Is man just a pile of aroms?

[Charlemagne_III]

Sure but that seems to agree with what I said, which was “it’s for aboriginal tribes, not us, to decide whether they want to subscribe to our science or religion. If their way of life has value to them, I don’t see that we have any right to impose our values on them.”

Christians do not impose their values. Radical Muslims do.

Not sure why you are making this a matter of force or imposition.

As a Baptist, do you not believe that Christianity is the best of all possible religions, and that we ought to be evangelizing the world without forcing anything on anyone?

 

[inocente]

inocente;12969088:

Sure but that seems to agree with what I said, which was “it’s for aboriginal tribes, not us, to decide whether they want to subscribe to our science or religion. If their way of life has value to them, I don’t see that we have any right to impose our values on them.”

Not sure why you are making this a matter of force or imposition.

As a Baptist, do you not believe that Christianity is the best of all possible religions, and that we ought to be evangelizing the world without forcing anything on anyone?

I’ve never really thought of my faith in those terms. To me it sounds like a consumer magazine - washing up liquids compared on page six, best possible religion page eight .

Don’t know how to go about that. Do we make a spreadsheet of all religions ever, and score them by weighted criteria? Who selects the criteria, who chooses the weightings, and who sets the scores? I think you just proved what I’ve been saying - there’s no way all religions can decide which of them is best, even the idea sounds weird.

Still, seems we’re all agreed that we don’t want to impose/force/coerce anyone into our religion. No argument there. I don’t think Scholasticism is a great way to evangelize the majority of people though. The tried and trusted method of making friends with them, helping them, inviting them to church, let them see how it could change their life, I think that’s much more likely to be effective.

 

[Charlemagne_III]

I’ve never really thought of my faith in those terms. To me it sounds like a consumer magazine - washing up liquids compared on page six, best possible religion page eight .

Don’t know how to go about that. Do we make a spreadsheet of all religions ever, and score them by weighted criteria? Who selects the criteria, who chooses the weightings, and who sets the scores? I think you just proved what I’ve been saying - there’s no way all religions can decide which of them is best, even the idea sounds weird.

The one that sounds best is the one started by Jesus, and I have no idea why you would consider that Christianity being the best religion sounds weird. It sounds weird that a Baptist would even say that.

 

[inocente]

The one that sounds best is the one started by Jesus, and I have no idea why you would consider that Christianity being the best religion sounds weird. It sounds weird that a Baptist would even say that.

A Catholic, a Baptist, a Muslim and a Hindu walk into in a bar, and obviously they each believe their own religion is the best. So tell me how you determine which is objectively the best? What criteria do you use? Do the rest of us agree with your criteria?

Some may think that their own worldview (Christian or Buddhist, Aristotelian or physicalist, medieval or modern) is the best possible worldview ever, and that anyone who doesn’t share their worldview is wrong, or is in some way less worthy. I’m saying that thinking that way is illogical (and not exactly brimming over with humility or empathy either).

 

[Charlemagne_III]

A Catholic, a Baptist, a Muslim and a Hindu walk into in a bar, and obviously they each believe their own religion is the best. So tell me how you determine which is objectively the best? What criteria do you use? Do the rest of us agree with your criteria?

Some may think that their own worldview (Christian or Buddhist, Aristotelian or physicalist, medieval or modern) is the best possible worldview ever, and that anyone who doesn’t share their worldview is wrong, or is in some way less worthy. I’m saying that thinking that way is illogical (and not exactly brimming over with humility or empathy either).

Jesus Christ was neither a Buddhist nor an Aristotelian.

Why does it trouble you that no one outside Christianity could ever find their way to becoming a Christian just by studying Christ in the Scriptures? If that were the case, Christ would not have given the apostles the great commission to go out into the world and baptize all in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Was Christ not filled over with humility and empathy?

Does Christ not mean anything more to you than Aristotle or Buddha?

If Christ presented himself to Aristotle or Buddha, could they safely ignore him because they think his “worldview is wrong”?

 

[Linusthe2nd]

A Catholic, a Baptist, a Muslim and a Hindu walk into in a bar, and obviously they each believe their own religion is the best. So tell me how you determine which is objectively the best? What criteria do you use? Do the rest of us agree with your criteria?

Some may think that their own worldview (Christian or Buddhist, Aristotelian or physicalist, medieval or modern) is the best possible worldview ever, and that anyone who doesn’t share their worldview is wrong, or is in some way less worthy. I’m saying that thinking that way is illogical (and not exactly brimming over with humility or empathy either).

Thought you would like this. Fr. Tak Raj Paudel, former Hindu, was converted by the Bible.
ncregister.com/daily-news/entire-hindu-village-in-nepal-spared-by-the-miracle-of-the-ordination/

On the other hand, Edith Stein, former Jewis, St. Teresa Benedicta, was converted by reading the Summa Theologiae - in Latin!

Linus2nd

 

[agnes_therese]

On the other hand, Edith Stein, former Jewis, St. Teresa Benedicta, was converted by reading the Summa Theologiae - in Latin!

Linus2nd

Actually, she was converted by reading the “Life” of St. Teresa of Jesus.

 

[Linusthe2nd]

Actually, she was converted by reading the “Life” of St. Teresa of Jesus.

Yes, you are right, Aquinas came much later. Though she credits the Christian example of Anna Reinach, the wife of her friend killed in WW1, as the cause of her conversion to Christianity.

Linus2nd

 

[agnes_therese]

Yes, you are right, Aquinas came much later. Though she credits the Christian example of Anna Reinach, the wife of her friend killed in WW1, as the cause of her conversion to Christianity.

Linus2nd

Yes, she was so impressed by the way Anna handled the death of her husband. Which just proves that we never know how our example may lead someone to Christ.

 

[inocente]

Jesus Christ was neither a Buddhist nor an Aristotelian.

Why does it trouble you that no one outside Christianity could ever find their way to becoming a Christian just by studying Christ in the Scriptures? If that were the case, Christ would not have given the apostles the great commission to go out into the world and baptize all in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Was Christ not filled over with humility and empathy?

Does Christ not mean anything more to you than Aristotle or Buddha?

If Christ presented himself to Aristotle or Buddha, could they safely ignore him because they think his “worldview is wrong”?

Wow. At this point, I have no idea what you’re on about. Suppose we adhered to a different religion. Here’s what you might have said to me: “Mohammad (may Allah honor him and grant him peace) was neither a Buddhist nor an Aristotelian. Why does it trouble you that no one outside Islam could ever find their way to becoming a Muslim just by studying the Qur’an? Is not Mohammad filled over with humility and empathy? Does Mohammad not mean anything more to you than Aristotle or Buddha? If Mohammad presented himself to Aristotle or Buddha, could they safely ignore him because they think his “worldview is wrong”?”

Perhaps you really do find it impossible to see the world through the eyes of others, and so cannot hold others in equal esteem. Or perhaps you’re just hoping for an argument . Either way, I see no way to proceed and as we’re a long way off-topic, let’s stop here, see you around, thanks for the conversation.

 

[inocente]

Thought you would like this. Fr. Tak Raj Paudel, former Hindu, was converted by the Bible.
ncregister.com/daily-news/entire-hindu-village-in-nepal-spared-by-the-miracle-of-the-ordination/

On the other hand, Edith Stein, former Jewis, St. Teresa Benedicta, was converted by reading the Summa Theologiae - in Latin!

Linus2nd

Thanks. It’s a two-way street, and here’s a video of a Catholic who converted to Hinduism. She is obviously a good person, she obviously understands what she is doing. If she finds more truth in Hinduism than she did in Christianity then I think that it for her and her alone. We are each responsible for our own soul.

youtube.com/watch?v=giY70ghxwew

I think it is important to respect other religions. If we only see them as wrong or less worthy, as mere targets for conversion, then I think by doing so we cannot help but disrespect all those who don’t hold our own beliefs.

 

[Charlemagne_III]

Wow. At this point, I have no idea what you’re on about. Suppose we adhered to a different religion. Here’s what you might have said to me: “Mohammad (may Allah honor him and grant him peace) was neither a Buddhist nor an Aristotelian. Why does it trouble you that no one outside Islam could ever find their way to becoming a Muslim just by studying the Qur’an? Is not Mohammad filled over with humility and empathy? Does Mohammad not mean anything more to you than Aristotle or Buddha? If Mohammad presented himself to Aristotle or Buddha, could they safely ignore him because they think his “worldview is wrong”?”

Perhaps you really do find it impossible to see the world through the eyes of others, and so cannot hold others in equal esteem. Or perhaps you’re just hoping for an argument . Either way, I see no way to proceed and as we’re a long way off-topic, let’s stop here, see you around, thanks for the conversation.

Yes, I agree that since you do not see Christ as the answer to all religions and all philosophies, we are smack up against a brick wall and should stop now before we crash into it.

 

[Charlemagne_III]

I think it is important to respect other religions. If we only see them as wrong or less worthy, as mere targets for conversion, then I think by doing so we cannot help but disrespect all those who don’t hold our own beliefs.

We can respect other religions without seeing them as equal to Christ’s religion. No?

That would be sociological relativism.