Help with the Faiths (Jesus, ritual, reject, creation, America)

[AlefBet]

Originally Posted by CDRaider

I really appreciate you guys talking this through with me.

I feel very restricted in the religion i was brought up in and I know i have found faith in my heart and i know that there are certain things that i just cannot accpet and other that i haven't decided on. I guess my main reason for trying to find a religious group is for the community involvment. I think that is why I enjoy this forum so much, we can have a community without the requirments of being a WASP (white anglosaxan protestant).

THank you for just 'listening' and telling me your opinions, it means a bunch to me.

Are you really looking for for a religious group?
If you realized that there is God, Upper Providence, the the next question is what qualities are inherent in God or the Creator.

[CDRaider]

I guess I view God as much much like the father but not nesicarily the christian "the father" but as my mom or dad and we are all his children that still do foolish things and he is trying to teach and care for to become better people.

I believe in a VERY personal relationship with God

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by CDRaider

Just kinda have trouble beleiveing that God would have chosen one group of people in one area of the world. I mean I know in Christianity I've been told that you will only be judged if you heard the word of Jesus and rejected him.

I can certainly understand your reasoning on that one. But it is entirely possible to be a Christian and believe as you do. I know, because I am a Christian and I don't believe God would behave that way either. His Son, Jesus Christ, truly is the Savior of all mankind, but He's got it all worked out so that nobody's going to be judged unfairly -- least of all those people who were not fortunate enough to hear His Gospel during their lifetimes.

I believe in a VERY personal relationship with God.

Yes, kind of like a perfect version of your own parents, right?

[CDRaider]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Yes, kind of like a perfect version of your own parents, right?

YUP! Thats how I feel!

[JMoum04]

Originally Posted by CDRaider

II also have a problem with religions that include all of the major prophets because there are many that I do not believe in. That and the fact that the majority of them said they were the ONLY way so how can you have so many ONLY ways all the same??? I'm so confused.

"This is the changeless faith of God. Eternal in the past, eternal in the future." The Baha'i Hidden Words

For the major prophets who claim that their way is the only way, it's because it is the only way. What Jesus taught doesn't deviate from what Moses or Abraham taught. The differences that you see are superficial, but when you look deep down at all of the faiths and what they truly teach and what they truly believe (not dogma, dogma is different), you will easily see that the spiritual teachings behind the faiths are all the same.

[JMoum04]

Originally Posted by michel

I can understand your confusion; it is something that I think must have occurred to many before (and it is something I have questioned); simply, as you say, because each religion claims to be 'the only one'.

That isn't the only problem; we also have different names for God, and interpretations of what we believe he expects of us.

I have come to the conclusion that every nation has, at one toime or another been blessed by the birth of a very spiritual person, who has taught as best he (maybe she) can.

Of course, the teachings would vary from nations to nations (and have been the bed-rock of cultures at the same time). Personally, I think it most likely that we all believe in the same "Thing"; it is just that we use different words, and names.

I like that answer too.

[BruceDLimber]

Hi, CD!

It may interest you to know that the Baha'i Faith not only recognizes the Founders of all the great religions as Divine Messengers (quote below), but has no trouble reconciling them!

As to the fact that many of them have claimed to be the only way, this, too, is no provblem IOV, for this reason:

Divine Messengers have a dual station: both that of an ordinary human, and also of special investiture by the Holy Spirit, which can then speak through Them. And it is the Spirit that makes this "but by Me" statement, which we see as true because it is only through the Holy Spirit that we can learn of God and His Will for us.

Our scriptures express the agreement this way:

"There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God. The difference between the ordinances under which they abide should be attributed to the varying requirements and exigencies of the age in which they were revealed. All of them, except a few which are the outcome of human perversity, were ordained of God, and are a reflection of His Will and Purpose. Arise and, armed with the power of faith, shatter to pieces the gods of your vain imaginings, the sowers of dissension amongst you. Cleave unto that which draweth you together and uniteth you."

(The Proclamation of Baha'u'llah, page 114)

So I humbly suggest that the superficial disagreement between the various religions in fact need not present a problem.

Best regards, :-)

Bruce

[CDRaider]

Originally Posted by BruceDLimber

Divine Messengers have a dual station: both that of an ordinary human, and also of special investiture by the Holy Spirit, which can then speak through Them. And it is the Spirit that makes this "but by Me" statement, which we see as true because it is only through the Holy Spirit that we can learn of God and His Will for us.

That is a very good way of stating that. I think its a little more clear to me than what any other Baha'i has tried to explain to me yet. Thank you, I really appreciate it. I'll have to think about that. Thank you.

[adilrockstar]

Originally Posted by CDRaider

I have always struggled with this concept. I have to admit that right now I don't claim a religion. I suppose I claim Christianity because thats what my family is but personally I do not. Heres one of the big reasons why.

I have a problem with religions that say theirs is the only way. Just kinda have trouble beleiveing that God would have chosen one group of people in one area of the world. I mean I know in Christianity I've been told that you will only be judged if you heard the word of Jesus and rejected him. The reason I have a problem with that is because what if you are from someplace that doesn't really have dieties or that is like Native American religions where there is no emphasis on any one man and your mind just can't fathom Jesus being the Son of a SINGLE God and the ONLY way to heaven. I have struggled with this because I don't think God is going to tell you that you HAVE to believe a religion that is radically different than anything you've ever heard of.

I also have a problem with religions that include all of the major prophets because there are many that I do not believe in. That and the fact that the majority of them said they were the ONLY way so how can you have so many ONLY ways all the same??? I'm so confused.

Does anyone have some information to give me some more to think about or reactions? I'm just lost and I want to find something that I think is right.

According to Christianity, Christ is the ONLY way....THE WAY. If you have a problem with that, it is normal. It is human nature to want to question. You should be more open to it and maybe it will make more sense to you. As for your questions name the prophets and describe your question in more detail and I would be glad to give my best effor to explain, if you want me to.

[JMoum04]

Originally Posted by adilrockstar

According to Christianity, Christ is the ONLY way....THE WAY. If you have a problem with that, it is normal. It is human nature to want to question. You should be more open to it and maybe it will make more sense to you. As for your questions name the prophets and describe your question in more detail and I would be glad to give my best effor to explain, if you want me to.

Okay, Nichiren once said . . .

If you desire to attain Buddhahood immediately, lay down the banner of pride, cast away the club of resentment, and trust yourselves to the unique Truth . . .Has not Buddha declared "I alone am the protector and savior!"? There is the power! Is it not taught that faith is the only entrence to salvation? There is the rope! . . . Devote yourself wholeheartedly to the adoration of the Lotus of the Perfect Truth, and utter it yourself as well as admonishing others to do the same. Such is your task in human life.

When you look at that, it runs parrallel to what a lot of Christians teach in more ways than one. If two religions that seem drastically different on the surface and come from very different cultures both make similar claims, how can you be so sure that what Christians claim is truer than what Nichiren claims that the Buddha said?