity as all about obedience or hellfire. It is also about defending and helping the helpless. 

When faced with Christians who demand unthinking support of punitive, cruel policies, it is a bad strategy to condemn Christianity and Christians as a group. Much better to remind Christians of their Savior's example--oppose The Sermon on the Mount to Leviticus and the Ten Commandments. Remind them that to decide for Christianity is to affirm the former.