How does this attitude relate to the prayer of Jesus "that all may be one" (John 17,21). Is it possible for Christians to be joined as one spirit enriching each other through the diversity of our faith? We can dance to the same music but have different styles, right? Can the promise of Jesus "when two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18,20) apply to all inter-faith discussions in this forum? If that is not possible, can we have a moratorium on inter-faith bashing during this season of Lent?
2007-03-27 12:40:08 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Taliesin, you are right. I meant only Christian denominations. Sorry.
2007-03-27 12:51:07 · update #1
Smiley, if only we had more people who think like you do we would have more converts to Christianity. When non-Christians see that Christians do not respect each other, by being rude and insulting, do you think they will want to become Christians?
2007-03-27 12:56:57 · update #2
Great answer, PhD.
2007-03-27 12:59:38 · update #3
Maybe the answer you seek can best be found in what Paul wrote to the Ephesians.
Chapter 4:1 - 3;
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavouring to keep the UNITY of the spirit in the bond of PEACE............
2007-03-27 12:54:23 · answer #1 · answered by Theban 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It is very difficult for people who are set in one doctrine to accept gracefully the opinions of someone who is set in another doctrine. Personally, I do not believe in any particular denomination so I can honestly say that what I state on this or any other forum is my personal interpretation. Therefore, I have no problem with someone else's beliefs even if they are different from mine. I am all for being respectful not only to fellow believers but also to people who do not believe at all.
2007-03-27 12:47:24 · answer #2 · answered by Poohcat1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This isn't a question of attitude towards other religions; it is clarifying mine, Christianity. You have quoted two verses that you obviously have no idea what they mean in context.
John 17:20ff is a prayer. 20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ...
There is no universal religion with this quote. It clearly says "for those who will believe in me through their message”, not everyone of every faith.
"that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you" Jesus is praying for his disciples (note his disciples not anyone else) that they may be one...
More over, Matt 18:19"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
What do you think in my name means? Followers of Jesus. There is no other religion referenced.
I have no problem with people believing what they want. As a Christian, Jesus requested his followers (disciples) to teach all nations. Misquoting verse after verse that claim that Jesus supported a universal religion, is nonsense. Jesus was explicit about this: I am the way, the truth, and the life towards the father.
Buddha never pretended to be Jesus. The Dao De Jing is not a Gospel. Stop using the pre-season to Easter to call for inter-faith discussions, and focus on the meaning of Easter for yourself.
Answer: It is clear you need to work with your own religion before you substituted a lie for the truth. You really should know better.
2007-03-27 18:35:37 · answer #3 · answered by J. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
regardless of if Judaism recognises or not isn't an argument. venture is how they are residing with different religions in twenty first century. In Israel different religions can coexist with Judaism and that's adequate. that's substantial reason Muslims cover in the back of one or 2 so-called non violent verses in Koran. whilst somebody says Muslims are violent they immediately factor out to those so-called non violent verses and say see Islam does not motivate violence yet their strikes tell in any different case. strikes of the followers of a particular faith or cult are extra substantial than what their dogma is coaching.
2016-11-23 20:12:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"We can dance to the same music but have different styles, right?"
Sadly, no. Because we're talking about the teachings of Jesus, here, not people's taste in music or food clothing which are subjective.
Jesus taught certain things and anyone who is a true follower of Jesus must believe those things. When people stray from the Truth they cause disunity.
Therefore my attitudes towards other religions is this:
God gave man free will therefore he can choose his own path, whether right or wrong. This includes religion. So I respect other people's freedom to believe what they will, but at the same time I retain my freedom to believe they are wrong when they stray from the truth of Christ.
Christ did not intend for us to have thousands of different denominations all teaching different things about Him. That is CHAOS. Christ established ONE Church....the historical Church....the Catholic Church.
God bless you during this holy season of Lent.
2007-03-27 12:46:37 · answer #5 · answered by Veritas 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
I think that some oversensitive people define a question as (bashing). Why not decide to not jumping to conclusion during Lent? Pick the questions that you think are serious, and answer them. If you're offended, move on.
2007-03-27 12:43:11 · answer #6 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Personally I hate religion and the term religion and religious.
Religion is a dead and rotten thing full of head knowledge but lacking a personal relationship with God that is available to us only through Jesus Christ.
I love the people who are seeking after God, but then I love all
people whether they are seeking after God or not. The Bible teaches me that we are to love all men because Christ died for everyone who will come to Him and repent of their sins, and that includes everyone as long as they are alive because while they are alive they still have a chance.
Now to accept the claims of Jesus that He is the only way to Heaven means I must of necessity reject any other teaching that denies this or tries to prove that there is another way. In the words of Jesus Himself, "You are either for Him or against
Him." He didn't leave any gray areas to slide by on.
The scripture you quoted that they may all be one applies to Christians only. If by inter-faith you are talking about those that are seeking to love and serve Christ then I believe we should all be as one regardless of where we worship.
The teachings of other religions such as Taoism, Buddhism, Shinto, Hare Krishna, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Muslim, Confucianism, Sikhism, The Moonies and multiple other religions and cults either refutes or repudiates the cardinal doctrines of Christianity, and we are taught in scripture that Light has no fellowship with darkness. In plain words we are to have no fellowship with unbelievers, but to love those outside of Christ and pray for them that they might receive a personal revelation of God as He really is, and the sacrifice Christ made for them to pay for their sin and give them the gift of eternal life.
The only gathering where two or more are gathered in His name and He is in the midst is the true believers. They are those who have admitted their sin, repented of it, received the cleansing He died to give and live to love and serve Him.
2007-03-27 13:01:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
All spiritual paths contain some inherent truth in them, but no 'religion' contains the WHOLE truth.
I believe we all have to make our own choices regarding faith and that nobody has the right to tell us our beliefs are wrong, bad or otherwise invalid.
Btw you seem to be referring to different denominations, not religions.
2007-03-27 12:46:23 · answer #8 · answered by Taliesin Pen Beirdd 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
it depends. i am LDS (Mormon) and a lot of people (mostly protesters) have accused me personally of being a member of a cult and have said i was going to burn in hell. now i don't listen to anything they say because i have learned that it is all just pointless ranting. but if someone is rational and doesn't say that my church is a cult and that it was founded by a fraud then i will be tolerant to them and listen to what they have to say (if i have the time)
2007-03-27 12:50:30 · answer #9 · answered by Brutus Maxius 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In order to answer fairly, I need a bit more information about what you mean by "other religions." It seems that you are talking about various denominations of Christianity, in which case I welcome those who are truly brothers and sisters in Christ and pray for those who aren't. As for the denominations themselves, I roundly condemn their existence, as Paul castigated those who brought division to the body of Christ during his ministry.
If you are speaking in terms of non-Christian or pseudo Christian religions, those are not of the faith, so we can not in any sense be "one" with them but should seek their conversion.
2007-03-27 12:50:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋