Lincoln's assassination....

My comments below are in response to an article I read which attempts to equate Abraham Lincoln to Jesus - something whch was stated often just after his assassination. After all, both were killed for their beliefs.

Appropriate, I guess, to commemorate Lincoln on the anniversary of his assassination. And I think he was a great president and appropriate for the occasion.

The small comparison made with Washington, I certainly agree with. True, Washington was our first president and managed somehow to win the war against the British, but he certainly was not a brilliant man nor was he a true sacrificing patriot - but he was a normal American, somewhat charismatic, with some military experience -- and awfully damned lucky - perhaps through stubbornness and even some greed. He wouldn't be remembered if he hadn't somehow won! But what he achieved was admirable.

Lincoln was, I think very intelligent, thoughtful and introspective. He took his job very seriously despite the world about him - one can personally identify with Lincoln. I'm sure, he didn't invite assassination nor martyrdom, as Jesus did. So I would say that Lincoln was not anymore Jesus-like than I am! I admire the actual teachings of Jesus - and I also admire the mind of Lincoln. However, I disagree with Lincoln's goal to hold the Union together - just a slight difference of opinion and mine has the advantage of hindsight - I might have felt differently during his time!

Yes, he referred to God often in his orations, but so did everyone else - it was expected!. That is not to signify whether he actually believed in God or even his definition of a god - it is always politic to refer to God because as a politician you gain the support of those who actually believe in His existence. ...and that is not bad if what you want to do is what the people's God would want you to do whether you believe or not! Today, we have those who refer to God and Jesus constantly and do not ‘do God's will'.

I think that the emphasis on Jesus is a very recent invention - actually within my lifetime - have I lived too long already? When I grew up I went to several different churches quite regularly over the years and as I remember it, God was the boss and who everyone revered. Jesus was merely the son of God - sort of a messenger - and, of course, part of the Holy Trinity - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost! "Jesus Saves" was merely graffiti scrawled in paint on rocks along the roadway - not true gospel! Now it seems, that "Jesus Saves" is the total of modern Christianity sans teachings, sans song!

My occasional interactions with the Catholic church suggested to me that the Roman Church was very much invested with the Holy Mother, Mary. "Mary, mother of God...". and that Jesus was merely what may be described [my words] a semi-mortal who presented the word of God to the world at the time. It seems to me that Mary is actually viewed as the portal by which God introduced Himself to the world through her ‘only begotten son,' Jesus.

Of course, Jesus has long gone along with Washington and Lincoln to the actual ultimate state of nothingness we all face. But we living may reinvent them to our heart's desire and they, quite frankly, won't care! But for us, maybe we could continue to make them positively constructive toward our future survival on this planet in our memories of their achievements and philosophies.