If they actually listened to the sermons, they'd hear they had the same chance to pass into heaven as a camel through a needle's eye, but that didn't affect how

If they actually listened to the sermons, they'd hear they had the same chance to pass into heaven as a camel through a needle's eye, but that didn't affect how they used their money as far as I could see. Not to go two far into the realm of religion but since it was brought up I though I would address it, when Jesus spoke of the poor and the rich he was speaking about the poor of spirit and the rich of spirit. The poor of spirit and the rich of spirit where contrasted by the meek and the Pharisees, he was saying that someone so rich in themselves will be like a Camel through the eye of the needle. Now many times the two paralleled each other financially, the financially rich where generally of a class that had more access to Judaism and rank inside the religion. So the writing can seem to be referring to the two as purely a financial matter, but their are a few key sermons, in particular the sermon on the mount in which Jesus specifically addressed the poor as being the poor of spirit. Otherwise those that look to god for strengthen rather than those that seek power for themselves in this world. For what it is worth, to this thread I am a spiritual person after growing up an agnostic, but I still accept that the naturalist view could be right, even if if it is, I like the teachings of Christ, if it where proven tomorrow that he was just some crazy dude he is still of immense value when time is taken to read his words. I actually had very little tolerance for religion given the hypocrisy it displayed. In an effort to be a better agnostic I started reading religious text starting with the Koran, the Torah and the books of Zohar, the words of Buddha, and finally the old and then new testament. In doing so John really struck me when he talked about how Jesus said that people would proclaim his name, by would not act in accordance to his example. He talks about a speck of dust on another eye while a log is in your own. Anyways, there is something about Jesus that I really like. After reading his words and actions I realized he was the type of person that I was trying to be all along. As well after reading his teachings I see nothing irrational about modeling ones life after a man who taught universal love, obedience, forgiveness and humility. I no longer see it as a religion full of hypocrites, but as a religion full of flawed people that where far worse off before they started to strive to be better through the model of Christ. In learning about their religion I was able to forgive them. I also no longer see all religious leaders as con men, but rather some are while others genuinely do care and are genuinely good people. I agree with your statement though that is is futile to argue from one point or the other, people will formulate their own opinion and their is so much dogma on both side that people are so guarded to the possibility or lack their of that the more one speaks for or against, the more defensive the other party becomes.