The greatest Teachers ever.....

[LuisDantas]

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.

I would have to go with Buddha.

I stand unconvinced that there was a historical Jesus, or that Christianity ever had a coherent doctrine.

And Muhammad's teachings are painfully clear for what they are.

 

[Rational Agnostic]

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.

Agree with Jesus and Buddha, but would definitely omit Muhammed. Would add Confucious and possibly Socrates. Don't know whose teachings are most misconstrued.

 

[BilliardsBall]

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.

Jesus--since yet another prophecy is shown true in that false Christs have appeared twisting the teachings of Christ.

Clearly, many people follow Buddha's and Muhammed's teachings, in many cases to their detriment.

 

[Revoltingest]

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.

I have a different list of greatest teachers....
Richard Feynman
Buddha
Mrs Cunningham (my high school calculus teacher)

 

[Underhill]

Some of our great TV science presenters

David Attenborough
Alice Roberts
Bill Nye
Brian Cox
Neil de Grasse Tyson
Adam Rutherford

There are more

Carl Sagan

 

[Underhill]

Carl Sagan

Or what he said..

 

[Hockeycowboy]

i think 42000 is OTT. How do you arrive at this number?
I have travelled the world a fair amount and met several types of Christian.
However when I first went to visit the USA, I was amazed by the number of TV channels run by Christians.
So my question is, excluding the USA, how many different sects are there?
I am genuinely curious.

Here’s a website, I don’t think this one mentions 42,000, though:

How many christian denominations worldwide?

 

[BSM1]

Or what he said..

"Billions and billions...."

 

[blü 2]

Killing in the name of Christ has not lacked warriors. Despite this, his message was one of peace and not of the taking of power over the nations in his name as has been done. So in peace we come to cut you in pieces, seems the new message once the Catholic church came into power.

An excellent point.

And not just the Crusaders and the Spaniards and Portuguese in South America, all RCC. The Protestant English, despite numerous recorded good intentions, never found a way to prevent their colonies from seizing whatever they wanted from the natives, and fighting both declared and undeclared wars on that account in the American, Caribbean, African, Indian, Australian, Chinese and Pacific colonies.

And the Thirty Years war which established the Reformation was one of the dirtiest, vilest, wars in a history full of dirty, vile wars.

Christians and Muslims were also the two great slave-trading religions when slavery became an export industry, though in that the Christians had ample unambiguous support from the Tanakh and Paul. (I don't recall Jesus mentioning slavery directly.)

 

[Grandliseur]

An excellent point.

And not just the Crusaders and the Spaniards and Portuguese in South America, all RCC. The Protestant English, despite numerous recorded good intentions, never found a way to prevent their colonies from seizing whatever they wanted from the natives, and fighting both declared and undeclared wars on that account in the American, Caribbean, African, Indian, Australian, Chinese and Pacific colonies.

And the Thirty Years war which established the Reformation was one of the dirtiest, vilest, wars in a history full of dirty, vile wars.

Christians and Muslims were also the two great slave-trading religions when slavery became an export industry, though in that the Christians had ample unambiguous support from the Tanakh and Paul. (I don't recall Jesus mentioning slavery directly.)

Unfortunate, but true.
That doesn't mean that the gospel is the cause of it. Rather, human nature would be the cause; the ones in power knew how to use religious fervor to meet their own ends, to pad their coffers with gold, and other treasures, bathed in blood. Since the church killed anyone guilty of heresy (choice) or used the inquisition terrorism to quell any heretics (those who chose to study or dissent). the gospel was twisted, the visage of Christ on the cross - satanic- when in their hands.

This is why, we have been promised, (those of us who believe) that judgment shall begin with those who claim to serve God.

 

[blü 2]

Unfortunate, but true.
That doesn't mean that the gospel is the cause of it. Rather, human nature would be the cause; the ones in power knew how to use religious fervor to meet their own ends, to pad their coffers with gold, and other treasures, bathed in blood. Since the church killed anyone guilty of heresy (choice) or used the inquisition terrorism to quell any heretics (those who chose to study or dissent). the gospel was twisted, the visage of Christ on the cross - satanic- when in their hands.

Indeed, in every case the mixture of power and religion.

For that exact reason we see eg the Buddhist right wing establishment ruthlessly pursuing ethnic cleansing through civil war against the Tamils in Sri Lanka, and stirring up trouble against Muslims in southern Thailand and now in Myanmar popular persecution of the Rohingyas.

Religion as a tribal tool is obviously a useful way to weaponize.

 

[Grandliseur]

Indeed, in every case the mixture of power and religion.

For that exact reason we see eg the Buddhist right wing establishment ruthlessly pursuing ethnic cleansing through civil war against the Tamils in Sri Lanka, and stirring up trouble against Muslims in southern Thailand and now in Myanmar popular persecution of the Rohingyas.

Religion as a tribal tool is obviously a useful way to weaponize.

Well, to quote the Bible again, paraphrased, false religion is guilty of all the blood spilt since Abel. The gospel of Christ remains unsoiled.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

One of the Greatest Teachers who is yet to be identified by many people is Baha'u'llah. His teachings are today found in the highest ideals that man can consider.

If you can think of an issue that confronts Humanity in this day, Baha'u'llah has already given the remedy.

Regards Tony

 

[blü 2]

Well, to quote the Bible again, paraphrased, false religion is guilty of all the blood spilt since Abel. The gospel of Christ remains unsoiled.

Well, maybe, but there's no religion without humans, and you could argue that evolution would explain the human susceptibility to religion as a tribal unifier, the providing of a common story and life-map for the group to have in common (along with language, laws and customs). In this sense, no wonder religion is so often used, sometimes almost unconsciously, as a political tool.

Separately, Christianity is expressly addressed to the forgiveness and redemption of sinners, so a lot of wriggle room is built in. The parable of the vineyard springs to mind (though it chooses to express its message in a manner that makes it look grossly unfair).

I don't think it's useful to talk about false religion as a way of dissociating one's views from disagreeable acts by co-religionists. A Christian is anyone who self-identifies as a Christian, even if they're not clear on the details. Most Christians don't read the bible, don't bother with doctrine, and mostly take in from the pulpit only what appeals to them. In other words, they're our fellow humans.

 

[Grandliseur]

sometimes almost unconsciously, as a political tool.

Sorry, it is always deliberate in my opinion. The religious fervor of the Vikings lent them a ferociousness few others equaled. It helps knowing that death in battle is the only way to heaven, Valhalla.

is expressly addressed to the forgiveness and redemption of sinners, so a lot of wriggle room is built in

Not nearly as much as some seem to believe. Deliberate practice of serious sin damns utterly.

Most Christians don't read the bible, don't bother with doctrine, and mostly take in from the pulpit only what appeals to them. In other words, they're our fellow humans.

Indeed, what's new! Same old bloodthirsty people. Try putting us in the aftermath of a mean storm, and we loose he veneer of civilization quickly. If instead, we pooled the resources and came together to help each other survive - we actually might, but it always comes down to - me first.

 

[blü 2]

Try putting us in the aftermath of a mean storm, and we loose he veneer of civilization quickly. If instead, we pooled the resources and came together to help each other survive - we actually might, but it always comes down to - me first.

You think this is a US trait? You'll likely have seen news reports where Canadians react (in general) well in and after emergencies?

Reports of strong spontaneous civil responses to storm, flood, fire, distress, in various parts of the UK and Europe, Asia, and so on, aren't so uncommon. You think Yankees lag behind when it comes to pitching in after emergencies?

 

[Grandliseur]

Pst ref 75

You think this is a US trait?

It is a human general trait. It is not just 'me first'; it is 'me everything, and screw the rest of you' at lot of time mentality.

But, it should be admitted that there are many really nice people who go in with a 'do all you can to help' mentality.
When I see what is going on in some places, both historically, and presently, I surely know that the devil is real. Some times, the devil is 'me.'

 

[TransmutingSoul]

I surely know that the devil is real. Some times, the devil is 'me.'

That is a good observation as the Devil I see is in our own choices. I see no independent negative forces.

Darkness is just the lack of Light
Evil is just the lack of Good.

Regards Tony

 

[Grandliseur]

That is a good observation as the Devil I see is in our own choices. I see no independent negative forces.

Darkness is just the lack of Light
Evil is just the lack of Good.

Regards Tony

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)

 

[TransmutingSoul]

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)

Thats the way.

Regards Tony