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To: traviskicks

I think we have much agreement. I would just note that, as I interpret Christ's message, you must constantly analyze your behavior and, in contrast to Buddhism, see if it is consistent to the objective morality Christ demands.

Also, I don't see why you must deeply evaluate yourself in Buddhism because, if you believe you are right, you will phase into a better existence in the next life. So, if you are a murderer and you truly believe you are justified because, say, you are ridding the world of the weak--how would you be wrong?

If I may, here are some examples of what I'm talking about regarding self-analysis and "knowing thy self":



Matt 6:22
22"Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. 23But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness. If the light you think you have is really darkness, how deep that darkness will be!"

I believe light means wisdom gleamed from God. Jesus says only the humble and righteous ever learn from God.




Matt 19:28
28And Jesus replied, "I assure you that when I, the Son of Man, sit upon my glorious throne in the Kingdom,[g] you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will have eternal life. 30But many who seem to be important now will be the least important then, and those who are considered least here will be the greatest then.[h]

So even if you might think you are good now, you may not be objectively (IE to Jesus/God).




There is the narrow gate.

Matt 7:

13"You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell[d] is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. 14But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.

Presumably, most people operate on the assumption that their behavior is acceptable and, if they believe in an afterlife, that they will someday see it. Jesus is saying that--in a time which most thought they were religious for following their interpretation of God's law--they really are destined to failure because they did not interpret it or implement it correctly.


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Lastly, Matt 7:21

21"Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as `Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. 22On judgment day many will tell me, `Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' 23But I will reply, `I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.[e]'


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You are a very rational person and I eagerly await your response, at your leisure of course ;)


106 posted on 01/25/2005 9:50:49 PM PST by jdhighness
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To: jdhighness

So, if you are a murderer and you truly believe you are justified because, say, you are ridding the world of the weak--how would you be wrong?
---

I think you misrepresent Buddhism here, despite my agreemnt with you about the more objective nature of Christianity. My point is that by looking outward to God or looking inward to self, you will ultimately find the same thing and the same truths. God is in all of us, after all, were we not made from His image? So, it would even state that Buddhists can find objective truths within themselves, but the perspective of Christianity MAY make this easier, but also has other limitations. If this sounds a bit convoluted, I guess it is! Cuz I really think the differences between the two are quite small, if they exist.


--
Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as `Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. 22On judgment day many will tell me, `Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' 23But I will reply, `I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.
--

I like this quote! This goes along with what I was saying in my previous quote about salvation through Christ etc.. It is saying that one can never know God, believe in God, or know Jesus Christ (at least in saying those words, or calling it by those names) but if the person is a goodly person, who obeys God's commandments, He/She really DOES know God and Jesus Christ, and will be judged accordingly. The only standards by which the person is judged NOT to know Jesus Christ and God is by others here on earth, who err in their own understandings.

An attitude where you have to call something by a certain name to believe in it, when it is relatively undefinable, is not rationally satisfying.


114 posted on 01/26/2005 7:05:52 AM PST by traviskicks (http://www.neoperspectives.com/blackconservatism.htm)
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