The greatest Teachers ever.....

[Hockeycowboy]

Whether he is real or not - is not something we can do anything about. We can only grab the tail of the devil we see, and perhaps look in the mirror at times to see if 'do I got a tail and horns again'. (poor English by purpose)

Here’s something you might want to think about:

One instance in the Bible where the Devil isn’t specifically mentioned, but he was definitely there, is in Exodus 7:8-12. The devil was the one behind these Magic-practicing priests.

Can you imagine Moses and Aaron, when they saw that?! No doubt they were glad that Jehovah’s power was mightier! But they learned then that there were invisible forces working against God.

And notice where these invisible forces were located....right with Pharaoh, where the power was!!

When you read Daniel 10:12-21, vss 13 & 20 inform us of a fight between spirit creatures: an angel who was helping Daniel, and two angels (who had become demons) working against him...therefore working against God. Their titles were “the prince of Persia” and “the prince of Greece.”

Apparently, they enjoy being around, and influencing, human governments!

Are you aware that the White House, here in the USA, has been called, “the most haunted house in America”?! I’m sure you can appreciate what that means, since you know what the Bible says about the condition of the dead!

I’d encourage you to enjoy fellowship w/ Jehovah’s people.

Take care, my cousin.

 

[Grandliseur]

Here’s something you might want to think about:

One instance in the Bible where the Devil isn’t specifically mentioned, but he was definitely there, is in Exodus 7:8-12. The devil was the one behind these Magic-practicing priests.

Can you imagine Moses and Aaron, when they saw that?! No doubt they were glad that Jehovah’s power was mightier! But they learned then that there were invisible forces working against God.

And notice where these invisible forces were located....right with Pharaoh, where the power was!!

When you read Daniel 10:12-21, vss 13 & 20 inform us of a fight between spirit creatures: an angel who was helping Daniel, and two angels (who had become demons) working against him...therefore working against God. Their titles were “the prince of Persia” and “the prince of Greece.”

Apparently, they enjoy being around, and influencing, human governments!

Are you aware that the White House, here in the USA, has been called, “the most haunted house in America”?! I’m sure you can appreciate what that means, since you know what the Bible says about the condition of the dead!

I’d encourage you to enjoy fellowship w/ Jehovah’s people.

Take care, my cousin.

I go by the Bible, and it says the devil is real. However, so many do not think so.

Then there is the problem we have individually, that is not to let the devil's spirit dominate our thoughts or our ways, works. As it said, the devil entered Judas, (Luke 22:3), and we might all succumb to being wicked at times. Vigilance is a must to avoid doing evil. There is so much evil in this world; clearly, many permit the devil's spirit to dominate themselves.

I’d encourage you to enjoy fellowship w/ Jehovah’s people.

I wish it were that easy. But, I don't want to burden you with this.

I believe now after decades of study and serving God, of also failing, but doing all I can to be pure in Christ, that Revelation chapters 2 & 3 shows that God works in all Christian denominations - but only in the sense that individuals in these churches stand or fall on their own merit, not on the merit of their church or its dogma.

Every church has serious flaws. Let me stop there.

 

[Regiomontanus]

Mainstream Christianity today is about as far removed from the 'real Jesus' as is possible. The encrustations that have developed around him have done much to distract people from what were his very radical ideas.

I'm going to include three, who seem to have been the most influential throughout history:
--Jesus,
--Buddha,
--Muhammad.
(If anyone here thinks another should be added, please feel free.)

Now, my question is, Of these, which one do you think has had his teachings (as we know them) more misconstrued and twisted, more so than the other two?

Anyone venture a guess?

Peace to all.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Mainstream Christianity today is about as far removed from the 'real Jesus' as is possible. The encrustations that have developed around him have done much to distract people from what were his very radical ideas.

Yes, for sure!

Reminds me of what G. K. Chesterton wrote: “Christianity hasn’t been tried and found wanting; it’s been found difficult and not tried.”

 

[Stormcry]

Of these, which one do you think has had his teachings (as we know them) more misconstrued and twisted, more so than the other two?

Siddhartha (Buddha)!

Because theistic Siddhartha has now atheist followers.

 

[Tumah]

All the Avatars, Prophets and perfected ones...Baal Shem Tov...

He was none of these.

 

[Jedster]

All the Avatars, Prophets and perfected ones: Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad, Rama, Krishna, Baal Shem Tov, St. Francis of Assisi, Kabir, Milarepa, Tukaram and many more.

It's nice that you mention The Baal Shem Tov. In my early life he was the first to inspire me to look deeper into life, Just as Kabir did later on.

 

[sun rise]

He was none of these.

Your point is literally true since he was not a Biblical prophet. But per BA'AL SHEM-ṬOB, ISRAEL B. ELIEZER - JewishEncyclopedia.com I take it to be that he was a true zaddik.

From this it results, in the first place, that the "ẓaddiḳ," the ideal man, may lay claim to authority equal, in a certain sense, to the authority of the Prophets.

 

[Tumah]

Your point is literally true since he was not a Biblical prophet. But per BA'AL SHEM-ṬOB, ISRAEL B. ELIEZER - JewishEncyclopedia.com I take it to be that he was a true zaddik.

From this it results, in the first place, that the "ẓaddiḳ," the ideal man, may lay claim to authority equal, in a certain sense, to the authority of the Prophets.

That's terrible.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

I'm going to include three, who seem to have been the most influential throughout history:
--Jesus,
--Buddha,
--Muhammad.
(If anyone here thinks another should be added, please feel free.)

Now, my question is, Of these, which one do you think has had his teachings (as we know them) more misconstrued and twisted, more so than the other two?

Anyone venture a guess?

Peace to all.

The purpose I had behind this thread was, not to ask who was the most influential, but whose teachings have been the most misinterpreted and twisted, either on purpose or through ignorance.

I think the majority here have chosen Jesus' tenets as having been the most misinterpreted, right?

Anyone disagree with this conclusion?

 

[Hockeycowboy]

The encrustations that have developed around him have done much to distract people from what were his very radical ideas.

"Encrustations", that is good! The majority (his professsed followers) go around killing each other, in conflicts and such, and they don't see their disobedience. (It's really their leaders' fault, who should know better.)
Titus 1:16; John 15:14; John 15:17; Matthew 5:44.

Take care, my cousin.

 

[sun rise]

The purpose I had behind this thread was, not to ask who was the most influential, but whose teachings have been the most misinterpreted and twisted, either on purpose or through ignorance.

I think the majority here have chosen Jesus' tenets as having been the most misinterpreted, right?

Anyone disagree with this conclusion?

From my readings of Hadith and his life, Muhammad is right up there as well.

 

[roger1440]

Experience is the greatest teacher, but often, his lessons are ignored or twisted.

 

[Buddha Dharma]

I'm going to include three, who seem to have been the most influential throughout history:
--Jesus,
--Buddha,
--Muhammad.
(If anyone here thinks another should be added, please feel free.)

Now, my question is, Of these, which one do you think has had his teachings (as we know them) more misconstrued and twisted, more so than the other two?

Anyone venture a guess?

Peace to all.

Sure, I'll have a go.

I think that Jesus has had his teachings distorted far more than the others. Because Jesus taught ideas that are misused in the political sphere all the time. It's a constant misuse. In example: John Hagee once said that poor people without jobs should starve.

Does that sound like something the figure portrayed in the gospels would be likely to agree with? Jesus himself didn't have a job. We're told he was something like a wandering ascetic. He begged for his food similarly to the Buddha.

Now I've heard Baha'is argue that the Buddha's teachings have been heavily distorted, but that's because they try to put an Indian from a polytheistic culture into a monotheistic framework.

I don't see many arguments among Buddhists that our master's teachings have been heavily distorted. Indeed, I don't even see that idea from non-Buddhists in heavily Buddhist countries, so I have to assume it's a Baha'i conclusion.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Sure, I'll have a go.

I think that Jesus has had his teachings distorted far more than the others. Because Jesus taught ideas that are misused in the political sphere all the time. It's a constant misuse. In example: John Hagee once said that poor people without jobs should starve.

Does that sound like something the figure portrayed in the gospels would be likely to agree with? Jesus himself didn't have a job. We're told he was something like a wandering ascetic. He begged for his food similarly to the Buddha.

Now I've heard Baha'is argue that the Buddha's teachings have been heavily distorted, but that's because they try to put an Indian from a polytheistic culture into a monotheistic framework.

I don't see many arguments among Buddhists that our master's teachings have been heavily distorted. Indeed, I don't even see that idea from non-Buddhists in heavily Buddhist countries, so I have to assume it's a Baha'i conclusion.

Thanks for your input!

 

[Hockeycowboy]

From my readings of Hadith and his life, Muhammad is right up there as well.

Can you give an example of his teaching being twisted / distorted?

Thanks.

 

[YmirGF]

From my readings of Hadith and his life, Muhammad is right up there as well.

Seriously? I keep forgetting that Muhammad was such a peachy guy.

 

[sun rise]

Can you give an example of his teaching being twisted / distorted?

Thanks.

I read the book "The Wisdom of Muhammad" cover to cover. These are the collected saying of Muhammad. I find both the Wahhabi fanatics and those who hate Islam both ignore what he said. Of course by today's standards not all of his sayings are pleasing to the ears of non-Muslims, but an even handed view of his life and teachings needs to include sayings like these:

"Are there rewards for doing good to quadrupeds, and givng them water to drink?" Muhammad said, "Verily there are heavenly rewards for any act of kindness to a live animal."

"When the bier of anyone passeth by thee, whether Jew, Christian or Muslim, rise to thy feet. "

When the child (of Zainab) was brought to Muhammad, dying; its body trembling and moving; the eyes of the Apostle of God shed many tears. And Sad said, "O Messenger of God! What is the weeping and shedding of tears?" Muhammad replied, "This is an expression of the tenderness and compassion, which the Lord hath put into the hearts of His servants; the Lord doth not have compassion on and commiserate with His servants, except such as are tender and full of feeling."

“Assist any person oppressed, whether Muslim or non-Muslim.”

"God hath not created anything better than Reason, or anything more perfect, or more beautiful than Reason; the benefits which God giveth are on its account; and understanding is by it, and God's wrath is caused by disregard of it. "

"Heaven lieth at the feet of mothers. "

Do not say, that if the people do good to us, we will do good to them; and if the people oppress us, we will oppress them; but determine that if people do you good, you will do good to them; and if they oppress you, you will not oppress them.

Whoso desireth that God should redeem him from the sorrows and travail of the last day, must delay in calling on poor debtors, or forgive the debt in part or whole.
Sayings of The Prophet Muhammad | Islamic Values

 

[babalawos]

I'm going to include three, who seem to have been the most influential throughout history:
--Jesus,
--Buddha,
--Muhammad.
(If anyone here thinks another should be added, please feel free.)

Now, my question is, Of these, which one do you think has had his teachings (as we know them) more misconstrued and twisted, more so than the other two?

Anyone venture a guess?

Peace to all.

The greatest teacher of all time is ORUNMILA