by Stewart Brently

Created on: December 09, 2010

Before addressing the question at hand, I have to confess that I'm not Christian. However, I did grow up in a strict Christian home, have read the Bible from cover to cover more than once, and by confession of many of even my most devout Christian friends and relatives, have a better understanding of what "Christianity" means than most self-proclaimed believers do. I'm a staunch atheist (have been for years), a follower of the Theravada Thai Buddhist tradition, and one who loves studying religion and spirituality. I did a master's in religious studies, and the focus of my training to be a psychotherapist was on spirituality. So I believe my opinion is of at least some value, despite being a "non-believer."

I first heard this in my graduate class on Biblical studies, from a devout follower and scholar of the scriptures, including their ancient Hebrew roots. My professor once made the comment that the word "Christian" (those who enjoy semantics will love this!) means simply "to be like Christ." Those words have stuck with me to this day, and I gauge my personal interactions with Christians by those same words. "To be like Christ." 

I've known only a few people who could, in all accuracy, be described as coming even remotely close to such an example. All but one of them was Buddhist, but that's not what's important here. What I'm trying to get at is that Christ was a man of such purity and goodness that even I, an atheist, have nothing but the utmost respect for the man. And any man or woman I'll meet so long as I'm breathing and conscious will warrant the same reverence, regardless of his or her beliefs. Unfortunately, many so-called Christians, in spite of what they've been told is wrong, and what would undoubtedly bring a tear to Christ's eye were he to witness, regularly judge, curse, damn, and abuse others simply because they believe in something else. Forgive me for being sarcastic, but I thought this was God's job, and his alone.  

My message here is that if God does exist (forgive my skepticism), and he's anything like what the Bible clearly describes as being fair and just, and even a smidgen of the compassionate wisdom that he bestowed upon his son, then simply living according to the commandments that he put into place should be enough. Better yet, to make the smallest attempt to live the example that Christ himself so beautifully did would be ultra pleasing to the father who created all and sent his son to administer his divine message to

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