Thursday, February 18, 2010

Self-righteousness

Food for thought on this second day of Lent:

“ … If any one idea dominates the teachings of Jesus, it is his opposition to the self-righteousness of the righteous. … In fact, Jesus seems to have been in perpetual conflict with the good people of his day … "


- Reinhold Niebuhr, from “An Interpretation of Christian Ethics,” Chapter 8, "Love as Forgiveness"

I would disagree that this aspect is the singular part of Jesus' teachings. But, it's certainly a major theme.

Hat-tip: Andrew Sullivan, who provides a longer passage

The painting above is "Woe unto You, Scribes and Pharisees" or " Malheur à vous, scribes et pharisiens" by James Tissot. It is the property of the Brooklyn Museum of Art.


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