The following is a translation of the Tao Te Ching, Chapter 77.
The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow.
The high end is pulled down and the low end is raised up.
The excessive is diminished
and the deficient is supplemented.
It is the way of heaven to take where there is too much
in order to give where there is not enough.
The way of people is otherwise.
They take where there is not enough
in order to increase where there is already too much.
Who will take from their own excesses
and give to all under heaven?
Only those who hold to the Tao.
Therefore, the True Person benefits yet expects no reward,
does the work and moves on.
There is no desire to be considered better than others.
Yesterday at work I was arguing with fellow instructor about Heath Care Reform. She stated "as a producer how can you support giving to people who do nothing?" I told her that it's my MORAL responsibility to do so. She retorted that what I was saying was nonsense and socialist. We have argued before about liberalism, in general, and health care, in particular, and agree to disagree. The thing that bugs me about her arguments is that she is very religious. She claims to go to church and she claims to be devote. I thought I was totally in bounds when I asked: What would Jesus do? She walked away in a huff. What is it about most Christianistas? They don't want to admit that Jesus was a socialist?
"Blessed are the poor,"
"do Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth," and "go, sell what you have, and give to the poor."
Again I tell you, "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
I'm not a christian, quite the opposite, I'm a devote atheist. I've read the bible though, several times, and I always come away with the idea that Jesus promoted Social Justice I guess the Republicans are RINOs Religious In Name Only.
I've had similar thoughts as well Ed. The comic made me laugh as I've pictured the same thing happening in my head many times. Not that Christians should 100% agree with HOW health care reform is being done, but that the basic concept fits in line with Jesus' teachings. People have just demonized socialist concepts so strongly while blindly (or maybe not so blindly?) supporting them when it benefits them. Then again it's what happens when people look up to our modern day Joseph McCarthys for political guidance.
ReplyDeleteChristian to Atheist: How can one look at all that exists around him, and not believe?
ReplyDeleteC.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien & Lee Strobel might inspire you...
Not all Republicans are bible thumping Christians. I don't want to continue to fund the lives of people who have no ambition to do anything for themselves. Prime example: I recently was told that a certain family member doesn't clip coupons because most organic food companies don't print them. Well, that's fine. However, this is a woman, who is married with an baby, collects $500! a month in food stamps! Really? You need $500 a month in food stamps for 3 people (one of which is a year old)? Wow. So, while my husband and I work and pay taxes, these two adults work a combined 2 days a week, chill the rest of the week and consume $500 worth of organic food. That makes me SICK! But, not sick enough to want this Health Care Reform either. Which, by the way, we pay for ourselves, as my husband is a contractor and I work independently. It's expensive, but not as expensive as creating a nation of lazy people who depend on the government to subsidize their lack of work ethic. I especially get annoyed at the fact that those same people constantly expecting a handout are the same ones that are so often spewing some bullshit about how they hate government. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteWe pay no matter what! Hospitals that treat anyone shift those costs and health care costs rise for everyone. To the tune of 17% of GDP the highest in the world! I would rather pay for the "lazy" few and provide good preventative care so over all costs are controlled, ER's are not clogged with people lacking insurance, and people receive treatment for infection thereby mitigating nasty super bugs like MRSA
ReplyDeleteWho cares if your relative uses food stamps to buy organic food. I would RATHER her buy organic than the crap produced by Frito Lay, Kelloggs, Kraft, etc... At least there some nutritional value in organic food.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I think you're missing the point here...
ReplyDeletePeople like you and I are paying for others to do absolutely nothing and reap the same benefits that we work our hands to the bone for. Doesn't that bother you in the least? And not only is this woman in question, sitting idle and waiting for a handout, but she's being selective and unreasonable about what she receives from your pocketbook! This woman probably eats better than you do...
I'm a Christian. And I too, am not in favor of this new, Healthcare legislation, but not because I don't want others to receive the medical benefits that I believe we are all entitled to. Rather, I'm a skeptic of the bill because I'm being FORCED to comply with something that Nancy Pelosi has shoved down my throat. I'm also a little uncomfortable with the idea that my children and future generations will bare the cost burdens associated with the bill. It's no secret, that the U.S. is currently hemorrhaging money with no end in site, and rather than try to save a few bucks, our government decides to 'make history,' to the detriment of every American citizen for the next 50+ years. Ironically, as much as we need some sort of Healthcare legislation, most Americans didn't want this bill to pass. (I wonder why?) Nevertheless, our government didn't care enough to listen to the masses, and the bill pushed and shoved its way to the mighty pen residing the all-powerful hands of our Commander & Chief ! I thought this was a Democracy?! Am I wrong?
In regard to the comments about Christianity and 'Moral Responsibility,' it's important to understand that Christians are 'human' too. Sure, we all have a moral responsibility (not just Christians), but that doesn't mean we have to like it or adhere to it! Christians are capable of compassion, acceptance, understanding, love and of course, sin. (Just look at the GOP). The sin here being that not all Christians are too keen on the idea of a life-long, governmental Robin Hood scenario for the masses. And that's a perfectly acceptable human emotion. Why vilify someone for standing their ground? But that's what the whole premise of forgiveness is about...yes, we sin. We can't think of butterflies and rainbows all day long; we have to live our lives and act in relation to what happens around us. Just like you...
To answer your question about "What Would Jesus Do?"...I'd like to think that Jesus wouldn't do anything that I do. Like I said before, I'm a Christian, but I'm not a saint. But I also like to think that if Jesus were here, he wouldn't have let society get to the point it's at today. There has to be some type of order and accountability in life, and lately, everybody wants to point the finger at someone else. There is nothing 'just' or 'right' about how we, as a society, live today! We take our own lives and the lives of others; engage in, and watch the sinful nature of people around us and validate it as, 'art;' and we place evil people on a pedestal and praise them for their pioneering, yet questionable values. We have become so angry, yet so apathetic as a society. It's truly disheartening.
(See next post)
And just so we're clear, Jesus was also not a socialist. "Jesus Christ, who is God in the flesh, talks about the third way in Matthew 6. He tells His listeners that they should give individual charity. He also says they should give such charity secretly: "Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."
ReplyDeleteIn other words, Jesus is not a socialist. Nor is he a liberal. In fact, in none of the Bible passages just cited, nor in any others I know of, does Jesus, God or even Moses cite the government as the means by which the poor, needy, widowed and orphaned are housed, clothed and fed."
And finally, I'd like to address, Sloth. The bible teaches Christians that Sloth is the sin of laziness. Perhaps this is the reason that your Christian friend is opposed to working hard and using her resources to facilitate the slothful nature of others, which in her haste, might be the argument that she cannot convey.
I know of a man (whom I've met personally) who has a wife and three kids. He works as an airport ramper in Montana, and when asked to work overtime by his supervisor, he declined, sighting that he would be ineligible for food stamps if he worked any overtime. Disgusting.
You're entitled to your view, as am I, but I find it unsettling that your ideas are inline with this slothful attitude that is exponentially multiplying in people all over our great nation.
Would you want your family; your children to harbor this sense of entitlement? Most people would say, no.
So, regardless of your race, religion or value system, it's important to look at what something like this Healthcare bill is really breeding in our country and ask if it's the right thing, right now?
For me, the answer is, no.
And just so we're clear, Jesus was also not a socialist. "Jesus Christ, who is God in the flesh, talks about the third way in Matthew 6. He tells His listeners that they should give individual charity. He also says they should give such charity secretly: "Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."
ReplyDeleteIn other words, Jesus is not a socialist. Nor is he a liberal. In fact, in none of the Bible passages just cited, nor in any others I know of, does Jesus, God or even Moses cite the government as the means by which the poor, needy, widowed and orphaned are housed, clothed and fed."
And finally, I'd like to address, Sloth. The bible teaches Christians that Sloth is the sin of laziness. Perhaps this is the reason that your Christian friend is opposed to working hard and using her resources to facilitate the slothful nature of others, which in her haste, might be the argument that she cannot convey.
I know of a man (whom I've met personally) who has a wife and three kids. He works as an airport ramper in Montana, and when asked to work overtime by his supervisor, he declined, sighting that he would be ineligible for food stamps if he worked any overtime. Disgusting.
You're entitled to your view, as am I, but I find it unsettling that your ideas are inline with this slothful attitude that is exponentially multiplying in people all over our great nation.
Would you want your family; your children to harbor this sense of entitlement? Most people would say, no.
So, regardless of your race, religion or value system, it's important to look at what something like this Healthcare bill is really breeding in our country and ask if it's the right thing, right now?
For me, the answer is, no.
I think some people are against the HCR because of liars like Betsy McCaughey (original perpetrator of the death panel lie) and Sarah Palin. Some of the people who will benefit the most are against it because they believe everything that comes out of mouths fo Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity. Last night Gingrich and Hannity spewed endless lies about the Nuclear Arms Reduction Treaty just signed by Obama. It really cracks me up that people thing Obama is so radical. I honestly think he's middle of the road verging on conservative.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Jesus being God and all that... just not my cup of tea. Actually I think whatever it is that Christianity as evolved into is so far from what Jesus said that he wouldn't recognize it AND he would wonder why all these crazy gentiles and spouting his name.
"People like you and I are paying for others to do absolutely nothing and reap the same benefits that we work our hands to the bone for. Doesn't that bother you in the least?"
ReplyDeleteI'm not "anonymous," but nonetheless I can answer this for myself: Nope. It does not bother me in the least.
I work 50-60 hours a week, every week, at a good job that I got by working my butt off for years and graduating #1 in my class. I know about hard work. Through my work, I am able to generate much more than what is required for the direct needs of myself and my family, and I am more than happy to share that with my neighbors and my fellow human beings. Even those that don't "deserve" it... even the despised that "sit idle waiting for a handout." It does not bother me a bit, in fact it gives me satisfaction. For one thing, I know that in addition to the hard work that I've done and continue to do every long day, I have had my share of fortune. Even in regard to "work," I realize that I had the fortune of being raised in such a way that I can see the value of hard work. Not everyone is so fortunate. I've also had the love, goodwill and support necessary to continue along my path, and realize the fruits of my labor. Again, many of the "slothful" that you despise were not so lucky. And at the end of the day, when I think of the truly slothful, disdained ones that absolutely refuse to work for the betterment of themselves...I would still rather share my surplus with them than imprison myself behind the walls of my own greed. Who am I to say that their sloth could possibly be worse than my own petty pride in my work, selfishness and spite? There are many unfortunate souls that truly are deserving of compassion and goodwill that I hope will benefit from the excess resources that I generate. Yet, given the choice, I would even use it on those that don't "deserve" it before I would prop it up as some silly altar of pride and attachment.
Joey you, my friend, are a remarkable man! I knew you were a great soul when I met you as a student and now I am grateful and lucky to know you. Your words and heart are truly benevolent.
ReplyDelete