Nowhere357

This is the stance I advocate. Sometimes I think it's easier to pull teeth.

Thanks for the good post.

Infinity Lover

I think the secret lies in finding common ground, by acknowledging that though the answers may vary, it's still the same questions we deem important.

Eric H

I have often wondered if it would ever be possible for different denominations to share the Lord’s supper together, and how this could ever be achieved.

I think that there are two different approaches to resolving this issue.

If the governing bodies of two or more denominations can agree on a range of doctrine, then it will be right to share communion.

What this may entail is people a long distance away from where I live giving us permission to relate to certain other faith communities in our town, because they have negotiated an agreement on our behalf.

This would mean that sharing Christ depends on what other people have said to be truth, but will we agree with them?

Another approach is, if two or more faith communities can feel that they love each other as they love themselves, they witness Christ in each other, then they agree to share communion.

This fits in with Christ’s last commandment before he was taken to be crucified, Love one another as I have loved you, by this all men will know that you are my disciples.

I believe that the key issue is that we do not want to recognise Christ in people of other faiths.

If we recognise Christ in others, then we also recognise that Christ said what you do onto the least of these brothers of mine, so you do unto me.

Can we treat people of other faith as we would treat Christ?

Somehow we then need to find ways of bringing Hindu, Muslims and Christians together, but this can only be acheived through relationships, and not beliefs.

peace

Eric

Supergirl

Ditto. The human make-up (sociological and pshycological) needs to change first.

victorialis

How true. If that were to happen, a lot of the social comfort of belonging -- which is a big, big draw -- would go out of being a Christian. All that would be left would be the teachings of Christ.

"Many are called, but few are chosen."

Eric H

Originally posted by Answerer
Personally, I believe a world religion is just a dream.



Quote Supergirl: Ditto. The human make-up (sociological and pshycological) needs to change first.
------------------------


Ditto. Maybe it is our perception of God that is at fault.

If God exists then he must be the God of all people, we must all share the same God.

Some how this is turned around and people in faith talk of a truth, which is exclusive to their own faith, and some how this truth seems to exclude all other people on Earth from their God, because they do not share this truth.

Strange !!!!!

Peace

Eric

Nowhere357

Very strange. And imo arrogant and ignorant. Which is one reason why I find zen taoism and buddhism to be of more relevance than xianity.

Spirituality is a human thing, not a Christian thing.

victorialis

Eric, doesn't the experience of faith actually involve a great deal more than only truth? An idea of truth is the basis for the experience -- a starting point -- but it's not all of it.

When we talk about truth, we're not talking about an open-ended thing. No truth we could agree upon could be open-ended; if it were, few people of conscience would agree to it. But active faith is open-ended, a process, and always being tested -- or else it isn't really faith at all.

...Which is a much scarier proposition for the spiritually inclined than the idea of a nice, safe, single truth. Wouldn't a world religion require a single truth so basic and obvious that it would be of little use or satisfaction? There is so much variety in human beings, such a broad spectrum of needs and desires.

Supergirl

Hell yeah! I hate it when people assume that the atheist can not be spiritual! :notworthy

Eric H

Hello Nowhere357,

quote: Originally posted by Eric H
If God exists then he must be the God of all people, we must all share the same God.

Some how this is turned around and people in faith talk of a truth, which is exclusive to their own faith, and some how this truth seems to exclude all other people on Earth from their God, because they do not share this truth.

Strange !!!!!
------------------------------------



quote Nowhere357
Very strange. And imo arrogant and ignorant. Which is one reason why I find zen taoism and buddhism to be of more relevance than xianity.

Spirituality is a human thing, not a Christian thing.
===================




Sorry I probably did not explain myself very well.

If God exists, does that mean there are separate Gods for Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and thousands more Gods for all the denominations that exist.

If people of all faiths could accept that we all worship the same God but in our own ways, then we would understand that we have a greater responsibility to each other.

Somehow people in faith want an exclusive path to God, which seems to exclude others.

Somehow we seem to create our own Gods.

I am a Christian, and it seems strange that there are thousands of denominations sharing the same God and the same Christ.

What is even worse is the conflict that has been caused because we can’t agree on beliefs in the same God.

I Agree with your statement that spirituality is a human thing, and not just Christian.

Peace

Eric