religion, my favorite

to expand on a previous post about some people's "the way jesus did" hypocrisy and on news like this or discussions such as this which delve a bit into not only the conflict between religious dogma/bigotry and open-mindedness but also into how hard it is to reconcile what the christian faith is supposed to be about with the way it's applied most often (in the context of people's struggle for civil rights), this article by a presbytarian pastor gives an excellent analysis and critique of how those so-called religious (specifically christian) arguments used to prop up existing hierarchies of power or justify injustice are anything but "christian" (in the "christ-like" sense):

"don't bow to god's bullies"

... The word "Lord" was not in the original Bible. It is an English word from feudal times. Whereas the Greek word kurios had a range of meanings, from a title of respect to a title of leadership to a name for the sacred, the English translation "Lord" refers specifically to a male European land baron. Many people have softened that interpretation in their own minds, but in times of great stress, such nuance falls away and many Christians seek a white male king. He may be called "Pope" he may be called "the decider President," he may be called "televangelist," but the title only masks what he is, a benevolent (or not so benevolent) dictator.

Neither Calvin nor Luther spoke English, but they helped the Popes lay the groundwork for the view of God as a cosmic dictator. From Popes, Luther and Calvin we have some of the ugliest slurs ever recorded against women, intellectuals and those who refused the church's message. How did Christians hold slaves, oppress women and slaughter nonbelievers? Perhaps they could not see Christ in non-male, non-European, and non-Christian people because they were limited by their theology. Their "Christ" was merely a glorification of the most powerful member of their own culture.

To picture God in terms of power is also one of the great bait-and-switch gimmicks of all time. People within the power hierarchy proclaim that God is the ultimate authority, and then appoint themselves as God's interpreters and enforcers. They are God's humble bullies. It has been one of the most successful con games of all time.

The real Jesus was born illegitimately. He called himself "the human one." Just like Buddha, his authority came from truth, not power. He taught whoever has love has God. He said those who work for the common good are his church. ...

read the whole thing, it's not very long and it's super-insightful.

and along the same lines of critique, i think some very good basics on radical/"leftist" strands of christianity can be found in this great interview with jim holiman, one person from whom i - as an orthodoxly baptised ex atheist-by-force and a current orthodox-to-agnostic by choice - was fortunate enough to be able to learn a bit about religion, christianity, jesus... (the link is to a pdf, but see page 8). actually, jim's "uprisings" class was probably the only reason i didn't give up on christianity a looong time ago. for a glimpse into a jesus christ and a christianity as far away from the "lord" mentality as possible, i recommend as further reading "we drink from our own wells" (or any other work) by gustavo gutierrez.