I know the singer/rocker Sting may be a devil and a new ager (but he writes good songs, or has good songs written for him, and the beat is good).
Here's excerpts from one of his songs (from "Sacred Love" -2003, and the song "This War")
there's a war on our democracy
a war on dissent
there's a war inside religion
and what Jesus might have meant
there's a war on mother nature
a war upon the seas
there's a war upon the forests
on the birds and the bees
there's a war on education
a war on information
a war between the sexes
and every nation
a war on our compassion
a war on understanding
a war on love and life itself
it's war that they're demanding
make it easy on yourself
and don't do nothing
So, there are many interpretations on Jesus Christ's teachings, and religion is man-made, so who's to know who has it exactly correct? I am a liberal Christian (non-denominational, I believe in good saints, good people, and good angels, and some good extra-terrestrials) and I don't preach fire and brimstone or try to convert others, yet I know some do, which isn't always bad (if you can help someone, or even save them from themselves, it must be good, as long as their free-will remains intact).
What about all the other 4 billion people of different religions? The Buddhists, The Muslims, The Taoists, The Native Indigenous, and many more?
Do they cease to exist at the end of the world?
Are we in end times? Many generations before us have thought so and were wrong. It says somewhere in the bible, no one knows the hour or the day, not even the angels, but only our Father in Heaven.
Christians are good loving people (except the domineering frightful hell fire and brimstone, accusatory, controlling ones) and mean well and try to help others and the world, even though some may indeed be simple minded and naive.
One thing I notice, is that the current Pope, a German and former boy scout Nazi, with an evil sounding original name of Rat-zinger, and an evil looking face, may be a sort of anti-christ, and I do know the Catholic Church has been infiltrated by satanists, evil doers, as many other Protestant Churches, but many Catholics/Protestants may be innocent followers...
It seems to me that yes, "there is war inside religion, and what Jesus might have meant".
Even Pope John Paul had a questionable background, supposedly traficking in cyanide gas that killed Jewish people in WWII.
The Inquisition and torture and burnings were horrific, and i am sure many innocent people died.
Many fundamentalist Christians are an intolerant hateful bunch, dont know how many really, but different parts of the USA are different to live in as I have learned while living in the so called bible belt.
In 2005, I went through my storage unit and gave away most all of my worldly possessions in order to lighten my load and prove to myself I was/am not attached to a material money oriented life, a cleansing of sorts, and I tried to be like a saint and travel widely and lightly, only to later get bogged down by some other material items, yet still not clinging to possessions, using them as tools to better myself mostly. My life thus far has been one of tragedy and turmoil, yet maybe because I have not lost hope in Jesus and he still believes in me, even when I have my doubts, I will find a better life after death and mingle with the good saints, good angels, good departed spirits, and good e.t.'s.
I am willing to lay down my life and give up all my possessions when the time comes, because you don't take anything with you when you die, except your soul and spirit.
I hope Jesus Christ was/is real and provides safety, rescue, and a better future to all those who believe in him.
I am hedging my bet, and erring on the cautious side, and taking a leap of faith, believing in him and saying that I believe he is the Saviour and that we are not saved by good works alone, but by the Grace of God the Great Holy Spirit and Creator.
As a candle burning on, in the breezy shades of night, I keep up my faith and underset my hope, to call on a realm of light --Little Light of Love --Eric Serra --The Fifth Element (movie soundtrack)
Waving banners, swinging swords, queens and kings and other lords, and the battles of our pride, greed and hunger deep inside, all the sorrow born of pain, cruelty and cruelty again, who will stop this vicious spin, Open Arms and Let Love In --My Heart Calling --Moa and Eric Serra --The Messenger (movie soundtrack)