Some people can be religious and understand metaphor: some people can be atheist and understand metaphor. Some prime can be religious and interpret religion literally: as can some atheists (eg ” those people believe all the species on earth fit on a boat" when obviously, many religious don't). I'm reading statements that make good points, either way. Maybe peer review being more stringent would address a lot?
It's not in the gospels, but an apostle later said faith without works* is dead. He probably said some abhorrent stuff too, but it's late and I'm too tired to think.
Jesus was a pinko hippie vagrant, what with his transience and homelessness, healing and feeding people for free and quest of all his forgiveness and turning the other cheek. He was also one heck of a magician, multiplying meager food supplies for a few into enough for 5k people and necromancy. I guess healing is magic, the way he did it, though.
Oh and on top of all that, he l didn't subjugate those of the feminine persuasion and performed most of his miracles for Palestinians, Syrians and other foreigners, crossing borders without legal documentation.
The Jesus of modern religion is just Mammon, in expensive cheap costume, caked on stage makeup and really good lighting.
It's supposed to pay reasonable bills and feed, clothes, shelter people and comfort prisoners, but you know...I think we should do that with tax dollars and mutual aid/donations but that's just me.
I once worked for a multimillionaire who got audited. He did have to sell a bunch of properties, cars and other toys, to pay taxes, interest, and fines, and got ten years in the pen. This was in the nineties, and he was well-liked, but I never* heard, nor heard of, anyone claim it was unfair, including those who benefited from his corruption, except one guy who bought and sold particular high-end products for him who was also audited, and avoided prison, but idk whether he had to pay delinquent taxes, penalties and interest or not.
What's a MAC and what do they do?
A Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) is a private health care insurer that has been awarded a geographic jurisdiction to process Medicare Part A and Part B (A/B) medical claims or Durable Medical Equipment (DME) claims for Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) beneficiaries. CMS relies on a network of MACs to serve as the primary operational contact between the Medicare FFS program and the health care providers enrolled in the program. MACs are multi-state, regional contractors responsible for administering both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B claims. MACs perform many activities including:
Process Medicare FFS claims
Make and account for Medicare FFS payments
Enroll providers in the Medicare FFS program
Handle provider reimbursement services and audit institutional provider cost reports
Handle redetermination requests (1st stage appeals process)
Respond to provider inquiries
Educate providers about Medicare FFS billing requirements
Establish local coverage determinations (LCD’s)
Review medical records for selected claims
Coordinate with CMS and other FFS contractors
ETA; Wrt military private contractors, they used to be called "mercenaries." Iirc, Rene Descarte was, so make of that what you will.
BofA corporate headquarters would like a word with you.