What are religionists being taught about other religions?

[Saint Frankenstein]

Once I had some religionists knock on my door and I welcomed them and invited them in my home to say prayers for humanity. They replied that their elders had forbidden them to mingle or become friendly with people from other Faiths because they might catch a ‘spiritual disease ‘.

I would love to be a fly on the wall to hear what is really being taught to such people to instill prejudice against people of different Faiths and where is their justification for promoting such prejudices.it does not come from the Holy Books.

Does it make any difference where we pray and meditate whether it be a pagoda, a church, temple, mosque or synagogue? What harm is there in going to each other’s churches and temples to pray, meditate and mingle?

In our Faith we have no such restrictions. We are encouraged to ‘consort with the followers of all religions with friendship and fellowship’ and again ‘“Consort with all religions with amity and concord, that they may inhale from you the sweet fragrance of God”

In our Houses of Worship each week all over the world we read from the Holy Books of all Faiths Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Islam as well as our own Faith and participate in interfaith.

Do you think we should try and build bridges between the religions or keep aloof from one another? Isn’t it time the religions of the world came together to eliminate the hatreds that have caused bitter wars between them and find common ground to get along with one another?

What does your religion teach you about other religions? What if anything is mentioned in your Holy Books regarding other Faiths?

I just try to be compassionate and understanding, which is one great example that Jesus taught. I think almost all religions have some truth in them as all humans are made in the image of God and I love learning about them, even the ones I disagree with or even especially those. It is not my place to judge how people choose to connect to the Divine. But would I want to have Buddhist meditation in the middle of Mass? No.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I see the story shows how a man, that appears to be born in the natural way, is actually born not of the Human Spirit but of the Holy Spirit.

In that case you are saying that Mary was not a virgin at the time of her marriage. That is no way to endear yourself to Christians.

 

[loverofhumanity]

Right. Drop your own prejudices that there is one and only one Allah. Drop your own prejudice that Bahaullah was visited by any Maid of Heaven, it was only his halucvination. Drop your own prejudice that Bahaullah had any divine mission.

There is truth in your beliefs. I would be willing to die to uphold any truth whether of your faith or mine. All truth is beloved and to be accepted.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Right. Drop your own prejudices that there is one and only one Allah. Drop your own prejudice that Bahaullah was visited by any Maid of Heaven, it was only his halucvination. Drop your own prejudice that Bahaullah had any divine mission.

You are free to see them as predudices and thank you I have had to contemplate deeply my own predudices and drop many of them on the dust heap they came from.

It is worth considering that me holding those views, allows fully for you to embrace your views. I have no will or desire to change your view.

The yin and the yang of life.

Regards Tony

 

[TransmutingSoul]

In that case you are saying that Mary was not a virgin at the time of her marriage. That is no way to endear yourself to Christians.

I have not and do not say that at all. You are free to conclude from the story whatever is your hearts desire.

I have taken from the story what shows to me that all God's Messengers are born of man, but are in reality of the Holy Spirit.

Regards Tony

 

[loverofhumanity]

I just try to be compassionate and understanding, which is one great example that Jesus taught. I think almost all religions have some truth in them as all humans are made in the image of God and I love learning about them, even the ones I disagree with or even especially those. It is not my place to judge how people choose to connect to the Divine. But would I want to have Buddhist meditation in the middle of Mass? No.

I truly admire your tolerance and love for all. This is what Jesus taught I believe, to love all humanity as God loves us. The other day I went to mass with some beautiful Christians and I saw God there. I stayed in Burma for 5 years as my wife is Burmese and learnt Buddhist meditation. It calms the mind and brings peace and tranquility to the anxious soul. I highly recommend that we all learn from each other’s religion. Buddhism is a beautiful religion. In my Faith we accept all religions so we have the bounty of learning from them all.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I see the story supports spiritual acceptance and understandings. After all, if we accept and see that story miraculously, then what about Adam who had no father or mother.

Ah, you believe in all kinds of fantastic stories. What about the 99% of DNA that you share with chimps?

There is truth in your beliefs. I would be willing to die to uphold any truth whether of your faith or mine. All truth is beloved and to be accepted.

One truth for Hindus is that there are a thousand Gods and Goddesses and that worshiping an idol is no sin. Do you accept that?

I have taken from the story what shows to me that all God's Messengers are born of man, but are in reality of the Holy Spirit.

That is not what Christians believe. Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and many other religions have no need for any repeated new advice. They are complete in themselves.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I truly admire your tolerance and love for all. This is what Jesus taught I believe, to love all humanity as God loves us. The other day I went to mass with some beautiful Christians and I saw God there. I stayed in Burma for 5 years as my wife is Burmese and learnt Buddhist meditation. It calms the mind and brings peace and tranquility to the anxious soul. I highly recommend that we all learn from each other’s religion. Buddhism is a beautiful religion. In my Faith we accept all religions so we have the bounty of learning from them all.

Don't get me wrong, I have great respect for Buddhism but we don't share the same beliefs about essential things. I barely even have much in common with non-Trinitarian Christians since we view God so differently.

 

[CG Didymus]

At the same time in this age we have science, which in the past was not needed for certainty of Faith, it is now.

Science now breaks apart our built up predudices and superstitions and can give great assurance of Faith,no matter what Faith one may have.

Is scientific knowledge infallible? Do all scientists agree? Can findings be interpreted differently by different scientists? Like let's say a Creation Scientist vs. a Evolution Scientist?

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Is scientific knowledge infallible? Do all scientists agree? Can findings be interpreted differently by different scientists? Like let's say a Creation Scientist vs. a Evolution Scientist?

That is the journey of life, our choices.

Very hot our way, reaching 40's now.. Whew!

RegardsTony

 

[loverofhumanity]

Don't get me wrong, I have great respect for Buddhism but we don't share the same beliefs about essential things. I barely even have much in common with non-Trinitarian Christians since we view God so differently.

Yes but despite different beliefs you still respect those who are different and don’t harboir prejudices. This world would be a paradise if the majority had your attitude as prejudices are what cause all the wars. If we can appreciate that there is some truth in other religions we have come a long way in eliminating prejudice. .

You’re welcome for tea and cake anytime.

 

[CG Didymus]

Baha’is revere other Faiths and religions. Do any of the Faiths you mention read in their churches the Baha’i Writings or from any other Faith?

Baha'is also say that some of the teachings in the other religions are wrong. And yes other Faiths do read from other Scriptures. Christians read from the Hebrew Bible and they reinterpret it to mean what they want it to mean. And they disregard all other books the Jews believe in. But, just like Baha'is probably don't read a book from Scientology, Christians don't read the books of religions they believe to be false. But it is easy to read from the parts of the books from the past religions, the parts you like, and say you believe in those words. But, then like the Christians, Baha'i reinterpret the meaning of those Scriptures to mean what Baha'is want them to mean.

And I'm perfectly fine with doing that, if I were a Baha'i. Because I would have the belief that my religion, the Baha'i Faith, is telling me the truth about the true meaning from the Scriptures of those other Holy books. But, if I wasn't a Baha'i, I wouldn't want them telling me how to interpret verses in my own religion's Scriptures. And, because Baha'i do that, it would be difficult for me to "consort" with them with amity. Knowing they really don't believe what I believe about my own religion. And knowing the many Baha'is, maybe not you, will try and show me how I'm wrong and how the Baha'i Faith is right. Like, let's say a Hindu that believes in reincarnation. You're telling me the Baha'i would never challenge that belief and try and "correct" that belief with what the Baha'i writing say?

 

[CG Didymus]

The original Biblical text actually does teach a young Earth or a Creation that took six 24-hour periods.

These are interpretations made based on some lazy translation.

The example I made is kind of what a new "born again" Fundamentalist Christian would go through. The person would be told how the Bible teaches that they are a sinner and can't save themselves, and then how Jesus is the only way to salvation. Once "saved" then those Christians would be taught how the Creation story is to be taken literally? A friend of mine was a Fundy Christian and struggled with taking things in the Bible literally. And it was hard for him to express doubts to his Christian friends.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Like, let's say a Hindu that believes in reincarnation. You're telling me the Baha'i would never challenge that belief and try and "correct" that belief with what the Baha'i writing say?

The topic would be open to discussion and if we exchange views on the topic, all well and good.

In the end each has to make their own minds up about what was discussed and choose their own path as to what view has merit in Faith, or Science, or both.

Regards Tony

 

[TransmutingSoul]

The example I made is kind of what a new "born again" Fundamentalist Christian would go through. The person would be told how the Bible teaches that they are a sinner and can't save themselves, and then how Jesus is the only way to salvation. Once "saved" then those Christians would be taught how the Creation story is to be taken literally? A friend of mine was a Fundy Christian and struggled with taking things in the Bible literally. And it was hard for him to express doubts to his Christian friends.

Your friend should follow their own heart and make their own choice. Faith is a way to serve others and live a selfless life. Best thing may be upfront and honest and say that a literal interpretation was not comfortable.

But like CG, not backward about coming forward.

Regards Tony

 

[CG Didymus]

We are against religions which do not accept Allah as the one God (e.g., Hinduism), and against atheistic religions (e.g., Buddhism, Jainism). We are also against the LGBTQ. We declare Mirza Ghulam Mohammad of the Ahmadiyyas as an imposter

For the Baha'is, this is the problem. Other religions believe all sorts of things that don't agree with what the Baha'i Faith teaches. And what do Baha'is say? That there were additions, traditions of men. There were thing misinterpreted and made to be literal when they were meant to be symbolic. But, does that explain all the differences in the various beliefs in the different religions? One God, many Gods, no God? Some people were prophets and manifestations, yet others were false?

When I became a Baha’i I didn’t abandon my Christian Faith but added belief in Krishna and the Bhagavad-Gita to it, added Buddha and His teachings to my beliefs, added Muhammad and the Quran to what I believe, added Zoroaster and His teachings

So what do you believe about Krishna? I don't think you believe he was an incarnation of Vishnu? And what about Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma? A three-part Godhead?

As a Baha'i I see one becomes stronger in their previous faith

Hmmm? One day... "Jesus is the only way. He is the Son of the living God and is God. He was crucified and rose again on the third day. He is the only way a person can be saved from their sins and avoid going to hell with the devil and his angels."
The next day... "I'm a Baha'i. Jesus, the man, is dead and buried. His spirit rose. There is no devil and God isn't going to send people to hell. Noble you were created. You were not born in sin. Jesus is a perfect reflection of God. He is not God."
That is not stronger. That is different.

what about Adam who had no father or mother.

As if Baha'is believe in a literal Adam. But, if you want to pretend the story was literal, then of course Adam had no father and mother... God made him out of clay. But Jesus, if you want to take that story literally, was born at a time where it took a man and a woman to make a baby. With Jesus, God, through the Holy Spirit, got Mary pregnant. And why Baha'is, of all the Bible stories, takes that one literally, I will never know. Yet, they don't believe that God could raise Jesus from the dead?

 

[CG Didymus]

There is truth in your beliefs. I would be willing to die to uphold any truth whether of your faith or mine. All truth is beloved and to be accepted.

Any truth? So who gets to define what is true in his religion? If it is him, it might not be something you believe is true.

 

[CG Didymus]

Your friend should follow their own heart and make their own choice. Faith is a way to serve others and live a selfless life. Best thing may be upfront and honest and say that a literal interpretation was not comfortable.

But like CG, not backward about coming forward.

Regards Tony

What do Baha'is do with people that don't believe everything about the Baha'i Faith? Do you let them follow their heart and make their own choice? Or, do you show them in the Baha'i writings what they should believe? Like let's say a man living with two women. And they insist that they don't believe their lifestyle is wrong? Or, there's always the big one, when a Baha'i breaks the Baha'i Covenant.

It's almost like that for a Fundy Christian not to believe in the Bible literally. They should not follow their lying heart, because, you know, it's Satan trying to deceive them.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Hmmm? One day... "Jesus is the only way. He is the Son of the living God and is God. He was crucified and rose again on the third day. He is the only way a person can be saved from their sins and avoid going to hell with the devil and his angels."
The next day... "I'm a Baha'i. Jesus, the man, is dead and buried. His spirit rose. There is no devil and God isn't going to send people to hell. Noble you were created. You were not born in sin. Jesus is a perfect reflection of God. He is not God."
That is not stronger. That is different

We see it that way that we choose to.

The theology is reconcilable.

God does not change the way we choose to see it, God gives the keys to understand and leaves it up to us.

Regards Tony

 

[TransmutingSoul]

What do Baha'is do with people that don't believe everything about the Baha'i Faith? Do you let them follow their heart and make their own choice? Or, do you show them in the Baha'i writings what they should believe? Like let's say a man living with two women. And they insist that they don't believe their lifestyle is wrong? Or, there's always the big one, when a Baha'i breaks the Baha'i Covenant.

It's almost like that for a Fundy Christian not to believe in the Bible literally. They should not follow their lying heart, because, you know, it's Satan trying to deceive them.

People choose their own path. If a person has trouble with one aspect, another will offer their view.

Many things have been made clear in this day, Christ said that day would happen, John 16 tells that story.

As it has been made clear and the unity is contained within the covenant and in that covenant Individual thought is desirable.

Regards Tony