The one photo from the
Fucking Religious Freaks diary really got me going.
Is it really faith? Or is it just posing for the cameras?
Wasn't it Jesus who preached against preforming religious acts only to attract the attention of others?
Jesus' own words after the fold.
(But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words...
..."When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,>so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.
-Matthew 6:1-7, 16-18
Those were the words of Jesus, as found in the Gospel accodring to Matthew. For people
claiming to be devout Christians, they sure are ignoring the words of Jesus.
I want my religion back.
Happy Easter, He is risen.
Update [2005-3-27 5:43:54 by secret asian man]:I'm pretty sure this is sacreligious:
For days, a life-size crucifix has been dominating the growing congregation of protesters outside the Woodside Hospice. Streaks of red paint symbolizing blood stained the points of the horizontal arms of the cross. On the top of the vertical arm, where a traditional Catholic crucifix bears the letters "I.N.R.I." -- for the Latin phrase "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" -- someone had substituted a sign that read "Terri Schiavo."
Emphasis is mine, of course.