Gandhianity

[greyl]

Firstly, this is slightly tongue in cheek, however I am interested in how people respond after giving it serious consideration.

Time and again, liberal Christians claim that Jesus is the ultimate role model for how humans should live.
When illiberal passages of the Bible are pointed out to them, they resort to what I believe is simply a modern construct of a hero based on thoughtful revisionism of Jesus mythology. In so many words, they deny that Jesus ever condoned anything that the most progressive, peaceful, and reasonable person could find fault with; Jesus, to them, is an ultimate hero figure. This especially applies to those who assert that Jesus wasn't supernatural ie no virgin birth, no resurrection etc.
Some are quick to forgive offensive passages in the Bible by either pointing out that they shouldn't be taken literally, or by saying that the passages were appropriate for a certain time, place, and people but that it's now safe to disregard them. Afterall, the message of Jesus was flawless.
So, is the modern rational progressive idea of Jesus just the best person imaginable, 2000 year old dogma be damned? I suspect so.
All that in mind, what would be the shortcomings and advantages, relative to Christianity, of constructing a modern ultimate role model or Hero Myth based on someone who was actually a modern hero, such as Mohandas Gandhi?

If you're one who believes in the virgin birth, resurrection, or transubstantiation etc, this thought experiment might not go too far. For those who would prefer to construct an ultimate hero more appropriate to the world of 2006, fine. I think that's what the most rational Liberal Christians are doing anyway, though I seriously doubt any of them actually follow the example of their ultimate hero figure.

Before posting, I found Gandhism at wikipedia. Please try to refrain from looking at that article if you plan on replying in this thread. Again, this isn't necessarily about Gandhi - he's just a point of reference to start with.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhism

[OutNow]

1. Gandhi as Hero

Just yesterday on DU (in the discussion about Lynne Stewart) I described Gandhi as a hero and an appropriate role model for lawyers when faced with obeying the "rule of law" when the law is corrupt; whether it is the apartheid law in South Africa where Gandhi first practiced law or the colonial British law in India. There comes a time when lawyers, and the rest of us, must decide to consciously disobey the law. Somewhat surprisingly, a DUer (who is a practicing attorney) strongly disagreed and said that a lawyer (even Gandhi?) must always adhere to the law and regulations because they are officers of the court.

Is this era of creeping fascism, at some point we must say enough is enough. I've just about reached that point myself. I'm good, and I am of German extraction, but I'll be damned if I'll be a good German.

Bring the troops home now.

[greyl]

2. I think I would've disagreed with them right along with ya.

I'm a post-conventional logic type, as well.
:thumbsup:

[TallahasseeGrannie]

3. Oh boy!

Cool. I've been pretty sick. Well, very sick. Nice to be back. Kind of back. Well, I'm alive anyway.

Hmmm. Ghandi as the hero myth? Unfortunately, we have PICTURES of Ghandi and they just can't compete with my mind Jesus, who is, frankly, a hunk.

I remember when my son was 4 and ET won the Oscars and there were birthday plates, hats, and party stuff with ET on them. When Ghandi won the next year, he wanted to know whether or not soon there would be Ghandi party packages. And I think that pretty much sums it up.

Now, I personally don't believe in transubstantiation because I couldn't make it through the Eucharist if I did.

In another life, I am also a florist. I own a shop. We do a lot of business with black funeral homes and I have a lot of cards with black hunky Jesuses on them.

I think we all want our zenith god to be perfect physically and mentally. Otherwise they wouldn't be God.

[greyl]

4. Hey, I'm glad you're recovering.

When does your prescription run out? ;)

[TallahasseeGrannie]

5. Thanks

yesterday I was afraid I might live. I have another gut wrenching three days on the penicillin.

[varkam]

6. I've always wanted a Ghandi action figure...

you know - one with karate chopping action! Maybe he could say things, too, like "Passively resist THIS!" Egads I have a warped sense of humor.

I think we all want our zenith god to be perfect physically and mentally.

What? You mean my God can't have a gambling problem and a bloated mortgage? Are you telling my God what he can and can't do? He can do anything! Including lose $400 playing keno.

All kidding aside, I'm sorry to hear that you were ill but am glad that you are recovering.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

8. If a gambling problem

and a bloated mortgage is criteria, I AM THE LORD.

Actually, I don't really have a gambling PROBLEM. People who play with me do.

[greyl]

7. Seriously,

are you saying you believe Jesus is God? You don't think he was a "normal" human?

I wasn't expecting anyone to give a damn about the physical attributes of a modern hero. So, when you say "we all want our zenith god to be perfect physically and mentally", I think you may be incorrect. Why do you believe Jesus was sexually attractive?

[TallahasseeGrannie]

9. I think he was sexually attractive

because he was in his early 30's and unmarried and had that whole alpha macho vibe going on. And great hair. Like Fabio.

I think that is a powerful image for women, particularly. If you had a good Daddy experience (as I did) then Jesus just fits in and takes his place. If you had a BAD Daddy experience, then Jesus can make up for it. (or so we like to think)

I think men, in particular, have trouble with the wimp Jesus. The "lamb" of God. People want to think that their God is basically a nice guy, who won't hesitate to smite our enemies. Kind of like the US government. We all know what would happen to North Korea if they actually nuked somebody. I guess there is some sort of a myth tag to place on that, but I'm not familiar enough with mythology to identify it.

[Evoman]

10. Ha...this actually really makes sense.

Gandhi was nowhere near as attractive as Jesus right? BUT...I once saw a painting of Gandhi...exaggerated and cartoonish, but he looked pretty damn good in it (on edit: I looked on the net for about 15 minutes trying to find it, but no look). Now imagine that there is a nuclear war, and only a small percentage of people survive. Tired of violence,these people tell their kids, and grandkids and grand grand kids about a man....a man who had a LOT of women (look it up..Gandhi was a slut), but a man of great peace. A man who took down an empire with non-violent protest. The only picture that survived, are old, worn out ones, and a cartoony, exaggerated picture that survived the war. Bet ya that within 5 generations, Gandhi is the new Jesus.

Within 10 generations, the followers of Gandhi decide that such a magnificent man HAD to have had an amazing origin. No doubt he was born of a virgin, who had dreams delivered by a great being, who told her she would give birth to a special baby. His name would be Gandhi.

And some day, Gandhi will come back. All the wars over the small amount of resources left on the shattered earth will stop when this lamb of peace comes back.

Think I'm bullshiting? Just google "Cargo Cults" to see how quickly people make up new religions.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

11. When I was about 10

I found a picture of some old Indian dude (whom I now realize was Ghandi) and I laughed out loud at it for days. He really was rather unique, with his glasses and all.

As a believer I shouldn't agree with you, but actually I do. I think false prophets rise up by the bushel basket. I just happen to believe that one of them was the real article...but we agree about all the rest! That's a good place to start.

And you know the temple virgins just knew that Zeus was a hunk. He HAD to be. All those guys were hunks.

[Book Lover]

13. Actually, that is incorrect

Vulcan was depicted as lame and brutish. Also, female virgins did not serve in those temples dedicated to Zeus.

[greyl]

12. Is it this photo?

[greyl]

14. gentle nudge nt