Jesus, Inc.

Around this time, my mind turns towards religion and its implications for our modern world. Well, ok, my mind turns there often.

So today I was on the bus and sitting next to a young woman with bright oragne hair and red lipstick, reading a book. I'm thinking that she's in college and it's a text book. And then looking closer, it's a book by some Born-Again group on how not to be a sinner.

I'm tempted to engage her, just to find out why she'd reading it. Pardon my judgements, but to me she didn't look like someone who would be reading such a book. I decided not to pursue the matter, but get off at the stop I had intended to get off at.

But this 'encounter' stuck with me. Once upon a time, I was such a one as her looking for answers (other than my own churches or my fathers) and do became what was then known as a "Jesus Freak" long hair and all. I believe very differently now from what I did then.

It came to me however (since I am doing research for a novel at this point that revolves around the 'Christian' tradition and how it has changed from the Originators time) that there is (and has been) something that in modern terms would be called "Jesus, Inc." It is the personification of what I believe the Originator was against at the time of his teaching.

Jesus, Inc. basically follows thusly. They tell you that most books on the library shelves are either trash or even outright blasphemy. That the only book you should be reading is (basically) The Bible; that all answers are foudn there.

Except that they want to sell you on their books explaining The Bible and what it really meant. In essense, "Say as I do, don't buy as I do." There is very big money in all of this, and of course, they know it and justify it in the name of "spreading the Word." They themselves aren't particularly known for 'spreading the wealth' as Jesus originally told those of means who came to him for advice.

One such was a young man, who asked, "Lord, what do I need to do to follow you?" To which Jesus replied, "Liquidate all of your wealth, give it to the Poor, and then come and follow me." Needless to say, the young man walked away dejected, finding that too hard to swallow.

In Jesus, Inc. however, having great wealth is a sign that "God has blessed you." Never mind what Jesus told the young rich man himself.

Do as I do. "Whatsoever you do to the least of these..."

Sigh. Jesus loves you. And I have a book to prove it, telling you in even greater details than he did what to do.