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Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Title:Discussions from a Christian Perspective
Notice:Prostitutes and tax collectors welcome!
Moderator:CSC32::J_CHRISTIE
Created:Mon Sep 17 1990
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1362
Total number of notes:61362

830.0. "If you know only one religion, you don't know any" by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE (On loan from God) Fri Jan 21 1994 15:50

"If you know only one religion, you don't know any."

This statement was the title of a talk by Ari Goldman presented yesterday
at the symposium on spirituality and religion at Colorado College.  Goldman
is the relgion writer for the New York Times and a Jew who practices kosher
eating and no work on the sabbath.  Goldman is also the author of a best-
selling book entitled something like "I Found God at Harvard."

So, do you agree or disagee with the title statement?  Why or why not?

Shalom,
Richard

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830.1PACKED::COLLIS::JACKSONDCU fees? NO!!!Fri Jan 21 1994 16:3017
Since the statement is obviously wrong, I assume you are
asking about the point that he was attempting to make.

Regarding the point, I think that if you know only
religions that are essentially wrong, then you might as
well not know any religions at all.  Conversely, if you
God as He has revealed Himself, then no amount of
knowledge from other religions will prove useful.

From a human perspective, it's good to be knowledgable
about a lot of things; however wisdom is *much*more
important (knowing what to do with the knowledge).  I
see the statement in the base note as a statement about
knowledge rather than about wisdom and it suffers as a
result.

Collis
830.2TNPUBS::PAINTERPlanet CrayonFri Jan 21 1994 17:1517
    
    The statement is obviously right, of course [using the form of reply 
    in .1.]
    
    [Statement reworded now...]  I feel the statement is correct.  It was 
    learning and experiencing other religions that I saw that God is in all
    of them, revealing to all only in different ways, and that there is no 
    'One True Religion' where the other religions are false.
    
    As Marco Polo said, "The more I learned about other religions, the more
    I understood and appreciated my own."
    
    I've read parts of Goldman's book.  It's interesting.  Can't really
    comment more on it though, as it's been a while.  Richard, I believe 
    the title is "The (or My) Search for God at Harvard".  
    
    Cindy
830.3COMET::DYBENFri Jan 21 1994 17:186
    
    
    I disagree. There is only one true religion. All others are false and
    must be exposed as such...
    
    David
830.4AKOCOA::FLANAGANhonor the webFri Jan 21 1994 18:045
    I agree with the statement.  Without knowing more than one religion we
    cannot know what is unique to our own religion and what is common to
    all religions.
    
    Patricia
830.5JULIET::MORALES_NASweet Spirit's Gentle BreezeFri Jan 21 1994 18:5615
    .2 and .4
    
    .2  I agree with you in that you can see God in all religions.  There
    is a very good reason for that.  I believe that God has instilled
    within all of us the innate desire to know Him.  I also believe that
    God has revealed himself to those that sincerely seek him.  However, I
    believe that not always the two go hand-in-hand.  
    
    I once said that the way of Hinduism walks very parallel to the way of
    Christianity [of the Bible], but they are very obviously parallel and
    not on the same path. One path leads to enlightenment, the other path
    leads to the Light [Jesus].
    
    Nancy
    
830.6CSC32::J_CHRISTIEOn loan from GodFri Jan 21 1994 20:265
    Goldman said during his talk that when someone says to him, "Jesus
    loves you," he responds that he believes Jesus loves him as a Jew.
    
    Richard
    
830.7JULIET::MORALES_NASweet Spirit's Gentle BreezeFri Jan 21 1994 21:213
    -1
    
    Sorry, don't understand the hidden message.
830.9CSC32::J_CHRISTIEOn loan from GodFri Jan 21 1994 21:3114
I believe Goldman's statement is true.

Those who keep other faiths at arm's length are probably insecure in their
own.

I have found that acquiring knowledge and experience of a variety of
faith expressions, within Christianity and outside Christianity, has been
nothing but enriching.

Learning about other faiths has served to strengthen my own.

Peace,
Richard

830.8CSC32::J_CHRISTIEOn loan from GodFri Jan 21 1994 21:326
    .7  I believe Goldman's point was that one can share one's faith
    without feeling compelled to convert the listener to something
    other than what he or she already is.
    
    Richard
    
830.10Jesus loves the goats, too, not just the sheepCOVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertFri Jan 21 1994 21:378
The hidden message is that Jesus (God) pours out his love even on those
who are not Christians, such as those who follow Judaism faithfully.

I'm sure he pours out his love on everyone.

Even those whom he will not be raising on the last day.

/john
830.11JULIET::MORALES_NASweet Spirit's Gentle BreezeFri Jan 21 1994 21:406
    As far as one who loves to learn about other faiths... yer lookin' at
    her.. I can't say I've been very cultured on the eastern religions, but
    am getting there... However, I have become rather intimate in knowledge
    of other US faiths that are not Christian. :-)
    
    Nancy
830.12JULIET::MORALES_NASweet Spirit's Gentle BreezeFri Jan 21 1994 22:115
    .8
    
    If .8's interpretation is correct, then I must disagree... of course
    unless one has the wrong faith to begin with. :-)
    
830.13CSC32::J_CHRISTIEOn loan from GodSat Jan 22 1994 13:0510
    I don't feel compelled to convert anyone while visiting
    a synagogue.  While visiting a fundamentalist church, I felt
    no compulsion to convince the faithful of their erroneous
    thinking.
    
    In fact, I would consider myself a rude guest to make such
    an attempt.
    
    Richard
    
830.14COMET::DYBENSat Jan 22 1994 14:188
    
    
    
    > While visiting a fundamentalist church, I felt no compulsion to
    > convince the faithful of their erroneuos thinking
    
     
      Now if we could just get you to do that here :-)
830.15JULIET::MORALES_NASweet Spirit's Gentle BreezeSat Jan 22 1994 20:348
    .13
    
    What is erroneous in your opinion about fundamentalism... but please
    define fundamentalism prior to answering the question.
    
    I'm very interested in your answer.
    
    Nancy
830.16See Note 87.130CSC32::J_CHRISTIEOn loan from GodSat Jan 22 1994 21:109
    .15
    
    I'm gonna pass on that question for the time being, Nancy.  I think
    I would rather be perceived as "back-peddling."
    
    I will address fundamentalism in another note, however.
    
    Richard
    
830.17TNPUBS::PAINTERPlanet CrayonSun Jan 23 1994 01:068
    
    .14
    
    Dave,
    
    Methinks you have it backwards.
    
    Cindy
830.18COMET::DYBENSun Jan 23 1994 08:4810
    
    
    
    > methinks you have it backwards
    
     
     No doubt anyone who does not swim in the grey area of new agedom is
    thought of this way.....
    
    David
830.19huh?TNPUBS::PAINTERPlanet CrayonSun Jan 23 1994 23:381
    
830.20COMET::DYBENMon Jan 24 1994 09:028
    
    
    > huh?
    
    Huh Huh ?
    
    
    David :-)
830.21huhhuhhuhhuh!!!TNPUBS::PAINTERPlanet CrayonMon Jan 24 1994 11:575
    
    Ok, I see the smiley face.  Had to get out my magnifying glass to do it
    though.
    
    Cindy
830.22AIMHI::JMARTINMon Jan 24 1994 13:226
    Keep in mind that we are commissioned by Christ to preach the gospel to
    the outermost ends of the earth.  What greater love can you show
    somebody than to tell them how to have eternal life?  I agree that
    timing is an important issue of course.  
    
    -Jack