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Jun 16, 2005
No Jesus, No Peace/Know Jesus, Know Peace
You know what bugs me about the title (something I saw on a bumper sticker yesterday)? The same thing that bugs me about organized religion, generally. It's the proselytizing. I have no problem, whatsoever, with someone believing what they believe. But, I have a serious problem with them trying to tell me it is the way that I should believe. There is no allowance for an alternative belief structure. If that saying had said, instead, "I found Jesus, I found peace" I'd have no complaint. Instead it tells me that I cannot have peace without Jesus. Horse hockey.
But, I am aware that some religions make conversion of others and "spreading the word" an integral part of their belief structure. Perhaps they see it as a divine commandant to "save" as many souls as they can. It is simply not good enough for them to believe in their deity and its divine power; they are commanded to get as many people to believe as possible and are taught that those that do not or will not believe are condemmed, possibly to even someplace they name "Hell". Are these people, then, not acting out of good faith and positive intent? And, doesn't that absolve them (assuming, of course, no harm is caused to another; I was not harmed by that bumper sticker, for example)? How does one reconcile that belief structure with a society that says all must be allowed to practice their own religion, without interference?
Now, generally, I ignore such things. I truly do subscribe to the "live and let live" philosophy of life. But, it occurs to me that these differences in people's belief structures (especially religious) are the underpinnings of most of the world's conflicts. I see no way to resolve them and it causes me great sadness.
10:17 AM in Religion | Permalink
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Comments
IMO, the development of monotheism is among the most destructive and negative philosophical/religious ideas ever to evolve. The moment I believe that there is only one God, and that I know that deity's name and what s/he wants of followers, there is by definition no room for you or anyone else to believe differently. And each of the three monotheistic religions does just that; they all say that 1. There is one God; 2. These are the guidelines that this God has set; and 3. This book/this prophet is the only way to know the rules. Judaism is somewhat more flexible in that there is the Torah and then much Torah commentary; this may be why Judaism is the one and only monotheistic religion whose followers, to my knowledge, don't go out and encourage others - including others within their political scope of influence - to convert.
If just one of the groups of monotheistic philosophers had been mature/sophisticated/whatever enough to come up with the revelation that 1. There is one God; 2. That God has many names, and 3. Because of the scope and magnificence of deity, it is understandable and encouraged for humans to struggle with many different sets of guidelines to know Him/Her, a lot of unnecessary misery might have been avoided.
On my alter at work, next to the picture of Ganesh, I have a picture of Christ looking profoundly wistful and sad. There are times I really hope that he never knew what would happen to his teachings after he died, because I imagine the knowledge would have created just such a look on his face.
Posted by: Dawn Wolfe Gutterman | Jun 16, 2005 4:17:03 PM
Amen sista! (or should that be amyn?)
Posted by: Kristine | Jun 16, 2005 7:12:17 PM
If they're trying to recruit other people, it's a cult, plain and simple.
Posted by: donna | Jun 17, 2005 2:28:29 PM
What you folks don't understand is the fact that Jesus is not a religion ... it is all about relationship. Second, you try to put "religious fanatics" like me in a box. You make me out to be someone who is doing it to score brownie points or "force my beliefs on others".
I'm doing it simply because I love Jesus and what He has done for me in my own life when I asked into my life to be my Lord and savior. There is no personal gain in it for me ... I'm just your average 'Joe'. You people always tout TOLERANCE, yet the hostility in these posts is not tolerant one at all. Simply put, you don't like being told there is only one way to heaven and that not going that way leads to hell. Well, all I can say to that is what Jesus said in John 14:6 - "I am the way the truth the life ... no one comes to the Father except through me." So your problem is not with me, it is with Jesus. You also fail to understand what Jesus said in Matthew 28:18 "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations"
Recruit people? That comment demonstrates total ignorance and bigotry toward Jesus and the Bible ... you have no clue.
Look, if you disagree, then do so intelligently and park the bigotry and intolerance. Intellectually debate the issue ... what you have written is devoid of that. If you have issues with what I believe, then challenge me! Geez, I'm not the 'wet noodle' you would have me out to be in your predjudice.
Or if you don't want to intelligently debate/challenge the one way to heaven message, then just ignore it. Heck, that is basically what I am told to do if I don't like what the programming on TV. I always hear the tried and true line "Just change the channel."
I think the bottom line here is that people today simply do not want to be told that:
a) There is only one way to heaven and it is through Jesus Christ
b) Not knowing Jesus personally as your Lord and savior leads to hell
They simply want to know, without any facts to back them up, that they can "do it their way" and all will be okay in the end.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeff G.
Richmond,VA
Posted by: Jeff Gehbauer | Aug 12, 2009 12:06:27 PM
Jeff,
If you see hostility in my post toward you, then I suggest you are taking things WAY too personally.
IMO, you missed the point of the post, entirely. I don't care if you believe in Jesus as your "savior". You could believe the tooth fairy was your savior and I would care at just the same exact level -- zero. Whatever floats your boat to give you peace and joy and happiness while you're here on Earth is cool with me (unless it harms others; then I have a problem).
I was trying to facilitate a conversation around the prosletyzing that I see going on, more now that I saw 25 year ago.
To your final point, I think you're correct. People rarely like to be told that someone else thinks they're wrong. You, for example, seem to have taken this post as an attack on YOUR beliefs -- and you didn't like it.
As for myself, I do NOT believe that Jesus Christ was the only son of god and that only through him can one find "heaven" (but, then, I also don't believe in "heaven"). And, I do find it annoying that other people feel compelled to tell me that my beliefs are wrong, while theirs are correct. And, they offer evidence! They offer this book they call "the bible". No one denies this book was written by a lot of different MEN, over MANY years, long after Chist died (and, I'm convinced, did NOT rise from the dead). Add to that the fact that it's been translated and re-translated and modified umpteen times over the centuries, and it simply amazes me that people actually hold onto this book and call it proof.
But, then, I have a fairly logical mind.
I wish you peace and happiness.
Posted by: Denise | Dec 24, 2009 1:49:01 PM
