Peace and Acceptence

Hi TLChimes, Since I am committed to Christ I adhere to His words. Christ said that no one can come to the Father except by Him (Christ)--John 14:6. There are other Scriptures too but I will give you one more since I want to answer your other questions. Yes, we are to try to make peace with others but that does not mean saying their way is ok too, for that would contradict what Christ said. Nor do we condone sin. We are not to hate people, but we are to hate the sin. Not too sure what you meant by what if there is no peace at all. When Christ returns there will be peace on earth. But, if you mean currently between people, I would say the answer would be to do whatever God's Holy Spirit says to do.

I am Agnostic. I believe that human beings should have laws that are just, fair, and that are easy to abide by. Is there a God? I don't know. There could be a God. I think that all religions have flaws. I do not believe in religions because I think that most religions have rules and guidelines that are not always easy to follow. Personally, rape, murder, and bombings are wrong no matter who does it, why, or where it comes from. It's just wrong. Rape is wrong. Murder is wrong. Bombing people is wrong. There is no justification for any of it. I believe that my fellow Agnostics, and anyone in their right logical mind, would agree with this.

I'm a Christian of the Presbyterian persuasion and my church condemns the practice of judging a group of people on the actions of a few. I feel that there are extremist nut jobs in every religion--my own religion wreaked havoc on the world several times in misguided and sometimes evil campaigns to "save" everyone. Even today there are insane extremists who kill abortion doctors and blow up clinics. I think of those people when I am tempted to generalize about a person's religion.

hi TLchime my chosen religion says all of our relegions lead to God in our protestant religions and we do not believe in warring with others of different religions.We are taught to be p eaceable with all, and not to hate anyone. but me p ersonally I cannot be at peace with a faith that teaches killing others is okay just because they believe differently then you do. Maybe thats why I do not go to church a lot as there are always those who think that only one religion is the right and that you must destroy those who do not believe like you. I am a sort of Christian in that I do not like any religion that makes people hate others.

we don't hate anyone for different religion, it's our own choice. In faith I believe in God what must be taken and give us the trust. I don't like war just because we don't have same religion. There is no peace, may be because each people not trust each others. This happened many centuries, but that has happened to all that is not possible to reconcile.

In my religion, many paths are accepted. As long as the mainstay of the path is love. My religion is based on a couple of different types of Shamanism. The Good Medicine Society realizes that people have different paths even within the Society. 3 of us get a cold. One meditates, sleeps in bed and drinks lots of orange juice. One prays, sleeps and drinks herbal tea after going to see a Dr. who says rest and drink plenty of liquids, it has to run its course. Another psychs him or herself up to go for a walk in the woods, get things done, eats and drinks the best foods and calls it a day early. All three get better in their own time. Was anyone more right than another? No, each had a health problem and solved it in his or her own way. So it is with life. Peace with others? Why would I be angry with others if their path is love? I've met people of many faiths, the ones that love are a joy; the ones that hate probably even hate themselves. We're taught to heal ourselves first, maybe they should think about that. Peace and love to you, no matter what your religion.

This type of blinkered, unthinking approach to mankind makes me so sad. Just yesterday two prominent American Republicans said that Britain was a menace to the World because we have Muslims living here in "ghettos". They tar all followers of Islam as bad and the country that they choose to live in just as terrible. All faiths preach peace - but regrettably faith's adherents and followers often interpret their doctrines to reflect what they want it to say, and not what their scriptures actually say. It's easier to hate what we don't understand than to love.

Christianity teaches us to love everybody, even our enemies. We do not have to even like their ways, but we are to love that person's soul and want what is best for them. I know about the crusades, but that is history. At that time, the bible was not available for the common man to read for himself.

I do not have any certain religion that I follow. I do not believe in God as he is taught in the Bible. I am a pagan which means I believe in nature and I believe that there is a higher force of some kind that makes nature possible. And, I am sorry to say, I believe that organized religion does have it's 'evil' parts and following. Hypocrats and people that are more horrid than I ever thought of being show up at church and then spend the rest of the week spinning their ugliness. I have never felt closer to my soul maker than I do in the forrest. I hate no one but I do hate their actions. No peace at all is when no one sees nor cares for what is needed, good, and fulfilling in this life.

Hey TL~ I don't feel that there should be violence in religion at all. What does violence have to do with religion? I thought religion was about peace and getting along with everyone no matter what or who they are! If that isn't what the teachings are of a certain religion then to me, that isn't a religion at all! And I don't believe that politics and religion should be taught together because they have never mixed and when they are brought together in any form it always leads to violence.

I believe the Crusades and the various Inquisitions proved that you cannot force someone to believe as you do. If you want to convince a person regarding your religion, you must use clear and convincing evidence and logical thinking. The problem is that so many people are illogical and no amount of evidence will ever convince them. If neither what you say nor the evidence you present convinces them, you can pray for them and leave them in God's hands.

Hi Tl Chimkes: This is a very important and controversial discussion. In my case, i am a catholic and my religion teache me to be good and respect the other faiths even if they are totally different as mine. I remember right now the good and saint Pope John Paul II who prays with leaders of different religions, that was something very special and inspiring to me, it's like an exaple of tolerance and love God gaves us to the Christianism in general. I tolerate every beleif or disbeleif except intolerance and hateful actions against the others. Thanks for your answer tl chimes, this makes me think a lot about some of the biggest mistakes humans have done against the others just because they were different. Hope you are having a nice day. Merry Christmas/ happy Holidays and Happy New Year. Take Care. -Alvaro.

I am now what you would consider to label someone as an agnostic, or free thinker. I was raised in a strict catholic family and it was very secular, even among it's own christian brotherhood. Catholic was better than protestant and so on because it was viewed as the true indoctrination, the true institution of Christ. So my answer is that when I was involved with religion I saw discrimination while at the same time there was charity being preached as well. I learned what the true meaning of hypocrite meant through christianity. I learnt bigotry towards other religions when I was a child which I have been able to shed such naivity through education and research while growing up. Tolerant faith is rare. Unfortunately one of the natural products of religion is secularism which must cause discrimination.

For me personally I find the most difficult, if not impossible, part of my Christian faith, is being told to love my neighbor. I just cannot overlook the cruelty, murder and hated shown by too many of my neighbors. By neighbor I mean the world population.

Hi TL Chimes, My personal beliefs today are far different from what I was taught in the Christian church in which I was raised. That particular church has however, made many advances over the years and are now much more accepting of others. I don't think there is a religion that teaches that it's okay to rape, murder and bomb others because they are different. There are certainly radicals in many religions that teach such things. We need look no further then what we saw happening in Northern Ireland just a few years ago and would be happening still if these radicals had the power they once did. We have all read of a certain Baptist Preacher in America who's actions against a certain gay man who had been murdered, brought condemnation, even from fellow born again Christians. The radicals in Islam are the same and I could never accept those in any religion who adhere to violence. Blessings.

Hello my friend TLChimes Ji, Your discussion surrounds about faith and religion, in my case and in all cases, both the things are pre-decided before some one takes birth. One never has any option if on ewants to take birth under particular reliogion and faith. Further, All religions and faith are good, only the followers try and explain that they are the best. Well, I am very happy with my religion and faith and nevertry and blame others. Followers may not be following correctly. May God bless You and have a great time.

the Dalai Llama, Tenzin Gyatso once said in an interview, "Being a Buddhist is sort of like liking spicy food. Because even though I like spicy food, you may not like it. Buddhism works for me, but I cannot say if it is the best for you." Buddhism wouldn't necessarily accuse any religion of being evil, but it does suggest that certain beliefs are misleading, contrived, or perhaps prevent one from seeing reality as it is.

Extra ecclesiam, nulla salus. Or, "Outside of the (Catholic) Church, there is no salvation." Not counting the fact that Vatican II, due to the influence of a bunch of liberal pastors, began teaching that all religions are good and holy and that the Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true in said religions, the fact of the matter is, this particular Council strayed so far off the path of Church teaching, it isn't even funny...and don't get me started about John Paul II. God bless him, he did much good during his reign, and he was the Holy Father, but he also did a lot of things that raised a lot of eyebrows. Anyhoo...yeah, I'm a firm believer in "Extra ecclesiam, nulla salus," but I'm not going to start bopping people over the head with my Douay-Rheims bible and condemning them to hell. That's not my place. All I can do is live my life in such a way that people will be attracted to the church.

I'm sure the true religions never teach the followers to hate the others. The true religions which is motivated by the love of God will teach the followers to love the others. I'm a Catholic (though i'm not sure that i'm a good one :p). Personally, i believe that Jesus Christ in some other way also reveals Himself in every religions, even in non religious humanism.