Is Christianity the largest faith in the world?

[simpleas]

Such a statement contradicts the Teachings of Christ, who many times promised us that there would be conflict and adversarial experiences with our loved one’s, and the world. The best we can expect is that we will have inner harmony, harmony with Christ.

If we have inner harmony then there wouldn’t be conflict? If a person has peace within, they do not succumb to anger, fear, rejection, they are at ease with the world around them. That’s how I see it.

 

[OneSheep]

Yes, but if we are to become aware we need to be taken out of our comfort zones, do you think people prefer to stay sort of, cocooned in their belief so that they do not need to include someone who is seen as a sinner?

Shouldn’t we be more aware after years and years of trying to follow Jesus’ teachings, surely this awareness must come at some point, but maybe only when people will let go of their fears?

Thanks

Hi Simpleas

I don’t think that it is only a matter of fears. I think that we have to become aware of the slavery to the human mechanism of affiliation. I think that I have shown you the studies of how ingroup/outgroup thinking is part of our nature; we are more comfortable and feel more at-home with people who like the same things that we do as individuals. So, people who love Jesus will love/trust/feel more comfortable/ with those who do the same.

And given the fact that we value what we are most familiar with, all of us are subject to this very arbitrary phenomenon, since none of us has chosen our parents, nor the religion or culture we are born into. Yes, Jesus calls us to break away from our nature, to welcome strangers, to expand our affiliations, but this discipline goes against our nature; xenophobia is the default, so yes, there is a call to overcome those fears.

God bless

 

[OneSheep]

Such a statement contradicts the Teachings of Christ, who many times promised us that there would be conflict and adversarial experiences with our loved one’s, and the world. The best we can expect is that we will have inner harmony, harmony with Christ.

Good Morning, guanophore!

Hmmm. Let me provide some basis for my statement:

Matthew 5:9New International Version (NIV)
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

This does seem to encourage followers to be peacemakers, does it not? In addition, the “Kingdom” is a real thing, one that is to be nurtured. I don’t think that Jesus asks us to give up being peacemakers, or have you given up? I have not. Pope Benedict called for harmony, remember?

Of course, there will always be some conflict and adversarial relationships, but to me the Kingdom is a place where all of such conflicts are trumped and dissolved by desire to include (love, understand, forgive), as you have heard me say before. Peacemaking begins with finding what we have in common, as Pope Francis indicates. “You like that? I like that too! You want that for the world? Me too!” For example, you certainly want all people to love and care for one another, right guanophore? And you want people to forgive those who they hold something against, right? You want people to care for the disadvantaged and carry out works of mercy. Me too! See the things we have in common?

 

[simpleas]

Hi Simpleas

I don’t think that it is only a matter of fears. I think that we have to become aware of the slavery to the human mechanism of affiliation. I think that I have shown you the studies of how ingroup/outgroup thinking is part of our nature; we are more comfortable and feel more at-home with people who like the same things that we do as individuals. So, people who love Jesus will love/trust/feel more comfortable/ with those who do the same.

And given the fact that we value what we are most familiar with, all of us are subject to this very arbitrary phenomenon, since none of us has chosen our parents, nor the religion or culture we are born into. Yes, Jesus calls us to break away from our nature, to welcome strangers, to expand our affiliations, but this discipline goes against our nature; xenophobia is the default, so yes, there is a call to overcome those fears.

God bless

Fear is a massive part of it. If we are so comfortable with who and what we know, our fear of others and their beliefs is what keeps us apart.

Xenophobia I can understand, but we have this fear within our own cultural back grounds, faiths etc.

Thanks.