What is the forum's take on "interfaith" efforts

[protestantinca]

By “interfaith” I do not mean Christians of different denominations talking to each other or co celebrating services - as an aside my denomination, the LCMS, prohibits its pastors from doing so- but things like Christianity/Islam or Christianity/Buddhism. I see the problem less significant in dialogues with Jews, since Christianity doesn’t take away from Judaism, but it adds to it.

One of the most powerful arguments against religious belief in general is the seemingly incompatibility between the different religions. I think that the incompatibility argument has merit, but only as it pertains to the fact that indeed, Christianity and Islam cannot be both right at the same time. My answer to the challenge has been to research Christianity and the other religions so I can have cogent arguments as to why I believe all religions outside Christianity are false belief systems but I would like to know what other people who have thought long about the issue believe.

 

[Darryl_B]

By “interfaith” I do not mean Christians of different denominations talking to each other or co celebrating services - as an aside my denomination, the LCMS, prohibits its pastors from doing so- but things like Christianity/Islam or Christianity/Buddhism. I see the problem less significant in dialogues with Jews, since Christianity doesn’t take away from Judaism, but it adds to it.

One of the most powerful arguments against religious belief in general is the seemingly incompatibility between the different religions. I think that the incompatibility argument has merit, but only as it pertains to the fact that indeed, Christianity and Islam cannot be both right at the same time. My answer to the challenge has been to research Christianity and the other religions so I can have cogent arguments as to why I believe all religions outside Christianity are false belief systems but I would like to know what other people who have thought long about the issue believe.

My friend, it is a difficult question to answer, and I pray you receive your answer, but what I find hard these days to fathom, and I have thought long about this, is how can there possibly be “denominations” within “Christianity”? It is a contradiction of terms. Why focus on Christianity/Islam or Christianity/Buddhism when there is no Christianity/Christianity?

 

[Kaninchen]

I see the problem less significant in dialogues with Jews, since Christianity doesn’t take away from Judaism, but it adds to it.

Judaism isn’t Christianity minus Jesus and Christianity isn’t Judaism plus Jesus. They’re two very different religions and assuming otherwise will lead to a lot of frustration.

 

[spedteacherita]

My friend, it is a difficult question to answer, and I pray you receive your answer, but what I find hard these days to fathom, and I have thought long about this, is how can there possibly be “denominations” within “Christianity”? It is a contradiction of terms. Why focus on Christianity/Islam or Christianity/Buddhism when there is no Christianity/Christianity?

I don’t see the differences among Christians to be much of a problem if we proclaim Christ as taught within the Apostles or Nicene Creeds. While each may consider that they have the teachings that will bring one closer to Christ - the importance lies in whether they proclaim Christ crucified, dead, buried and risen as written in prophecies of the Old Testament and look for the ultimate return of Him to take us to eternity with Him.

Our focus should be on those outside of the Christian faith and is extremely important as it’s Jesus’ commandment to go out and preach the Gospel and baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. While we spend time with “infighting” how many souls are being lost either by our example or by not sharing the gospel with them.

I don’t have a problem with us taking the opportunity to debate here in the CA forums because I have found that, while we are different in many areas, we share the one important truth of celebrating God sending His Son into the world as He promised beginning just after the Fall and continuously in Old Testament scripture. The debating here on CAF is a good place to sharpen our Sword of Truth in order to proclaim the Good News and learning from each other. All else is adiaphora.

Let’s by all means continue to sharpen our swords by debating doctrine of each denomination but let’s all remember to do it in the love of Christ so that we’re prepared to go out in the world in whatever way we can to bring those with unbelief into the circle of Love God shared with us when He allowed His son to be crucified in order to bring all (if possible) to a saving faith in Him.

God bless all!! Let’s get out and share our Good News!

In Christ’s love,

Rita

 

[Eric_Hilbert]

OP:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=791722

You can debate until your fingers bleed, but you have to do so in an adult and respectful manner.
Welcome to the asylum.

 

[hazcompat]

usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/ecumenical-and-interreligious/index.cfm

Peace

 

[MaryT777]

usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/ecumenical-and-interreligious/index.cfm

Peace

Thanks for the link!~ Lots going on.

Good question, OP

Mary.

 

[Matthew_Light]

I think there is probably no more important task than that people of different religions learn to accept, respect and then appreciate the spiritual, religious and philosophical beliefs of those with different understandings of reality.

 

[Matthew_Light]

usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/ecumenical-and-interreligious/index.cfm

Peace

That is a wonderful and inspiring web page!

 

[Eric_Hyom]

However we juggle our beliefs about, we are all created by the same God, the same God hears all our prayers despite our differences.

The greatest commandments command us to love all our neighbours as we love ourselves, we can do nothing greater.

 

[Matthew_Light]

However we juggle our beliefs about, we are all created by the same God, the same God hears all our prayers despite our differences.

The greatest commandments command us to love all our neighbours as we love ourselves, we can do nothing greater.

Beautiful, Eric!

 

[protestantinca]

However we juggle our beliefs about, we are all created by the same God, the same God hears all our prayers despite our differences.

The greatest commandments command us to love all our neighbours as we love ourselves, we can do nothing greater.

Gee, I think that we have some disagreement here,
Matthew 22:

vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PVV.HTM

When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together,
and one of them [a scholar of the law] tested him by asking,

“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”

He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.

This is the greatest and the first commandment.

The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

I don’t think you can cherry pick one over the other. Claiming to love God -and thus agreeing to His laws- without loving your neighbor will not take you very far, but surely claiming to love your neighbor but ignoring your God will not take you very far either.

So in that regard, I see the differences between Christians less of a worry than say differences between Christians and Muslims. I think that all Christians who have thought about it should be able to say why they are Christians and not something else beyond “I was brought up Christian”.

 

[protestantinca]

OP:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=791722

You can debate until your fingers bleed, but you have to do so in an adult and respectful manner.
Welcome to the asylum.

"It is fallacious reasoning to use embarrassing incidents to claim that they “prove” a particular religion is false. "

Not sure what that is supposed to mean, but my arguments to claim that all religions outside Christianity are false are nothing of that sort

 

[Eric_Hyom]

So in that regard, I see the differences between Christians less of a worry than say differences between Christians and Muslims.

Never the less, we are still commanded to love our Muslim neighbours as we love ourselves. In todays world, Muslims should be no more of a problem to us; than the Samaritans were to the Jews. We know the parable of the Good Samaritan was uncomfortable for God’s chosen people, but there are no get out clauses in the greatest commandments.

 

[protestantinca]

Never the less, we are still commanded to love our Muslim neighbours as we love ourselves. In todays world, Muslims should be no more of a problem to us; than the Samaritans were to the Jews. We know the parable of the Good Samaritan was uncomfortable for God’s chosen people, but there are no get out clauses in the greatest commandments.

Correct, I never said otherwise. What I am talking about is the conviction about Christianity being the only true faith, which is different from trying to impose it to other people by force or refusing to obey Jesus’ command with people who don’t share our faith. Very different.

The question is, do you have arguments to affirm that the Muslim faith is a false faith?

 

[Eric_Hyom]

Correct, I never said otherwise. What I am talking about is the conviction about Christianity being the only true faith, which is different from trying to impose it to other people by force or refusing to obey Jesus’ command with people who don’t share our faith. Very different.

The question is, do you have arguments to affirm that the Muslim faith is a false faith?

God is beyond my understanding, the Jews are God’s chosen people, we are chosen by Christ, and in Islam, it is said Allah chooses whom he wills.

If Christ chose people to be Christian, did he choose us to be Anglicans, Catholics, Baptist, Lutherans etc? Did the same God make a mistake when he chose and called us through all these diverse beliefs?

We wrestle with all these thoughts, but we are given the two greatest commandments, we can do nothing greater. We strive to change ourselves, all things are in the hands of God, and we pray thy will be done.

Blessings

Eric

 

[schaeffer]

By “interfaith” I do not mean Christians of different denominations talking to each other or co celebrating services - as an aside my denomination, the LCMS, prohibits its pastors from doing so- but things like Christianity/Islam or Christianity/Buddhism. I see the problem less significant in dialogues with Jews, since Christianity doesn’t take away from Judaism, but it adds to it.

One of the most powerful arguments against religious belief in general is the seemingly incompatibility between the different religions. I think that the incompatibility argument has merit, but only as it pertains to the fact that indeed, Christianity and Islam cannot be both right at the same time. My answer to the challenge has been to research Christianity and the other religions so I can have cogent arguments as to why I believe all religions outside Christianity are false belief systems but I would like to know what other people who have thought long about the issue believe.

I’m not sure I understand what you are referring to here. Do you mean conversations or attempts to understand the beliefs and history of different religions, or are you referring to
" syncretism 1. the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought."

I admit I don’t know what the current trend is these days, but I do know that the Catholic Church is not open to syncretism. From what I know of history intentional syncretism does little to help anyone, it just dillutes the power and message of a religion.

Over time religions do pick up rituals etc from the cultures, or even the climate of the areas they are in, language, art etc. If those things don’t defy or challenge the core beliefs of a faith I think they do no harm.

 

[SteveVH]

By “interfaith” I do not mean Christians of different denominations talking to each other or co celebrating services - as an aside my denomination, the LCMS, prohibits its pastors from doing so- but things like Christianity/Islam or Christianity/Buddhism. I see the problem less significant in dialogues with Jews, since Christianity doesn’t take away from Judaism, but it adds to it.

One of the most powerful arguments against religious belief in general is the seemingly incompatibility between the different religions. I think that the incompatibility argument has merit, but only as it pertains to the fact that indeed, Christianity and Islam cannot be both right at the same time. My answer to the challenge has been to research Christianity and the other religions so I can have cogent arguments as to why I believe all religions outside Christianity are false belief systems but I would like to know what other people who have thought long about the issue believe.

Take a look at how Paul handled the Greeks. He didn’t go there ranting and raving about the false gods they worshiped. Instead, he went to the temple they had erected in honor of the unknown God. He explained to them that the God whom they did not know was the one, true God. Anytime we can find common ground we should use it to further the truth and hope and pray that they will see the truth. We have common ground with all of the major religions, to one degree or another.

 

[Peter_J]

What is the forum’s take on “interfaith” efforts?

Hi. I’m probably not the person to answe your question, but I want to say that I appreciate the specificity of it – one of my pet peeves is NCs equating Catholic with catholic.com, catholic.org, or whatever website they frequent.

 

[openmind77]

By “interfaith” I do not mean Christians of different denominations talking to each other or co celebrating services - as an aside my denomination, the LCMS, prohibits its pastors from doing so- but things like Christianity/Islam or Christianity/Buddhism. I see the problem less significant in dialogues with Jews, since Christianity doesn’t take away from Judaism, but it adds to it.

One of the most powerful arguments against religious belief in general is the seemingly incompatibility between the different religions. I think that the incompatibility argument has merit, but only as it pertains to the fact that indeed, Christianity and Islam cannot be both right at the same time. My answer to the challenge has been to research Christianity and the other religions so I can have cogent arguments as to why I believe all religions outside Christianity are false belief systems but I would like to know what other people who have thought long about the issue believe.

Maybe the different religions are not as incompatble as you think they are? For instance the main difference between Muslims and Catholics is the belief in the trinity. But many Christians don’t believe in the Trinity either!

I would be cautious about declaring any religion as false, because you will be setting yourself up for a major if not devastating disappointment when the Christ returns - you may find that he cares as much about those ‘fa!se’ believers and does not think of you as more special.