Tag: religion

Evangelical Pastors

Capitalism is full among evangelical pastors. I am not saying that it constitutes any demerit, but capitalizing on God’s name sounds to me too aggressive marketing. Why do I go back where I could avoid it? In all times and in various religions, the spiritual leader was an ascetic: denying the pleasures of the flesh, he paid for the title of spiritual authority. Exactly with the evangelical church this has changed, and today the pastor wears full costume, has wife and drives luxurious cars. Is it strange only for me? I perceive, disconcertedly, the obsession of pastors with the Pharisees: I see them condemning, in one package, knowledge and greed. But I have never seen, nor have heard, in all my life, of a single middle church pastor in financial difficulties: more, preaching pays them like successful businessmen. I think we need a redefinition: what is greed? Above all, who always represented greed in ancient times?

I go on — and I shudder at the obsession: — only those who turn their backs on money can speak about greed. And if I see an evangelical pastor with more money than his acolytes, I consider him a hypocrite. Patience, a lot of patience with my generalizations… But it is not me preaching that we are all brothers. Why does not the pastor lead by example? He could willingly begin by sharing his wealth and keeping to himself only what is necessary for life — and to spread his word as a messenger of God. But is the pastor content with so little? Absolutely not! The pastor wants luxury apartments and cars, wants to travel around the world and considers himself the son of God, that is, he thinks he is able to enjoy, too, the pleasures of capital. All right, all right… And each one dealing with your own greed and looking at the hypocritical face in the mirror.

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Inaccuracy of Biblical Texts

There is an extremely irritating argument in the rebuttal of biblical texts: precariousness in the process of reconstruction and transmission of ancient texts. Well, if we consider that the methods of transmission were precarious to the point of compromising the authenticity of what was written — and we have minimal coherence, — then we will have to throw in the trash all that was produced in antiquity; soon, we will be proclaiming the falsehood of, to cite a single example, all the work of Aristotle. I believe it is absurd to believe in the falsehood of what has been written and passed on in the light of thousands of witnesses over time, in absolute focus of attention: to this end, it will be necessary to believe in the joint action of many men of different generations in favor of forgery . This, to me, is a cowardly offense to the honorable initiative of so many over the centuries in order to preserve human knowledge; if we proceed in this way, we will end up strictly considering invalid the entire cultural production other than that of modernity.

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The Common Christian

Despite attending the cults, parties, actively participating in the community, publishing proverbs and apologetic messages on social networks, I do not see a single distinction in the conduct of the common Christian before the rest of the people. Jesus’ prescription of conduct is, of course, recorded, but how many follow it? I think that the Christian necessarily should differ from the others, otherwise we would be Christians by inertia. I see this, for example, in Islamists. And what does the ordinary Christian do in our day? Do he sings on full voice during the service? He pays tithing? Even leaders: what currency do they pay for the title of spiritual authority? I wonder, that’s funny!… I just saw an evangelical pastor, dressed in social, entering a pub, eating a pie and following his life. I felt suddenly that I could pick up a microphone myself and, well dressed, preach to half a dozen faithful.

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