can Xtianity be saved from Xtians?

[Nazz]

the rest of us are getting on with our lives
these people are standing on a hill waiting for the END
this is not your father’s christianity, or maybe it is
our leaders, pastors, butcher, baker, candle-bomb maker

no one noticed when they killed jesus
replaced him with a goddamned corporation
the one time he got pissed, the money changers
money changers in the temple, greed of a temper
by now I’m so angry I could have done it myself

no one noticed when they edited him out
the matthew mark luke and john of it
the beatitudes of it, wine from water of it
gone, disinherited, poof, now pass the ammo.
we shall secure the holy land, our land, not theirs
every goddamned inch of it, you know.
and we shall kick a little ass before we go
up in a cloud, the rapture capture
and jesus is irrelevant
christ is irrelevant
this is christianity

[sweetwater]

it's a perspective
and one commonly believed

but i suppose it depends on who
you hang around with

nuns are no more misinformed
than consumerists

is there such a thing as christian mysticism?

[Nazz]

"fundamentalist," or "evangelical" christianity is a multi-billion dollar wacko cult that is trying to take over the U.S., and by extension, the world, so that jesus christ will "come back" to "save us." it's all about the END TIMES, baby! "evangelicals" typically see little or no point in caring for the environment, making peace in the Middle East, or pursuing any other responsible, compassionate and sensible goals. To them, humanity is inherently wretched, and their favorite prophets have "prophesied" an unavoidable great tribulation. so why even try to fix anything? no point in it, right? many of these folks are about as loony and greedy and dangerously violent in their beliefs as they come, and they chalk up the utter madness to God's Will! no kidding! "evangelical" christianity, or "fundamentalist" christianity," or "christian zionists," have virtually nothing to do with christianity as I see it. I see these group(s) as a dangerous and powerful cult offshoot, having virtually nothing to do with jesus christ, the foundation.

ah yes! feels good to finally get that long-building rant, that liberating rant out of the way! and so early in the day! bonus! btw, the usual disclaimer applies-- no offense intended to any sane christians who might hang out here.

[Barry]

I was always more into gnostic christianity, myself. Secret knowledge, you know? I mean, the Dark Side of the Moon album cover is credited as being designed by Hip Gnosis. What could be more Jesusy than that?

I'll be standing around on 12/13, 2012 listening to the folken make up excuses why the world didn't end. Just like I do with my Born Again Christian friends now.

Forever and ever amen

[Nazz]

Yeah Barry, it's awfully nutty and just plain creepy with these folks at times. Gives me the heebies. I probably mentioned this before, in 2005 I picked up the Albuquerque Weekly, one of those hip local news magazines, somewhere near the U. of New Mexico campus. It had a several-page article on the End Timers-- quite insane. It talked about one guy in Texas who was trying to breed an orange calf or something because it's mentioned in Revelation and it might hasten the second coming. It talked about the parents of an acquaintance of the writer, who refused to put a new roof on their house in the '70s because Jesus was coming to whisk them away any day. The roof structure ended up rotting out and had to be completely rebuilt.

And that is a fitting metaphor to capture the overall mindset of so many of this bunch-- Jesus will come any day now to save us, and therefore we don't need to hold ourselves accountable for dealing with world problems and taking care of the planet. My own parents were End Timers, though they did not take it to such extremes. I just don't see it. Like I say, gives me the willies sometimes.

[Barry]

Have you read Canceling Armageddon down there in Things Nobody Wants To Hear, Nazz? I love it, and even though I wrote it, I can say that. It was these End Timers I had in mind when I wrote it. I'd truly love to see it published in some kind of mag all those Born Again End Timers read regularly but, alas, what's the chance of that happening? It opens with Jesus, perpetually kept 13 in heaven, at the rehersals for Armageddon, disgusted with the whole thing, all this appetite for destruction/preparation for the end of everything, as he puts it. He even thinks to himself, "Fuck, I hate this." Jesus! Thinking Fuck! It's blasphemous. Anyway, it's for these End Timers you speak of. It's their answer. They just don't get it.

[Nazz]

I missed that one, Barry. Did you post it here? Sounds like something I'd like to dig into. I've written various things on this general theme-- "Return of the Warrior Jesus," and "Theology" come to mind. Oh, and "I Hate Jesus" as well. (so many people took that one literally!)

edit-- I hadn't noticed your "art-log" below until now. Will check it out.