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What are religionists being taught about other religions?

TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Y'know, that sounds wonderful, actually.

The problem lies in defining 'harms others and society." As in, who gets to define what 'harm' is?

That could be God.

God gives us the information we require in each age, then we get to choice to use that wisdom, or not.

Regards Tony
 

TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
You are welcome to come...our meetings (JW’s) are open to the public!

Nothing like seeing (and hearing) for yourself.

I been to a few, also the church services in my community.

Much the same is said there, that is said here. But here it is more restrained.

Regards Tony
 

loverofhumanity

We are all the leaves of one tree
Premium Member
And a lot of falsehood too. Only science is pure truth. :)But he is not the Son of any God. And his message has been modified by Allah in words of Bahaullah. And Christians must accept Bahaullah as a manifestation of God, otherwise they go against Allah's wish.Society or the people who have suffered harm.

The Son of God is a title. God is Spirit so He has no physical Son. Baha’u’llah calls Christ the Son of Man which is correct. All the Prophets are equal. Baha’u’llah and Christ are one and the same in reality. The only difference is Their Message and Teachings for each age.

Christians are told by their own scriptures that Christ will return one day so when He does return it is their obligation to turn to Him according to their Bible. That is the law of the Gospel not my law or the law of Baha’u’llah but enshrined in their own Sacred Texts.
 

loverofhumanity

We are all the leaves of one tree
Premium Member
In my OP I mentioned that a couple of religionists came to my door and when I offered them hospitality and to pray together for humanity they clearly told me they were forbidden to do so by their leaders as they could be spiritually infected. That is exactly what they told me.

In my area we have JW, 7th Day and Mormon. It was not Mormons. I understood they said elders but I might be wrong. But they did point to their leaders as having forbidden them to mix with people of other faiths. (Then why preach?)

The thing is they come to my door uninvited and then insult me. If they are going around knocking on doors and expect people to open our doors and listen to them then they need to learn some courtesy. If they consider us to be poisoned or infected with a spiritual disease then don’t come knocking on our doors.
 

dianaiad

Well-Known Member
That could be God.

God gives us the information we require in each age, then we get to choice to use that wisdom, or not.

Regards Tony
Y'know, You are quite right. God DOES tell us what's right, and what's wrong, and what should be tolerated, and what should not.

And I believe that God has told those who belong to my belief system. I believe that most sincerely.

the problem is, MOST of the world disagrees with me on one or more of those things. Do I get to enforce my beliefs upon them?

Do they get to enforce theirs upon me, even though I absolutely believe they are wrong and I am right?

......given that we have a basic tenet, part of our 'creed,' that we claim the right to worship as we wish, and allow all others to worship as they wish, that causes some difficulty for us in terms of forcing others to behave the way we want 'em too, mind you, but, er, just pretend that we don't have that bit, the way most belief systems don't have that bit.

Do we get to enforce our beliefs on you, because we are CERTAIN that we are right and you aren't?

Do you get to enforce your beliefs on us, because you are CERTAIN that you know what God said, and what you are certain of is not what we are certain of?
 

TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Y'know, You are quite right. God DOES tell us what's right, and what's wrong, and what should be tolerated, and what should not.

And I believe that God has told those who belong to my belief system. I believe that most sincerely.

the problem is, MOST of the world disagrees with me on one or more of those things. Do I get to enforce my beliefs upon them?

Do they get to enforce theirs upon me, even though I absolutely believe they are wrong and I am right?

......given that we have a basic tenet, part of our 'creed,' that we claim the right to worship as we wish, and allow all others to worship as they wish, that causes some difficulty for us in terms of forcing others to behave the way we want 'em too, mind you, but, er, just pretend that we don't have that bit, the way most belief systems don't have that bit.

Do we get to enforce our beliefs on you, because we are CERTAIN that we are right and you aren't?

Do you get to enforce your beliefs on us, because you are CERTAIN that you know what God said, and what you are certain of is not what we are certain of?

No I have no right to do that, in fact it is forbidden to do so. It is God that doeth as God so chooses and as such, that is the way we treat each soul.

We cannot and do not, try to change any other soul, as we have the planks in our eyes to remove first and we will not remove all that plank in this life. We can only change others as we embrace change ourselves, then reflect that light to others.

Regards Tony
 

dianaiad

Well-Known Member
No I have no right to do that, in fact it is forbidden to do so. It is God that doeth as God so chooses and as such, that is the way we treat each soul.

We cannot and do not, try to change any other soul, as we have the planks in our eyes to remove first and we will not remove all that plank in this life. We can only change others as we embrace change ourselves, then reflect that light to others.

Regards Tony

Well, we can be a leetle bit more proactive than that. ;) Perhaps by teaching others what we consider to be truth, when they embrace it, we learn stuff too.
 

TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Well, we can be a leetle bit more proactive than that. ;) Perhaps by teaching others what we consider to be truth, when they embrace it, we learn stuff too.

I see it as sharing what we consider is truthful, as to me no person has a monopoly on the Truth. It is all relative to our frames of reference.

I see it is all about bringing the best from our own selves and the only person that control that, is our own selves.

Regards Tony
 

Deeje

Avid Bible Student
Premium Member
Nope, I was not raied JW nor were my parents JW, and the pioneer was not a family member. I began studying of my own accord and never became baptized because for the bulk of that time I was a teen. And by the time I was old enough to feel ready, I realized that I did not believe what I was being told. I don't subscribe to the 'you were never a JW if you were never baptized' malarkey, any more than the 'you were never committed unless you never separate malarkey. Or do you tell kids in the church that they're not 'really JW'?

I tell JW I wasn't baptized to forestall the cultish behavior of shunning and ignoring disfellowshipped but honestly I wish you would ignore me I have no more desire to associate with you than you do me. So go in peace.

Yep...I think we get it.....but any time you post your one sided views about JW's expect a response.....OK?

If you never got baptized...you never were a Witness. Those are our rules. A backside on a seat in the Kingdom Hall does not make anyone a JW....just to be clear.
 

Deeje

Avid Bible Student
Premium Member
How do you know that he had no qualms about addressing G-d by His Name? We also write His Name on religious documents. And I believe that parents, kings, judges and leaders are also referred to by their names on documents as well. They're names are just not used to their faces. G-d's face is everywhere and He's certainly deserving of an added degree of honor than flesh and blood leaders.

David addressed Yahweh by name.....with due reverence and respect.

Psalm 3:2-7...(Tanach)
"O Lord, how many have my adversaries become! Great men rise up against me.
ביְהֹוָה מָה־רַבּ֣וּ צָרָ֑י רַ֜בִּ֗ים קָמִ֥ים עָלָֽי:


3Great men say concerning my soul, "He has no salvation in God to eternity."
רַבִּים֘ אֹמְרִ֪ים לְנַ֫פְשִׁ֥י אֵ֚ין יְֽשׁוּעָ֓תָה לּ֥וֹבֵֽאלֹהִ֣ים סֶֽלָה:



4But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory and He Who raises up my head.
דוְאַתָּ֣ה יְ֖הֹוָה מָגֵ֣ן בַּֽעֲדִ֑י כְּ֜בוֹדִ֗י וּמֵרִ֥ים רֹאשִֽׁי


Arise, O Lord, save me, my God, for You have struck all my enemies on the cheek; You have broken the teeth of the wicked.
חק֘וּמָ֚ה יְהֹוָ֨ה | הֽוֹשִׁ֘יעֵ֚נִי אֱלֹהַ֗י כִּֽי־הִכִּ֣יתָ אֶת־כָּל־אֹֽיְבַ֣י לֶ֑חִי שִׁנֵּ֖י רְשָׁעִ֣ים שִׁבַּֽרְתָּ:


Jeremiah 1:4-6...
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
דוַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר:


5When I had not yet formed you in the womb, I knew you, and when you had not yet emerged from the womb, I had appointed you; a prophet to the nations I made you.
הבְּטֶ֨רֶם אֶצָּרְךָ֚ (כתיב אֶצָּורְךָ֚) בַבֶּ֙טֶן֙ יְדַעְתִּ֔יךָ וּבְטֶ֛רֶם תֵּצֵ֥א מֵרֶ֖חֶם
הִקְדַּשְׁתִּ֑יךָ נָבִ֥יא לַגּוֹיִ֖ם נְתַתִּֽיךָ:

6And I said, "Alas, O Lord God! Behold, I know not to speak for I am a youth.
ווָֽאֹמַ֗ר אֲהָהּ֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה הִנֵּ֥ה לֹֽא־יָדַ֖עְתִּי דַבֵּ֑ר כִּי־נַ֖עַר אָנֹֽכִי:


As far as I can see both these men addressed Yahweh directly by name. They were speaking to him, not about him.

That's not what it says there. Although it would be nice if it did, because that would prove the opposite - a command to use something indicates that it otherwise shouldn't be used.

That doesn't make sense....:confused:

Exodus 3:15-16...
"And God said further to Moses, "So shall you say to the children of Israel, 'The Lord God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is My name forever, and this is how I should be mentioned in every generation.
טווַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ ע֨וֹד אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶל־משֶׁ֗ה כֹּ֣ה תֹאמַר֘ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ יְהֹוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶ֗ם אֱלֹהֵ֨י אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִצְחָ֛ק וֵֽאלֹהֵ֥י יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב שְׁלָחַ֣נִי אֲלֵיכֶ֑ם זֶה־שְּׁמִ֣י לְעֹלָ֔ם וְזֶ֥ה זִכְרִ֖י לְדֹ֥ר דֹּֽר:


16Go and assemble the elders of Israel, and say to them, 'The Lord God of your forefathers has appeared to me, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, "I have surely remembered you and what is being done to you in Egypt." '
טזלֵ֣ךְ וְאָֽסַפְתָּ֞ אֶת־זִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֤ אֲלֵהֶם֙ יְהֹוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ נִרְאָ֣ה אֵלַ֔י אֱלֹהֵ֧י אַבְרָהָ֛ם יִצְחָ֥ק וְיַֽעֲקֹ֖ב לֵאמֹ֑ר פָּקֹ֤ד פָּקַ֨דְתִּי֙ אֶתְכֶ֔ם וְאֶת־הֶֽעָשׂ֥וּי לָכֶ֖ם בְּמִצְרָֽיִם:


By saying that 'יְהֹוָ֞ה is his name forever and how he should be mentioned in every generation' how is it that the Jews failed to do this? Making "mention" is not just writing it down, but saying it out loud. Isn't this the reason why the pronunciation was lost? 'Sorry G-d, we forgot your name because we didn't want to make frivolous use of it'? Really?
I don't understand the whole vowel omission thing in even saying the title "God". What is wrong with the vowel?

Jesus once said that the Pharisees 'strained out the gnat but gulped down camels'.....I think I understand what he meant.

That's a command not to take false oaths in court using G-d's Name. Oaths were taken in G-d's Name in court, usually for monetary or property issues. This is a commandment not to do so falsely.

Yes I know that....it seems like the easiest way not to make a false oath in God's name was to remove his name from the oath.....does that sound reasonable....or was it an easy dodge?

How does the king's own blood, his child, refer to him?

If God did not want his servants to use his name then why did the Bible writers do so freely? Why reveal a name he didn't want used? Why do Jews assume that his name is too sacred to be uttered by ordinary people? All God requires of his children is respect for his name and his position as their Sovereign.

Deut. 10:20

Deuteronomy 10:20...
"You shall fear the Lord, your God, worship Him, and cleave to Him and swear by His Name.
כאֶת־יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ תִּירָ֖א אֹת֣וֹ תַֽעֲבֹ֑ד וּב֣וֹ תִדְבָּ֔ק וּבִשְׁמ֖וֹ תִּשָּׁבֵֽעַ:"


How is this verse telling his people to refrain from using his name? It is saying that you can swear by God's name, but make sure you honor the oath. "Fear of God" is the fear of displeasing him. Dishonoring an oath said in his name was dishonoring God himself.
 

Deeje

Avid Bible Student
Premium Member
Yep. A translation that isn´t a translation, but a paraphrase, massaged and manipulated to support specific theological ideas.

I keep hearing this and have asked you previously to show me where it has been altered to change the meaning of any verse to prop up our beliefs....please present these changes and allow us the right of reply....silence up to now.

Let me line it up with any translation of your choice.....please.

Of course you know the word Jehovah is a representation of the tetragrammaton. Jehovah is a guess as to the original word.

"Jehovah" is an accepted translation of the divine name into English. It doesn't pretend to be Hebrew like "Yahweh" which is a transliteration. A translation retains the meaning of the name...a transliteration is only a guess at how it might have originally sounded.

The original Koine Greek NT did not use the tetragrammaton, or the word Jehovah anywhere in any books.

The Jews had stopped using God's name due to their own superstitious reasons, but Jesus said he had come to make God's name known.....and he did. (John 17:26)

Jesus wasn't Greek and neither were any of the Bible writers....they were all Jewish.

22


The divine name was contained in the Greek Text of the Septuagint (second from the left) in Hebrew characters.

Replacing the divine name with "ky'ri-os" (Lord) simply followed the Jewish tradition of failing to use God's name in his own word. The Jews were never told to stop using God's name and neither were we. We don't have the correct pronunciation of God's name (thanks to those ancient frauds) and yet trinitarians are happy to use the name "Jesus", which was not the correct way to say his name in Hebrew, was it? Yet if Jesus is God, why the difference in the rules? Why are you not clamoring to have all the "J" names removed from the English translation of the Bible, since the majority of them incorporate the divine name in English?

You don't seem to notice the hypocrisy....
 

CG Didymus

Veteran Member
I'm very wary of friendship evangelism. That friendly person from another faith might just have a hidden agenda to undermine your faith entirely. It takes awhile to figure it out sometimes.

But at least they're right out there in the open about it. It doesn't take long to figure out the agenda as they'll tell you. I find sneaky to be much harder, and perhaps even more sinister.
I don't want to mention any names here, but a lot of religions these days sure do seem to be taught "friendship evangelism". It's easy to see, and easy to avoid, the ones that come right to your door. Because you know what they want.

But what about the subtle, sneaky ones? No matter how nice, if their true purpose is to try and be friends to get you to come to a meeting, then are they really their to be your friend? And, if the friendship includes going to each other's meetings and religious services, do both really respect and care about the other person's religion? Or, at some point are they going to discuss and maybe argue about their differing religious beliefs? To be "friendly" is a subtle but effective way to get a religious foot in the door.... but then comes the slow but steady friendly "teaching" of the person's religion.

You see it. You recognize it. And you've called it out. It's proselytizing... or evangelizing. And any religion that does that, I think, that at its core, is a belief that they are the only religion that is right. And it is their duty to go out and make friends that will someday join the religion.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
I don't want to mention any names here, but a lot of religions these days sure do seem to be taught "friendship evangelism". It's easy to see, and easy to avoid, the ones that come right to your door. Because you know what they want.

But what about the subtle, sneaky ones? No matter how nice, if their true purpose is to try and be friends to get you to come to a meeting, then are they really their to be your friend? And, if the friendship includes going to each other's meetings and religious services, do both really respect and care about the other person's religion? Or, at some point are they going to discuss and maybe argue about their differing religious beliefs? To be "friendly" is a subtle but effective way to get a religious foot in the door.... but then comes the slow but steady friendly "teaching" of the person's religion.

You see it. You recognize it. And you've called it out. It's proselytizing... or evangelizing. And any religion that does that, I think, that at its core, is a belief that they are the only religion that is right. And it is their duty to go out and make friends that will someday join the religion.

Thank God for the millions of religious people who never talk religion to anyone at all. They just go about their day ethically, and do their own religious stuff by themselves or amongst others of the same ilk, constantly looking for ways to improve their own behaviour, or to help. This planet functions on their sincerity. I can go to a Buddhist temple to sit, a Sikh temple to sit and eat, any Hindu temple, and not one person comes over to proselytise. It's great.
 

shmogie

Well-Known Member
I keep hearing this and have asked you previously to show me where it has been altered to change the meaning of any verse to prop up our beliefs....please present these changes and allow us the right of reply....silence up to now.

Let me line it up with any translation of your choice.....please.



"Jehovah" is an accepted translation of the divine name into English. It doesn't pretend to be Hebrew like "Yahweh" which is a transliteration. A translation retains the meaning of the name...a transliteration is only a guess at how it might have originally sounded.



The Jews had stopped using God's name due to their own superstitious reasons, but Jesus said he had come to make God's name known.....and he did. (John 17:26)

Jesus wasn't Greek and neither were any of the Bible writers....they were all Jewish.

Greek was the language of the world. The Apostles wrote in this language because it used throughout the Roman Empire. They either spoke and wrote the language, or dictated to scribes, who wrote in Koine Greek.

As to your alleged translation.

A comparison of the NWT with eight different translations, all translated by true scholars finds that the NWT has omitted 17 full verses, and 10 partial verses.

A comparison of the 1984 edition of the NWT and the 2013 edition of the NWT, one finds that over thirty verses have been removed in the latter edition.

Why ? To support particular perverse doctrines of the JWś, like shunning ? I believe so.

We can go to one of the well known JW changes, not found in any other translations, John 1:1
¨ In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God" NASB

¨ In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the word was a god.΅ NWT

Since your organiztion is Arian, anti Triniatarian, this verse was changed to suit the Arian belief. However, the change begs the question, isn´t having multi gods a pagan concept ?

JWś fundamentally do not understand the Trinity, as Arius did not. The Godhead is a single being or entity with three points of interconnected consciousness. Since people only have one point of consciousness, Arius could not concede that God, and people were different in this area, neither can the JWś.

I will be happy to go verse by verse with you on the changed and deleted verses that only your Bible has.

I believe it is a perfect case of a theological belief, the tail, wagging the dog, what the Bible actually says. Forcing the Bible to fit a preconceived position, rather than what the Bible actually says being allowed to decide the position.


Lets start with John. ¨ In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God ¨

22


The divine name was contained in the Greek Text of the Septuagint (second from the left) in Hebrew characters.

Replacing the divine name with "ky'ri-os" (Lord) simply followed the Jewish tradition of failing to use God's name in his own word. The Jews were never told to stop using God's name and neither were we. We don't have the correct pronunciation of God's name (thanks to those ancient frauds) and yet trinitarians are happy to use the name "Jesus", which was not the correct way to say his name in Hebrew, was it? Yet if Jesus is God, why the difference in the rules? Why are you not clamoring to have all the "J" names removed from the English translation of the Bible, since the majority of them incorporate the divine name in English?

You don't seem to notice the hypocrisy....
 

shmogie

Well-Known Member
I don't want to mention any names here, but a lot of religions these days sure do seem to be taught "friendship evangelism". It's easy to see, and easy to avoid, the ones that come right to your door. Because you know what they want.

But what about the subtle, sneaky ones? No matter how nice, if their true purpose is to try and be friends to get you to come to a meeting, then are they really their to be your friend? And, if the friendship includes going to each other's meetings and religious services, do both really respect and care about the other person's religion? Or, at some point are they going to discuss and maybe argue about their differing religious beliefs? To be "friendly" is a subtle but effective way to get a religious foot in the door.... but then comes the slow but steady friendly "teaching" of the person's religion.

You see it. You recognize it. And you've called it out. It's proselytizing... or evangelizing. And any religion that does that, I think, that at its core, is a belief that they are the only religion that is right. And it is their duty to go out and make friends that will someday join the religion.
You are speaking of Christians. Yes, we know, based on the words of Christ, that our faith is the only true one. We don´t have any choice if we are to follow Him.

What is our purpose in evangelizing ? Is it some plot to have you join us for some nefarious purpose ?

No, Christ said that because He LOVES every person, we are to evangelize, to share the great news of the Gospel. ¨ For God so loved the WORLD that he gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Hi shall not perish, but have everlasting life. ¨

You are totally free to reject this offer.

However, because of love, we are not totally free to ignore our obligation to make sure you are aware of it. The Bible says God does not want to see a single person lost.

However, Christ said ¨ I am the resurrection and the life, and no person comes to the Father, BUT BY ME.¨

So, you see, we are interested in your salvation, we do not want you to perish, cease to exist, when eternal life is available to you.

Christ said that if you choose not to accept the Gospel, we are to smile, say thank you, and go on down the road.

I for one do not want to stand in the judgement we all will face and be asked why I did not share the Gospel with Joe and Jane Doe, or whoever, who are now lost forever. I will be accountable.

We feel no sense of superiority over others of other faiths, nor are we factually any better, we simply had the good fortune of someone sharing the Gospel with us.
 

CG Didymus

Veteran Member
You are speaking of Christians. Yes, we know, based on the words of Christ, that our faith is the only true one. We don´t have any choice if we are to follow Him.

What is our purpose in evangelizing ? Is it some plot to have you join us for some nefarious purpose ?

No, Christ said that because He LOVES every person, we are to evangelize, to share the great news of the Gospel. ¨ For God so loved the WORLD that he gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Hi shall not perish, but have everlasting life. ¨

You are totally free to reject this offer.
Which "words" of Christ are the true ones? JW's? Mormons? Catholics? Pentecostals? Fundamentalists? Only a couple of the Christian groups bother to go out and knock on people's doors. Only a couple of them think that the Word is important enough to take it right to the people. Some people in some of the other sects get up on their soapboxes and shout at the people around them to repent that the day of the Lord is near. But, how many people are just plain old annoyed with this?

So you believe your group has the truth. And, it exhorts its people to go out and evangelize. Then what do you think of other "Christian" groups, whose teachings are a little off? Are their purposes nefarious? Are they just blind follower and don't realize they are being deceived? Do they believe your group is the one that is wrong and do have a nefarious plot to spread lies? Do some Christian groups do warn their congregation to avoid certain other religious groups so as not to get "infected"? Infected with false teachings? Probably, and they should, 'cause people will get affected by what others say and might just change their beliefs and agree with the other group.

I would imagine that most TV evangelists have some nefarious scheme going on... Especially the spiritual healings and "prosperity gospel" preachers. So we gotta avoid and be wary of some of them. So can we and should we trust the people coming to our door with pamphlets in their hands? Since it is pretty much just two Christian groups that go to people's houses, should we trust the one and not the other? But... I'm not just talking about Christians. There is another religious group that does the "subtle" more "sneaky" way of proselytizing. As do some of these other Christian groups. Naturally, they justify it, because they think they have the truth. But what else can they do? To make "friends" with people first seems innocent enough. But, if the real purpose is to "teach" the new "friend" about their religion, is that nefarious? They don't come cold calling, they find ways to get unwary people to open the door and let them right on in.
 

CG Didymus

Veteran Member
religionists
This is the first time I ever heard that term used. Is that like saying people that believe only their religion is right and are obligated to spread the word of truth to all the lost souls in the world? And, to some degree, how many religions don't believe they are at least more right than all the others? And, that they have to try and get people to understand how the religions of the other person is wrong and how their religion is right?

they might catch a ‘spiritual disease ‘.
Are there "spiritual" diseases out there? Are there some people in some religions that should be avoided? Even Baha'is don't want people to associate with "covenant breakers". Why? Is there some kind of infection that a Baha'i might catch from them? Yes, the lie. The false teachings that they spread. Are there others that Baha'i would and should avoid?

We are encouraged to ‘consort with the followers of all religions with friendship and fellowship’ and again ‘“Consort with all religions with amity and concord, that they may inhale from you the sweet fragrance of God”
I think so. How many Baha'i went to some Christian group and studied the Bible with them... and then joined them? Or, could I say... got the Jesus infection? But, would and should a Baha'i avoid other Christian groups? How about the Pentecostal Holy Rollers? I have never had so much fun as having spent an evening "consorting" with amity and concord with these people. They were a total crack up. I walked in and they were singing and praying and shouting "Praise God! Praise Jesus!" Old ladies were dancing in the aisles. It was infectious.

Then the message... "Praise the Lord. Praise Jesus. He has healed our infirmities and made us whole!" Then they alter call to come forward to have the elders lay hands on the sick and ailing. One man came up and said that he's had a bad back for years. Wham! hands to the forehead. The man fell backwards into the arms of people waiting to catch him and ease him to the ground. The preacher bent over and prayed. "Demon of back pain leave! Begone! And leave our brother!" Amazingly! The man got up and danced around. He was jumping and bending down and touching his toes. The pain was miraculously gone!

I never had so much fun... laughing. I couldn't take it. I went out to the foyer and watched through a window in the door. I saw people with migraines get healed. I saw people say that they couldn't raise their arms above their heads, suddenly, left their arms and praise the Lord. It was infectious to be sure. They all were like in a trance. A holy trance of believing Jesus was there in the room healing people. Unfortunately, some people in wheelchairs, remained in wheelchairs. But on TV, even people in wheelchairs get up and dance.

But, at another "healing" service, a friend of mine went up and said that when the preacher laid hands on him that it felt like warm honey was being poured on him. So what is real?

But maybe a Baha'i would go to this kind of religious gathering. But, if they mention that they are Baha'i, the people might not be worried about getting your "spiritual" disease, but might just get a group of people around you and pray for you and lay hands on you to get rid of the infection of the Baha'i Faith that is in you.

But I also wouldn't recommend that you go to a Snake Handler Church, or a devil-worshipping church. or one of those religious groups that meet in the woods and get naked and worship nature.

I can go to a Buddhist temple to sit, a Sikh temple to sit and eat, any Hindu temple, and not one person comes over to proselytize. It's great.
That's the key. Is that spiritual meeting honest and open to all about not trying to convert them, teach them the "word", and in some way trying to get them to reconsider their own religion?

If we were a "fly" on the wall at the Baha'i Teaching Center or even a local Baha'i Feast, what would they be talking about? I would think that part of it would be dealing with how to get more people enrolled as Baha'is. When I was hanging out with them, they specifically had a "teaching" plan to do "mass-teaching" They expected "entry by troops" Ironically, I was with them knocking on doors at an Indian Reserve in Idaho and inviting people to a meeting that night to hear about the Baha'i Faith. And of course their first question was, "and what is the Baha'i Faith?" That was the okay to not proselytize but to tell the people about the Faith. Subtle, isn't it.

But for all the complaining I do about the Baha'i "subtle" methods and about some of their beliefs, their basic beliefs are a lot better than most religions. There, I hope that keeps the Baha'is off my back and acussing me, oops... I meant accusing me of only attacking and saying bad things about them.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
If we were a "fly" on the wall at the Baha'i Teaching Center or even a local Baha'i Feast, what would they be talking about? I would think that part of it would be dealing with how to get more people enrolled as Baha'is. When I was hanging out with them, they specifically had a "teaching" plan to do "mass-teaching" They expected "entry by troops" Ironically, I was with them knocking on doors at an Indian Reserve in Idaho and inviting people to a meeting that night to hear about the Baha'i Faith. And of course their first question was, "and what is the Baha'i Faith?" That was the okay to not proselytize but to tell the people about the Faith. Subtle, isn't it.

But for all the complaining I do about the Baha'i "subtle" methods and about some of their beliefs, their basic beliefs are a lot better than most religions. There, I hope that keeps the Baha'is off my back and acussing me, oops... I meant accusing me of only attacking and saying bad things about them.

For me, it just boils down to what you believe. If you believe there is one superiour faith, or that yours is that one, then you really have no choice but to tell people. But if you, like me, actually believe the world needs many faiths, so all mindsets are covered, then there most certainly is no need whatsoever.

The poor natives took a beating from the European invaders (uhh... settlers) and then somebody has the audacity to do it all over again? But you're right, they most likely didn't intentionally spread smallpox via blankets.
 

night912

Well-Known Member
Once I had some religionists knock on my door and I welcomed them and invited them in my home to say prayers for humanity. They replied that their elders had forbidden them to mingle or become friendly with people from other Faiths because they might catch a ‘spiritual disease ‘.

I would love to be a fly on the wall to hear what is really being taught to such people to instill prejudice against people of different Faiths and where is their justification for promoting such prejudices.it does not come from the Holy Books.

Does it make any difference where we pray and meditate whether it be a pagoda, a church, temple, mosque or synagogue? What harm is there in going to each other’s churches and temples to pray, meditate and mingle?

In our Faith we have no such restrictions. We are encouraged to ‘consort with the followers of all religions with friendship and fellowship’ and again ‘“Consort with all religions with amity and concord, that they may inhale from you the sweet fragrance of God”

In our Houses of Worship each week all over the world we read from the Holy Books of all Faiths Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Islam as well as our own Faith and participate in interfaith.

Do you think we should try and build bridges between the religions or keep aloof from one another? Isn’t it time the religions of the world came together to eliminate the hatreds that have caused bitter wars between them and find common ground to get along with one another?

What does your religion teach you about other religions? What if anything is mentioned in your Holy Books regarding other Faiths?
Next time they come knocking on the door, open it with open arms and take out a holy book totally different from theirs. Next, say to them, "Let us have a prayer before entering." Then read a long passage from the holy book you're holding in your hand.

After the long prayer, perform the guests welcoming ritual.
 
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