Dare To Ask Talk And News About Our Differences - This topic has 9 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 25 years, 5 months ago by
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Do most people think leaders of the religions of today are doing a good job helping others understand and open their hearts to other religions and people? Or are they mainly trying to show us, by all means, that there is no other truth but their own? What will happen to the world if all religions stay stuck in their own world and don’t want to open up to other religions? Should they, or should they not? Will there be more ethnic cleansing, or will there be a single religion to replace all others to show the path of the soul and spirit?
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Name : Sultan O., City : Geneva, State : NA, Country : Switzerland,I don’t think it’s the “job” of religious leaders to help people open their hearts to other religions. At least not religions that use the Bible as the basis for their religion. The Bible does teach to have love for all, even our enemies. (Romans 12:20) Regardless of someone’s beliefs, each person should be respectful of that person’s choice. With that said, it seems to me that some religious leaders have become more tolerant of beliefs of other religions. I also feel religious leaders are tremendously missing the mark with their “worship” and beliefs, so I hope they don’t succeed in forcing people to believe their faith is the only truth. However, there is only one truth. At Ephesians 4:3-6, you can read about what is meant by “one faith.” It points to a unity of thought; not a brainwashing, but the uniformity of beliefs in relation to God and His Kingdom. In verse 13 of that chapter, it refers to the oneness of the faith, and accurate knowledge. Accurate signifies precise, or adhering closely to a standard. Something precise cannot have many different beliefs regarding the soul, death, mode of worship, etc. So, even though religious leaders are not following the Scriptures as intended, they are somewhat correct in believing there is only one faith, one truth.
As far as ethnic cleansing, let’s hope we see no more of that in the near future. What will happen if religious leaders continue in their steadfast beliefs? Sooner or later, we will face the end of this system of things and Jesus will judge people, including religious leaders, to determine who has worshiped God in truth and deed, who are sheeplike at heart and who have misled many, are wicked or too haughty to submit to God’s will (Matthew 24 & 25). Then, those religious leaders will find out if their faith was the one true faith or not.
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Name : Stacey, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jehovahs Witness, Age : 28, City : Boston, State : MA, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,Some religions are open to other beliefs. Others are not. If they believe they are the one ‘true’ religion, they would not be honest if they allowed for the idea that whatever anyone wishes to believe has an equivalent level of truth. Yes, there will be a one world religion in the future. This is predicted in the book of Revelation. The religion will be a false one, however, and many will be decieved.
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Name : M. Kelley, City : Dallas, State : TX, Country : United States,The implications and concerns raised by the initial question are clearly illustrated, I believe, by Stacey’s response. Her actual words are: “However, there is only one truth,” which implies that those who do not agree with her are wrong. Her truth, conveniently, happens to be that one truth. As evidence, she relies on the tenents of her belief.
Without debating whether her truth is the truth, the slippery slope that leads to ethnic cleansing begins with such propositions. Therein lies the dilemma: If one believes in Absolute Truth, then others, by necessity, are wrong. Those who believe that one pervasive Religious Truth will blanket the world, I believe, are unfortunately mistaken. The challenge, therefore, is to figure out how to accept the fact that others can believe in very different Absolute Truths. I don’t have an answer for that. I know what works for me, and I also know that what works for me won’t work for others. But I believe that religious tolerance and religious acceptance are important to strive for.
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Name : Daniel, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 44, City : New York, State : NY, Country : United States, Occupation : consultant, Education level : Over 4 Years of College,I see religious leaders as saying “ours is the only truth.” I hate the way some religions seem to be governed by rules rather than ethical discussion. It is generally believed that, for example, the Catholic Church has one opinion on homosexuality, rather than it being subject to individual interpretation. I can imagine a person who is totally committed to Catholicism yet thinks the reason for forbidding homosexuality was that sex outside marriage is immoral. If we allow gay people to marry, this problem is overcome. The problem is due to the preconceptions society had around/before Jesus’ time. When religious beliefs can be individual and “de-institutionalized,” it will be a more open and liberated world.
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Name : Tim M., Religion : Atheist, Age : 22, City : Bagshot, State : NA, Country : United Kingdom, Education level : Over 4 Years of College,To M. Kelley: As I understand it, the Book of Revelation predicts two religions. The one that you mentioned in your message, and God’s church.
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Name : TR24803, Gender : F, Age : 17, City : San Jose, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma,Perhaps I am wrong (I have been before), but I believe Religion always misses the mark. Why? Because the aim of religious leaders is not only to educate, but to inculcate in their followers a feeling of righteous superiority over all others who don’t adhere to their standards of worship. I am Catholic. I feel sometimes I will absolutely barf the next time someone tells me I’m going to hell because I’m an idol-worshiping heathen. Or even because at baptism we don’t dunk, we sprinkle. The meaning of belief is, I believe, in Spirit, not religion. Spirituality permits differences of opinion. Are not religious beliefs opinion-based, as no one can have perfect knowledge of the Heavenly One’s mind?
Does it matter to The Highest what path we walk, as long as the path leads to fulfillment and peace? My path may not be right for you, or indeed it may not be right for anyone else. But does that make it a less valuable or viable path?
I suppose there is no absolute answer to the question of what spirituality is. But to me it means remaining open to the fact that I am not the Supreme One and cannot judge others. Spirituality seems to me to be a way of stepping beyond self and giving value to the words and behavior of others. I realize many people’s behavior is intolerably bad, but are they themselves bad because of their behavior? Will the Supreme One not forgive all at an honest request? Cannot one moment of honest realization and search for cleansing lead to a heavenly path for anyone? What happened to words like love, forgiveness, mercy, meekness and piety? Have they been replaced by factionalized drum-beating and sword-rattling? I pray not each night.
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Name : John29309, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Disability : Casualty of war for 16 years, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pragmatic Spiritualism, Age : 46, City : Chicago, State : IL, Country : United States, Occupation : Case Worker\Disabled Persons, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I believe religious leaders are not opening up their hearts or their followers’ hearts to any other religions. It would go against their best interests. One of the basic philosophies of organized religions is that they hold the only “truth.” They could lose their followers if they even acknowledged that another belief system might have some truth to it. I think the world would be a better place if religious dialogue could be opened up without the rancor and hatred that marks such discussions now.
I don’t think there will be a single world religion anytime soon, if ever. But I do see more and more people beginning to question the motives of religious leaders and organized religions. This questioning will hopefully open up the channels of dialogue between different people, and create a sharing and understanding of how people believe.
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Name : M-Kemper22535, City : Temple Terrace, State : FL, Country : United States,I believe you are wrong in your saying religion misses the mark, I think people in general miss the mark , at least in christianity. Say for instance you want to measure a table, you use a ruler. If you want to measure a religion based on christianity , you have to use the inspired word of God, the Bible. How can people even call themselves Christians witout applying that simple rule. Thats why I believe a lot of people say to you the things you mentioned. I am not anti- catholic but let me give an example of conflicts with the Bible, Priests not being married with believing children, child baptism, names for a church, praying to mary, one day only for communion, ect. look up these things in the bible which your religion is based on and see conflict because of tradition.
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Name : Don-Smith, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 35, City : Chesterfield, State : MI, Country : United States, Occupation : Areospace Engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class,hello there! i think that religion often defeats its own purpose by dividing people. this is sad because one of the main purposes of religion is to promote the solidarity and unity of all people. personally, i believe that all religions are basically the same- all religions are about finding answers to the major questions in life, doing what is right, and admitting that we are powerless compared to whatever Higher Being is out there.
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Name : christy, Gender : F, Religion : Pagan, City : St. Paul, State : MN, Country : United States, Occupation : college student, Education level : High School Diploma,
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