Why learn about other faiths?

[Trailblazer]

You have been deceived by Satan, He wants you to believe that He doesn't exist. He is happy for you to believe anything except for the truth. The truth is a person and His name is Jesus Christ, He said "I am the truth".

There is no being called Satan. Satan is an allegory for the lower material nature of man.

Jesus didn't say there are many ways to God, He said "I am the way, no man comes to the Father but by Me". So you have been deceived by the doctrine of Demons, Jesus warned us before He departed for heaven that many would be deceived by Demons.

Obviously, Jesus did not say that because there was no other way to God back when Jesus walked the earth. But Christians mistakenly assumed that applied for all time and eternity and that was one of the biggest mistakes they ever made. Time marches on but the Christians live in a time warp and stay stuck in their delusion that Jesus is the Only Way. This is reprehensible, because two major Messengers of God have come since Jesus, Muhammad and Baha’u’llah, and they have equal stature to Jesus. Turning away from them is akin to turning away from God.

It is crystal clear that you have fallen prey to the lies and deception of Satan and his Demons, they have fooled you into believing they don't exist. Their main weapon is deception, they use lies and deception to stop you from believing in the only One who can save you from their grip.

There is no being called Satan. You have been deluded by the Christian Church which are false prophets who have led you astray.

You are in bondage to them, and only Christ can save you. If He doesn't save you then you will spend eternity burning in hell with Satan and His Demons, you will have plenty of time to consider how smart you were by rejecting Christ while you burn.

You are the one who is going to be in trouble if you do not wake up before you die. We are living in the Dispensation of Baha’u’llah, so the Way to everlasting life is now Baha’u’llah, not Jesus:

“The Book of God is wide open, and His Word is summoning mankind unto Him. No more than a mere handful, however, hath been found willing to cleave to His Cause, or to become the instruments for its promotion. These few have been endued with the Divine Elixir that can, alone, transmute into purest gold the dross of the world, and have been empowered to administer the infallible remedy for all the ills that afflict the children of men. No man can obtain everlasting life, unless he embraceth the truth of this inestimable, this wondrous, and sublime Revelation.”
Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 183​

“Incline your ears to the sweet melody of this Prisoner. Arise, and lift up your voices, that haply they that are fast asleep may be awakened. Say: O ye who are as dead! The Hand of Divine bounty proffereth unto you the Water of Life. Hasten and drink your fill. Whoso hath been re-born in this Day, shall never die; whoso remaineth dead, shall never live.”
Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 213​

Mohammad was a Devil, he was a mass murderer who personally murdered around 950 people. He had sex with children as young as 9 years old, he was a thief who robbed caravans and he organised an army of terrorists and committed genocide and robberies. He also told many lies, and you respect him as some prophet because you have been deceived by Demons.

All these are lies perpetrated by people on the internet. Go ahead, believe everything you read without even checking it out. Many people distort the actual truth about Muhammad in order to discredit Him. Muhammad was a Manifestation of God.

Jesus will not share His glory with any pedophile terrorist murderer, He is the true and living God. Allah is a Demon and Buddha and all the other so called prophets all died, none ascended to heaven as Christ did.

Jesus is going to have to step aside because Christianity is a by 2050 Christianity will be overtaken by Islam and eventually it will fade into obsolescence.
The soul of Jesus ascended to heaven when He died on the cross. The body of Jesus never rose to heaven. That is yet one more lie perpetrated by the false prophets of the Church. Moreover, Jesus is never coming back to earth, NEVER. He said so Himself. That is why He never returned. The Christians keep waiting and hoping but Jesus is never coming back to earth.

John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

Jesus was a Comforter. Jesus had to go away (to heaven) so He could send another Comforter from heaven.

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Jesus said that He had many things to say that those living in His day could not bear to hear because they were not ready to hear these things 2000 years ago; but by the time Baha’u’llah showed up humanity was ready to hear them.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes forth from with the Father, *he* shall bear witness concerning me;

John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 16:12-13 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Baha’u’llah was the Return of Christ, the Comforter and the Spirit of truth. He did everything that Jesus said He would do.

 

[Trailblazer]

I would urge you to join a Bible study group, you will find that Jesus claimed to be God on many occasions. He claimed to be the creator of all things, He was either a liar, lunatic or Lord.

Jesus never claimed to be God, NEVER. Any Bible study group that would teach that is just distorting what the NT says, hoping people will “just believe it” because someone told them to. Jesus never claimed to be the Creator of all things. This is blasphemy. God is the Creator of all things.

Send me some verses you think mean that and I will explain why they do not mean that.

From early on, the Christian Church created false doctrines and they stuck, so throughout the ages people have grown up believing these false doctrines of the church rather than what Jesus actually taught.

Thousands witnessed His miracles of raising the dead back to life and giving sight to the blind and many other miracles. No other so called prophet ever did or claimed to be God, only Christ is the One true Lord God.

Those were just stories written by the authors of the Bible. Anyone can write a story. They were never verified by any historians of that time.

Jesus is not God. Jesus never claimed to be God.

Jesus claimed to reveal God, Whom He called Father, but Jesus differentiated Himself from God:

John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself:

John 8:40 But now ye seek to slay me, a man that have spoken to you [the] truth, that I heard of God; Abraham did not this thing.

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God,believe also in me.

John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

Jesus said that God was greater than He was:

Mark 10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Matthew 4:10 Jesus said to him, 'Away from me, Satan! For it is written: "Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only."

John 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

How could Jesus pray to and go to the Father if Jesus WAS the God the Father?

John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

John 16:16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Moreover, Jesus said that no man has ever seen God:

John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

1 John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Jesus said He was from God and that God sent Him, again differentiating Himself from God:

John 17:3 And eternal life means to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, whom you sent.

John 7:28 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. 29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.

Jesus even stated specifically that the Father had knowledge which was not possessed by the Son.

Matthew 24:36 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the Son, but the Father only.

Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Jesus referred to Himself as a Prophet, and was so regarded. Jesus never referred to Himself as God.

Matthew 13:57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

Luke 13:33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

Matthew 21:11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

Luke 7:16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

Jesus IS NOT God Bible Quotes... Continued:

2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

2 Corinthians 11:31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Ephesians 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

Romans 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Hosea 11:9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

 

[Dawnofhope]

That really puts a cat amongst the pigeons.

 

[Marcion]

That really puts a cat amongst the pigeons.

Not really because:

A. Many of those quotes may not represent the actual words of the historical Jesus.
B. The interpretation of the quotes is missing and the better interpretation may be quite different from what is here suggested by the person who collected them i.e. Traleblaizer.

 

[Dragonslayer]

How can I trust that is true when it's abundantly clear it's a later invention?


Why are Protestant churches not pagan?


But there are clearly people who were in a close relationship with God WITHOUT Jesus, because he hadn't been born yet, so the NT is lying.


What if THAT is the deception?

It's like saying if I have ADT, thieves will never break into my house. Of course they can. ADT isn't going to prevent it nor stop them when they're there.


Name one lie Satan ever used in the bible where he actually is in the scene, because there are none and the NT is lying.


There are plenty of evil people who say the Holy Spirit is in them and there are plenty of pagans who are more moral than many Christians will ever be.

Do not say to yourself, "I have the Holy Spirit", for God can put the Holy Spirit into a rock.


Then they can join Jesus. He said anyone who calls people fools will burn in hell and called people fools, so per his own logic, he's in hell.


The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you." You want everyone to be eyes, but that leaves no ears nor hands nor feet nor heart.


Claiming it doesn't make it a fact.


Elijah and Enoch skip death altogether, which is better than Jesus accomplished.


Every other prophet has done some sort of miracle. Jesus walked on water. Moses split a sea. Jesus copy/pasted some fish and chips for one or two meals. Elijah (I think) made an unending pot of food. Jesus raised the dead. So did others. Jesus healed. So did others.

In fact, Jesus said anyone with a mustard seed of faith could do what he did and more.

So, clearly, he doesn't have a monopoly on cool talents.


People still die, so he didn't win the war.


Is Jesus lying when he claimed even sinners will love those who love them? Why are we being held to a higher standard than Jesus or God?


And no one has EVER lied about such grandiose claims. Oh, wait....


Besides the eye and the hand thing, Mark 9:

The apostles wanted to be selfish with God's blessing, while Jesus was (mostly) cool with having allies, which is better than having enemies, which is what the apostles were, for they ALL betrayed him. You don't hear about the gentile woman or the centurion fleeing from him. No, it was his most loyal butt-kissers who ran off.


I know they exist. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I SHALL FEAR NO EVIL. God is more powerful, right? So why care what demons want?


So, hell is where Jesus puts you when he's too lazy to save people? Did he come for the sick or the well? It's like a hospital saying they will only treat patients who have nothing wrong with them.


Jesus was executed before he had a lot of time to do anything. In his short ministry, he attacked people with whips. This is not a peaceful person.


So, God's grace and forgiveness is just what He offers so you'll shut up, but He has no intention of going through with it?


Jesus didn't have a cool UFO chariot to go up into heaven, unlike Elijah.


Or he said none of those things and the AUTHORS were lying or lunatics.


And no one wrote them down. Roman or Greek physicians don't mention their patients suddenly becoming well after meeting some guy named Jesus.


Again, Jesus specifically says to love one's enemies. Why are we being held to a higher standard than Jesus or God?

If it's one thing I can't stand, it's someone who craves a lazy and ineffective deity.

OK, I get it you hate God. Let me assure you He hates you much more than you hate Him, the only problem you have is He is the one who is going to judge you. He promised to cast everyone who didn't give Him their life into hell, where they will be tormented with super hot lava like fire for ever.

I can't believe what a fool you are, you have rejected a free offer of eternal paradise and you have chosen to spend eternity screaming in super hot lava. There is nothing more crazy, ridiculous, dumb and super stupid than that choice.

Imagine realizing after a billion years of burning, that you are no closer to an end than when you started. I mean it's just absolutely sick how your stupid pride can cause you so much suffering. Sure you can mock God now for a short time, but eternity is a long time to spend regretting the choice your foolish pride caused you to make.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

OK, I get it you hate God. Let me assure you He hates you much more than you hate Him, the only problem you have is He is the one who is going to judge you. He promised to cast everyone who didn't give Him their life into hell, where they will be tormented with super hot lava like fire for ever.

I can't believe what a fool you are, you have rejected a free offer of eternal paradise and you have chosen to spend eternity screaming in super hot lava. There is nothing more crazy, ridiculous, dumb and super stupid than that choice.

Imagine realizing after a billion years of burning, that you are no closer to an end than when you started. I mean it's just absolutely sick how your stupid pride can cause you so much suffering. Sure you can mock God now for a short time, but eternity is a long time to spend regretting the choice your foolish pride caused you to make.

So we should believe out of fear????

How so you believe something that doesn't exist?

We can believe in a concept so we wont burn to death but how does that work?

 

[Dragonslayer]

We use it for affection. Is it wrong?
Regards

Yes, it's absolutely wrong to reduce this most beautiful word in our language to mere affection. It's true meaning is:

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

 

[Dragonslayer]

So we should believe out of fear????

How so you believe something that doesn't exist?

We can believe in a concept so we wont burn to death but how does that work?

Yes sir, the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. You are currently blind and spiritually dead in your sins and trespasses. If you want to know the truth and gain eternal life in paradise, you must first repent. Get on your knees and ask God to forgive you for your sins, than ask His Son Jesus to be the Lord of your life.

God will never reveal the truth to you, until you humble yourself before Him and repent. Jesus is the only mediator between us and God, we can approach God through the name of Jesus Christ. We can't come on our own because we are not worthy to approach god because of our sinful state.

God will not tolerate us in His sight unless we come repenting in Christ's Name, when we do that then God will reveal the truth to us and we can begin to learn about the truth. Until such time, we will remain lost, blind and condemned.

Christ has invited everyone to come, He said that he would never turn anyone away who sincerely asks forgiveness. He will give you a brand new heart and soul, all things will become brand new and you will be super excited about eternal life. We receive eternal life as soon as we are converted.

You don't need to remain in darkness and doom and gloom, you can step into the light right now. Just ask Him and you will be amazed, don't try to clean up your life and then come to Him. He want's you to come exactly as you are right now, He will do the cleaning up and sanctifying work.

Your enemy Satan is doing everything in His power to stop you from finding out the truth because He knows that as soon as you find the truth He loses His power over you forever and you will never end up in hell with Him.

God's people are no better than you, the only difference is they have been forgiven and guaranteed eternal life in paradise. None of us deserve it, God gives the gift to those who will humble themselves and He leaves es the proud and arrogant in their sin.

 

[Dragonslayer]

That’s a very dark assessment of those you disagree with. Often when people criticise others it says much more about their own character flaws than others. Lord Jesus spoke of this.

Matthew 7:1-4



Christ came to bring a New Covenant and Testament.
Jeremiah 31:31-34



Jesus even called His most trusted disciple Peter Satan did he not?

He was clear about those who would and wouldn’t be saved.

Matthew 25:31-46

I’d be much more concerned about your own salvation.



I’d rather listen to the words of Jesus than one who bears his name yet dishonours Him.

John 8:32



Christ is a central part of my faith but I’m seeing none of His spirit in your post.



If you sincerely want to spread the gospel of Christ change yourself first and stop being so judgemental.

You have clearly exposed yourself as a hypocrite, on the one hand you tell me not to judge others than turn around and pass judgement on me and accuse me of hatred for warning folks about the deception of Satan and His Demons.

Christ said, I did not come to bring peace into the world. I came as a sword to divide families, between those who follow Me and those who reject Me. To follow Christ makes you an instant enemy of this world, because Satan is the Prince of this world.

Christ is coming back as a man of war, to fight against the powers of darkness which rule this fallen world. He is going to cast Satan and His Demons and all those people who were deceived by them, into hell where they will all be tormented in flames for all eternity.

The message is very serious, there is no room for this heresy of interfaith and ecumenical-ism. Our God is a jealous God, he will not share His glory with any other deity. He will cast all the fasle gods and false prophets into hell fire.

Be very careful what you believe, because the current war is on the truth. The truth is under attack and the majority are marching straight to the pits of hell, don't get caught up in the crowd. Seek the truth while it may be found for the day is fast approaching when the truth will not be found anymore and the door to heaven will be closed forever.

 

[Dawnofhope]

You have clearly exposed yourself as a hypocrite, on the one hand you tell me not to judge others than turn around and pass judgement on me and accuse me of hatred for warning folks about the deception of Satan and His Demons.

We have different worldviews. You reject mine as I reject yours. Thankfully most of the Christians I know don’t support your beliefs. If they do they certainly wouldn’t agree with your approach.

Satan and demons are not a reality in my life as they are for you. Such forces can not exist in a heart that knows true love for Christ.

Christ said, I did not come to bring peace into the world. I came as a sword to divide families, between those who follow Me and those who reject Me. To follow Christ makes you an instant enemy of this world, because Satan is the Prince of this world.

But that’s not what Christ meant when He used those words. He implied opposition from others, even close family members if we followed Him. This scripture also refers to challenges from within.

The forces of darkness within us can be overcome through faith and applying His Teachings to our life. When there is the genuine love of Christ in our hearts there is simply no room for hate.

Christ is coming back as a man of war, to fight against the powers of darkness which rule this fallen world. He is going to cast Satan and His Demons and all those people who were deceived by them, into hell where they will all be tormented in flames for all eternity.

That man of war doesn’t sound like the Christ I believe in, but if you want to believe the future will unfold as literally foretold in the book of Revelation and Matthew 24 then go ahead.

Being deceived is part of the human condition for us all. Living in accordance with the highest principles of our faith, being the embodiment of the love of which Jesus spoke, having faith and the use of our God given rational faculties are the best weapons to counter deception.

The message is very serious, there is no room for this heresy of interfaith and ecumenical-ism. Our God is a jealous God, he will not share His glory with any other deity. He will cast all the fasle gods and false prophets into hell fire.

In my town the Christians are amongst the staunchest champions of ecumenism and the interfaith movement. I should know as I’m on the interfaith council, Their attitudes and manner are reflective of Christ and mature faith.

Be very careful what you believe, because the current war is on the truth. The truth is under attack and the majority are marching straight to the pits of hell, don't get caught up in the crowd. Seek the truth while it may be found for the day is fast approaching when the truth will not be found anymore and the door to heaven will be closed forever.

We all need to be careful what we believe. As Christ said, the truth shall set us free.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I dont like sugar coating things. Below sounds like a movie or a replay of what the protestant and catholic killings back when if someone wasnt christian, theyd get hung. Its sad to see that same mentality in one lump sum on RF.

Yes sir, the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. You are currently blind and spiritually dead in your sins and trespasses. If you want to know the truth and gain eternal life in paradise, you must first repent. Get on your knees and ask God to forgive y

What benefit would I have if I were forced to serve god?

Would he forcefully change my heart or give me an ultimatum?

Im glad Im not around christians who condem people in fear; but, I do live around christians (a lot) who pray for my salvation as if believing in their god would make me experience love. Not out of genuine love, forceful love.

Eternal life is only believed and promised of believers. To those who know such places and things dont exist, what exactly is the consequence from their point of view?

What good is fear and force when they dont equate to genuine love to the creator not be a slave?

God will not tolerate us in His sight unless we come repenting in Christ's Name, when we do that then God will reveal the truth to us and we can begin to learn about the truth. Until such time, we will remain lost, blind and condemned.

Tell me something. Why do you speak as I you speak for god? Did he tell you these things; and, how does this negativity help benefit your spiritual health (please answer)?

You would remain lost if you dont accept because you believe he exists and you are under his control. Youre ruled by fear not love.

Christ has invited everyone to come, He said that he would never turn anyone away who sincerely asks forgiveness. He will give you a brand new heart and soul, all things will become brand new and you will be super excited about eternal life. We receive eternal life as soon as we are converted.

I like this little picture:

Makes me laugh everytime I see this.

So all you believers are just trying to tell people they are lost. You know more than the person himself?

You don't need to remain in darkness and doom and gloom, you can step into the light right now. Just ask Him and you will be amazed, don't try to clean up your life and then come to Him. He want's you to come exactly as you are right now, He will do the cleaning up and sanctifying work.

Ha. How does that work, Dragon? When something does not exist, how are you saved from it and how are you blinded?

Your enemy Satan is doing everything in His power to stop you from finding out the truth because He knows that as soon as you find the truth He loses His power over you forever and you will never end up in hell with Him.

Stuff* like this is why people are indoctrinated and leave christianity. Try another aproach and people may love christ more than you think.

God's people are no better than you, the only difference is they have been forgiven and guaranteed eternal life in paradise. None of us deserve it, God gives the gift to those who will humble themselves and He leaves es the proud and arrogant in their sin.

That doesnt help solve how this applies to people who know god does not exist.

They say faith saves. What exactly does one say or feel to where these things automatically come true like magic?

Unless the person really wants that concept of eternal life to feel better, its best to do whats in ones own best interest.

Think of this:

Which is better...to come to god and lie to him saying you loved him when you didnt

or

Is it better to be honest and die for eternity by being honest to god?

How important is honesty in christianity?

 

[Dawnofhope]

Not really because:

A. Many of those quotes may not represent the actual words of the historical Jesus.
B. The interpretation of the quotes is missing and the better interpretation may be quite different from what is here suggested by the person who collected them i.e. Traleblaizer.

I'm not sure if I've asked you this before but do you have a link to the Q-lite reconstruction that you believe reflects your sampradaya?

 

[CG Didymus]

We have different worldviews. You reject mine as I reject yours. Thankfully most of the Christians I know don’t support your beliefs. If they do they certainly wouldn’t agree with your approach.

Satan and demons are not a reality in my life as they are for you. Such forces can not exist in a heart that knows true love for Christ.



But that’s not what Christ meant when He used those words. He implied opposition from others, even close family members if we followed Him. This scripture also refers to challenges from within.

The forces of darkness within us can be overcome through faith and applying His Teachings to our life. When there is the genuine love of Christ in our hearts there is simply no room for hate.



That man of war doesn’t sound like the Christ I believe in, but if you want to believe the future will unfold as literally foretold in the book of Revelation and Matthew 24 then go ahead.

Being deceived is part of the human condition for us all. Living in accordance with the highest principles of our faith, being the embodiment of the love of which Jesus spoke, having faith and the use of our God given rational faculties are the best weapons to counter deception.



In my town the Christians are amongst the staunchest champions of ecumenism and the interfaith movement. I should know as I’m on the interfaith council, Their attitudes and manner are reflective of Christ and mature faith.



We all need to be careful what we believe. As Christ said, the truth shall set us free.

We don't need to learn what Fundamentalist Christians believe, we already know what Fundamentalist Christians believe. The question is how should a Baha'i handle them? I see zero respect for them from some Baha'is. But it goes beyond them. Fundamentalists in any religion are set in their beliefs. They're ready to die for what they believe in. Since you believe you are right and they are wrong, what's going to get them to change?

The pouring gasoline on the fire approach only widens the gap, so that can't be the way a Baha'i should handle the situation. But, it is sadly obvious, some Baha'is don't respect all religious beliefs. And if you say that those beliefs are wrong, then my question for you would be... Who other than the Baha'is do you think has "right" beliefs? Baha'is believe all of us are wrong in varying degrees. Fundamentalist are just the furthest from what Baha'is believe.

 

[Vinayaka]

We don't need to learn what Fundamentalist Christians believe, we already know what Fundamentalist Christians believe. The question is how should a Baha'i handle them? I see zero respect for them from some Baha'is. But it goes beyond them. Fundamentalists in any religion are set in their beliefs. They're ready to die for what they believe in. Since you believe you are right and they are wrong, what's going to get them to change?

The pouring gasoline on the fire approach only widens the gap, so that can't be the way a Baha'i should handle the situation. But, it is sadly obvious, some Baha'is don't respect all religious beliefs. And if you say that those beliefs are wrong, then my question for you would be... Who other than the Baha'is do you think has "right" beliefs? Baha'is believe all of us are wrong in varying degrees. Fundamentalist are just the furthest from what Baha'is believe.

I view fundamentalism as it's own unique faith with 'branches' from various religions, but still with a lot in common. Enemies of all true religions hoping to improve mankind, the basic premise is, "I'm right and you're wrong." They're divisive, self-serving, and can't listen well.

By far they're the hardest to like but still understandable if you understand mind, and how it works. All we can do is hope for the best, and that it doesn't turn violent.

 

[Joseph Quinn]

One of the strengths of religious forum is the diversity of Faiths represented. That presents an excellent opportunity to learn about the faiths of others. This opportunity doesn’t readily present itself to the same degree where I live as religion has become a risky topic of conversation and so best avoided. This year I joined my cities Interfaith council so that’s been helpful.

But why learn about the religion of another in the first place? What is your motivation and what is mine? It’s a personal question really. For me I like to see the bigger picture of ‘world history’ with civilisations that have come and been, and ideologies and beliefs that inspired the masses. It helps me better understand the world as it is today and others in an increasingly multicultural world. It also brings coherence to my own faith and worldview I can not deny.

Obviously there’s other agendas too. We can learn about another faiths so we can make our own beliefs look good and demean others. Many of us know that illusory satisfaction in our worldview as we build our straw man as to what we imagine another’s faith is about. Ego trips are part of the human condition and whose really immune?

Anyway thoughts and reflections? Thanks for listening and discussing if your interested.

The study of comparative religions is a dialectic imperative. Granted, they all privilege faith over reason but not all are as malignant at the same time. I think you must have meant controlled the masses rather than inspired, but the perspective of understanding history and culture and the world today doesn't require faith, it needs a healthy dose of objectivity, a lot of reading and a critical examination of the evidence. Clearly, where faith is concerned, evidence is redundant.

 

[Dragonslayer]

We have different worldviews. You reject mine as I reject yours. Thankfully most of the Christians I know don’t support your beliefs. If they do they certainly wouldn’t agree with your approach.

Satan and demons are not a reality in my life as they are for you. Such forces can not exist in a heart that knows true love for Christ.



But that’s not what Christ meant when He used those words. He implied opposition from others, even close family members if we followed Him. This scripture also refers to challenges from within.

The forces of darkness within us can be overcome through faith and applying His Teachings to our life. When there is the genuine love of Christ in our hearts there is simply no room for hate.



That man of war doesn’t sound like the Christ I believe in, but if you want to believe the future will unfold as literally foretold in the book of Revelation and Matthew 24 then go ahead.

Being deceived is part of the human condition for us all. Living in accordance with the highest principles of our faith, being the embodiment of the love of which Jesus spoke, having faith and the use of our God given rational faculties are the best weapons to counter deception.



In my town the Christians are amongst the staunchest champions of ecumenism and the interfaith movement. I should know as I’m on the interfaith council, Their attitudes and manner are reflective of Christ and mature faith.



We all need to be careful what we believe. As Christ said, the truth shall set us free.

I hope and pray that you find the truth, if you are truly seeking the truth then you shall find it and it will set you free.

To be actively seeking the truth is a gift from God, most people are not seeking the truth. They are seeking a truth that suits their expectations and a truth that will satisfy their desires, so they will listen to those who tell them what they want to hear.

If you are seeking the truth as it is and you are willing to accept it as it stands then you will most certainly find it, The truth is a person and His name is Jesus the Christ. Jesus said "I am the truth", so if you are truly seeking the truth you will find that it's Jesus. He is the only One worthy of our worship, because He paid the penalty our sins deserve.

If you truly believe in Jesus, then you are my brother and you belong to Gods body of believers who number in the billions. We have brothers and sisters who lived 6000 years ago, we are all one big family and we will be united in Christ throughout eternity. We will live in paradise, all praising the Lord together.

To believe in the true God is a gift from God to His chosen people, you will find that some of the worlds smartest people don't believe in God. They reject Christ and His teaching as foolishness, because their worldview is not spiritual they are carnal.

We are all born carnal with sinful hearts, God causes His chosen people to believe in Him and then they can receive His Holy Spirit to guide them to live by faith and obedience to His Word.
Most of my friends and relatives don't have a personal relationship with Jesus, they believe they can live their lives the way they want and believe that the teaching of Jesus can be used as a guide to live a good life but He is not the Lord of their life.

Jesus said that those who follow Him, must give Him the highest priority in all matters. They must make Him the Lord of their lives and follow Him no matter what the cost, even if it means losing ones life for following Him.

Most of my friends only follow Christ to the point where it doesn't cost them anything, but they quickly abandon Him if they face persecution or opposition. These people are "Nominal Christians", that's how most Christians are. They just add Jesus to their sinful lifestyles, but they don't hold Him in the highest esteem.

Your God is whoever or whatever you give the highest place in your life to, for some people it could be their wife or husband or child or career or their material wealth or any other thing that you hold to as the highest priority in your life. The first commandment is "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me", so this implies that there are many gods.

Jesus said seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you. He promised that He would never turn anyone away, who asks. So all a person needs to do is ask Jesus to reveal the truth to them and He most certainly will, they don't need to go through some guru or religious ceremonies to come to God. Jesus is the only way to God, if it were not so He would have told us.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

......Jesus said seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you. He promised that He would never turn anyone away, who asks. So all a person needs to do is ask Jesus to reveal the truth to them and He most certainly will...........

Hallelujah

Regards Tony

 

[Marcion]

I'm not sure if I've asked you this before but do you have a link to the Q-lite reconstruction that you believe reflects your sampradaya?

Thank you for asking. It was there all the time in my signature.
I have no sampradaya, is that something Hindu perhaps?
Do you yourself have a favourite sampradaya adrian009 since you are developing devotion for Krishna?
My explanation of most of the sayings of Q-lite is also there in the blog-page.
If you have any reflections on or disagreements with the explanations or have anything to add (some sayings I don't understand e.g.) I am interested to hear them.

Ah, it is a Hindu thing:
Sampradaya - Wikipedia
In the Hindu Sampradaya system, the guru is part of a Hindu lineage (parampara), so he needs to have had his own (Hindu) guru.

 

[Dawnofhope]

I hope and pray that you find the truth, if you are truly seeking the truth then you shall find it and it will set you free.

Hi @Dragonslayer
Good to see a much better post from you. That is excellent. RF can be a great place to learn from others and meet some new people. Like any internet discussion group it can take time to get to know people and better understand different perspectives.

It can be hard to know whether the person you are talking to is young or old, what their level of experience and education is, what they are like as people and what they believe.

Some people here may be searching, others to learn, some to teach and even proselytise. I’m here to learn about faiths other than my own. I’m happy being a Baha’i but wanting to learn and hear from those who come from a different background.

I grew up Christian and despite becoming a Baha’i nearly 30 years ago still believe in the same God, Jesus and Bible as I did when I was a Christian. That can be confusing for those who don’t know much about the Baha’i Faith or who have never heard of it before.

To be actively seeking the truth is a gift from God, most people are not seeking the truth. They are seeking a truth that suits their expectations and a truth that will satisfy their desires, so they will listen to those who tell them what they want to hear.

I went through a period of 5 years of searching for the truth spurred on by the words of Jesus trusting in Him that if I sought Him He would reveal His truth to me. That led me to the Baha’i Faith. I was a little surprised that Jesus wanted me to become a Baha’i but there you go. God moves in mysterious ways. I have not been disappointed with my decision to become a Baha’i and it’s really helped me in so many ways in life I would not have thought possible beforehand.

However, I'm not here to promote my faith. I'm here to learn from others about their spiritual experiences and religions.

If you are seeking the truth as it is and you are willing to accept it as it stands then you will most certainly find it, The truth is a person and His name is Jesus the Christ. Jesus said "I am the truth", so if you are truly seeking the truth you will find that it's Jesus. He is the only One worthy of our worship, because He paid the penalty our sins deserve.

When Jesus said to His disciples He was the way, the truth, the light and no one goes to the father except through Him (John 14:6) He was comforting His disciples having just informed them He would be martyred. His disciples were all Jews and He was reiterating He was the Promised One in the Hebrew Bible. It was also a statement of the importance of turning to His Divine Self. It wasn't a criticism of other religions as Buddhism and Hinduism were largely unknown and Islam woudln't emerge for another 600 years. The Gospel of John refers to other sheep (John 10:16).

If you truly believe in Jesus, then you are my brother and you belong to Gods body of believers who number in the billions. We have brothers and sisters who lived 6000 years ago, we are all one big family and we will be united in Christ throughout eternity. We will live in paradise, all praising the Lord together.

I am happy to be your brother in Christ. Some Christians see me in that way and others accuse me of following a false prophet. I keep close contact with my Christians brothers and sisters through volunteer work at a Christian medical centre.

It is much more important that I see the good in others and if others want to focus on my faults, perceived or otherwise, then I forgive them.

To believe in the true God is a gift from God to His chosen people, you will find that some of the worlds smartest people don't believe in God. They reject Christ and His teaching as foolishness, because their worldview is not spiritual they are carnal.

In this day many see so much hypocrisy in religions and sincerely belief religion to be a barrier to peace. The best remedy for this spiritual malaise is for our hearts to be attuned to Christ's Teachings and to be a good example of what it means to be a Christian.

We are all born carnal with sinful hearts, God causes His chosen people to believe in Him and then they can receive His Holy Spirit to guide them to live by faith and obedience to His Word.
Most of my friends and relatives don't have a personal relationship with Jesus, they believe they can live their lives the way they want and believe that the teaching of Jesus can be used as a guide to live a good life but He is not the Lord of their life.

I too believe that man requires every word of God (Matthew 4:4). We need to be born again (John 3:3-7).

Jesus said that those who follow Him, must give Him the highest priority in all matters. They must make Him the Lord of their lives and follow Him no matter what the cost, even if it means losing ones life for following Him.

That is the highest state for a man to achieve I agree.

Most of my friends only follow Christ to the point where it doesn't cost them anything, but they quickly abandon Him if they face persecution or opposition. These people are "Nominal Christians", that's how most Christians are. They just add Jesus to their sinful lifestyles, but they don't hold Him in the highest esteem.

Your God is whoever or whatever you give the highest place in your life to, for some people it could be their wife or husband or child or career or their material wealth or any other thing that you hold to as the highest priority in your life. The first commandment is "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me", so this implies that there are many gods.

Jesus said seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you. He promised that He would never turn anyone away, who asks. So all a person needs to do is ask Jesus to reveal the truth to them and He most certainly will, they don't need to go through some guru or religious ceremonies to come to God. Jesus is the only way to God, if it were not so He would have told us.

Then I would hope we are brothers in Christ and you can make the best use of your time here to appreciate the light within every person that posts here.

God Bless

 

[CG Didymus]

I view fundamentalism as it's own unique faith with 'branches' from various religions, but still with a lot in common. Enemies of all true religions hoping to improve mankind, the basic premise is, "I'm right and you're wrong." They're divisive, self-serving, and can't listen well.

By far they're the hardest to like but still understandable if you understand mind, and how it works. All we can do is hope for the best, and that it doesn't turn violent.

They believe it is spiritual warfare and it is in righteous anger that they argue. It's all based on very literal views of certain verses. But overall they believe their Scriptures are the infallible word of God.