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Why did Jesus say blessed are the peacemakers. Did He want to make peace with the cruel, oppressive, heavy taxing Romans ?

I think Jesus set a standard for how He thought human affairs should be governed. And of course if you belive in his overall message you know he did want peace, but not without justice; again in compassion he would not show violence to the unjust, rather try to get them to see things in another way. If you look at it in this context, he wanted human affairs to be organized differently around another set of principles. The beatitudes illustrate this. It helps me to try understand them in the larger context of Herbraic society rather then under the heavy terms of Roman occupation. A much more pertinent philosophical question is "Qui est Veritas?" Pilate's postulate.....What is truth?

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Originally posted by Brian:
He did want peace, but not without justice;

you must explain this to me.......peace but not without justice ? what does that mean in Jesus terms ?

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Originally posted by Brian:
again in compassion He would not show violence to the unjust, rather try to get them to see things in another way

how did He try to get them to see things another way ? Was He politically involved to get the Romans to see things differently ?

For answers both questions I would refer you to the bible. On the question was he politcally involved to get the Romans to do thing differently...I would answer his apostles certainly were. I think you have to look at portions of his message as a manifestation of underlying currents of thought within the Judeo-Hellenic tradtion. Especailly the Hebraic tradtion. Explore its validity for yourself.

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Originally Posted by XX Saint Michael
.the reason he did not advocate a rebelion was simple. That is not what he came to do.

So Jesus came not to cause rebellion even though he was living in a land occupied by a cruel, oppressive, idolatrous foreign power whose tax collectors were reviled ?

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Originally Posted by XX Saint Michael
I am involved in politics does that mean I have to be involved in the price of tea in china? No.

So why did Jesus not get involved in politics ?

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Originally Posted by XX Saint Michael
Christ came to tell us how to get to heaven...the Bible is the guide book.

I understand Christ came to tell us to get to heaven, but what about getting the Romans out of Jerusalem and Israel ? Its not like the Jews were free under Rome

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Originally Posted by XX Saint Michael
Our founding fathers recognized the moral value of the Christian system as a stablizing force.

What is the Christian system ? isn't it about not rebelling if our country was ruled by a foreign power ?

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Originally Posted by XX Saint Michael
So what Christians are saying is we should use the book as a moral guide for our culture.

Moral guide, meaning not being involved in politics, not being involved with getting rid of a foreign power ?

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Originally Posted by XX Saint Michael
A culture with out morals is in deep trouble.

Is it moral to not be involved in politics ?

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Originally Posted by XX Saint Michael
..who decides what morals are if we don't have a system...you..me...the nutcase down the street who wants to rape children...who?

What morals is Jesus talking about ? Is it moral for one not be involved in politics ?

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Originally Posted by XX Saint Michael
The Christian system and bible doesn't have all the answers for this world because it was made to focus on the next one.

So Christians should be concerned about the next world rather than politics ?

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Originally Posted by XX Saint Michael
Christianity is flawed because we are flawed, but if you have a better system lets hear it!

I don't have a better system, because Jesus was the only one who rose from the dead and since he did that, surely his system is the one we should follow

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Originally posted by Brian:
For answers both questions I would refer you to the bible. On the question was he politcally involved to get the Romans to do thing differently...I would answer his apostles certainly were

How were Jesus apostles involved in getting the cruel, oppressive, idolatrous, heavy taxing Romans out of Israel ?