Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman Do Fundamentalists (actually) Follow Jesus?
Mar 12, 2024
Delving into the alignment of fundamentalist beliefs with Jesus' teachings, exploring the revolutionary ethical teachings of Jesus, universal commandment of love, and the discrepancies between fundamentalist beliefs and Jesus' teachings. Discussion on promoting love in Christianity, frustration towards lack of research in writing, and the importance of personally studying Jesus' teachings.
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Jesus' Radical Ethical Teachings
- Jesus' ethical teachings stem from Jewish scriptures but radically reinterpret them by prioritizing universal love over tribalism.
- He expanded "neighbor" to mean all humans, even enemies, emphasizing radical love and ethical intensification rather than legalistic worship.
Fundamentalism's Shifted Focus
- Fundamentalism focuses intensely on literal Bible inerrancy, strict doctrines, and social agendas rather than original ethical teachings of Jesus.
- It has transitioned from theological concerns to being a conservative social movement centered around political and behavioral identities.
Contrasts Between Fundamentalism and Jesus
- Many fundamentalist ethical agendas, like anti-abortion and nationalism, are absent or contrary to Jesus' teachings of universal love and concern for outsiders.
- Jesus taught love includes enemies and foreigners, opposing the exclusionary nationalism and selective ethics common in fundamentalist circles.