Values Not Religion… This Guy

PART 1 ARTICLE 20 AUDIO FILE IN FOOTER

What makes the human side of this guy — known worldwide as Jesus — my coolest, and dare I say, most divine friend? It’s his values, not the complexities of organized religion, that resonate with me.

I emphasize the human side of Jesus because his most powerful teachings — those that won my heart back in Sunday School — often get overshadowed by the rigid dogmas and human ambitions woven into organized religion. Across centuries, organized religion has too often drifted from his core messages. I’ve yet to find a denomination untouched by distortions that make it harder to connect with the original, spiritual values of Jesus’ teachings.

Consider these timeless teachings:

– Love your neighbor.  

– Show compassion, even toward your enemy.  

– Embrace pacifism; turn the other cheek.  

– Treat everyone, especially those society neglects, with kindness.  

– Humbly serve others, as he did when washing the feet of the poor and downtrodden.  

– Prioritize giving to the poor over personal gain.  

– Stand against greed and corruption, as he did with the money changers in the temple 

– Among faith, hope, and love, he championed love as the greatest.  

– Among faith, hope, and charity, he raised charity as paramount.  

– He welcomed children, embracing their purity and innocence.  

– And, by legend, turned water into a fine pinot noir — perhaps the most divine example of radical kindness.

Here’s what strikes me about his values, in that same order:

Jesus embodies:  

– The GOAT (Greatest of All Time) for compassionate, humanist ideology  

– The essence of a pacifist, preaching peace over retaliation.  

– A sense of justice and empathy that feels truly inclusive.  

– A kind of humanism that extends to all, even society’s outcasts.  

– A generosity toward others that champions charity over personal wealth.  

– A revolutionary spirit that sought equality and integrity.  

– A deep love for children — true unconditional love. He loves children even after they leave the womb   

– And, in jest, a sommelier with divine skill.

Is it any wonder I’d choose him as my best friend, teacher, and guru?

I can imagine sharing a quiet moment over sushi, savoring life’s simple joys while discussing the profound. I’d love to walk along the beach or wander a forest trail with him, seeing the world through his eyes, rich in radical kindness and spiritual guidance. I’d even vote for him to be President of the United States in a heartbeat. But ironically, the most vocal members of the religion built around him probably would not.

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