The line 'hell is other people' is about as unchristian, even anti-christian, a phrase as you can find.
In the teachings of Jesus how we relate to other people is an essential theme. The 'care of the self' figures little. It is the concern for others, loving your neighbour, that is central. It is true that Jesus does say we are to love our neigbour as ourself but this is to emphasise the depth of concern for others, and he does not expand on what loving ourselves might mean.
The reason for this is that the self is not important to Jesus's idea of salvation.
Yet, it is love of others, not as a charitable duty or for hope of reward in an afterlife, but regarding them as fellow children of God and hence as brothers and sisters, that is the way to overcome alienation and to live at peace.
The closer you can be to fulfiling this, the more content you will be. To some this seems to come naturally, others have to struggle. Some arrive at a similar attitude through following other religious or philosophical teachings. But it is the only way.
In the teachings of Jesus how we relate to other people is an essential theme. The 'care of the self' figures little. It is the concern for others, loving your neighbour, that is central. It is true that Jesus does say we are to love our neigbour as ourself but this is to emphasise the depth of concern for others, and he does not expand on what loving ourselves might mean.
The reason for this is that the self is not important to Jesus's idea of salvation.
Yet, it is love of others, not as a charitable duty or for hope of reward in an afterlife, but regarding them as fellow children of God and hence as brothers and sisters, that is the way to overcome alienation and to live at peace.
The closer you can be to fulfiling this, the more content you will be. To some this seems to come naturally, others have to struggle. Some arrive at a similar attitude through following other religious or philosophical teachings. But it is the only way.
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