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I know I will likely catch a lot of downvotes for this, but I found the teachings of Jesus to answer questions of how to run life. As well as the Proverbs of th

I know I will likely catch a lot of downvotes for this, but I found the teachings of Jesus to answer questions of how to run life. As well as the Proverbs of the old testament, and many other scriptures. Seek and you will find. When I get stuck, I found in the past I would look for excuses on why something isn't working, or why is this happening to me, or when will this end. But when I started to actually "seek" I always found an answer. It may take time and effort, but I always found it. It's like smoking, drinking or drugs. If you want those things, you seek them out until find them. Why not do the opposite? Seek a way to change how you feel about them. This worked in my family life too, I was very tired, and I blamed one of my kids for something (he actually did it, but I was brutal in my accusation) he fired back and we started fighting. At the end of the fight, I was angry because he couldn't admit his error. Despite this, I sought an answer in my mind and heart on how I could have changed the outcome. Me, not him. I was so angry, even hurt by his disrespect, but I kept looking and looking. Then it hit me, a very obvious answer, if I had talked to him quietly, he would not have fought with me about how I treated him. I found an answer. Then I applied it. I told him I was sorry for accusing him so harshly, and that I should have come to him more reasonably. That was it. I couldn't change what happened, but I got to replay the event halfway. A while later he came to me and acknowledged his own error, but I didn't demand this of him. Seek an you will find is a generic answer though, as you can seek things that are bad for you as well. But then wisdom must come into the picture no matter what. Once you have studied enough self-help stuff, you will find that distilling them down, they all end up in a similar place. Change yourself, you have control over this, and it will change your life. Just be careful what guidelines you use to change by.

taneq 9y ago
TBH, and I say this as a pretty staunch atheist, Jesus sounds like he had a lot of his shit sorted. Most of what I've read about him is just him being fair and advocating respect of everyone involved.
- hodgesrm 9y ago
  Between about 1000 BC and 0 AD it seems as if humans worked out how to get along in life. I'm on your side in following Christian scripture but I think you can use any of the major texts that emerged during that time and get reasonable results. In fact my main beef with self-help programs is that they tend to regurgitate a lot of basic lessons that already exist in ancient texts in cleaner and more direct forms, such as Matthew chapters 5-7 in the New Testament (aka the sermon on the mount). I certainly found this to be the case with the type of new age precepts that seems to be popular in training classes for corporate employees.
  - adamsea 9y ago
    I'd go even further and say human beings have worked it out multiple times - the little bit of Buddhist literature I've read, or, from the Chinese angle, the Dao De Ching (Tao Te Ching) both contain a lot of wisdom. I'm sure other cultures have worked out part or all of it too. The sad thing is so much good stuff is out there, however people often don't listen, or take it to heart.
  - walshemj 9y ago
    Have you read any classical history ? Thucydides records death camps in his history of the peloponnesian war.
    - hodgesrm 9y ago
      It does not follow that people necessarily behave, even when they know better. We still have that problem today.
- RobertRoberts 9y ago
  In my experience most people that claim to be "Christians" don't follow Jesus' basic teachings. Even the most staunch and dedicated will often fumble through an excuse as to why they don't do what he said to do. Paul wrote about people that did not follow Jesus or the bible as following God naturally. (in Romans) One of my neighbors is a Buddist and he's a great to have next door. (cleared the snow from my driveway a few times without even me asking) I have been personally shamed by the good behavior of other people outside my own "faith" group, including atheists. The Jordan Peterson video linked in a near comment pointed out the need to be challenged and take on responsibility, and have difficulties. I think the only way I was able to change some things about my religious beliefs was to hear the criticisms of my "sect" openly and face them. My big religious change came when I was publicly confronted and shamed by a member that had left the group I was in. I started to fear disobeying true leadership in Jesus more than a man with authority. (being shamed, and wrong at the same time sucks) Proverbs says the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Well, I no longer follow men blindly, and it's funny what you see in Jesus when you have no religious baggage telling you what he meant...
- AndrewOMartin 9y ago
  "Most of what you've read about him" is not equal to "most of what he said". The most charitable source for this is probably Lewis's trilemma, which argues Jesus was either correct (he's the son of god), he's evil, or he's deluded. More polemically, you have anything written by Christopher Hitchens on the subject.
  - trowawee 9y ago
    I think he was deluded about being the Son of God, but that doesn't mean we should throw out the ethical precepts he advocated. A life lived by the major tenets espoused by Jesus in the Bible - treat other people the way you would want to be treated, be compassionate to people who screw up, take care of people who are less fortunate than yourself - would be a good life. Not surprisingly, those are tenets that are common to most ethical systems, whether they are religious or philosophical.
    - JoeAltmaier 9y ago
      Remember, he said we were all children of god. It was the hero-worshippers of the day that turned him into a special person. I don't believe he claimed to be any more than the rest of us.
      - deleted 9y ago
        [deleted]
    - RobertRoberts 9y ago
      If you do what Jesus said to do, doesn't that make you a follower or a student of his teachings? (the greek word for student is often translated as disciple) I find it interest that just claiming a title is meaningless if you don't follow the rules associated with that title. But if you follow the rules and don't claim the title, what does that mean?
- RepressedEmu 9y ago
  I do the same thing with Jean-Luc Picard from The Next Generation. WWJLPD?
aantix 9y ago
Thank-you for sharing your story. You'd probably appreciate the lectures of Dr. Jordan Peterson. Clinical Psychologist. Award-winning lecturer. He loves to bring in Biblical references into his teachings. "A Good Father Helps You to Become Your Best Self" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA5iEKvHNxk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA5iEKvHNxk
- RobertRoberts 9y ago
  That was pretty cool, thanks for sharing that, I think I started down a rabbit hole with Jordan Peterson youtube clips. :P
  - aantix 9y ago
    Glad to hear it! I love listening to him - he sincerely has improved my life through his teachings.
kristofferR 9y ago
There's absolutely nothing wrong with being inspired by Jesus, the problem is only when people disregard all other inspiration other than the "main one" they have chosen. Christian teaching is good in a lot of ways, but it's also completely lacking in other ways. People should be inspired and take the best from Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, the Hindu gods, ancient philosophers, modern philosophers, self-helpers and all other sources they can find. When people believe they have found the truth they are destined to never find it, because they stop looking. Truth is never found, it is a never-ending and eternal process of discovery that should last until death. A lot of people stop living way before they die.
- RobertRoberts 9y ago
  What do you feel is lacking in "Christian teachings"?
  - kristofferR 9y ago
    A main one would be a focus on the internal world (self-image, thought processes, confidence, inner peace), Christianity is often too focused on acting correctly instead of thinking correctly/crafting a good personality in my view. Buddhism is stereotypically more focused the other direction. Christian mediation isn't really a thing for example. Please note that I don't want to get into a stupid pedantic discussion about what Christianity may or may not contain/touch on, my point is simply that no single source will ever contain all the wisdom there can be found - which I don't think can be disputed by intellectually honest people.
    - codingdave 9y ago
      > I don't want to get into a stupid pedantic discussion about what Christianity may or may not contain/touch on Except that you clearly don't know all the teachings, so pre-dismissing anyone helping you learn the parts you think are missing seems short-sighted. That being said, you are partly right... In general, Christianity answers the question of "What do I do?", while Buddhism answer "How do I do it?" But there are internally-focused teachings throughout the New Testament. The Old Testament was more what you describe than Jesus' teachings. Sadly, when you conclude that anyone who disagrees with you must not be intellectually honest, it makes me feel you are not very far along ANY spiritual path. Even though again, you are partly correct... your approach to all of this is very ego-driven, and it doesn't sound like you are open to much in the way of discussion.
mkirklions 9y ago
I'm a christian, but I'm probably more interested in my personal stoic philosophy first. What is God? Is God a programmer? What language was our universe written in? I find Atheism an excuse to skip these question. I think Agnostic is significantly a better way for Atheists to approach problems. I'm starting to believe in Simulation Theory, and that a nerd like me created a universe. Thats our Christian "God".
- Vinnl 9y ago
  > I find Atheism an excuse to skip these question. I think Agnostic is significantly a better way for Atheists to approach problems. I know we're getting somewhat off-topic here, but... That's an odd remark? Being an atheist for me is not "an approach", is what I am - I simply don't believe in a god or whatever (anymore). That wasn't a conscious choice (although I was really conscious of it happening), but more of an observation: "huh, I guess I'm an atheist now."
- pazimzadeh 9y ago
  I think you have it backwards: Atheism is saying "I don't know." Agnosticism is saying "I don't think it's possible to know." Most religions are saying "I do know - it written in this book." Being an atheist does not preclude you from searching for answers, it just means admitting that we haven't found them yet. Agnosticism and religion are excuses to either pretend we can't know, or that we already know.
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taneq 9y ago

TBH, and I say this as a pretty staunch atheist, Jesus sounds like he had a lot of his shit sorted. Most of what I've read about him is just him being fair and advocating respect of everyone involved.

hodgesrm 9y ago
Between about 1000 BC and 0 AD it seems as if humans worked out how to get along in life. I'm on your side in following Christian scripture but I think you can use any of the major texts that emerged during that time and get reasonable results. In fact my main beef with self-help programs is that they tend to regurgitate a lot of basic lessons that already exist in ancient texts in cleaner and more direct forms, such as Matthew chapters 5-7 in the New Testament (aka the sermon on the mount). I certainly found this to be the case with the type of new age precepts that seems to be popular in training classes for corporate employees.
- adamsea 9y ago
  I'd go even further and say human beings have worked it out multiple times - the little bit of Buddhist literature I've read, or, from the Chinese angle, the Dao De Ching (Tao Te Ching) both contain a lot of wisdom. I'm sure other cultures have worked out part or all of it too. The sad thing is so much good stuff is out there, however people often don't listen, or take it to heart.
- walshemj 9y ago
  Have you read any classical history ? Thucydides records death camps in his history of the peloponnesian war.
  - hodgesrm 9y ago
    It does not follow that people necessarily behave, even when they know better. We still have that problem today.
RobertRoberts 9y ago
In my experience most people that claim to be "Christians" don't follow Jesus' basic teachings. Even the most staunch and dedicated will often fumble through an excuse as to why they don't do what he said to do. Paul wrote about people that did not follow Jesus or the bible as following God naturally. (in Romans) One of my neighbors is a Buddist and he's a great to have next door. (cleared the snow from my driveway a few times without even me asking) I have been personally shamed by the good behavior of other people outside my own "faith" group, including atheists. The Jordan Peterson video linked in a near comment pointed out the need to be challenged and take on responsibility, and have difficulties. I think the only way I was able to change some things about my religious beliefs was to hear the criticisms of my "sect" openly and face them. My big religious change came when I was publicly confronted and shamed by a member that had left the group I was in. I started to fear disobeying true leadership in Jesus more than a man with authority. (being shamed, and wrong at the same time sucks) Proverbs says the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Well, I no longer follow men blindly, and it's funny what you see in Jesus when you have no religious baggage telling you what he meant...
AndrewOMartin 9y ago
"Most of what you've read about him" is not equal to "most of what he said". The most charitable source for this is probably Lewis's trilemma, which argues Jesus was either correct (he's the son of god), he's evil, or he's deluded. More polemically, you have anything written by Christopher Hitchens on the subject.
- trowawee 9y ago
  I think he was deluded about being the Son of God, but that doesn't mean we should throw out the ethical precepts he advocated. A life lived by the major tenets espoused by Jesus in the Bible - treat other people the way you would want to be treated, be compassionate to people who screw up, take care of people who are less fortunate than yourself - would be a good life. Not surprisingly, those are tenets that are common to most ethical systems, whether they are religious or philosophical.
  - JoeAltmaier 9y ago
    Remember, he said we were all children of god. It was the hero-worshippers of the day that turned him into a special person. I don't believe he claimed to be any more than the rest of us.
    - deleted 9y ago
      [deleted]
  - RobertRoberts 9y ago
    If you do what Jesus said to do, doesn't that make you a follower or a student of his teachings? (the greek word for student is often translated as disciple) I find it interest that just claiming a title is meaningless if you don't follow the rules associated with that title. But if you follow the rules and don't claim the title, what does that mean?
RepressedEmu 9y ago
I do the same thing with Jean-Luc Picard from The Next Generation. WWJLPD?

aantix 9y ago

Thank-you for sharing your story. You'd probably appreciate the lectures of Dr. Jordan Peterson. Clinical Psychologist. Award-winning lecturer. He loves to bring in Biblical references into his teachings. "A Good Father Helps You to Become Your Best Self" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA5iEKvHNxk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA5iEKvHNxk

RobertRoberts 9y ago
That was pretty cool, thanks for sharing that, I think I started down a rabbit hole with Jordan Peterson youtube clips. :P
- aantix 9y ago
  Glad to hear it! I love listening to him - he sincerely has improved my life through his teachings.

kristofferR 9y ago

There's absolutely nothing wrong with being inspired by Jesus, the problem is only when people disregard all other inspiration other than the "main one" they have chosen. Christian teaching is good in a lot of ways, but it's also completely lacking in other ways. People should be inspired and take the best from Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, the Hindu gods, ancient philosophers, modern philosophers, self-helpers and all other sources they can find. When people believe they have found the truth they are destined to never find it, because they stop looking. Truth is never found, it is a never-ending and eternal process of discovery that should last until death. A lot of people stop living way before they die.

RobertRoberts 9y ago
What do you feel is lacking in "Christian teachings"?
- kristofferR 9y ago
  A main one would be a focus on the internal world (self-image, thought processes, confidence, inner peace), Christianity is often too focused on acting correctly instead of thinking correctly/crafting a good personality in my view. Buddhism is stereotypically more focused the other direction. Christian mediation isn't really a thing for example. Please note that I don't want to get into a stupid pedantic discussion about what Christianity may or may not contain/touch on, my point is simply that no single source will ever contain all the wisdom there can be found - which I don't think can be disputed by intellectually honest people.
  - codingdave 9y ago
    > I don't want to get into a stupid pedantic discussion about what Christianity may or may not contain/touch on Except that you clearly don't know all the teachings, so pre-dismissing anyone helping you learn the parts you think are missing seems short-sighted. That being said, you are partly right... In general, Christianity answers the question of "What do I do?", while Buddhism answer "How do I do it?" But there are internally-focused teachings throughout the New Testament. The Old Testament was more what you describe than Jesus' teachings. Sadly, when you conclude that anyone who disagrees with you must not be intellectually honest, it makes me feel you are not very far along ANY spiritual path. Even though again, you are partly correct... your approach to all of this is very ego-driven, and it doesn't sound like you are open to much in the way of discussion.

mkirklions 9y ago

I'm a christian, but I'm probably more interested in my personal stoic philosophy first. What is God? Is God a programmer? What language was our universe written in? I find Atheism an excuse to skip these question. I think Agnostic is significantly a better way for Atheists to approach problems. I'm starting to believe in Simulation Theory, and that a nerd like me created a universe. Thats our Christian "God".

Vinnl 9y ago
> I find Atheism an excuse to skip these question. I think Agnostic is significantly a better way for Atheists to approach problems. I know we're getting somewhat off-topic here, but... That's an odd remark? Being an atheist for me is not "an approach", is what I am - I simply don't believe in a god or whatever (anymore). That wasn't a conscious choice (although I was really conscious of it happening), but more of an observation: "huh, I guess I'm an atheist now."
pazimzadeh 9y ago
I think you have it backwards: Atheism is saying "I don't know." Agnosticism is saying "I don't think it's possible to know." Most religions are saying "I do know - it written in this book." Being an atheist does not preclude you from searching for answers, it just means admitting that we haven't found them yet. Agnosticism and religion are excuses to either pretend we can't know, or that we already know.

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