Truth? Which truth?

patronkerr · Mar 29, 2005

You find yourself on a desert island (desert in the sense that it cut off from the rest of the world). You are a missionary and you are clutching your Bible. You also find yourself in company with another very nice person who turns out to be a Muslim. He/she is holding a copy of the Koran.
The island is populated by gentle, kind people who are living in harmony and have done for as long as you can discover. However, they have no religion, not that this seems to concern them.
So ......what happens next?
Do you show them your Bible and say 'Believe, because this is the truth!' ?
If your fellow missionary does the same with his/her Holy Book, what then?
I'd like some thoughts on this because it does happen. Maybe not as simply as I have suggested but it does happen.:sarcastic

may · Mar 30, 2005

patronkerr said:
You find yourself on a desert island (desert in the sense that it cut off from the rest of the world). You are a missionary and you are clutching your Bible. You also find yourself in company with another very nice person who turns out to be a Muslim. He/she is holding a copy of the Koran.
The island is populated by gentle, kind people who are living in harmony and have done for as long as you can discover. However, they have no religion, not that this seems to concern them.
So ......what happens next?
Do you show them your Bible and say 'Believe, because this is the truth!' ?
If your fellow missionary does the same with his/her Holy Book, what then?
I'd like some thoughts on this because it does happen. Maybe not as simply as I have suggested but it does happen.:sarcastic

Even thou those living on the island are good peaceful people they still grow old and die, it was not Gods original purpose for humans to grow old and die , that is why we need the ransom sacrifice of Jesus christ . so yes we could still open our bible to show them that God has a purpose to give people everlasting life on the earth
With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: "Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.(revelation 21; 3-4)

precept · Mar 30, 2005

Do you show them your Bible and say 'Believe, because this is the truth!' ?
If your fellow missionary does the same with his/her Holy Book, what then?
I'd like some thoughts on this because it does happen. Maybe not as simply as I have suggested but it does.

Tell bith missionaries to leave their holy book on the Island and push off to other missionary shores. The True God of either or both holy books will be revealed from the reading of His holy book. It will then be the choice of the reader to serve the God he so chooses.

precept

true blood · Mar 30, 2005

Both books, the Bible and the Koran, teaches that everyone will b resurrected from the dead for the Judgement. People on the "island" that you described will fair well that day. But why not share the truth to becoming heir to the throne?

michel · Mar 30, 2005

patronkerr said:
You find yourself on a desert island (desert in the sense that it cut off from the rest of the world). You are a missionary and you are clutching your Bible. You also find yourself in company with another very nice person who turns out to be a Muslim. He/she is holding a copy of the Koran.
The island is populated by gentle, kind people who are living in harmony and have done for as long as you can discover. However, they have no religion, not that this seems to concern them.
So ......what happens next?
Do you show them your Bible and say 'Believe, because this is the truth!' ?
If your fellow missionary does the same with his/her Holy Book, what then?
I'd like some thoughts on this because it does happen. Maybe not as simply as I have suggested but it does happen.:sarcastic

Since we know that the inhabitants have no religion, and that there is an Muslim, presumably someone, at some stage has asked the inhabitants questions about Religion - I am presuming that it would have been the Muslim.

First of all, I presume that the inhabitants would not even have a word for 'religion' in their vocabulary, and I suppose, for the sake of this scenario, we have to assume that we can all speak the same language.

I would never bring up the subject of Religion; I might well do so on a one to one basis with the Muslim (if he expressed an interest in doing so); I would not try to 'convert' him, and I would not stop him if I saw him trying to convert the islanders. I would sit and read my Bible. Now, if one of the Islanders showed interest, I would try to answer his questions, and I would be happy to explain my religion to him. I would not suggest that he 'ought' to be interested, nor would I try to convert him. I would do my upmost to portray my religion by my behaviour.
As for the rest, well, I'd leave it to God...

patronkerr · Mar 30, 2005

Thank you for your thoughts, people. I remember reading once that a newly discovered village in darkest New Guinea had 40 (yes 40!) missionaries from various religions (or branches of) waiting to pounce as soon as they got the option! No wonder, the primative people were and are confused and generally end up by picking bits out of whatever takes their fancy and adding it to their own religion, as happens in Sth America where there are blends of Voodoo and Christianity, for example.
More input please.

may · Mar 31, 2005

If i was on the island with these peaceful people i would see those people lose there loveones in death . because i myself know what Gods inspired word says about the ressurection hope for all mankind ,it would be unkind of me not to show them what the bible says, if they did not want to know then that is there choice of course.

For just as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made alive. (1 corinthians15;22).
Ps. 37:29: "The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.
Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice(jJesus voice) and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, (john 5; 28)so those loved ones would be in Gods memory and have the chance to be ressurected,what a wonderful hope for the future that would give them

Fatmop · Apr 19, 2005

I thought the question was more geared toward the political - what would happen to the inhabitants while still living on the island? What happens when some of them start believing in Islam and some in Christianity? The answer's pretty obvious: the two dogmas are incompatible, they would lead to war and death. Seems to me like the ideas here convey a sense of one side being 'right,' the other 'wrong.'

As one who does not believe in either, I have to say that introducing these two major religions to island folk such as they would have mostly negative effects. This ignores, of course, the afterlife; bring a Muslim in here and he'll tell you that no, his version of the afterlife is correct, and no, Jesus was not the ultimate savior. So, back to the topic: which truth?

Cordoba · Apr 24, 2005

patronkerr said:
So ......what happens next?
Do you show them your Bible and say 'Believe, because this is the truth!' ?
If your fellow missionary does the same with his/her Holy Book, what then?

The best answer is to give the inhabitants of the island a chance to listen or read both books, then give them time to think.

Some will be convinced, and others won't.
Some may have questions to ask, and the two guys will answer them according to their references.

The best solution (imo) is let each person freely decide.

It's a free island !

Mr Spinkles · Apr 25, 2005

Well said, Cordoba! Frubals for you.

michel · Apr 25, 2005

Cordoba said:
The best answer is to give the inhabitants of the island a chance to listen or read both books, then give them time to think.

Some will be convinced, and others won't.
Some may have questions to ask, and the two guys will answer them according to their references.

The best solution (imo) is let each person freely decide.

It's a free island !

But why is there a NEED to encourage them ? surely it would be far better to wait until you are approached and asked "What is that big pile of paper wrapped up in hard cardboard ?" - I'm presuming that these guys haven't even got any books.

Cordoba · Apr 25, 2005

What if they don't even notice << that big pile of paper wrapped up in hard cardboard >>?

But seriously, it's their RIGHT to know.

After that they can do what they like.

If convinced, they are welcomed.

If not convinced, they should just stay as they are and make no change!

Fair enough?

michel · Apr 25, 2005

Cordoba said:
What if they don't even notice << that big pile of paper wrapped up in hard cardboard >>?

But seriously, it's their RIGHT to know.

After that they can do what they like.

If convinced, they are welcomed.

If not convinced, they should just stay as they are and make no change!

Fair enough?

I disagree, they've apparently been happy all those years without 'Religion' - why throw a spanner in the works ? - what you could end up with are two camps, one Islamic, and one Christian - each trying to 'vie' for first place, starting fights, animossity.

Thinking about it long and hard, I think I'd get the Muslim to agree to throw his Koran into the sea as long as I chuck my Bible in as well. Why stir up the sort of problems we have in our own countries ? - let them be if they're happy.

Cordoba · Apr 25, 2005

<< they've apparently been happy all those years without 'Religion' >>

They will be happier even more once they discover their missing spiritual dimension !

The mission of a Muslim is similar to that of a postman who delivers a letter.

What people do with that letter afterwards is their own business, but they have the right to receive their letters !

Master Vigil · Apr 25, 2005

They will be happier even more once they discover their missing spiritual dimension !

That is an assumption. You don't know that, for all you know their spirituality is so balanced that it isn't noticeable. Spirituality and religion are different things. They could be happy with simply spirituality, and not religion. You could disturb that balance, and cause unhappiness. They may already have a wonderful spiritual dimension.

Cordoba · Apr 25, 2005

You never know, that may be the case.

However, there is also the Hereafter to take into account !

Master Vigil · Apr 25, 2005

Assuming that a hereafter exists, or even exists the way organized religions say they do. In my beliefs, the way we live, is the way we are after we die. If they are completely happy without religion, than I see no reason why they wouldn't be happy after they die. Just because they are happy denotes their deep spirituality. I don't believe the hereafter is a necessary thing to take into account.

Cordoba · Apr 25, 2005

<< Assuming that a hereafter exists >>

Exactly.

And that's a decision each one on the island has to make for himself / herself.

That's why they have the right to know.

Master Vigil · Apr 25, 2005

Or if they are perfectly happy, why trouble them with the unneeded worry of an afterlife? They have the right to be happy, not have unneeded theological dogmas thrown at them.

Cordoba · Apr 25, 2005

They have the right to be happy here and in the Hereafter, Master Vigil.

What good is it to be happy here, then find out that there is an unhappy Hereafter?

Why do you want them denied the right to choose by their own free will?

After all, if they are not convinced, they could easily put the two guys back on the first boat to New Zealand! Right?

Truth? Which truth?

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