All Comments (26)

Consider a pupulation of ants discovering a big building. One enters and finds himeslf in the kitchen. After he goes back, he will talk to other ants about a building being a kitchen. Another ant who adventures in the laundry will go back and tells a different story. A third one may go and finds himself in a library, etc. Do you think that these 3 ants will understand each other when they are trying to explain what is a building? No. Why? Because the building is too big and sophisticated for ants to describe. It is the same with God. He is too big to be totally understood by human mind or imagination. So, no religion is the absolute answer. However, each one has a part of the truth...being humble and recognizing how ignorant we are could be the beginning of being wise.
Anyway, I believe we are the extension of one another, that nobody can really love himself/herself while hating another person. God is love, God is unity.
Thanks

Consider a pupulation of ants discovering a big building. One enters and finds himeslf in the kitchen. After he goes back, he will talk to other ants about a building being a kitchen. Another ant who adventures in the laundry will go back and tells a different story. A third one may go and finds himself in a library, etc. Do you think that these 3 ants will understand each other when they are trying to explain what is a building? No. Why? Because the building is too big and sophisticated for ants to describe. It is the same with God. He is too big to be totally understood by human mind or imagination. So, no religion is the absolute answer. However, each one has a part of the truth...being humble and recognizing how ignorant we are could be the beginning of being wise.
Anyway, I believe we are the extension of one another, that nobody can really love himself/herself while hating another person. God is love, God is unity.
Thanks

It's a great achievement for Islamic leaders and scholars as well as Newsweek and the Washington post to present this imperative opportunity for inter cultural and global philosophical dialogue. What's important is that by exchanging our ideas and comments regarding inter religious relations and world events that affect our views of each other as fellow human beings. Since the advent of humanity, We strove to make sense of the world we live in and the lives we've experienced. Worldwide curiosities to learn the true nature of life and our universe is an exceptionally rare virtue upon life on Earth. In other words, we're the only known species on the planet who've pursued to unravel these great mysteries and developed written philosophies based upon our understanding of the world around us.
One such philosophy that lasted throughout the ages of humanity is commonly known as religion and spirituality. Ever since our early belief in the Sky God and the God Mother from ancient Pagan times, we vigorously pursued to unravel the truth about our most profound questions. As any educated person would know that religion and their core beliefs or faith have evolved over time. Paganism, Monotheism and Polytheism have been influenced by humanity as these great philosophies have influenced our perceptions and decisions in life over the ages. Over time humanity has embraced diverse religious faiths and spiritual convictions that continue to influence our behavior in our times and most likely beyond.
What's vital for humanity's progress and even survival is to know the true nature of faith itself. To understand the true origins of faith. But most of all, is to accept the truth for whatever it may be. Each one of us will learn the absolute truth once we die. But until that time comes for anyone of us to depart this world, we really don't know the answer to God's existence nor do we have the absolute truth in regards to the true nature of God. Besides if we did possess the truth, there would've been only one religion on Earth with no diversification of any way, shape of form. There would only be one holy scripture written throughout human history.
Considering one's religious faith to be absolute, while considering others to be false would be ethnocentric at best. While collectively searching to unravel the mysteries on nature, life and the universe through sincere reasoning and serious research would be enlightening at its worst. Most importantly, we must accept the fact is that none of us have conclusive evidence to confirm our core beliefs and there's always an immanent change that our most cherished beliefs could be wrong. Our greatest challenge would be to tolerate the truth no matter what it may ultimately be. With such an open mind, we would be able to overcome any future discovery that would contradict our faith regarding the true nature of life, spirituality and divinity.
Humanity does have the ability to achieve such a social achievement. However, it's solely up to humanity and not any other entity or groups of entities to decide our destinies. Each one of us has a choice to make; either hopelessly engaging into meaningless inter cultural conflicts or combine our scientific and cultural gifts to thrive into an enlightened global civilization that could ultimately expand beyond our solar system. The choice is yours, and the time to make it is now!

Jan Willis writes “The overall health benefits of yoga are well known.” When you write in this way it leaves the impression that the goal of yoga is health.

Imagine that some university did a study and found that followers of religion “X” were healthier than those who were not followers of that religion. Would that mean that the goals of that religion are now changed to the goal of health? Would you, as a panelist on this forum, then write “The overall health benefits of religion ‘X’ are well known” so as to leave the impression – intentionally or inadvertently – that the goal of that religion is health alone?

Not until recent decades has Yoga been considered a mere physical fitness program for health benefits. For thousands of years before, Yoga has referred to the realization through direct experience of the preexisting union between Atman and Brahman, Jivatman and Paramatman, and Shiva and Shakti, or the realization of Purusha standing alone as separate from Prakriti. While the specific terms and descriptions may vary, Yoga has solely to do with spiritual experience or realization. Any work with body, breath and mind are steps along the way to that highest union known as Yoga.

http://www.swamij.com/traditional-yoga.htm

Russell D.,

You are so very welcome.

Thank you for adoring my hips Andrea. Guy needs to know that his hips and butt are cute.

Russell D.,

You aren't fat. I like your hips!

I agree with what you're saying, but that's where they get you with religion. You can't want those things and still be a "good Christian." Sometimes I wonder if those little instructions were added later to make you feel bad for doubting (ie, "believing without seeing") or wanting to better yourself (ie, humbling yourself, humility, serving God and not yourself).

Ok, quick question.

Would you want to be a follower or would you want to be a leader?

Would you rather surrender yourself to someone or something, or would you rather be your own person?

Do you want to be put on your knees, or stand tall?

Would you rather call someone else master, or would you like to rule over yourself?

Would you want to be told what to do or do what you want?

Would you hinder people's progress, or would you get in the ditch and help dig?

-----And just as a joke, to lighten the mood------Do I look fat in these jeans?

I guess some characters aren't accepted. I tried use pseudo programming code for Frank Collins entry. Oh well.

are a fool. there is/are only god and [ | that is ]. does not tolerate other so called . are dogs - they do not know and are as bad as idolitors. there is no place in the world for anyone other than those who follow .

And I know, I go blah, blah, blah also...

I don't want you to loose "faith" in the On Faith forum.

If we bloggers have been hopeful and cynical and intelligent and ignorant, it's because
that's who we are.

I have learned a lot, experimented, and tested many thought processes here.

From all sides of the fence I have learned to respect people for their compassion and
honesty.

It's an incredible break from hearing lawyers, accountants, computer programmers, and bankers go:

blah blah blah

Because a fire still somehow burns brightly in my soul...

Frank Collins,
Please refrain from posting hatefull, abusive comments on this forum. Thanks you.

The Gospel of Thomas presents sayings that I call "The Jesus Koans" and shows a definite affinity with Zen. The Sermon on the Mount is fully compatible with the compassionate teachings of Buddhism.
There are two ways to approach the "One God" image. Either there is One God who goes by the many names and images that are the basis of every religion, or there is One God and only one religion happens to know that God's "real" name and image and every other religion is wrong. Isn't that second type really just another name for idolatry?

Jan,
Thanks for your post.

Shawn,
I don't agree that Jesus teachings were very different to any other teacher. The sayings of Buddha and those of Jesus are very similar, but mnay Biblical scholars agree that much of the life of Jesus seems to have been concocted long after he was supposed to have lived.

Plato's writings are also very similar to the sayings of Jesus.

It is likely that Jesus himself and those who wrote about him were influenced by Greek thought and possibly also by Buddhist thought.

Dear Frank,

What does the Koran say about reading the Bible and about Jesus? I believe it says to read the Bible (but I'm not sure, that's why I ask). In it there are many stories about this radical, radical man named Jesus. Islam calls him a good teacher and prophet. His teachings are extremely different than almost any other teacher I've ever read. I would be interested in your thoughts on his message from the sermon on the mount. Incredible stuff.

you are a fool. there is only one god and that is allah. allah does not tolerate other so called gods. budhists are dogs - they do not know god and are as bad as idolitors. there is no place in the world for anyone other than those who follow islam.

Deb,
There are Muslims who meditate.

Jan Willis wrote:

"...traces her spiritual journey from Judaism to Buddhism and back again to a stronger Judaism .."

Try the same by replacing Judaism with Islam, and find me one who has moved back into the mainstream of Islam with much stronger acceptance.

If you cannot, then you should for the sake of being honest, modify your statement to exclude Islam.

(Judaism is certainly more forgiving and inclusive.)

Katie,

"It's about quality of life. If lives can be bettered by expanding on one's own religion then they should go for it."

I agree. I don't see what all the fuss is about.

I think the concept of this blog can be expanded so that it branches out into the physical world as well. We are all a part of this world and none of us are going anywhere. We need to learn to accept differences. We don't have to agree with them we just need to accept them. We think that one religious practice is bad and in poor taste but some probably think the same way about our religions. If you want someone to fully accept you and your religion you need to be willing to do the same thing for them.

I agree fully with this particular blog. It's not just about including eastern practices in western religions but also incorporating other religious practices as well. It's about quality of life. If lives can be bettered by expanding on one's own religion then they should go for it.

Trust the non-Christian to get to the heart of what many Christians forget in their prayer practice. Christian prayer is supposed to be about listening, too, not just requesting. Maybe yoga and meditiation will help us remember that.

I don't know if the Bible is the literal truth, but it comes in handy as a storage place for my pot.

Very interesting post. I wanted to ask about your comment at the end though:
"We began this blogging project wanting to instigate and encourage dialogue among different voices and faith communities. Many of the voices that have chosen to speak have been angry ones, unwilling actually to engage in dialogue and seemingly unable to hear another side/view."

Why on earth did you allow Chuck Colson to post, then? Or Cal Thomas? Did you think they were actually interested in any inter-faith discussion?

Take Chuck on homosexuality (or don't):
"I would not be free to change my mind (on gays) since the biblical teaching is clear, as is the accumulated wisdom of centuries of human experience." "Gay unions violate the natural created order in which man and woman join in holy union to bear and raise children. Homosexuality, like many other behaviors, violates this order." "We know our only hope is in Jesus Christ."

How much useful inter-faith dialogue were you expecting to get from people who believe the bible is the only literal truth? I assumed they were here as an object lesson to show the intolerant extremes, and make everyone else look good.

Prof. Willis,

Your post, full of wisdom and respect for the different spiritual paths, is appreciated.

I like that you call us to learn from each other, instead engaging in a sort of "my view is better than your view" warfare.

The topic today is close to my heart and I have been posting throughout to share my experience of how meditation has helped me to live up to St. Paul's call that we live "in Christ."

Also I appreciate the references to the writings of others, which I will want to look into.

"We began this blogging project wanting to instigate and encourage dialogue among different voices and faith communities. Many of the voices that have chosen to speak have been angry ones, unwilling actually to engage in dialogue and seemingly unable to hear another side/view.

"Were all parties listeners as well as negative debaters and cynics (though there were a number of hopeful and helpful responses to be sure) we might have accomplished so much more."

Yes, but it's hard to remain a respectful listener when the speaker says it's his way or a (spiritual) highway that leads only to hell.