I was just watching Real Time with Bill Maher where he was interviewing an author of books that examine how religious doctrine invades pragmatic, logical reason in very important levels of society. Bill himself did a movie recently called “Religulous”, a documentary that takes a look at the three Abrahamic religions and plays Devil’s advocate (no pun intended, honest) to a line up of their representatives. To put them into a socially recognizable bucket, they’re both Atheists – people that do not recognize God, and perhaps even refute His existence.
During the brief exchange, in reference to Jesus the author used the phrase “the Tiger Woods of compassion.” I liked that term a lot.
I’m originally Catholic, now just simply a practicing Catholic when the occasion arises and undecided the rest of the time. Growing up in Catholic school, I held the concept of Jesus – the story of his life – in very high regard. I just knew that to be a good person, I had to model myself after his wisdom. The peculiar thing was, after 5 years of Catholic school, I hadn’t realized that I was being taught that Jesus wasn’t only Godly, he was God. I couldn’t catch on to this huge leap – the proverbial “leap of faith”, and I’ve been examining the whole idea ever since.
To don a socially recgonized term, you could call me an “agnostic.” I don’t refute or claim anything. Just a bystander, I suppose.
In a way, I’ve read into Jesus’s story from both perspectives: inside and outside Christianity. And although I’ve spent most of my time examining him from outside of a religious context, I find there’s just as much value in looking at his life and actions as they were in the real world as I would seeing him as the Son of God.
Obviously, others could disagree with this, but I’m referring to this focus: Jesus’s life as a model for human, ethical behavior. He was the Tiger Woods of compassion. He actively sought out the most downtrodden of the poor and sinful, he walked with beggars, he offered himself to everyone he could. You don’t need a religious doctrine to recognize ideal human behavior or to sense what is good and kind. I think anyone can appreciate Jesus’s emphatic teachings on loving they neighbor and caring for your fellow woman and man.
When I see this extolled in religious worship, it encourages me. It feels at times that people of faith get distracted from the conduct and morality that Jesus prescribed to us. I would hope the compassion he taught and demonstrated in life is the pivotal core and result of a person’s journey through Christianity, and it reassures me when I see it in others. Bottom line, I’d imagine you’re missing the most important part of Christianity if you don’t accept his humility and goodwill to all.
There’s a lot of role models in this world, and you don’t have to be a beleiver in order to recognize a good example when you see one. Whether you’re convinced Jesus’s story is an exact chronicle of his life or that it belongs in the fiction section of the library, it’s no less a good lesson on acting like a good human being, which is something we should all strive to be.
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