joeboonda said:
Thanks, Scott, I put the Biblegateway one to my favorites, I will try to use it, thanks a lot!
I understand what you say about God is one, and the whole chopping him up bit. It is a mysterious thing for us humans to understand. I guess you know, I am pretty simple in my belief, I just believe in Jesus and the Bible, and that's good enough for me. I see similarities in the religions, but I see differences, too. I don't think its bad to seek for a one religion that is the 'true' religion. Its that statement of Jesus, I am the way, the truth and the light, no man comes to the Father but by me, that, the more I learn of Jesus, his character and profound teachings, make me feel that he really IS the truth. I enjoy learning of all the religions, but nothing can change the way I feel about Jesus. I put all my hope in him. I don't want you to debate that, I just wanted to say, that is just me, my personal belief, that nothing can change. Thanks again for your help!
Sincerely,
Joeboonda
Please understand that I believe Jesus was speaking the truth when He said: "I am the way, the truth and the light and no man comes to the Father but through the Son. It is true on many levels.
Also understand that I believe Jesus was speaking words that Moses could have said or Muhammed, or Krshna, or Baha`u'llah and They would all be speaking the truth.
"They are, in truth, cup-bearers of the life-giving water of knowledge and guides unto the ideal way. They direct the peoples of the world to the straight path and acquaint them with that which is conducive to human upliftment and exaltation. The straight path is the one which guideth man to the dayspring of perception and to the dawning-place of true understanding and leadeth him to that which will redound to glory, honour and greatness."
(Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 35)
"There is equal agreement in these texts that the soul's ability to attain to an understanding of its Creator's purpose is the product not merely of its own effort, but of interventions of the Divine that open the way. The point was made with memorable clarity by Jesus: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."38 If one is not to see in this assertion merely a dogmatic challenge to other stages of the one ongoing process of Divine guidance, it is obviously the expression of the central truth of revealed religion: that access to the unknowable Reality that creates and sustains existence is possible only through awakening to the illumination shed from that Realm."
(Commissioned by The Universal House of Justice, One Common Faith)
"15. "But if they strive to make thee join in worship with Me things of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not; yet bear them company in this life with justice (and consideration), and follow the way of those who turn to Me (in love): in the End the return of you all is to Me, and I will tell you the truth (and meaning) of all that ye did.""
(The Qur'an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 31)
"Seek the Sanctuary of the Saints, and fall at their feet; your suffering and darkness shall be removed. ||2||
Practice truth, contentment and kindness; this is the most excellent way of life.
One who is so blessed by the Formless Lord God renounces selfishness, and becomes the dust of all. ||3||
All that is seen is You, Lord, the expansion of the expanse.
Says Nanak, the Guru has removed my doubts; I recognize God in all. ||4||25||95||"
(Shri Guru Granth Sahib, Section 5 - Siree Raag)
"One knows the Truth only when he bears love to the True Lord.
Hearing the Name, the mind is enraptured; then, he attains the gate of salvation.
One knows the Truth only when he knows the true way of life.
Preparing the field of the body, he plants the Seed of the Creator.
One knows the Truth only when he receives true instruction.
Showing mercy to other beings, he makes donations to charities.
One knows the Truth only when he dwells in the sacred shrine of pilgrimage of his own soul.
He sits and receives instruction from the True Guru, and lives in accordance with His Will.
Truth is the medicine for all; it removes and washes away our sins.
Nanak speaks this prayer to those who have Truth in their laps. ||2||"
(Shri Guru Granth Sahib, Section 8 - Raag Aasaa)
"86,10 For Thou art great, and doest wondrous things; Thou art God alone.
86,11 Teach me, O LORD, Thy way, that I may walk in Thy truth; {N}
make one my heart to fear Thy name.
86,12 I will thank Thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart; and I will glorify Thy name for evermore."
(Kesuvim (Writings), Tehillim (Psalms))
"1 2,1 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying: 1 2,2 'I go the way of all the earth; be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man; 1 2,3 and keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to that which is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself; 1 2,4 that the LORD may establish His word which He spoke concerning me, saying: If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee, said He, a man on the throne of Israel."
(Nev'im (Prophets), Melachim (Kings))
"24,27 And he said: 'Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who hath not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master; as for me, the LORD hath led me in the way to the house of my master's brethren.'"
(Torah (Law), B'reishis (Genesis))
"Tortuous wisdom brings no profit, virtue shuns the crooked way,
For the deed proclaims the hero from the man of spacious lies,
Marks the true and upright Arya from the scheming worldly-wise!
If assuming virtue's mantle I should seek the sinful path,
Gods who judge our secret motives curse me with their deepest wrath,
And thy counsel helps not, rishi, mansions of the sky to win,
And a king his subjects follow adding deeper sin to sin!
Sweep aside thy crafty reasoning, Truth is still our ancient way,
Truth sustains the earth and nations and a monarch's righteous sway,
Mighty Gods and holy sages find in Truth their haven shore,
Scorning death and dark destruction, Truth survives for evermore!"
(Hindu, Ramayana (R. Dutt, abridged tr))
"Whoever takes refuge with the awakened one,
the truth, and the community,
who with clear understanding perceives the four noble truths:
namely suffering, the origin of suffering,
the cessation of suffering, and the eightfold holy way
that leads to the cessation of suffering,
that is the safe refuge; that is the best refuge;
having gone to that refuge,
a person is delivered from all pains."
(Buddhist, Dhammapada - Sayings of the Buddha 2 (tr. J. Richards))
You're most welcome for the link. Consider the other links as well, when discussing religion in an interfaith forum such as this respect for other religions and their writings greases the skids of discourse.
"The second Glad-Tidings It is permitted that the peoples and kindreds of the world associate with one another with joy and radiance. O people! Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship. Thus hath the day-star of His sanction and authority shone forth above the horizon of the decree of God, the Lord of the worlds."
(Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 21)
Regards, Scott