Hi Del, sorry I didn't respond to your question. I think I read it when I wasn't feeling like talking. And I guess I had to think about it.
I have an image in my mind of what Christ must have been like, as a person. Regardless of whether or not he was the Messiah, or part of the Holy Trinity, I believe he was a person who lived about 2000 years ago, who preached a philosophy/religion that is worthy of emulation. If we all lived like Christ, the world would be a better place. So he fits with Kant's categorical imperative, and pretty much every other definition of right living/right thinking/right action I am aware of.
So I look at the Old Testament, which is a collection of works by many men, over a long period of time, and I ask myself, "is what I read consistent with the teachings of Christ?" And, if it's not, I reject it.
I admit that it's not just Christ I want to emulate. There are many people who clearly saw the difference between right and wrong, who strived to live accordingly. I guess it's easiest with Christ because we don't really know anything bad about him, whereas with, say, John Stuart Mill or Mark Twain or H.L. Mencken, we know the bad stuff, or at least a lot of it.
That's the long answer. The short answer is that I let my conscience be my guide. |
