Non-Christian Religions

[Allweather]

Thanks for answering my question. Have you read Dominus Jesus? If you haven’t I encouraged you to read it. It definitely helped me understand why Jesus is the way. If you’re still up to it, I also encourage you to expand your interest in knowing and understanding other world religions. To me, learning about religions helps grow my relationship with God because it’s proof that He exists. I think the problem I have with my church is that they’re not open with other religions, and that’s why they’re strugglin’ with my faith.

I converted to Catholicism about 20 years ago out of a fundamentalist Protestant sect. I was instructed by a kind, elderly priest in New York. He had me study a catechism, and then we would discuss the readings during our meetings. At one point I’d come upon a section dealing with other, non-Catholic, non-Christian religions, and was shocked to hear Father tell me that one need not be a Catholic, or even a Christian, in order to get into heaven. As I recall, he said that no one is “guaranteed” entry into heaven by virtue of anything they do, either within or without religion. The RCC teaches that God desires the salvation, ie the entry to heaven after death, of every human being. We believe that God judges every man according to his response to the conscience that God “imbedded” in every man. Now, as I say, I was shocked by this, because, coming from a hardcore fundamentalism, I was under the impression that the RCC taught that one MUST be Catholic to have any hope of going to heaven after death. At first, I suspected that I was getting into some sort of liberalized Catholicism. In time, as I reflected on this teaching, it became clearer to me. Part of my problem in grasping this, was that I was coming out of a heretical background that teaches that one can KNOW one is saved by simply saying a few words, and having some faith. Nowadays, I realize that that is a type of presumption, which can be a sin. No one is guaranteed salvation. We are saved by the grace of God, and by his actions alone, through our faith, which is itself a gift of God. Also, it is not up to men to know the mind of God. He alone will save whom he will, and we assume that he will also save many non-Christians, who also have been given consciences which tell them what is right, what is wrong. BTW I am no theologian, nor am I an expert on Catholic teachings, so I may have some of this a little cockeyed, but I think I’ve got the basic idea.

 

[Nan_S]

I was under the impression that the RCC taught that one MUST be Catholic to have any hope of going to heaven after death. At first, I suspected that I was getting into some sort of liberalized Catholicism. In time, as I reflected on this teaching, it became clearer to me.

Reminds me of what I have heard from some of the more hard-core fundamentalists, that once past the age of reason one is condemned to hell unless he/she stands up sometime before death and confesses with his/her lips, “Jesus Christ is Lord.”

No room at the fundamentalist inn for the invincibly ignorant, no matter how pious. Nor the illiterate mute.

Part of my problem in grasping this, was that I was coming out of a heretical background that teaches that one can KNOW one is saved by simply saying a few words, and having some faith. Nowadays, I realize that that is a type of presumption, which can be a sin. No one is guaranteed salvation. We are saved by the grace of God, and by his actions alone, through our faith, which is itself a gift of God. Also, it is not up to men to know the mind of God. He alone will save whom he will

God desires that all should join Him in heaven. It is the Catholic teaching that even though we can not save ourselves, we must still cooperate in our salvation.

If we refuse to cooperate He will not force us. He’ll try really, really hard to persuade us to cooperate, but He won’t violate us with force.

Nan

 

[Aries]

Is it possible for non-Christians to believe in Jesus but have different beliefs about Him? For example, Muslims not only believe that He was the greatest of all profits, but they also believe in His virgin birth and miracle workings. Also, would you consider non-Christians practices Christ-like (i.e.- charity, humility, faith devotion, etc.)?

 

[tptram]

Is it possible for non-Christians to believe in Jesus but have different beliefs about Him?

Please correct me if I am wrong, Muslims believe there is a man called Jesus, a great prophet, but he is still a man.

Christians believe Jesus is both God and man.

Coming from a South East Asian culture, beside Budhism, we also have a religion called Hoa Hao which also believe in Jesus but only as a demi-god, not the Creator.
It also promotes fairness, justice and charity (the Natural Law of Man).
The reason for living a good life is self-interest (re-incarnation), If you are good in this life, your next life will be better (a prince perhaps). If you are bad in this life, your next life will be worse (a dog perhaps).

It is good because it is promote good living. But it does not contain the fullness as the Catholic Church.

Our priest use a mountain as an example:
God is the summit. No matter which word we call Him, He is the ultimate Goodness. And that where we want to go.
There are many paths to the summit. Some paths are difficult; some paths are roundabout; some paths are perilous. And there is only one direct/shortest path. That path is Jesus.

If I have been shown the direct path; chose to ignore it and go on the difficult/perilous path, then I am not very wise.

HTH

Tak

 

[dranzal]

Is it possible for non-Christians to believe in Jesus but have different beliefs about Him? For example, Muslims not only believe that He was the greatest of all profits, but they also believe in His virgin birth and miracle workings. Also, would you consider non-Christians practices Christ-like (i.e.- charity, humility, faith devotion, etc.)?

I think anyone who knows anything at all about Jesus would have to have some sort of belief…He lived; He didn’t exist; He is just a man; He is God and Man; He is a prophet…all sorts of potential beliefs.

Do you believe there is an objective TRUTH? Do you believe that there are many different and conflicting answers to the question of the meaning of life? Do you believe that “my truth is good for me and your truth is good for you”? Is there an all encompassing TRUTH that transcends our individual opinions and beliefs? Something that is the TRUTH whether anyone believes it or not?

My pagan friends would say there is no objective truth. If there is no objective truth, then, no, it doesn’t matter what faith you profess. Nothing matters and all is in vain.

However, most religions do have some degree of truth. You mention the fact that some Catholic teachings show up in Islam. Mohammed was exposed to orthodox and non orthodox Jews, orthodox Christians, heretical Christians, and likely several other faiths. He likely drew on those encounters when “reciting” the Quran. It is interesting that some of the ancient stories in the Jewish and Christian traditions got a bit skewed in the Quran.

We need to find the nuggets of truth, however rare, and nurture them rather than dwell incessantly on the differences.

I am a faithful Catholic and believe there is but one TRUTH. I learn about the other faiths so that I can more adequately address questions posed by their members. In the end we are all in this together.

And, of course, even a person who has never heard of Jesus can behave in a virtuous or “Christ-like” manner.