The Young Turks

I've read the bible, and follow few statements from Jesus which summarize its content. To paraphrase the statements:

Treat other people in a manner you'd like them to treat you.

Before you point a finger at another's failures, take a look at the face in the mirror to point at that reflection's failures.

Don't bother judging another's actions because at some point The One Who Matters will judge yours.

If you treat someone with few worldly goods in a kind manner, you're actually treating The One Who Matters in a kind manner.

It's easier for a camel to get through a one-person-sized gate in a Jerusalem's defensive wall than it is for a person with lots of worldly goods to pass into a happy afterlife with The One Who Matters.

Now, these may not be termed Jesus' ideas from the politically-leaning Christian spokespeople -- sometimes referred to as the Religious Right -- because they don't parrot the words in a bible (see http://www.biblegateway.com /versions/).

But that's the point.

They don't speak for me, and, if they bothered to understand what Jesus said, shouldn't speak in behalf of others.

Religion is personal. One is saved by one's actions rather than how the rest of the people in his society perceive those actions (See the quote about pointing fingers above.).

They lay down a foundation against which public expression of religious is "approved" (See the quote about judging others above.). And that's not their Right, at least as Jesus saw it (See Luke Chapter 18 Verses 9-14 in your favorite bible version.).

Society has a right to regulate itself. But not when it comes to how we address The One Who Matters. (See Matthew Chapter 22 Verse 21 in your favorite bible version.).