Just out of Curiosity!!!!

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by Dor

I have never said anything about banning anything or anyone.

You are right Dor, and I apologize for implying that. But there was not the general outcry and defensiveness shown to Bandit's threads as was shown toward the end of the non-theistic thead.

luna

[Quahom1]

I will point out that no one likes to be insulted, veiled or otherwise.

I will also point out that none of us has the total picture. In fact the ONLY commonality Christians have with eachother is this, we believe that Jesus is our savior, our redeemer and our messiah.

In fact that is the only thing that Christ says that matters.

Whether we consider God to be of three parts or one, whether we follow a mystical variant of the faith or a pragmatical one, whether we hold Mary in certain elevated esteem or not, is irrelevent to our salvation.

Jesus Himself made it quite clear, what ever we say or do or think of others, the exact same thing we are doing to Him...

If that is the case (and I fail to see the possibility of Jesus joking), then our goal should be, to be most excellent to each other, at all times, even in our disagreements.

I do not mind saying, that I am hurt by some of what has been said here as of late. I expected better from the exceedingly high calliber of members we have at this forum; especially the seasoned members.

I can't be any clearer on this issue.

that is all

your brother in Christ,

Q

[Dor]

No you must believe 100% of the Quran if you don't your Kafir.

No

no. not even 0.000000000000000.....1%.

nope. Contradicts the Quran and Sunnah.

Impossible. That negates the very testimony that makes one a muslim.

To answer this question, lets me define what constitute a person to be a Muslim. These are mandatory for all Muslims to believe 100% and perform. Now that I have laid the basic foundation of Islam, you can then try to relate to what you have asked. For each question, try to refer to all the above points and see if it fits. If it doesn't then it is absolutely rejected.

I would like to begin my answer to your questions in one word, the type of one word that Shoghi Effendi is known for in the Guardianship of the Writings:

No.

My first impression is people can either accept the Baha'i Faith or not.

I am somewhat compelled to ask why you would want to be a Hindu if you didn't believe in 80% of their scriptures?

Ok they may not be "defensive" to some but they dang sure tell you nope cant do that .


Let me lay down the basic foundation of Christianity and Im a wacko Fundamentalist....and isnt that what we are talking about..I think most would agree the basic foundation of Christianity is Christ or did I miss something.

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by Dor

Ok they may not be "defensive" to some but they dang sure tell you nope cant do that .


Let me lay down the basic foundation of Christianity and Im a wacko Fundamentalist....and isnt that what we are talking about..I think most would agree the basic foundation of Christianity is Christ or did I miss something.

Dor, I'm glad you did that compilation. Thank you. And you were completely right to post what you did in the non-theistic thread. In fact, that thread was a good mirror of Bandit's lib-lit threads right up until the end when it was suggested by Faithful that the thread was doomed to become an argument. It was not an argument up to that point, and that was why I replied to Faithful, at the risk of alienating her, which is something I really did not hope to do.

Also, Bandit's lib-lit threads did not spawn other threads in those other fora questioning what is the definition of Relgion X, Y or Z. Now, that's confidence.

Look, I think all of this is good to discuss, and I am really happy that it has in itself been a pretty civil discussion on its own. I do not want to alienate anyone here by what I say, so for now I guess I am done with this thread as well.

I really hope you, Faithful, Bandit, and everyone stay for robust discussion and loving Christian fellowship.

Peace,
luna

[lunamoth]

And Dor, I for one do not think you are a wacko Christian Fundamentalist! OK, you use the fundamentals as the foundation of your beliefs. I respect that, as I do your knowledge of the Bible and Christian history, and your not infrequent kindness. I hope I have never left you with the impression that I think you are a wacko.

lunamoth

[Dor]

You know Im really confused now....

Originally Posted by Quahom1

I will also point out that none of us has the total picture. In fact the ONLY commonality Christians have with eachother is this, we believe that Jesus is our savior, our redeemer and our messiah.

And isnt that all that any of us got upset about. Sorry I wont bitch and moan about differences in doctrine or denominations(I might give my point of view and try to show it) but I dont usually get worked up over it.

Start posts about Christianity with the main topic a man that throws Christ is a trash can and Im not gonna sit there and say there is anything Christian about him. Just like the Judaism and Muslim posters wouldnt me if I went to those boards spouting off about Christ(or Id get told to back off) and said I was Jew or Muslim.....for example ask BB about Jews for Jesus!!!

[taijasi]

Originally Posted by Quahom1

Jesus Himself made it quite clear, what ever we say or do or think of others, the exact same thing we are doing to Him...

If that is the case (and I fail to see the possibility of Jesus joking), then our goal should be, to be most excellent to each other, at all times, even in our disagreements.

Q, the first statement here helps remind of the Standard. The second one brings to mind Bill & Ted, and while I am certainly being tongue & cheek, a moment's pondering reminds me that as those excellent dudes went about their adventure, gathering up So-crates, Frood, & such, they were positive and respectful about it (on the whole).

So, even with the humor, your point still resounds ...

Peace,

taijasi

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by Quahom1

I will also point out that none of us has the total picture. In fact the ONLY commonality Christians have with eachother is this, we believe that Jesus is our savior, our redeemer and our messiah.


If that is the case (and I fail to see the possibility of Jesus joking), then our goal should be, to be most excellent to each other, at all times, even in our disagreements.

Here, here!

[earl]

As a bit of tangential aside to my post re Bede Griffiths-which to me might be more interesting than doctrinal combativeness -I got to thinking about the multi-page list of Catholic clerics I could come up with that have studied, practiced, or at least actively engaged in interrelgious dialogue. Yet, can think of few to no Protestant clerics that have done that. I find that very interesting-I'm no Catholic-raised a nominal (or was that heathenistic ) Protestant. But wonder what it is re Catholic clerics that makes them so apparently much more open to such dialogue than Protestant ones. Any ideas out there? Take care, earl

[Dor]

Jesus Himself made it quite clear, what ever we say or do or think of others, the exact same thing we are doing to Him...

Mat 25:40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

key word I see here is brethren doubt someone who discounts everything about Jesus would be considered his brethren and I could be wrong but Im still gonna call a spade a spade and a heart a heart.

[taijasi]

Originally Posted by earl

For folks that just want to discuss their "blue" religion, they don't want to hear "green," "yellow," or "red" ideas. I Brian raised a good point elsewhere re the question of when-to use my metaphor here-does "blue" so change color that it is no longer recognizable as "blue?" But as the color spectrum shades incrementally into the different hues-blue-violet, yellow-green, etc. have to ask ourselves as re whether it makes any kind of sense to attempt to make dialogues "true-blue." I'm a poor beginning landscape painter and, while monochromatic paintings-i.e., those where the picture is just variations on a single color-can be attractive, I prefer pictures whereby there is a predominating color but with complementary ones thrown in. have a good one, earl

Earl, I hope I do not take to great a liberty if I run with this a bit. It strikes a chord with me - which could be a similar metaphor unto itself. Indeed, the various major notes of the scale, each important, even variable as sharps & flats, yet also distinct. And sounded alone, they are what they are - singular. When blended, and when arranged in proper sequence, with rhythm, melody and theme, we may create, perform, and experience music!

Two art metaphors really, and the same idea (7 note scale, ROYGBIV colors). But a Middle C is not the same as a B flat or an F sharp. And blue is not green, no matter how much they may resemble one another.

The idea of complements is something that I would like to focus on out of what you said. Some of the diverging viewpoints on Christian belief, which most of us (who hold them) are willing to admit (even proud of stating sometimes, maybe too proud) - are clearly the result of introducing and blending either complementary colors, or varying hues & saturations of the `blue' we're working with. We do not deny that, if I surmise correctly.

Nor are folks insisting, or even asserting, usually, that this particular blend over here is more valid, or more original, than the `true blue' which some members feel is "under fire." The simple fact remains, whether those who are true blue want to admit & face it or not, that people are asking questions, and a New Christianity is emerging ... and many folks at CR either identify themselves under such a flag, or at least look up, see it waving, and raise their eyebrows at the rallying that is undeniably taking place.

By the same token, folks who are hearing the drummer call the tune in slightly different cadence or timbre, and who are happy to rally under a flag that has evolved even in recent years (let alone 2000 of them!), would do well to remember that the Traditional tunes and colors yet serve to rally untold millions, and are every bit as cherished by those who answer under their call as the new flag & new drumbeat are by the new generation (of Seeker, or Christian, in this particular case).

Yet for all my mixing of metaphors, I fall error to the foolishness of duality. As if there were two distinct "camps" - the true blues, and everyone else. So back to your original point: Although blue is not purely subjective, it is just one color, and colors do best in art, with complements. People too (even a subtle double entendre there ) ...

What I wish the blues would spend a moment contemplating, is that the oranges (or other - golden, lemon yellow, saffron) who seek to make their presence felt, hope not to supplant, but to assist in the drawing forth of a Beauty, a Harmony, and a Wholeness which cannot exist while blending does not take place. Because blue, no matter how deep down blue dives, or how high she soars into the sky above, will always be blue. And orange, whether a fiery, even passionate sienna, or a gentle, wafting saffron ... will always be orange.

Put them together, and just look what Nature was able to do ...

Respectfully,

Abstract Andy

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by Dor

Mat 25:40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

key word I see here is brethren doubt someone who discounts everything about Jesus would be considered his brethren and I could be wrong but Im still gonna call a spade a spade and a heart a heart.

All are brothers of Christ, some may be wayward, but as I recall, Christ went actively seeking the wayward one...and having found him He broke his leg then placed him around the saviors neck, so that the wayward one had to depend on Christ for everything and grew comfortable with His scent and His care...so that the wayward one once healed, never wandered from the Shepard's side again.

But that was Christ's job and decision, not ours. I will also point out that those who come here are not "wayward". They are actively seeking out Christ. But what good of that, if the rest of the flock keeps pushing them out of the fold. If that happened to me one too many times, I'd leave too...

v/r

Q

[Dor]

Well I for one dont see how someone coming here and telling me Christ is a cool dude but he didnt die, his mom wasnt a virgin, if he did die there is no way he was resurrected....how is any of that actively seeking Christ????

Yes it is true Q but so is...Joh 15:18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

So maybe we should look at who are the ones really getting pushed and maybe we should take our leave

V/R

Dor

[wil]

Originally Posted by Dor

Well I for one dont see how someone coming here and telling me Christ is a cool dude but he didnt die, his mom wasnt a virgin, if he did die there is no way he was resurrected....how is any of that actively seeking Christ????

I think that is the issue no one is telling YOU any of this. No one is asking you to believe it. In most cases they aren't even saying this in the christian forum. Some are questioning what they read, others are discussing what they have read. And asking for input.

I think that is what Q is referring to. When someone comes with questions we should be providing answers and discussion, not disdain for the questioner or the question.

[Bandit]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

You are quite right Dor. Those threads were a very interesting exercise and I appreciate Bandit for starting them, and for everyone who kindly answered his questions. What struck me was how the members of those religions did not start an outcry and demand Bandit be banned for posing his questions.

lunamoth

quite correct. but i most certainly was told to STOP IT. & those members made it very clear to me what the core of their faith was & that if i did not acquire that, then no.