The bible forbids:
Divination
Consulting the dead for use with divination
Consulting with other spirits and demons for use with divination
Echanting others to influence their actions
Using drugs on others to influence their actions
Act in a way that would diminish the image of God in you. That is lying, murdering, etc.
Yahweh demands that you worship no other god or goddess but him.
So outside of this, why couldn't someone be able to follow:
Buddhism (mostly believe that Buddha is not a god)
We bear the image of God within us so this is not far off to say we contain divinity within us.
Pagan philosophy (as long as you don't do the above)
Taoism (the way is a generic word for god but names no god other than a creator)
etc.
Witch was a word they used in the bible as a blanket word for different things, the same as the word hell. Both stem from old ideas and superstitions.
So what do you think?
2007-10-30 01:59:34 · 15 answers · asked by Emperor Insania Says Bye! 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Sometimes other ideas can explain biblical truths in ways never thought of.
Hebrew thought is just that, hebrew thought. The chinese had some good ideas as well as other cultures that exapnd on biblical principles.
2007-10-30 02:05:57 · update #1
There's a difference between following and acknowledging wisdom. I'm talking about the acknowledgement part. Part of the condition is 'no other gods' before you...
2007-10-30 07:10:50 · update #2
The whole point of being a Christian is Christ. We are told that the sole path to Heaven leads through Christ. There are things in the Bible which I do not believe are accurate, and there are clearly things most people do not see fit to follow anymore. However, if you are going to consider yourself a Christian, then there are some core truths you have to believe.
I am not God and I am not going to try to say what God might think about Buddhism, Taoism, etc. Personally, I do think we can gain wisdom and knowledge from many sources and I'm sure there are bits of truth in every religion and non-religion. So, I'm not opposed to one learning about all other beliefs and incorporating bits into his/her personal belief system. I suspect the truth of God is so vast that it's greater than any one belief system of which man can conceive. However, in the end, God will judge each person and determine if his/her name appears in the Book of Life. It's not my call.
2007-10-30 18:11:43 · answer #1 · answered by Michael B - Prop. 8 Repealed! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, most forms of Paganism would be rather problematic, seeing how they're polytheistic and thus mutually exclusive with Abrahamic monotheism by monotheistic demand.
Buddhism and Christianity are not generally considered at a priori odds by actual theological scholars; unfortunately, the actual scholars don't hold much sway in Christianity today, where Protestantism in particular is under the rule of intolerant, semi-learned agitators. (Catholicism is actually better in this regard!)
As far as I know, common Chinese Taoism presumes a polytheistic pantheon, which again is unacceptable by Abrahamic monotheistic demand. As for the philosophic principles completely seperated from theistic inquiries, I'm sorry to say i don't know them well enough to tell.
What I think, well, should be readily apparent from my take on the compatability with Buddhism.
2007-10-30 09:16:30 · answer #2 · answered by The Arkady 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Everything that you have mentioned is idolatry and God hates it and God forbids it. God says test the spirits that you are talking about because those spirits are not of God, but they are demonic spirits.
Jesus Christ makes all the difference, because Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father (God) except by Me."
God is absolute about everything. God does not tolerate everything.
The problem is your old ideas and superstitions come from Nimrod who rebelled against God and they haven't changed in thousands of years.
You'll get all of the other religions to agree, but real Christians will say NO. Jesus Christ makes the difference and what a big, big difference He is. Jesus is God.
2007-10-30 09:15:20 · answer #3 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your question is odd? It's asking like, Why can't you be a Hindu or why can't you be a Muslim while following other spiritual paths? See how odd it sounds.
Christianity is very different from Eastern religion. I read the Bible and I am confused. I fail to see any word of God in it.
I will get thumbs down I know, but I am being honest here.
You would not understand my point of view unless you read "Gita and sri Guru Granth Sahib"
2007-10-30 09:07:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I believe that being Christian means that you have personally accepted Jesus, Son of the one true God, as your Lord and Savior. This means entering into (accepting) the covenant of the New Testament for the salvation of your eternal soul.
I also believe that there are very many false gods in the world that lure and tempt us from the love and mercy of God. You mention several. It is this luring away from God that is the problem. Christians should focus on the Word of God, study, pray, be in fellowship, and strive to have Jesus in their daily lives. In so doing, there's little if any time for "other spiritual paths".
2007-10-30 09:06:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's rather like being married. Sure, you can sleep with many other people and still be married. That doesn't make it right, and it is bad for your marriage. I also don't think that your spouse will like that!
God describes Himself as a jealous God. That means that He loves us incredibly and wants all of our affection, all our devotion, all our time and all our love. When you are married to someone, don't you feel like that about them? You want them to be faithful to you and you want to take care of them. Same goes for your kids....you don't want them to love someone else's parents more than they love you, you want them to look to you to provide for them and do special things together. Right?
The Bible says that Christians are the "bride of Christ". Are you married? I am! I remember our wedding vows clearly since it was only 4 years ago. Part of those vows was promising to forsake all others and keep ourselves faithful to one another until death do us part. When a person is saved - when they put their faith in Christ and give Him their heart - it's like taking marriage vows (we aren't literally married to Jesus, obviously...it's more like a metaphor!). We are now His, and He is ours. He will be faithful to us no matter what life brings. We need to be faithful to Him and not be dallying in other religions (especially religions that are full of occultism!). Have you read the major and minor prophets in the Old Testament before? Read about how God felt when the Israelites wandered away and started practicing the Canaanite religions and worshipping Baal. Israel got into a ton of trouble that way. We may not be living in Old Testament days anymore but God has NOT changed one bit. Don't forget that - He said, "I am the LORD, I change not."
If you truly love God with all your heart, you won't even want to follow those other religions. And you don't need to anyways. If you are using the right Bible it has all the answers you need (sometimes you just have to dig a little bit to find them). It's like, if you truly love your wife or your husband you won't want to sleep with someone else no matter how attractive they are (and you won't do it even if you felt tempted!).
2007-10-30 09:22:15 · answer #6 · answered by Blue Eyed Christian 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A person "could" follow some of the teachings of Buddhism and still be a Christian but the question is why would they want to?
What benefit would accrue to them that is not already found in the Bible?
Comparison Christianity and Buddhism - What are the differences?
Jesus came to this world as a man and fulfilled all the prophecies concerning the Messiah. Buddha could not reconcile the existence of suffering with an all-powerful, loving God and so rejected the teachings of Hinduism.
There are Four Noble Truths to Buddhism: Dukkha, Samudaya, Nirodha, and Marga.
Dukkha, the first of the Four Noble Truths, says that all human experience is transient and that suffering results from excessive desire and attachment. It is a Pali word which means, "incapable of satisfying." The Buddha taught that suffering is an inescapable reality. We know there are things in this world that will momentarily end suffering. How do we know suffering exists unless we have something to compare it to? Does a man who is completely blind know when he enters a dark room?
Samudaya, the second noble truth, explains that the cause of suffering is ignorant desire.
Nirodha, the third noble truth indicates that this desire can be destroyed. The way out of suffering is craving.
Marga, the fourth noble truth, teaches that the way out of suffering is the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path shows the way out of the cycle of birth and death, which is full of misery. Comparison between Christianity and Buddhism can be done using the principles of the Eightfold Path:
Right Understanding - "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is" (Ephesians 5:17).
Right Intention - "He who has a wayward and crooked mind finds no good. . ." (Proverbs 17:20).
Right Speech "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. . .If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless" (James 1:19, 27).
Right Action - "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" (James 2:17).
Right Livelihood - "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48).
Right Effort - "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Right Mindfulness - "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Right Concentration - "Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth" (Colossians 3:2). A comparison between Christianity and Buddhism reveals that both acknowledge the reality of suffering. The Bible teaches that suffering began when mankind rejected God. When we refuse to accept the reality of God in our lives, it results in suffering both for us and for those who are affected by our choices. Separation from God results in temporary suffering on this earth and everlasting suffering in Hell. Unlike Buddhism, Christianity teaches that suffering ends only in the presence of God in Heaven. We cannot get to heaven without Christ.
Buddha has shown his way to live: his Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. God shows us His way; He has revealed His truth and has told us how we are to live. "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'" (John 14:6).
2007-10-30 09:04:10 · answer #7 · answered by Martin S 7 · 7⤊ 2⤋
if you put things before God it's idolitry. one of ten commandments is no idols before GOd. you would be sinning. and if you are openly sinning and not even giving two hoots about it then you wouldnt exactly have the image of a chritstian. if that makes any sense?
2007-10-30 09:07:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically they're already following Pagan Philosophy. Jews did as well on certain things. I guess many of them are afraid that if they even read about it, they'll be shovelled into hell with Satan's pitchfork.
2007-10-30 09:06:32 · answer #9 · answered by River 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
All spiritual paths lead to the Divine..
"There is but one light, but many different lamps"- Rumi
2007-10-30 09:35:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋