Distortions

We have seen it again and again over the history of human civilization, and it is another example of history repeating itself.

Origins
The historical Jesus was...

• A rebel, dangerous to the established religion and political system of his day
• On the side of the outcast and the underdogs. He spent time with and supported those who did not fit into the social system of the day, those scorned and seen as immoral by the establishment. The poor, the sick, women, prostitutes, those with leprosy. He broke norms and religious law to be with and help these people.
  

Spirit
Of course, many Christians follow in the spirit of Jesus. This is the case in particular for the many progressive Christians around the world who speak up for the outcasts in contemporary society and promote social justice and human rights (see liberation theology as one example).

Distorted
Fundamentalists of all stripes typically distort the spirit of the source. In the case of Christianity, what started as a rebellious movement and living realization, has degenerated into a set of hard rules and a justification for judgment, bigotry and narrow mindedness. It has become a way to justify abuse of power, social inequality, abuse and inhuman treatment of the outcasts, war. The very views that Jesus was opposed to, is now incorporated among those who see themselves as his followers.

Transdual and Blind Duality
There are always translation problems when a transdual view is expressed in words. Words words by their nature split the world, and the transdual views are in addition clothed in the terminology of the day. There is even more of a translation problem when this transdual view is filtered through the dualistic view of the students/followers.

Many sense and have a taste of what is beyond and embark on a sincere path towards a transdual experience of their own. These are the ones for whom the duality is softer. It is there, but there are openings towards the transdual - through a more open and expanded heart/mind.

Others start with an already rigid duality and a more rigidly constricted heart/mind. They have strong attachments (as we all do), but do not acknowledge fully that they are there and of obscurations. In these cases, the teachings are taken more literally (little space for anything else) and used to hold onto the obscurations. This tends to be a fragile, fearful state and produces even more suffering.

Of course, we all have some of each. It can be useful to ask ourselves some questions to soften up and allow awareness into our own areas of constriction. "Where to I hold onto rigid views?". "What in others do I experience aversion towards? How do I relate to those same qualities in myself, and where are they expressed?".