David's a fabulous king—victory abroad, and a fantastic domestic policy at home. He "delivered justice and equity to all his people."
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O.P. Sharma,
Gautam Marg, C-Scheme,
Jaipur (Raj.), India.
Tel. : 2228704, 5118804
E-mail : ops_jaipur@yahoo.co.in
Date : 5.1.2008
To,
Mr. David Allen Waters,
Editor, ‘On Faith’,
Washington Post, USA
Dear Mr. Waters,
First of all let me wish you a very happy New Year, though somewhat belatedly. Then I’ld request you to consider putting up the following contribution of mind, ‘One World, Many Faiths’ on your ‘On Faith’ Web site. The book by the American writer, Eleanor Stark, that I have referred to, was published by Peter E. Randall, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Swami Vivekananda’s observation obtains in his Complete Works published by Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata, 2000, IV. 180.
Thanks.
Yours sincerely,
Om Prakash Sharma
P.S.: In case information about the author is needed, it is as follows:
O.P. Sharma is a retd. Lecturer in English (R.E.S.) from Govt. Post- Graduate College, Ajmer, Rajasthan (India) . He has published a number of articles in Indian and foreign journals. (See, for instance, Philosophy East and West, USA, April 1970; Interreligous Insight, U.K., April 2003; Evergreen Review, New York 2005; Autumn-Winter 2004, 2006 issues of Faith and Freedom, Oxford; Global Vedanta, Seattle (Fall 2000); Fall 2006 issue of American Vedantist, New York; Monastic Interreligious Dialogue, USA, January 2007 Bulletin (see under ‘The Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Movement and Jesus Christ’), etc.
One World, Many Faiths
A well-intentioned inter-religious organisation in America is promoting the concept of ‘One Nation, Many Faiths’. Though this drive is admirable---it is much better than the approach of the religious fanatic who proclaims that his one ‘true faith’ alone should prevail throughout the world--- the organization had better go a step ahead and aim at a higher, more universal, ideal. To my mind, that should be ‘one world, many faiths’, which was first enunciated by the celebrated 19th-century Vedantist of India, Swami Vivekananda, in his well-known Addresses that he delivered at the World Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893. According to him, “There never was my religion or yours, my national religion or your national religion; there never existed many religions, there is only the one. One Infinite Religion existed all through eternity and will ever exist, and this Religion is expressing itself in various countries, in various ways.”
Eleanor Stark, in her scholarly inter-religious study, The Gift Unopened: A New American Revolution, states that had her countrymen listened to that ‘saving’ message of the Swami, the precious gift of Vedanta that he had conferred upon them would have brought about a new ‘constructive’ revolution in their thinking and behaving. America then would have become not only a ‘powerful’ nation but a ‘wise’ one too!
January 5, 2008 2:41 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on January 5, 2008 02:41
http://moreaboutmen.com/artist/kanye-west/album/the-college-dropout/a137518/
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July 19, 2007 5:14 AM | Report Offensive Comments
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July 19, 2007 5:14 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on July 19, 2007 05:14
This is the first "commentary" I've read which you have posted. This happens to be one of my favorite stories from the Bible. I'm a Christian just for the record.
I remember the story from when I was a little kid, and it was all about sex, probably because my mind was full of sex, I don't know. But later in life I came to understand the story was about a lot of things. All of David's machinations were to avoid anyone knowing that he has made it with Bathseeba, but it's got some of Bill and Monica in it. If he or she is found out the penalty is not just impeachment, but death. So we can hear David saying, "I did not have sex with that woman." But of course, he did.
But then we have to wonder if God is really pissed by the sex part of the story. When Nathan denounces David, David denounces the rich guy who stole the poor guys one little lamb, and pronounces his punishment because he showed no "pity" on the poor man.
David had as many wives as he wanted. Uriah had only one, which he loved and cared for with a tenderness that hardly found in the world of relationships. By David's own words his sin isn't against Bathsheeba, but against Uriah the faithful soldier and the loving husband.
Point: How could David be a ruler over God's people if he didn't come to understand that he was capable of destroying that which was the best amongst his people in order ot satisfy his own pleasure? How can I claim to be part of the humanity around me, if I am as callous with them as David was with Uriah?
July 6, 2007 12:54 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on July 6, 2007 00:54
This is the first "commentary" I've read which you have posted. This happens to be one of my favorite stories from the Bible. I'm a Christian just for the record.
I remember the story from when I was a little kid, and it was all about sex, probably because my mind was full of sex, I don't know. But later in life I came to understand the story was about a lot of things. All of David's machinations were to avoid anyone knowing that he has made it with Bathseeba, but it's got some of Bill and Monica in it. If he or she is found out the penalty is not just impeachment, but death. So we can hear David saying, "I did not have sex with that woman." But of course, he did.
But then we have to wonder if God is really pissed by the sex part of the story. When Nathan denounces David, David denounces the rich guy who stole the poor guys one little lamb, and pronounces his punishment because he showed no "pity" on the poor man.
David had as many wives as he wanted. Uriah had only one, which he loved and cared for with a tenderness that hardly found in the world of relationships. By David's own words his sin isn't against Bathsheeba, but against Uriah the faithful soldier and the loving husband.
Point: How could David be a ruler over God's people if he didn't come to understand that he was capable of destroying that which was the best amongst his people in order ot satisfy his own pleasure? How can I claim to be part of the humanity around me, if I am as callous with them as David was with Uriah?
July 6, 2007 12:53 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on July 6, 2007 00:53
Oooops Forgot:
If another tragedy, in the Name of Muhommad, Allah & Akbar, happens again, either less or greater, them MOST of the American Islam community will be ABOLISHED. ISLAM will be FORBIDEN.
And All Mosques & Immams here will be rounded-up first and or Incarsarated. Then the Followers too will be put in "Concentration Camps in Alaska Somewhere in some remote Gulag! Ya Ya.
Hay, WE are At War. And Islam via Wahabbi Saudi Arabia & friends, never thought about the American Angst, The Backlash that Islam will Pay for some time to come. Unless, you Make Peace, by turning in all weapons and all AntiHumanity loyalists behind them weapons. Thank You, Live from N.Y.C.!
July 5, 2007 10:53 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on July 5, 2007 22:53
Note; This is an recylced Addendum to above as attachment. thank You Again.
Oooops. If Anybody Catches, dead or Alive, Al Zawahri & Company, then America & Friends, Even Frank & Stein, will REWARD anyone with More then just 72 Virgins. Allah will favour you & your family too if you get those "Mad-MEN".
We will throw you a big Parade. And the 2,0000,000 American Musloms will embrace you, kiss you, love you & youir Faliy & friends too.
So Please, if you know something then you will be rewarded more than anyone can dream. And the best part is you still get to enjoy 72 virgins for getting or turning the Animal, Al Zawahri & Bin's! Eeeeeeeee Haaaaaaa. Ya Lah!
July 5, 2007 10:51 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on July 5, 2007 22:51
Note: This is recycled from today. Thank You friend(s).
On:: Frank is Gonna get Al Zawahri & enemys:
Att: S A M, et al
Correction: F R A N k, et al, is a NEO-ZIONIST and he is Defending U.S.A. & Friends against Elders of ISLAMIC-ZIONISM and against International "Religious Islamic Mafia" types, here on cyber space and in the Real Space!
Important: Frank is looking for "Al ZAWAHRI". Frank is telling Al Zawari that the KABBA in Mecca & the Al Aqsa Brigade Dome in Jerusalem is also going the way of the World trade Center soon.
So if you see him [Al] then kill him & Accomplises or say something to the Coalition Forces there or any where!. Thank You.
P.S., Frank is Warning "Al Zawahri & his Hashish Smoking Koranoholics. Note: BIN LADIN is DEAD. He Died last month in an unknown location!
Al Zawahri & friends are next. This is Eclati-On Prophecy & American-MAHDI Blessing! You'll see Bad Boys and girls. Ya Ya.
July 5, 2007 4:19 PM
July 5, 2007 10:31 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on July 5, 2007 22:31
What does the God of Israel keep finding excuses for letting David commit genocide on the other ethnic groups in Israel? Is this a God I am supposed to love?
July 5, 2007 9:02 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on July 5, 2007 21:02
A contemporary view of "King David":
From http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/ConservativeTorah.htm
"New Torah For Modern Minds
Abraham, the Jewish patriarch, probably never existed. Nor did Moses. The entire Exodus story as recounted in the Bible probably never occurred. The same is true of the tumbling of the walls of Jericho.
And David, far from being the fearless king who built Jerusalem into a mighty capital, was more likely a provincial leader whose reputation was later magnified to provide a rallying point for a fledgling nation."
July 5, 2007 11:54 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on July 5, 2007 11:54