Christ the philosopher

[Guest guest]

Dear Jagbir, dear Violet and all,

 

Two days ago i've read the following article in the newspaper. i've translated

it into

english, then i rushed to the bookshop. i've just bought the book it refers to

and will soon

post you some excerpts.

 

Enjoy!!!!!

 

with Love, nicole

 

http://www.lematin.ch/pages/home/tendances/societe/tendances_societe_detail?

contenu=379455

of the magazine « Le Monde des Religions » (The world of Religions),

philosopher,

historian, Frederic Lenoir describes, in an essay named « le Christ Philosophe »

(« The

Philosopher Christ ») the paradoxal destiny of Christianism. More than a

religion, the

philosophical message of Christ inspired fondamentally the human rights as its

humanist

values of equality, emancipation of the individual or of political parting from

the religion

were for a longtime not put into practice by the Church. « Too revolutionary »

for the time,

said the author.

 

In what was the message of Christ so subversive ?

It is on many points, but mainly on the emancipation of the individual in

societies where

the group is considered as superior to the individual. Christ links directly

each individual

to God, showing that religious tradition is a mediation that can be useful, but

not

compulsory, for salvation.

 

It seems to be in contradiction with the very idea of religion…

That's right, religion defines a collective belief and establishes hierarchies

between human

beings. Yet, the message of Christ is deeply humanist , the message that

precisely gave

birth to western modernity and its values. The philosophers of the « Lumières »

would not

have existed in another world.

 

Could Christianism be a philosophy and a religion ?

It is not totally a religion neither a philosophy. Of course it is a religion,

but based on a

philosophical universal message that puts into perspective the social,

political or religious

aspects by calling for personal freedom, for inner truth, for absolute dignity

of each and

every human being.

 

How to explain that this message has been misunderstood for so long, and even

perverted

?

The human being needs strong landmarks, dogmas, certainties. Yet Christ

overturns

those traditional landmarks by sending back the individual to its

responsabilities and its

freedom. It is not necessarily easy-going…

 

You say that it is his success that led his message to perversion….

This is what says Kierkegaard : The moment christianism becomes too much

spread, that

every one is born christian and is christened, it loses its singularity that is

a real personal

conversion. A christian is truly someone who follows the Christ, who steps into

Christ

steps. If everybody becomes christian his message loses its force, it becomes an

habit, a

mere social rite.

 

The moment the religion has been challenged christianism came back to the

original

message….

By criticising the excess of the Church the « Lumières » philosophers have

forced the

christians to come back to the source of its genuine message. And christians who

pretend

to be christians in a world which is globally no more christian are more

involved. Basically

the chance of Christianism is that it has been fought.

 

 

What future for Christianism today ? Is it condemed to continue to exist in its

laic form ?

It may exist in three forms . Its traditional religious form, but less and less

people feel

really concerned. Its laique form : These are the humanist values that played an

important

part in the West and will continue so. And the spiritual aspect : Some

individuals are going

to live with these values : share, justice, non violence, all inspired by their

relationship

with God.

 

What about yourself ?

I feel more comfortable to be in the objective part. So i deliberately do not

take party for

one or the orther side, as i could appear suspicious. The aim of my book is to

reconcile

belivers with non-believers around this fondamental humanism, inspired by the

Gospels.

 

The values we owe to Chrisitianism :

 

Equality

In the antic world, there is always differences between man, woman, children,

adults,

citizens, slaves, etc.. Christ overturns this notion of hierarchy by showing

that all human

beings are children of God, and that they are all equal.

 

Individual freedom

Christianism offers freedom of choice. The children of God are free to leave

and come

back, they will be always welcome, never judged nor condemned. (Parable of the

prodigal

son)

 

The Human person

The perception of Christ for the human person as an autonomous subject is

absolutely

original. He restores the value of every human being in its full dignity and

freedom in front

of the group. It is the revelation of the singularity of every human being, but

also the

universal nature of human dignity.

 

Splitting of powers

It is an absolutely new thing in the history of religions, Christ splitts off

politics from

religion : Give back to Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar…..

 

Social justice

Christ was closer to the poor and destitute people, but he never called for

social revolt.

The Gospel message being sharing necessity and not contempt for power and

wealth.

 

Non-violence, forgiveness and love

Christ teaches to never answer back to provocation and even requests love as an

answer. «

Love your ennemies and pray for your persecuters. Love is the central element of

his

message.

 

 

«Le Christ philosophe», Frédéric Lenoir, Editions Plon