Are Christian narrow-minded?

[Faithfulservant]

Originally Posted by Ciel

Christians,

I have often wondered, would it be okay, if your God was the same God for all other faiths, except because as we live in a multicultural world all worship in their own way. The Christ spirit as eternal, and always it has been here, in all it's many manifestations, God to gods, goddesses, and pure consciousness.
The narrowness I see is that humanity chooses to lay claim on something so vast, so magnanimous, in ownership.
We may own what is below our feet, we can never own the above.

Im not sure this was a question specifcally or just a general question...

Im sorry but its not possible to do so because narrow is the path.. hence the narrow mindedness I guess. Anytime someone suggest that all paths lead to God it brings up red flags for me because its not true according to my bible.. my bible plainly states that Jesus is the way the truth and the life and noone gets to the Father except through him. Also.. whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life... To suggest that Christ did not exist as was told in the bible.. that He was a spirit that is in every religion... denies what He did for us denies that He lived and denies everything we believe.

It sounds pretty.. how you stated it.. Its a pretty box wrapped with a pretty bow.. but the box is empty.

However.. Im not the judge and jury.. I believe that God gets the job done one way or another.. Each mans salvation is his issue with God.. I worry about mine.. and I share the gospel when I can. God saves souls.. I just deliver the message of salvation and hope.. as was told in the bible.

[Ciel]

Far from a pretty box, Faithful Servant.

Looking through the eyes of reality, there is at present in New Orleans, hell on earth. So I pose another question. If all those who are outside the main stream of Christianity, the sinners of the world, as they have been known, if all the sinners face hell and destruction, could you with the sensitivity of a mother, as the Divine is both mother and father to this earth, could you with all the care and love in your heart, bear to see even sinners thrown into the hell of the inferno before your eyes in New Orleans?

Is there not a need for the rational in this life.

If God created all, then also God created choice.

I know I have often been mistaken for a dreamer, yet the rational and the reality is of the greatest importance, as is real human sentiment in the real world.

[Abogado del Diablo]

Close-mindedness is not unique to Christians, though it tends to be more pronounced in general with religions of "The Book." We all distrust what is different from us and it is a difficult process to listen to what someone else is saying - especially if you've grown up in a culture that explicitly or implicitly condemns those with different beliefs.

The challenge of Christianity and Islam is that the orthodoxy in both is based on forbidding questions and the inerrancy of the "book" and the traditional interpretation of it. That makes it all the more difficult for people in these orthodox traditions to genuinely listen to others, and open themselves up to others in response.

The irony I have found is that everybody is using different metaphors to explain the same basic experiences and if we just listen to one another, we actually do have a lot of common ground.

[Dondi]

I agree that most Christian denominations have same basics: The Virgin Birth, Jesus as God the Son, His Death, Burial, and Bodily Resurrection, and Salvation in His Name. Beyond that, there is a kalidescope of variant beliefs within the specific denominations. Some believe you have to get baptised to be saved. Some believe in infant baptism. Some say you have to be Baptised in the Holy Spirit and/or with the evidence of Speaking in Tongues. Some say you have to be a member of their specific church to be saved. Some say you are saved by grace alone, other insist that in addition, works are required. Some have sacraments, some have ordinances. Then there are the aberrant groups who teach doctrine outside the scope of orthodox Christianity.

So Christians end up trying to save each other. Or end up arguing over doctrine. Many are ill equipt to witness to other faiths, either they don't completely understand their own beliefs or they lack an understanding of other religions.

In the church I belonged to, a typical witness (and yes, I'll raise my hand ) is given a set of verses to memorise and a simple Gospel presentation (Roman's Road, Four Spiritual Laws, the Bridge Illustration, etc.). Then on Saturdays, we canvass certain areas and knock on doors. We'd introduce ourselves and engage in some small talk, then launch into our presentation. Sometimes, however, when are confronted with questions from people we witness to, some of us get deer-in-headlight eyes. Usually, we will try and keep on track by saying if you only pray and receive Christ, your questions will be answered. I never really understood this, really. I think the idea is to get them saved and then the Spirit of God will enlighten their understanding.

But I was never really comfortable with the idea of pressing the person for a decision. I can usually tell when the person is sincere or just trying to humor us so we would leave. But we figured there was no harm in getting them to say the "Sinner's Prayer" anyway, if it meant getting them saved. Who are we to judge if they are sincere or not? God knows.

I'll tell you, though, I've see some dramatic breakdown in tears of joy when some have received Christ as Savior and they felt the love and forgiveness from God. There is a geniune need for God in their lives, a need for their sins to be forgiven, a need for God's mercy. And I felt the presence of the Lord in these instances. They needed a nudge to come to God. And I was more than happy to oblige.

[Bandit]

Originally Posted by Ciel

Christians,

I have often wondered, would it be okay, if your God was the same God for all other faiths, except because as we live in a multicultural world all worship in their own way. The Christ spirit as eternal, and always it has been here, in all it's many manifestations, God to gods, goddesses, and pure consciousness.
The narrowness I see is that humanity chooses to lay claim on something so vast, so magnanimous, in ownership.
We may own what is below our feet, we can never own the above.

Ciel, from what i can see all the monotheistic religions are seeing the same God. i dont seperate the jewish God, the muslim God & the Christian God that way.
i think we can own the above.
i have more to say about this in honesty, just taking the weekend off to put it together.

[Bandit]

Originally Posted by Dondi

So Christians end up trying to save each other. Or end up arguing over doctrine. Many are ill equipt to witness to other faiths, either they don't completely understand their own beliefs or they lack an understanding of other religions.

this is so true as well as your other statements. i think we are seeing the same thing all the way through on that.

[Bandit]

Originally Posted by Abogado del Diablo

Close-mindedness is not unique to Christians, though it tends to be more pronounced in general with religions of "The Book." We all distrust what is different from us and it is a difficult process to listen to what someone else is saying - especially if you've grown up in a culture that explicitly or implicitly condemns those with different beliefs.

true again. i think some things are quite the same, but some things are different. a lot of things have a meeting point if we try, though some do not.

[Bandit]

Originally Posted by Faithfulservant

Im not sure this was a question specifcally or just a general question...

Im sorry but its not possible to do so because narrow is the path.. hence the narrow mindedness I guess. Anytime someone suggest that all paths lead to God it brings up red flags for me because its not true according to my bible.. my bible plainly states that Jesus is the way the truth and the life and noone gets to the Father except through him. Also.. whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life... To suggest that Christ did not exist as was told in the bible.. that He was a spirit that is in every religion... denies what He did for us denies that He lived and denies everything we believe.

It sounds pretty.. how you stated it.. Its a pretty box wrapped with a pretty bow.. but the box is empty.

However.. Im not the judge and jury.. I believe that God gets the job done one way or another.. Each mans salvation is his issue with God.. I worry about mine.. and I share the gospel when I can. God saves souls.. I just deliver the message of salvation and hope.. as was told in the bible.

true again. i think it is a pretty box Faithful dont let anyone discourage you.

[9Harmony]

some Christians are narrow-minded, some are not. Just as some people of other faiths fall into either camp as well. It's very individual.

I post this periodically, because it seems that alot of people are unaware that this is not a statement just confined to Christianity. Most of the major religions have a similar statement.
CHRISTIANITY, John 14:6
1. I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me.

BUDDHISM, Dhammapada 20:274
2. This is the path. There is no other that leads to vision.

ISLAM, Imam'Ali, Hadith
3. Whoso seeks guidence elsewhere, God will lead him astray.

BAHA'I, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, P.169
4. He that hath Me not is bereft of all things. Turn ye away from
all that is on earth and seek none else but Me.

HINDUISM, Bhagavad Gita 18:66
5. Abandoning all duties, come to Me alone for shelter.

ZOROASTRIANISM, The Teachings of the Magi, P.22
6. There is only one religious way. This one way is that of good
thoughts, good words, and good deeds, the way of heaven, of
light and of purity, of the infinite Creator.

So to me this points that the Christ spirit is the same spirit of God whom comes to us through all of His messengers. This is what is referred to as the Way. The Spirit of God is the Way. In whatever form He appears.

[Dondi]

9Harmony, I didn't realise that there were so many similiar exclusive claims in some of the other religions. My thinking is that it serves to keep members in the "flock". I thought that Baha'i, for one, was an all inclusive religion, but evidently Baha'u'llah is basically saying the same thing as Christ.

[Cobber]

Originally Posted by Faithfulservant

. Anytime someone suggest that all paths lead to God it brings up red flags for me because its not true according to my bible.. my bible plainly states that Jesus is the way the truth and the life and noone gets to the Father except through him. Also.. whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life... To suggest that Christ did not exist as was told in the bible.. that He was a spirit that is in every religion... denies what He did for us denies that He lived and denies everything we believe.

.

Faithful servant,

Jesus rarely spoke of himself in the first person. The many "I am" statements that you make reference to from the Gospel of John originated from the Gospel author, not from Jesus.

The Gospel of John represents a religious tradition that is independent from the Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke). They differ so much that either John or the Synoptic Gospels must be largely abandoned in the quest for an understanding of Jesus' actual sayings and acts.

Please note: that most other faiths recognise the historical existence of jesus.

I take the viewpoint that Jesus is ONE of the many ways to god

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by Cobber

Faithful servant,

Jesus rarely spoke of himself in the first person. The many "I am" statements that you make reference to from the Gospel of John originated from the Gospel author, not from Jesus.

The Gospel of John represents a religious tradition that is independent from the Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke). They differ so much that either John or the Synoptic Gospels must be largely abandoned in the quest for an understanding of Jesus' actual sayings and acts.

Please note: that most other faiths recognise the historical existence of jesus.

I take the viewpoint that Jesus is ONE of the many ways to god

Perhaps, but Jesus did specifically decry that He is "I AM". John's Gospel records the dialogue the Jesus had with others who questioned Him.

v/r

Q

[9Harmony]

Originally Posted by Dondi

9Harmony, I didn't realise that there were so many similiar exclusive claims in some of the other religions. My thinking is that it serves to keep members in the "flock". I thought that Baha'i, for one, was an all inclusive religion, but evidently Baha'u'llah is basically saying the same thing as Christ.

Hi Dondi,

I think alot of confusion results due to the fact that each of the prophets really speaks with 2 voices. The voice of man, and the voice of God. These statements i believe are relating more to the voice of God. So in essence there is no contradiction, they are all saying that God is the Way. Yet man in our inadequate understanding takes it to be the voice of the man speaking. And if we look at it that way, then they do all appear to be exclusive, yet, if we change our perspective and consider the possibility that it is really the voice of God, then they are all saying the same thing. (imho)



have a great day!

-Amy

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by 9Harmony

Hi Dondi,

I think alot of confusion results due to the fact that each of the prophets really speaks with 2 voices. The voice of man, and the voice of God. These statements i believe are relating more to the voice of God. So in essence there is no contradiction, they are all saying that God is the Way. Yet man in our inadequate understanding takes it to be the voice of the man speaking. And if we look at it that way, then they do all appear to be exclusive, yet, if we change our perspective and consider the possibility that it is really the voice of God, then they are all saying the same thing. (imho)



have a great day!

-Amy

Ah, that clears it up...I think.

[Cobber]

Originally Posted by Quahom1

Perhaps, but Jesus did specifically decry that He is "I AM". John's Gospel records the dialogue the Jesus had with others who questioned Him.

v/r

Q

How do you know that jesus did say he is "I am"?. All of the original copies of the gospels have been lost. We must rely upon hand-written copies which are an unknown number of replications removed from the originals. The oldest known surviving part of a gospel dates from about 125 CE.

Throughout most of the history of the church, the Gospel of John was believed to have been written by Jesus' disciple. A majority of theologians today believe that it was written by a group of authors. There is also speculation that much of the gospel was written by a single, unknown writer, and that a second, later individual reworked the text in order to make it conform to contemporary church teaching. Because of its theological principles and the emphasis on "Jesus as the Son of God", it rapidly became the favorite gospel.