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Christianity at the Crossroads, at the Final Parting of the Ways


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Christianity at the Crossroads, at the Final Parting of the Ways


Jesus Taught: The God-given Social Laws and Social System

The social laws and social system of the Pentateuch ensure freedom and material independence and provide a good life of high quality here and now, backed by effective social security. No one may oppress or exploit another and all are equal, as a matter of God-given law.
See     The God-given Human Rights, Social Laws and Social System.

Jesus taught that all the social laws and the social system of the Pentateuch had to be kept, that belief and practice included and had also to include the Ten Commandments and the Good Government (Kingship) laws.

The Ten Commandments underlie freedom, independence and strength to oppose and resist oppression.

The Good Government (Kingship) laws lay down that those in positions of trust, responsibility or authority must not oppress people and also forbid personal gain from the misuse of authority or position. Those in authority must not be promiscuous and must not amass wealth.

See     ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY and JUDAISM     about What Jesus Actually Taught
The Pentateuch's Social Cause-and-Effect Relationship is a scientific law which applies to all without exception and at all times. It clearly states that increasingly disregarding the laws (rules of behaviour) results in greater suffering and oppression, increasingly behaving according to the laws results in greater freedom, liberty, independence and a better life. The prophets knew and understood this relationship, and predicted accordingly, just as we now know and understand it. The consequences of keeping or not keeping the Pentateuch's laws are inescapable. What happens to one is in the end the inevitable result of one's own behaviour.
In     The God-given Human Rights, Social Laws and Social System     see section on 'Unavoidable Consequences of One's Behaviour'.

The Social Cause-and-Effect Relationship is also listed (in biblical language and in plain English) in Appendix 4 of     Struggle for Freedom: The Social Cause-and-Effect Relationship,    with detailed references to the Pentateuch text.


The Catholic Church Preaches (Teaches)

Paul acted on behalf of the rich and powerful when he proclaimed that those in authority were God's representatives on earth and had to be obeyed, and that some of the Pentateuch's social laws and social system did not have to be kept. What Paul said and put forward apparently became official Christian doctrine and is still taught today. But it is neither God's word nor is it according to what Jesus taught.

See     ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY and JUDAISM     about What Actually Happened and Later Changes

Hence, according to the Social Cause-and-Effect Relationship, the Christian establishment condemns Christians to unavoidable harsh and inescapable consequences, to suffering and hardships, in measure with the extent to which they follow the ideology of Paul which the Catholic Church teaches and preaches.

And, when looking at Genesis Chapter 3 (Adam and Eve in Garden of Eden) we see that this is apparently interpreted by the Catholic Church as if it implied some kind of personal guilt. What we are being told in teachings about 'original sin' or a 'fallen humanity' appears to be: 'Do not blame the Church (its doctrine, its teachings, its hierarchy), the government, or the oppressor, for the sufferings and hardships of your lives, blame yourself.'

See     Social Policies (Doctrine) of the Roman Catholic Church: An Evaluation

So it appears that the teachings of the religious hierarchy condemn their Christian believers to sufferings and hardships. At the same time the hierarchy seems to expect believers to blame themselves for the consequences of following the hierarchy's teachings.


Here are just a few isolated examples from the Church's social teachings:

The Pentateuch's right to social security enables the recipient to remain an independent breadwinner, to remain the master of his fate. The Church replaces the 'right' to effective social security, with 'charity', stating
the more fortunate ... should place their goods more generously at the service of others.
Charity can be used to exploit the needs of the needy by making the recipient indebted to, and depending on, the giver for survival.


In the context of management, government and church-state relations, participation means participating in decision-making.

But it seems that to the Church it is rulers who decide, that there is no question of participating in decision-making, of democratic decision-making by the people. This the Church shows by defining the word 'participation' to mean
participating (taking part) in activities with other people.
Participating in work being done or in community groups is a very different matter from participating in making the decisions.


As said already, Paul acted on behalf of the rich and powerful when he proclaimed that those in authority were God's representatives on earth and had to be obeyed, and that some of the Pentateuch's social laws and social system did not have to be kept. What Paul said and put forward apparently became official Christian doctrine and is still taught today. But it is neither God's word nor is it according to what Jesus taught.

See     Social Policies (Doctrine) of the Roman Catholic Church: An Evaluation

and see     Church and State, Government and Religion: Judaism, Christianity and Islam


Sources with Short Descriptions

Title   Description
     
The God-given Human Rights, Social Laws and Social System.   A comprehensive statement of the God-given human rights which underlie all freedom, liberty and independence. They underlie and determine a good life of high quality. See 'Press Notices'.
     
ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY and JUDAISM: What Actually Happened, What Jesus Actually Taught and Later Changes   Proves by methods of biblical archaeology what Jesus really taught, how Paul changed what Jesus had taught and how this became Christianity's official doctrine. Outstanding are the sections on Paul and the Gospels. See 'Press Notices'.
     
Struggle for Freedom: The Social Cause-and-Effect Relationship   Major review and analysis of the social laws and social system of the Torah (Pentateuch) and of the Social Cause-and-Effect Relationship. Also reviews the role of religion and of Judaism under modern conditions.
     
Social Policies (Doctrine) of the Roman Catholic Church: An Evaluation   The essential and fundamental social doctrines are evaluated in plain and meaningful language. About important principles of faith in relation to globalisation and benevolent church-state-people policies. Aims of the Church's doctrines and the consequences for Catholics. Challenging decisions are needed.
     
Judaism, Christianity and Islam (Church and State, Government and Religion)   Shows that underlying Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the Pentateuch's benevolent and egalitarian social laws and social system. Reveals for each religion the controversies and conflicts between church and state, between beliefs and practice. See 'Press Notices'.



Manfred Davidmann

Manfred Davidmann is an internationally well-known and respected scientist and author of a number of books and reports which have had and are having considerable impact. His work usually breaks new ground and opens up new understanding and is written in meaningful and easily understood language. Outstanding is that his work is generally accepted as factual, objective and unbiased.



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