Pope's call for interfaith day of prayer provokes debate

[Reuben_J]

Well if it makes you feel closer to God to envision me being upset or something, then what can I say? My actual feelings are more a matter curiosity than anything else. I am only trying to understand your view on the spiritual gains of segregation, separatism, exclusivity and a touch of superiority in one’s attitude in regards to God’s children of other faiths. Calling other people’s faiths rubbish doesn’t make them rubbish. It only reveals the seeds of rubbish in the hearts of the ones who see things that way. There is but one God. People reach out to Him in this way and that. I am wondering what the spiritual benefits are of prancing around a website making unkind comments about the faiths of others and hi-fivin’ your buddies about it like you have scored some sort of spiritual goal in doing so. Again, it is more of a curiosity to me than anything else. I am curious - explain that to me if you would be so kind.

Your friend
Sufjon

You may be curious and the fact that you stay here speaks well of that but I notice that you go about it in such a way you walk the moral high ground and at the same time giving us a picture of your own belief. There’s unmistakable sign of that. I would say there is nothing wrong about it and the fact that you want to appear friendly and humble is good for the Forum discussion but make no mistake about it, there is every reason for you to be here. Perhaps one of it is more than just curiosity. There is nothing wrong about that; you are not doing anything that’s against the Forum rule but just in case, we are all mortal here; nobody is really a saint. We work within the bound of the Forum’s rule. It’s just that some posters are not very shrewd and speak directly while others are smarter and it’s difficult to pin them down but nevertheless we are all the same and have one motive or the other here.

God bless.

 

[Eric_Hyom]

Just a few hundred years ago, Catholics and Anglicans were killing each near were I live. Then there is Northern Ireland were Catholics and Anglicans have been killing each other until recently. I grew up in the 1950’s and Catholics seemed hostile towards Anglicans, calling them heretics.

Now it seems a real blessing that we can pray together and pray for each other, massive bridges have been built between us.

Now we just have to take that a little further, and break down a few more barriers in our hearts, with interfaith prayers. Regardless of what any of us believe, we are all created by the same God, and the same God hears all our prayers.

Every blessing

Eric

 

[dzheremi]

From the Apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians:

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

Paul knows better than anyone here, and apparently better than Pope Benedict XIV. I agree with Paul. If you don’t agree with Paul, but instead with Benedict, then where exactly do you get off disagreeing with the words of the Apostle, guided by the Holy Spirit, and enshrined forever in the Holy Bible, which is the word of God?

 

[Jesness]

I support the Pope on this. I think God will look kindly on it too. Even though people atound the world have different views on who God is and what He has done, we all seek the transcendent goodness and the many that would wish to demonise other religions will be marginalised.

It is better to have joint prayer and co-operation among those that take their own religion seriously.

I agree with you whole heartedly. Yes, I do want to see all people come to know and love the Lord, Jesus Christ, because that’s the desire that He Himself has; but until that time, if their hearts are TRUELY devoted to God- even if they’re unable to correctly identify that God- then I say let them be blessed. I really like the idea of a world day of prayer. It speaks of unity more than any other religious practice I’ve seen. No divisions of faith, just faith that there is a God and we’re praying to honor Him. It’s awesome. Waits to be hit by less permissable Christians.

 

[Mickey]

I really like the idea of a world day of prayer. It speaks of unity more than any other religious practice I’ve seen. No divisions of faith, just faith that there is a God and we’re praying to honor Him. It’s awesome.

This type of ecumenism is the disease of our day and age–everyone gathered together praying to a different God. The Buddha deity, the Hindu deities, the false god of Islam, etc., etc…

 

[MelodicHeart]

Condemning such an event is neither edifying nor is it beneficial in any way to the Pope’s efforts! Honestly, some people make it sound like he’s compromising. He’s Pope! We’re not. Do you think he was appointed Pope not being able to hear from God any better than that? Why stir up discontentment and argue against an event which our arguments, no matter how eloquent or persuasive, will not achieve any effect toward stopping? Rather trust in God and pray that His goodness will lead sinners to repentance, not our strong arguments.

 

[Califman831]

The pope is making a huge mistake will be held accountable on the day of judgment.

Galatians 1:8-9​

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach (to you) a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed!
As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed!

from catholic answers own webpage

“It is, therefore, the Catholic Church alone which retains true worship. This is the fountain of truth; this, the domicile of faith; this, the temple of God. Whoever does not enter there or whoever does not go out from there, he is a stranger to the hope of life and salvation. . . . Because, however, all the various groups of heretics are confident that they are the Christians and think that theirs is the Catholic Church, let it be known that this is the true Church, in which there is confession and penance and which takes a health-promoting care of the sins and wounds to which the weak flesh is subject” (Divine Institutes 4:30:11–13 [A.D. 307]). (Lactantius)

Augustine

“We believe also in the holy Church, that is, the Catholic Church. For heretics violate the faith itself by a false opinion about God; schismatics, however, withdraw from fraternal love by hostile separations, although they believe the same things we do. Consequently, neither heretics nor schismatics belong to the Catholic Church; not heretics, because the Church loves God; and not schismatics, because the Church loves neighbor” (Faith and the Creed 10:21 [A.D. 393]).

“[J]ust as baptism is of no profit to the man who renounces the world in words and not in deeds, so it is of no profit to him who is baptized in heresy or schism; but each of them, when he amends his ways, begins to receive profit from that which before was not profitable, but was yet already in him” (On Baptism, Against the Donatists 4:4[6] [A.D. 400]).

“I do not hesitate to put the Catholic catechumen, burning with divine love, before a baptized heretic. Even within the Catholic Church herself we put the good catechumen ahead of the wicked baptized person . . . For Cornelius, even before his baptism, was filled up with the Holy Spirit [Acts 10:44–48], while Simon [Magus], even after his baptism, was puffed up with an unclean spirit [Acts 8:13–19]” (ibid., 4:21[28]).

“The apostle Paul said, ‘As for a man that is a heretic, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him’ [Titus 3:10]. But those who maintain their own opinion, however false and perverted, without obstinate ill will, especially those who have not originated the error of bold presumption, but have received it from parents who had been led astray and had lapsed . . . those who seek the truth with careful industry and are ready to be corrected when they have found it, are not to be rated among heretics” (Letters 43:1 [A.D. 412]).

“Whoever is separated from this Catholic Church, by this single sin of being separated from the unity of Christ, no matter how estimable a life he may imagine he is living, shall not have life, but the wrath of God rests upon him” (ibid., 141:5).

 

[Sufjon]

You may be curious and the fact that you stay here speaks well of that but I notice that you go about it in such a way you walk the moral high ground and at the same time giving us a picture of your own belief. There’s unmistakable sign of that. I would say there is nothing wrong about it and the fact that you want to appear friendly and humble is good for the Forum discussion but make no mistake about it, there is every reason for you to be here. Perhaps one of it is more than just curiosity. There is nothing wrong about that; you are not doing anything that’s against the Forum rule but just in case, we are all mortal here; nobody is really a saint. We work within the bound of the Forum’s rule. It’s just that some posters are not very shrewd and speak directly while others are smarter and it’s difficult to pin them down but nevertheless we are all the same and have one motive or the other here.

God bless.

Hi Reuben: I am only trying to get some answers. I get responses where people throw scripture at me, and when I ask a question about the scripture, I often get answers about something other than the simple question I asked. I am very aware that I sometimes ask inconvenient questions. I do this when people start throwing obfuscations and disjointed references to scripture at a simple question. I have run into that on this thread. In this case, I have been likened to a dog, told that I worship Cabbage Patch dolls, told that other religions such as my own are rubbish and so on. All on this one thread. When I hear such things, I recognize the pangs of someone who feels threatened and has no other answer except attack. Now the forum rules dictate that I show respect to the Catholic faith. The lack of a reciprocal rule toward other religions by Catholics in the forum rules is rather conspicuous. The result is that I get called names and such. In spite of that, my curiosity gets the better of me, and I come back to ask more questions and perhaps make a comment or two along the way.

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I think I can safely say, Sufjon, that I don’t think you worship Cabbage Patch Kids and you’re not a dog. What question(s) do you feel aren’t being answered?

Hi Reuben: I am only trying to get some answers. I get responses where people throw scripture at me, and when I ask a question about the scripture, I often get answers about something other than the simple question I asked. I am very aware that I sometimes ask inconvenient questions. I do this when people start throwing obfuscations and disjointed references to scripture at a simple question. I have run into that on this thread. In this case, I have been likened to a dog, told that I worship Cabbage Patch dolls, told that other religions such as my own are rubbish and so on. All on this one thread. When I hear such things, I recognize the pangs of someone who feels threatened and has no other answer except attack. Now the forum rules dictate that I show respect to the Catholic faith. The lack of a reciprocal rule toward other religions by Catholics in the forum rules is rather conspicuous. The result is that I get called names and such. In spite of that, my curiosity gets the better of me, and I come back to ask more questions and perhaps make a comment or two along the way.

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[seeker57]

Will you convert to the Catholic Faith?

It is unlikely.

I believe God wants us to live our lives helping those with whom we share this planet.

I know many Catholics do this too.

I believe the teachings of Christ hold many points of wisdom including amity and benevolence for one another.

I believe many Catholics do as well.

But, I don’t believe in the trinity nor that Jesus was divine, which is usually a stumbling block for the Catholics with whom I am acquainted.

I also believe there are many ways to seek the divine and that each way, whether it be Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, etc., holds a small sliver of the the divine, which, I also believe, is impossible for us to fully comprehend or imagine.

This runs afoul of some Catholic teachings, or at least I am told it does.

So, while I appreciate the faith many Catholics and other Christians possess, I do not share it.

Because of this, I would think it would be unlikely I would be able to become a Catholic.

But thanks for asking.

Seeker.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I’ve always wondered, respectfully, how folks come to this conclusion that there are “many ways” to seek “the divine?” God has substance, personality, reality, essence, and He has manifested Himself to us through Christ Jesus. For someone to think that Vishnu, Shiva, Allah, animist deities, Yaweah, and all the other myriad gods are all the same essential godforce is beyond me. I think it would sadly make god a contradiction or at best schizophrenic. Shiva and Vishnu, for example, preach an entirely different view of the spiritual cosmos, different goals for humanity, different statements of their person, and they have so much that is in opposition to the God of the Bible. The God of the Old Testament says “you shall have no other gods before me” and the OT and NT point toward all other religions being idolatry and folly. The Rig Veda and Hindu texts point to the same end. And the Koran is very strongly condemning toward religions like Hinduism that would be considered idolatrous. The Koran also condemns the Jews and Christians.

These religions exist in opposition to each other and the idea that god has visited humanity “through” all these opposing, contradictory, and divergent religions is an attempt on the part of universalists to make sense of all religions and not have to choose. It’s a comfortable place to not make a choice. But we know that religion is hard, forces us to make choice, and in the end not all “gods” can be true and the One. L. Ron Hubbard and all these guys that have sought to reconcile all faiths into one path or one reality suffer a fool’s hope I think and it is avoidance of the difficult truth that there is but one God.

I think if you sit down on any given weekend and read the Koran front to back, the Book of Mormon front to back, the Vedas or Dharmapada of the buddha, the Bible, the Tao te ching, and other religious texts, you’d arrive at a more logical conclusion that these are not all one path to truth or the One but rather mischarted courses and only one leads to eternity. I believe that One is Christ Jesus.

Blessings to you and I hope someday you’ll reconsider this angle, blessings Seeker.

It is unlikely.

I believe God wants us to live our lives helping those with whom we share this planet.

I know many Catholics do this too.

I believe the teachings of Christ hold many points of wisdom including amity and benevolence for one another.

I believe many Catholics do as well.

But, I don’t believe in the trinity nor that Jesus was divine, which is usually a stumbling block for the Catholics with whom I am acquainted.

I also believe there are many ways to seek the divine and that each way, whether it be Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, etc., holds a small sliver of the the divine, which, I also believe, is impossible for us to fully comprehend or imagine.

This runs afoul of some Catholic teachings, or at least I am told it does.

So, while I appreciate the faith many Catholics and other Christians possess, I do not share it.

Because of this, I would think it would be unlikely I would be able to become a Catholic.

But thanks for asking.

Seeker.

 

[Reuben_J]

Hi Reuben: I am only trying to get some answers. I get responses where people throw scripture at me, and when I ask a question about the scripture, I often get answers about something other than the simple question I asked. I am very aware that I sometimes ask inconvenient questions. I do this when people start throwing obfuscations and disjointed references to scripture at a simple question. I have run into that on this thread. In this case, I have been likened to a dog, told that I worship Cabbage Patch dolls, told that other religions such as my own are rubbish and so on. All on this one thread. When I hear such things, I recognize the pangs of someone who feels threatened and has no other answer except attack. Now the forum rules dictate that I show respect to the Catholic faith. The lack of a reciprocal rule toward other religions by Catholics in the forum rules is rather conspicuous. The result is that I get called names and such. In spite of that, my curiosity gets the better of me, and I come back to ask more questions and perhaps make a comment or two along the way.

Your friend
Sufjon

Fair enough. Just my thought – some people do have a style of speaking and one have to read between the lines. Certain phrases are never meant to be literal though you have to be every right to get offended. But if you retaliate you may say things that are offensive to other people who are not intended for and you will get response.

I take your statement at face value then and I retract my words. Just a note, certain issue may be quite sensitive and no matter how you phrase the question you may get rather hostile answer; not every time but sometimes. That’s why we are always culpable for our own action to some extent. You know, it’s not always the other guy.

To tell you the truth, as a Catholic I’ve never felt threatened as to the strength of that faith. Yes, we may be lacking in knowledge and apologetic when challenged but that’s not because there is no answer to any questions that are being directed against it. If you go about it patiently, someone may notice and you may get the answer you want.

God bless.

 

[JeanMichel]

I’ve always wondered, respectfully, how folks come to this conclusion that there are “many ways” to seek “the divine?” God has substance, personality, reality, essence, and He has manifested Himself to us through Christ Jesus. For someone to think that Vishnu, Shiva, Allah, animist deities, Yaweah, and all the other myriad gods are all the same essential godforce is beyond me. I think it would sadly make god a contradiction or at best schizophrenic. Shiva and Vishnu, for example, preach an entirely different view of the spiritual cosmos, different goals for humanity, different statements of their person, and they have so much that is in opposition to the God of the Bible. The God of the Old Testament says “you shall have no other gods before me” and the OT and NT point toward all other religions being idolatry and folly. The Rig Veda and Hindu texts point to the same end. And the Koran is very strongly condemning toward religions like Hinduism that would be considered idolatrous. The Koran also condemns the Jews and Christians.

These religions exist in opposition to each other and the idea that god has visited humanity “through” all these opposing, contradictory, and divergent religions is an attempt on the part of universalists to make sense of all religions and not have to choose. It’s a comfortable place to not make a choice. But we know that religion is hard, forces us to make choice, and in the end not all “gods” can be true and the One. L. Ron Hubbard and all these guys that have sought to reconcile all faiths into one path or one reality suffer a fool’s hope I think and it is avoidance of the difficult truth that there is but one God.

I think if you sit down on any given weekend and read the Koran front to back, the Book of Mormon front to back, the Vedas or Dharmapada of the buddha, the Bible, the Tao te ching, and other religious texts, you’d arrive at a more logical conclusion that these are not all one path to truth or the One but rather mischarted courses and only one leads to eternity. I believe that One is Christ Jesus.

Blessings to you and I hope someday you’ll reconsider this angle, blessings Seeker.

It is interesting that you would make this challenge about reading these other Holy Books; I have done so and I have come to treasure them (some more than others). I have met holy men from these other religions and have learned to respect them deeply and understand that they have much they can teach each of us. In effect, they can make us better disciples of Christ Jesus.

I realize that I have become far more tolerant of the beliefs of others; not because my faith has become weaker, but because I have faith that there is only one God and he blesses and guides the lives of each of his children upon the earth whether they are Christian or not. Because there is no other God, he hears all prayers and answers them. Eventually all shall bow and acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior, but until that day he allows us to choose our path, learn truth, and serve others.

 

[Sufjon]

I’ve always wondered, respectfully, how folks come to this conclusion that there are “many ways” to seek “the divine?” God has substance, personality, reality, essence, and He has manifested Himself to us through Christ Jesus. For someone to think that Vishnu, Shiva, Allah, animist deities, Yaweah, and all the other myriad gods are all the same essential godforce is beyond me. I think it would sadly make god a contradiction or at best schizophrenic. Shiva and Vishnu, for example, preach an entirely different view of the spiritual cosmos, different goals for humanity, different statements of their person, and they have so much that is in opposition to the God of the Bible. The God of the Old Testament says “you shall have no other gods before me” and the OT and NT point toward all other religions being idolatry and folly. The Rig Veda and Hindu texts point to the same end. And the Koran is very strongly condemning toward religions like Hinduism that would be considered idolatrous. The Koran also condemns the Jews and Christians.

These religions exist in opposition to each other and the idea that god has visited humanity “through” all these opposing, contradictory, and divergent religions is an attempt on the part of universalists to make sense of all religions and not have to choose. It’s a comfortable place to not make a choice. But we know that religion is hard, forces us to make choice, and in the end not all “gods” can be true and the One. L. Ron Hubbard and all these guys that have sought to reconcile all faiths into one path or one reality suffer a fool’s hope I think and it is avoidance of the difficult truth that there is but one God.

I think if you sit down on any given weekend and read the Koran front to back, the Book of Mormon front to back, the Vedas or Dharmapada of the buddha, the Bible, the Tao te ching, and other religious texts, you’d arrive at a more logical conclusion that these are not all one path to truth or the One but rather mischarted courses and only one leads to eternity. I believe that One is Christ Jesus.

Blessings to you and I hope someday you’ll reconsider this angle, blessings Seeker.

Hi Gurneyhalleck:

I think that’s a great question and I also think it would be a really good discussion. The subject is huge though, so maybe it should be it’s own thread. Anyway, there are many dimensions to a discussion like that, and I think the only way we could get through it would be to go a point at a time. That said, is there something in particular that you see as conflicting between these different religions? You mentioned The Hindu Trinity or Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) as opposed to the Christian Trinity (Father Son and Holy Spirit). Is there a particular difference that you see there? I am not telling you that you’re wrong - I am just trying to gain an understanding of what you’re seeing.

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[jam070406]

It is unlikely.

I believe God wants us to live our lives helping those with whom we share this planet.

I know many Catholics do this too.

I believe the teachings of Christ hold many points of wisdom including amity and benevolence for one another.

I believe many Catholics do as well.

But, I don’t believe in the trinity nor that Jesus was divine, which is usually a stumbling block for the Catholics with whom I am acquainted.

I also believe there are many ways to seek the divine and that each way, whether it be Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, etc., holds a small sliver of the the divine, which, I also believe, is impossible for us to fully comprehend or imagine.

This runs afoul of some Catholic teachings, or at least I am told it does.

So, while I appreciate the faith many Catholics and other Christians possess, I do not share it.

Because of this, I would think it would be unlikely I would be able to become a Catholic.

But thanks for asking.

Seeker.

You said the Pope doing an interfaith prayer speaks volumes, as if, he was validating your claim that all paths lead to God. The Church does NOT teach this. And this is the objection by some Catholics to him doing it.
The only good that could come out of it is if people such as yourself and the misguided souls that will be offering “prayer” at Assisi converted due to the Pope’s heed that it is necessary for their salvation. This should be THE prayer.

Jews were anger at the Pope for not removing a conversion prayer in the Liturgy.
Muslims were mad because he said violence was against the will of God.
Any kind of “peace” that comes out of the meeting (if any) is, like Jesus said, a false, worldy peace.
Jesus is the only means of TRUE peace. He is the prince of Peace!

A interfaith prayer is pointless. It will not bring about true peace. It will not stop Muslims or Hindus from slaughtering Christians. Admonishing sinners to repent and believe in the gospel message of Jesus Christ, like Peter did, is what will bring true peace.
I really don’t understand the Pope’s logic. Perhaps he got bad advice. He has enough to concern himself with within the Church. Him going to Assisi only adds to more of the confusion among Faithful Catholics and sends a mixed message to those outside the Church, IMHO.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Hi JeanMichel,

I have nothing to fear either from reading the holy books of other religions. I have read the Koran several times, the Book of Mormon, the Dharmappada probably 10 times, the Vedas several times, the stories of Krishna, you name it. To understand other religions is a powerful thing and a positive step IMO, not something threatening. Like learning another language doesn’t harm one’s native tongue, learning about other religions doesn’t threaten one’s own faith if that faith is truly grounded in Our Lord.

That being said, when you say these people of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, etc. are “holy,” I must differ. They may be kind, gentle, peaceful, insightful, intelligent, and charitable, giving, etc. But to be “holy” they must be in Christ to, in the true sense of the word, have holiness. Catholicism, and Christianity in general, teaches us that works are empty and worthless if not done through Christ Jesus and in the guidance of the holy spirit. They may benefit society, help the downtrodden and lame, make our world better for sure, but they are not acts of “holiness” IMO. To be holy one must have Christ Jesus. Just my two cents…or ten!

It is interesting that you would make this challenge about reading these other Holy Books; I have done so and I have come to treasure them (some more than others). I have met holy men from these other religions and have learned to respect them deeply and understand that they have much they can teach each of us. In effect, they can make us better disciples of Christ Jesus.

I realize that I have become far more tolerant of the beliefs of others; not because my faith has become weaker, but because I have faith that there is only one God and he blesses and guides the lives of each of his children upon the earth whether they are Christian or not. Because there is no other God, he hears all prayers and answers them. Eventually all shall bow and acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior, but until that day he allows us to choose our path, learn truth, and serve others.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Hi Sufjon,

I would say, to answer your question, that the Hindu Trimurti, simply put, just isn’t the same as the Holy Trinity of the Bible. The fundamental personality, essence, prophecies, and revelations of the Holy Bible are not those of the Vedas. Whether it is reincarnation, the caste system, the unknowable Brahman, the attributes of the gods like Krishna and Shiva showing lust and all-too-human behavior, and their personalities in general. The tone and tenor of what Krishna teaches to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita is not the same morals and teachings of Jesus. The avatars of Vishnu goes against the once and for all incarnation of Christ. The idolatrous nature of Hinduism is incongruent with Christianity and Judaism from whence Christianity came as well. The idea of asceticism that Shiavites embrace, self-mutilation, Karma is not the same as how grace works. The dharma of Hinduism is not the dharma of the New Testament. The theistic ontology of creation is different, on and on.

Yes, ahimsa is a very Christian thing as is the charity, love, kindness, and many other virtues that Hinduism fosters, but the esential personality, character, and fundamentals of God Himself are not there.

All religions have similarities at some point. All converge on many basics of morality. St. Paul tells us this, that the gentiles have the Law written in their hearts to some degree. But the truth of WHO God is and what He wants for us and how He interacts and molds us is completely different.

God bless, friend!

Hi Gurneyhalleck:

I think that’s a great question and I also think it would be a really good discussion. The subject is huge though, so maybe it should be it’s own thread. Anyway, there are many dimensions to a discussion like that, and I think the only way we could get through it would be to go a point at a time. That said, is there something in particular that you see as conflicting between these different religions? You mentioned The Hindu Trinity or Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) as opposed to the Christian Trinity (Father Son and Holy Spirit). Is there a particular difference that you see there? I am not telling you that you’re wrong - I am just trying to gain an understanding of what you’re seeing.

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[Mickey]

That being said, when you say these people of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, etc. are “holy,” I must differ.

Indeed! I recommend a book called, The Gurus, the Young Man, and Elder Paisios, it’s a real page turner!

amazon.com/Gurus-Young-Man-Elder-Paisios/dp/1887904166

 

[Sufjon]

Hi Sufjon,

I would say, to answer your question, that the Hindu Trimurti, simply put, just isn’t the same as the Holy Trinity of the Bible. The fundamental personality, essence, prophecies, and revelations of the Holy Bible are not those of the Vedas. Whether it is reincarnation, the caste system, the unknowable Brahman, the attributes of the gods like Krishna and Shiva showing lust and all-too-human behavior, and their personalities in general. The tone and tenor of what Krishna teaches to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita is not the same morals and teachings of Jesus. The avatars of Vishnu goes against the once and for all incarnation of Christ. The idolatrous nature of Hinduism is incongruent with Christianity and Judaism from whence Christianity came as well. The idea of asceticism that Shiavites embrace, self-mutilation, Karma is not the same as how grace works. The dharma of Hinduism is not the dharma of the New Testament. The theistic ontology of creation is different, on and on.

Yes, ahimsa is a very Christian thing as is the charity, love, kindness, and many other virtues that Hinduism fosters, but the esential personality, character, and fundamentals of God Himself are not there.

All religions have similarities at some point. All converge on many basics of morality. St. Paul tells us this, that the gentiles have the Law written in their hearts to some degree. But the truth of WHO God is and what He wants for us and how He interacts and molds us is completely different.

God bless, friend!

Hi Gurneyhalleck: I am familiar with all of the issues you have mentioned. They exist in the minds of as many mainstream Hindus as they do among mainstream Christians. I would say that perhaps there are a few million people who see it the way I do, and then about a billion Hindus who think Christianity is full of bull and about a billion Christians who think Hindus and everyone else are full of bull. Most couldn’t be bothered with the other. Personally, I don’t even like the labels.

Anyway, each of the topics you mentioned could fill a book in discussion, which is why I was hoping to go one thing at a time so they could be discussed properly as I mentioned. Each is a huge topic on it’s own. Is there one in particular you’d like to start with? Over time we could move through each one. As a housekeeping item, should we start another thread? Our discussion is vaguely on topic, but I’m not sure how much.

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[latin_rite]

Hi Reuben: I am only trying to get some answers. I get responses where people throw scripture at me,

If you’re referring to my post. What else am i suppose to do? The pope is doing something i disagree with, Some one asked why should disagree with the pope. I told them because God says it wrong to do so.

.

I have run into that on this thread. In this case, I have been likened to a dog, told that I worship Cabbage Patch dolls,

Now my friend. I did not call you a dog nor did i say you worshipped cabbage patch dolls. Why are you lying. I said Jesus referred to gentiles / pagans as dogs. And i said that i have nothing against pagans. I said if they want to worship a cabbage patch doll , then i will defend their right to do so. I made no reference to you worshipping any such thing.
.

told that other religions such as my own are rubbish and so on. All on this one thread. When I hear such things

How can one say your religion is rubbish when, one doesn;t know what religion is it you follow/
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I recognize the pangs of someone who feels threatened and has no other answer except attack

Maybe those pangs, is just the truth you are feeling. You take me as someone who doesn’t like anything other than complete agreement with your views. And any sort of disagreement with them, no matter how slight or how polite. Is taken as a personal attack?
I don’t know if you will take this as a personal attack. You probably will. But you come across as a person who is quite childish. Who when faced with a differing opinion will tell straight out lies.
No has had called you a dog or said that you worshipped cabbage patch dolls. No One threw random quotes of scripture at you. But because of this post i will have to call you a liar.