Pope includes Hindu verses in prayers on Good Friday

merinews ^ | Apr 14, 2009

[Gamecock]

HINDUS HAVE applauded Pope Benedict for including verse from ancient Hindu scripture Upanishads in the Good Friday Meditations and Prayers led by him at Roman Colosseum.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that it was a remarkable gesture from Pope and invited him to study more ancient Hindu scriptures, which were very rich in philosophical thought. He or other Hindu scholars would gladly provide the help and resources in this regard, if asked, Zed added.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, also commended His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for inclusion of a verse from India’s Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s Gitanjali and reference to peace icon Mahatma Gandhi in these prayers.

This year’s 'Way of the Cross at the Colesseum' Meditations and Prayers on Good Friday, led by Pope, included well-known verse from Brahadaranyakopanishad (“Lead me from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, from death to immortality”), line from Tagore’s Gitanjali (“Give me the strength to make my love fruitful in service”) and reference to Mahatma Gandhi.

Rajan Zed stressed that all religions should work together for a just and peaceful world. Dialogue would bring us mutual enrichment, he added.

Pope Benedict heads the Roman Catholic Church, which is the largest of the Christian denominations. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksha (liberation) is its ultimate goal.

[Quix]

I think that’s overly generous.

I’m confident he knew exactly what the book was.

I believe he felt it fitting to follow the custom of kissing gifts for that culture

instead of attending to the priority of Christian values and the slap such symbolism would have been to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

[conservativegramma]

I applaud your efforts, but I'm beginning to believe there is no reaching these people (catholics). At least not the ones on FR. They are going to spin, go into damage control, redirect, or anything else to avoid the reality: The Catholic Church is promoting paganism with the 'all paths lead to God' heresy.

In a perverse way though I am thankful. The more 'debates' I've engaged in with the RCC on FR has led me to one inescapable conclusion: There is very little truth left in all the decrees and catechisms. All one needs to do is look at #841 to see that much. Thank God there was a reformation or Satan would have succeeded in destroying the church.

[Quix]

" . . . Those already completely invested in the idea that the Catholic Church can do no right . . ."

Sooooooooooo
What method of providing
BALANCE,
would you suggest,
to deal with the
INSTITUTIONAL
WHITE HANKY SUCKING
PSYCHOPHANTS
WHO BELIEVE THAT THE

Vatican Alice In Wonderland School Of Theology, Reality Mangling, Chronic Professional Blaming, Wailing and Whining Institute

CAN DO !NO! WRONG?

[Carpe Cerevisi]

You may want to work on your humility. You won’t make it to heaven without it.

I’ll pray for you.

[Quix]

The Lord is greatly more familiar with my humility than all the RC's hereon put together.

thankfully.

[netmilsmom]

>>instead of attending to the priority of Christian values and the slap such symbolism would have been to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.<<

Honestly, my FRiend, I’m not the biggest fan of JPII.
I give him the benefit of the doubt as I would give any old man that benefit (I tend to put him in the same light as my FIL), but to me he spent an awful lot of time playing rock star. I may not be the Catholic to champion him anyway.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

So what degree of paganism is acceptable? 18.4% 71.9%?

My response is : The degree of paganism that is in harmony with Natural Law.

Who cares what Natural Law says? It's God's Law that men are called to obey. And we are told to "flee from idolatry," not mouth it when convenient.

Shame on this "pope," clearly a fallible man who should know better.

Rome elevates "natural law" up and out of all proportion. The "law of men's nature" is carnal, not spiritual. A man first must be "born again" to "know the things of God," to repent, obey and believe.

"So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." -- Romans 9:16

Who needs "mercy" if a man's natural state is good and God-pleasing? Christ came to save sinners.

And He did.

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" -- Titus 3:5

[Dr. Eckleburg]

only 33% of American [Roman eg al] Catholics strongly affirm that Christ was sinless on earth

I just don't get this one. Who are these people who call themselves Christians and yet believe Christ was a sinner???

And yet I'd bet the majority of those same people believe Mary was sinless.

Ugh.

72% of Protestants vs 42% of [Roman et al] Catholics affirmed that homosexual sexual activity was sinful.

And that's why we're in the sad state we're in today. Rome has institutionalized homosexuality in its priestcraft and therefore Rome continues to recruit and defend homosexuals.

Rome's denial of this fact is contradicted by the evidence. Rome says the church has only recently been infiltrated by homosexuals. But for centuries Rome has sheltered, promoted, encouraged and hidden men who believe themselves to be "another Christ" in "both their private and public lives," according to Father Kenneth Baker.

The sad irony of that last statement is not lost on most of us. "Another Christ" in his "private life."

What terrible, centuries-old arrogance and deceit.

[conservativegramma]

only 33% of American [Roman eg al] Catholics strongly affirm that Christ was sinless on earth

I just don't get this one. Who are these people who call themselves Christians and yet believe Christ was a sinner???

*********************************************

I was astounded by that one. 67% of RCC's believe Christ was a sinner????? And yet Mary was WITHOUT sin??? Absolutely unbelievable.

And they say its not Mary worship - sheez.

[presently no screen name]

You must not have read this in my last post to you: “You can agree or disagree whether or not it’s a good idea to remember the Sacrifice Christ made on Good Friday. I don’t care. “

I noticed how you 'don't care' by all your posts on the subject. It's a way of saying - 'I don't care - but let me tell you what I think you should care about'. LOL!

Either you didn’t read that, or you desperately need to have “the last word” about everything.

You got a control problem? "How dare you not read my words and continue to respond". Otherwise you are desperate! LOL! Gee, I thought you didn't care but are sure hell bent on me being desperate. Wonder if you can see the craziness of your posts. You are more concerned about 'your words' being read than the words of Jesus! Your words mean NOTHING. It's the last words of JESUS that count, IT IS FINISHED!! You might want to tell that to your pope.

Christians HAVE the Victory, Catholics are still praying for it and to be lead out of darkness - and think that's Christianity.

[Quix]

Thanks.

I have appreciated that over the years . . . you can occasionally be quite honest and candid about such flaws.

I never met him, of course.

It has been disturbing to read some convincing things about him.

However, imho,

ANY SYSTEM

which purports to be . . . ESSENTIALLY, functionally . . . infallible

AS THE VATICAN DOES

HAS ALREADY CROSSED THE LINE into the arrogance that will INSURE it’s prolonged rebellion against God at some level, in some ways . . . worsening with the years.

[Quix]

only 33% of American [Roman eg al] Catholics strongly affirm that Christ was sinless on earth
I just don’t get this one. Who are these people who call themselves Christians and yet believe Christ was a sinner???

And yet I’d bet the majority of those same people believe Mary was sinless.

---

WHICH IS OUTRAGEOUS IDOLATRY ON THE FACE OF IT.

[netmilsmom]

╔══════════════ ೋღ☃ღೋ ════════════════╗

occasionally? (lol)

Hugs, my FRiend!

[netmilsmom]

(oh now see? I thought I could post pretty stuff like you do and I screwed it up. Geez.)

[presently no screen name]

Yep. If I walk with Jesus or run with Jesus, up the hill or down in the valley, I still come to the Father. Because I go with Him. Whether I read the Gospel or mediate on the Passion, it is still with Jesus. To think that it isn’t is just goofy.

You post you started out with Jesus - you already found The Way. Do the Hindu's have Jesus? No. Did the Pope show them The Way? There is only one Way. That's what this was about.

[armydoc]

It has been said that the book (green) that Pope John Paul II kissed was not the Koran, but was the Book of Gospels for the Orthodox Church or some other Eastern Rite Church.

Sorry, no....

" On May 14th I was received by the Pope, together with a delegation composed of the Shi'ite imam of Khadum mosque and the Sunni president of the council of administration of the Iraqi Islamic Bank. There was also a representative of the Iraqi ministry of religion. I renewed our invitation to the Pope, because his visit would be for us a grace from heaven. It would confirm the faith of Christians and prove the Pope's love for the whole of humanity in a country which is mainly Muslim. At the end of the audience the Pope bowed to the Muslim holy book, the Qu'ran, presented to him by the delegation, and he kissed it as a sign of respect. The photo of that gesture has been shown repeatedly on Iraqi television and it demonstrates that the Pope is not only aware of the suffering of the Iraqi people, he has also great respect for Islam"

- Raphael I Bidawid, patriarch of Chaldean Catholic Church

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=10415

[Quix]

FROM:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jcsi1.htm

.

What does the public believe?

The Barna Research Group conducts nationwide surveys among American adults on a variety of religious topics. Some results from 1999 phone surveys are:

	42% of adults believe that Jesus committed sins while on earth.
	40% believe that he led a sinless life on earth.
	33% of Roman Catholics believe that he led a sinless life.
	Groups most likely to believe that Jesus led a sinless life are: Bible readers (67%), Born-again Christians (65%), Baptists (61%), Church goers (58%), and persons who attend non-mainline (mostly conservative) churches (56%).

In 2001, the same question was asked again. The percentage of adults who strongly disagree that he committed sins during his life on earth remained at 40%. However, Barna Research also listed results by denomination:

Above average:

	Pentecostal / Foursquare: 73%
	Latter-day Saints (Mormons): 70%
	Assembly of God: 70%
	Non-denominational, mostly Fundamentalist: 63%
	Baptist: 55%
	Church of Christ: 54%

Below average:

	Seventh-day Adventist: 45%
	Presbyterian: 45%
	Catholics: 33%
	Lutheran: 33%
	Methodist: 33%
	Episcopal: 28% 8

In 2004, a Barna Research survey of the "unchurched" found that 51% believe that Jesus committed sins while on earth. Barna defines the "unchurched" as "... an adult (18 or older) who has not attended a Christian church service within the past six months, not including a holiday service (such as Easter or Christmas) or a special event at a church (such as a wedding or funeral)." They include many Agnostics, Atheists, non-church going Christians, Jews, Muslims, Wiccans etc. They constitute 75 million American adults, an massive increase from 39 million in 1991. ₉

References:

1. Baptist Information Service, weekly E-Mail update, Vol. 4, Issue #16, 2000-APR-17 
2. Spring to Life Home Page, at: http://www.spring2life.com 
3. J. Gresham Machen, "Christianity & Liberalism, Chapter 5," at: www.markers.com/
4. "Questions and Answers," True Jesus Church, at:  http://www.tjc.org/
5. "The truth about repentance," Apostolic Truth Church, at: www.atchurch.org/
6. "The child who was God," Grace to You, at: http://www.gty.org/ 
7. Dr. Dale Johnsen, "Law and Grace - Part One," Ahtanum Pioneer Church, at: http://www.nwinfo.net/ 
8. "Religious beliefs vary widely by denomination," Barna Research, at: http://www.barna.org/
9. "Unchurched People," Barna Research, (2004) at: http://www.barna.org/
   
   Still haven't found stats on the percentage of RC's who think Mary was sinless . . . however, plenty other horrid documentation and illustrations:

   
   http://www.biblebelievers.com/bennett/bennett_mary-worship.html
   
   

   The following table compares the Mary of Roman Catholic theology and religious practice with the Biblical portrayal of Mary and with the goddess which is worshipped by Wiccans and modern pagans. My information about Wicca comes from the book Wicca: Satan's Little White Lie by Bill Schnoebelen (who was the high priest of a Wiccan coven before he became a Christian), the World Book, the on-line version of The Encyclopedia Brittanica, and numerous web sites. [17]

   BIBLICAL MARY	CATHOLIC MARY	THE GODDESS
   Humble and obedient. Calls herself “the handmaid of the Lord.”	The Pope officially gave Mary the title “Queen of Heaven” and established a feast day honoring Mary, Queen of Heaven.	Wiccans call their goddess the “Queen of Heaven."
   Knew she needed a savior: “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my saviour.” (Luke 1:47)	“Immaculate Conception” (Mary was conceived sinless, without original sin) and “All-Holy” (Mary lived a sinless life).	Goddesses don't need salvation. They make the rules.
   Normal wife and mother who had other children.	“Perpetual Virginity” (Jesus' brothers and sisters are considered to be cousins).	Goddesses don't have human children.
   No biblical evidence that Mary didn't die like a normal person.	“Glorious Assumption” (Mary was bodily taken up into Heaven).	Goddesses don't die.
   Jesus told John to take Mary into his home and take care of her as if she was his own mother.	Catholics are the adopted children of Mary. “Woman behold your son” (John 19:26) is taken to apply literally to every Catholic.	Witches are the adopted, “hidden children” of the Queen of Heaven.
   Normal woman.	Sometimes pictured standing on a crescent moon, wearing a crown or with a circle of stars around her head.	Moon goddess.
   Normal woman.	Supernatural (apparitions accompanied by miracles and healings).	Supernatural.
   Points people to Jesus. Mary said, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” (John 2:5)	Can make Jesus do things. A full page newspaper ad showing Mary and Jesus says, “He hasn't denied her anything in 2,000 years. What would you have her ask Him?” This is not official Catholic doctrine but it is a widespread attitude which is encouraged by pious literature.	Points to herself. Wants to be worshipped.
   Knew that she needed a savior. (Luke 1:47)	Apparitions of “Mary” have promised that if people wear certain objects (such as a Scapular or Miraculous Medal) or say certain prayers then they are guaranteed to go to Heaven. The Catholic Church has not officially approved of these practices, but it has also not discouraged them.	Invoked to make supernatural things happen through witchcraft (the use of special objects and special verbal formulas). Goddesses don't need a savior.

   Goddess worship has infiltrated main-line Christian denominations. In November 1993, a Re‑Imagining Conference was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Most of the 2,000 participants were women. This ecumenical church conference was sponsored by and attended by members of over a dozen denominations, including Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Catholics, Lutherans and Methodists. They prayed to Sophia, the goddess of Wisdom, calling her their Creator. They did rituals for this goddess, including a communion service where bread and wine were replaced by milk and honey. They openly rejected the doctrines of the incarnation and the atonement. This conference was repeated in 1996, 1998 and 2000. [18] An on‑line report (with photographs) is available at http://www.layman.org/layman/news/reimagining‑revival.htm

   There are Wiccan web sites with web pages devoted to individual goddesses. The Virgin Mary is included among the goddesses of the following web sites: The Spiral Goddess Grove, The White Moon, and Goddess 2000. They consider Mary to be the “Divine Feminine” and say that for centuries, many people have “blended” their ancient goddesses with Mary. [19]

   HOW DID WE GET HERE?

   How did modern Catholic doctrine about Mary wander so far away from the teachings of the Bible and the Early Fathers? Two reasons are the importance given to Church tradition and the doctrine of papal infallibility.

   The Catholic Church officially states that Church tradition is equal in authority to the Bible. (Catechism 80, 84, 86, 97) The problem is that Catholic tradition consists of various expressions of worship and belief of the Catholic people. (Catechism 78, 98, 113, 2650, 2661) It is nebulous. It keeps changing. You cannot find it written in one place. You can’t really put your hands on exactly what it is.
   
   An interesting link I don't have time to get into but which may have a lot of useful info:

   The Roman Catholic Church is Satanic!

   The Roman Catholic Church is the religion of ancient Babylon pretending to be a Christian Church. This is why idolatry still exists in the Catholic Church.

   This video shows that the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church are not Biblical:

   http://georgeamarcelo.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/the-roman-catholic-church-is-satanic/
   
   Ahhhhh wellll . . . had a snow day from school today . . . now headed to Hastings for Chinese Ches.
   

[Gamecock]

Thanks for the chart. Most useful indeed!

[conservativegramma]

Excellent work! The chart is fantastic.

[Little Pharma]

“There are several world religions that have admirable traits, thoughts and philosophies that can help us gain a better understanding of what we are to be.”
____________

Agreed. Why anyone would get panties in a wad over this is beyond me.