The Christian church preaches that the only way to God is through Christ, yet Ghandi, who was a Hindu, lived a good, honest, selfless life and was an inspiration to us all. I know of no Christian who lived a more "Christian" life than Ghandi. Surely he, above all of us would have gone to Heaven.
Does the Christian church believe that he went to Hell because he didn't accept that Jesus was the son of God?
2007-11-04 00:18:41 · 32 answers · asked by Copper 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Sorry.... Gandhi! Had a seniour moment!
2007-11-04 03:05:52 · update #1
That was a typo... Senior!
2007-11-04 03:07:30 · update #2
This is a wonderful question! You are walking down the enlightened path that is lit by the light of love.
Now for your answer!
Let us assume that belief in a deified image of a man called Jesus yields salvation so that one can enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Who was this person? The Bible refers to him as the son of Man and the Son of God. What is the difference between the two? The son of Man is the flesh and blood Jesus that is identical to everyone. The Son of God means that he fully realized the spirit of God or the spirit of Christ, which is the spirit of God in man. This light is in all men but most men veil this spirit with ego. (see John 1:4 & 1:9)
Now according to the bible God goes by many names. Jehovah, Yahweh, Elohim and the Tetragrammaton, which is the name not to be spoken (according to Jewish orthodoxy). This list is in no way complete.
Now before I offend my Christian brothers, I am decidedly Christian, Christ is my savior so as you read the following keep that in mind.
Now if the belief in this man Jesus the Christ yields salvation, how much more the attainment of Christ in a man yields salvation? The state of God consciousness that the bible refers to as the spirit of Christ is referred to by other names in other Holy text. Krishna consciousness, the Buddha, the Brahman, God consciousness and being atained to faith or the perfecting of the inward lights of the 10 sefirot all refer to the realization of the indwelling spirit of God in man.
The funny thing is if you went back in time and actually saw the physical Jesus the Christ in a crowd and called out the name Jesus as you pronounce it, he would not even turn his head to look. Because it was not pronounced then the way most pronounce it now. Nor is spelled the same. His language was Aramaic most scholars seem to agree that the way his name was actually pronounced is Yeshua. Again a different name, but it references the same spirit and man.
Why then do our egos think that unless some one calls this divine spirit of love (Christ) by the name we call it is not that divine spirit of love?
Ahhh because we eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We hold our beliefs and our words to be the ones most pleasing to God. At best others are less good or less pleasing.
We continue in the original sin and eat of that tree. For most, the fruit seems sweet but it is bitter. I no longer wish to taste it.
We continue to fall from grace when we judge others. When we judge others we take another bite of that apple. Satan smiles.
Outwardly Ghandi lived according to the teachings of Jesus. He lived a life of service and sacrifice. Did he have the indwelling spirit of Christ? By any name it is in all men. He certainly unveiled it to a great degree.
So who enters the kingdom first? Those, who profess Jesus or those living the Christ? (Notice I deny either of the two access)
I know who I am betting on!
Do you?
Here is a hint
Mathew 7
21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Blessings and peace to all,
All in all,
B
2007-11-04 01:00:03 · answer #1 · answered by An Nony Mous 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
It doesn't matter what the "Christian church" believes, the Bible is very clear that Jesus is the only way to God. So it doesn't matter if you've lived a "good, honest, selfless life" because no one is good except for God.
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone." Luke 18:19
Your concept is that one must deserve to go to Heaven, as if they could achieve a level of goodness that would merit their acceptance. Salvation is a free gift given to us by grace THROUGH faith IN CHRIST. So no matter how hard we try to live a "good" life, we would never make it on our moral efforts alone: "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." Romans 3:23
2014-04-28 08:17:21 · answer #2 · answered by Fatima 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All religions evolved because of man's quest for the truth. And what he could see around him was the only basis of each religion, as he did not know more than that, because of his ignorance of the happenings at a different place in the same universe. If the facilities that are available today were available from day 1 (?) of the world, there would have been no need for so many religions. But in spite of the differences in interpretations of the SAME truth, the aim of all are the same, LIBERATING man from his bindings and making him attain a Divine status. Only that can be called as heaven (or hell for the opposite). As such any one following the correct path is bound to reach God! Let him be Gandhi (sorry- not Ghandi), or Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa or, for that matter any unknown individual, like you and me ! And let us not try to find out as to which religion came first, as otherwise the fight will start in establishing superiority that way!
2007-11-04 00:35:42 · answer #3 · answered by Kaattaan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
M. K. Gandhi was a great Hindu man. Why should we Christians want to adopt him all of a sudden? Anyway, from what I have read, like many Hindus, Gandhi greatly admired Jesus and studied his teaching.
This may be because Jesus was from an oriental culture and so easterners find his teachings much easier to understand than we do. It is entirely possible than some Hindus understand Jesus better than many so-called Christians.
Much to my relief, it is not up to Christians to decide who goes to heaven. As our own scriptures say, this is a decision only Jesus can make, all praise to him, John 5v21~27.
Even though he was not from my religion, I recognise that Gandhi was one of the 20th century's greatest thinkers. He was a disciple and friend of the Russian dissident thinker Leo Tolstoy. Others may know more about his aspect of his life? If so, please post and tell us some more.
2007-11-04 00:59:23 · answer #4 · answered by Steven Ring 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
See, this is a stickler point for me when you say "the only way to God is through Christ" then turn around and say but he wasn't a Christian, although he lived a Christian life.
What exactly does "through Christ" mean then? Jesus Himself said that by following Him, by doing things His way, that He'd lead you to God. Obviously, if Ghandi did things with the same heart that Jesus had, then he found God at the end of his life.
I think people have lost the meaning behind Jesus words "the only way to see the Father is by Me" ... it doesn't mean you have to BE a Christian, it means you have to live like one!
2007-11-04 00:31:44 · answer #5 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the christian church would get passed 2000 + years then they might catch up with the present day. There were people living the same kind of life that ghandi led long before christianity came into existance.
I am not in the least bit interested what any church thinks. Life is to short to be bound by thou shalts and shalt nots. Life is meant to be enjoyed, so to hell with the church...if such a place truly exists?
2007-11-04 00:41:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most Christians would say he has went to hell, but some Christians would say that since he was true to his faith that God would let him in to heaven.
But I dont see any point in your question all religions are about being good and helping people who are less fortunate. I have never heard of one religion in the world for self gain so Ghandi has followed his own religion not Christianity.
2007-11-04 07:41:20 · answer #7 · answered by Im Such A Whore :) 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No man continually does good & never sins. Jesus came for all because all needed Him for God's gorgiveness. God's rules are set to a 100% standard. Only His son lived it.
If Ghandi was so perfect why did he feel the caste system in India should remain? A system where you're starved, enslaved, etc. because you must have been bad in a previous life. Where you're considered untouchable. Don't believe me? Look it up.
2007-11-04 00:34:24 · answer #8 · answered by syllylou77 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Good" does not equal Christian life. Christ did not teach us to live a "good" life. He taught us to trust Him only for our salvation from hell. Ghandi did not do this.
Jesus said there was no one good except God.
The Christian church does teach that the only way to God is through Jesus-but that is only for those who have lived since Christ and have had the opportunity to hear the gospel. Before Christ there was the "law". Before the law there was yet another way. See 'dispensationalism'.
2007-11-04 00:34:07 · answer #9 · answered by Poor Richard 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's pretty hard to live a christian life if you haven't even layed down the founding principles for it.
The whole part about worshipping idols is a big nono, also he one of his sons got married so Ghandi disowned him. His son ended up as a beggar.
2007-11-04 00:22:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋