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It seems to me that Jesus did drink wine like everybody else in his society and counseled people that greed was the root of evil. The latter would make him a socialist in the terms of the RW's in America. Jesus made a lot of sense if a peaceful and prosperous society was your goal.
First of all, whether or not Jesus drank wine, does not excuse the derogatory description used. Secondly, Jesus was not a socialist. He called on individuals to do good of their own free will. He would never ask mankind to bow to a governmental king or ruler and rely on the government to tell them what is good to do or be forced to give. Finally, this was not a UC Berkeley college course. This was a public high school class reading assignment. This is not the place to teach young minds the evils of capitalism and virtues of socialism let alone debate the virtues or political leanings of Christ.
But not to get off of the OP. You are attempting to hijack the thread.
Perhaps you are forgetting that there is a difference between Private Organizations and Government Organizations. Free Country = Free Speech for All Opinions via PRIVATE Venues. Fascism/Totalitarianism = Government Controlled Speech using Media/Arts to Indoctrinate and control the people. This is a public school. The public school is the government. They should not be promoting either anti-Christianity or Socialism. There is a big difference between Private and Government. It would be nice to keep it that way.
a crass way of describing jesus but....... accurate. he did drink wine, he was a homeless nomad, he was wise beyond his years and if an economic philosophy were ascribed to jesus based on his teachings it would be much closer to socialism than free-market capitalism. i think this is a good example of what a lot of people here are guilty of, getting a little over-dramatic in the description of a person/issue while technically correct is still a distortion.
as for the actual book..... haven't read it so i have no direct opinion. i do find it interesting that the three people in this thread that have read it haven't got an issue with it being read at a high school level.
First of all, whether or not Jesus drank wine, does not excuse the derogatory description used. Secondly, Jesus was not a socialist. He called on individuals to do good of their own free will. He would never ask mankind to bow to a governmental king or ruler and rely on the government to tell them what is good to do or be forced to give. Finally, this was not a UC Berkeley college course. This was a public high school class reading assignment. This is not the place to teach young minds the evils of capitalism and virtues of socialism let alone debate the virtues or political leanings of Christ.
Just wondering - did you read the book? Or is this another of those contamination by osmosis things like the art exhibit in the National Portrait Gallery?
I always find this line of argument fascinating. On the one hand, we are expecting our high school students to be able to make decisions about what college or university to attend or whether or not to join the military and any other number of life-altering choices.
On the other hand, we somehow feel that they are not mature enough to be exposed to different points of view that might just teach them much-needed critical thinking skills. Many high school students are in their late teens - quite a few are actually 18 or 19 when they graduate. Old enough to vote even.
Is there some magic switch that flips on in the intervening months between high school graduation and college entrance that somehow makes them mature enough to handle this material once they are attending college?
I really wish people would stop underestimating our young people.
As for what Jesus would or wouldn't have us do, He was very clear about our responsibility to government ("Render unto Caesar...") Funny how people always chose to ignore that.
First of all, whether or not Jesus drank wine, does not excuse the derogatory description used. Secondly, Jesus was not a socialist. He called on individuals to do good of their own free will. He would never ask mankind to bow to a governmental king or ruler and rely on the government to tell them what is good to do or be forced to give. Finally, this was not a UC Berkeley college course. This was a public high school class reading assignment. This is not the place to teach young minds the evils of capitalism and virtues of socialism let alone debate the virtues or political leanings of Christ.
Actually Jesus told us to "render unto Caesar." Paul further exhorts us to be obedient to government because leaders are there by God's divine appointment. Also if you look very closely at the Act's of the Apostles it models a communist society.
I know. Lets all sit around and have a book burning. Throw those Harry Potter books in there as well.
It's scary, isn't it? That a school teacher can't assign a book and have it objectively debated by the students without people flipping out.
I remember a bunch of parents freaking out over Animal Farm when I was in Jr. High because it 'taught communism'...
People, quit flipping out...it's a book and it's assigned for healthy debate and discussion. I read the Bible in high school for religious studies class and it didn't make me a Christian. It's a book for heaven's sake!
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