Exposure to many faiths can confirm core belief

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

I read this on Sat and thought, remember, Jesus taught LOVE and UNDERSTANDING.

Exposure to many faiths can confirm core belief
www.thestarphoenix.com/life/Exposure+many+faiths+confirm+core+belief/6390031/story.html

The more you're exposed to different religions, the more interest you likely have in your own faith.

The finding, from a fall opinion poll of 2,400 Canadians for the Institute for Canadian Studies, appears to contradict the claim that exposing children to different beliefs undermines their connection to their own religious tradition.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court of Canada rejected an appeal in a landmark case by Catholic parents from Quebec who sought to have their children exempted from the province's compulsory ethics and religious cultures course.

The appeal was launched by a Drummondville couple who said the course would expose their children to "forced, premature contact with a series of beliefs that were mostly incompatible with those of the family" and would have an "adverse effect on the religious faith of the members of the family."......

........Among respondents who strongly agreed with the statement, "I have a good knowledge of the cultural values and religious beliefs of some other cultures," 68 per cent said they were interested in the history of their own religious or ethnic community.

However, among respondents with little knowledge of other cultures and religions, only 19 per cent said they were interested in the history of their own religion and culture......

........People with a good knowledge of other cultures and religions also were more likely to have a high level of knowledge about their own religious community and culture (78 per cent) while among those with little knowledge of other religions and cultures, only 23 per cent had good knowledge of their own.

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

This falls right in with the fact that JC was the messiah...

'Chrislam' Movement Misguiding Former Muslims?
www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2012/March/Chrislam-Movement-Misguiding-Former-Muslims/

Open Doors USA President Carl Moeller called the phenomenon like a "fourth branch" of Christianity.

"Muslims are turning to faith in Jesus Christ, and out of that movement is emerging an entirely new way of expressing Christianity within the context of the Middle Eastern culture," he said......

.............."Because of lack of training and discipleship and teaching, we can come up with our own ideas or comfort zones," Rachid said. "Where we can please our former faith and our new faith, and come up with a new mixture of the two faiths."

Some call this growing trend "Chrislam," a blend of Christianity and Islam.

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

To me the reason that the movement above is an important trend is because I believe most Muslim/Islamic people ignore one of the things that is required to be Islamic; and that is the belief that Jesus was the messiah. This to me shows just how insane Islamic extremists are, they blind themselves to their own beliefs just to further their own agenda of power. However, the fact that people are starting to accept the messiah in Mosques is a very telling sign as to where this is going.

Jesus in Islam
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_in_Islam

In Islam, Jesus (Isa; Arabic: عيسى‎ ʿĪsā) is considered to be a Messenger of God and the Masih (Messiah) who was sent to guide the Children of Israel (banī isrā'īl) with a new scripture, the Injīl or Gospel.[1] The belief in Jesus (and all other messengers of God) is required in Islam, and a requirement of being a Muslim.

The Quran mentions Jesus twenty-five times, more often, by name, than Muhammad.[2][3] It states that Jesus was born to Mary (Arabic: Maryam) as the result of virginal conception, a miraculous event which occurred by the decree of God (Arabic: Allah). To aid in his ministry to the Jewish people, Jesus was given the ability to perform miracles (such as healing the blind, bringing dead people back to life, etc.), all by the permission of God rather than of his own power.

The whole entry is a good read, to me, and this is further down in the entry. IMO, this is the reason that Muslims are turning to JC.

Muslims believe that God revealed to Jesus a new scripture, the Injīl (gospel), while also declaring the truth of the previous revelations – the Tawrat (Torah) and the Zabur (Psalms). The Quran speaks favorably of the Injīl, which it describes as a scripture that fills the hearts of its followers with meekness and piety.

[egginbonce]

How old is the quran?............i thougt it was about 600AD

[chiver78]

I would absolutely agree with this, Aham. some of the most knowledgeable people I know, as far as religion is concerned are those that have either changed their affiliation after a lot of soul searching, or have come to find that they do not believe in any god(dess/what have you). IMHO, any objective academic study of a religion, any religion, is not a bad thing. I joke that I am a "recovering Catholic" and I'm sure I could school some of the more pious members of my family on some of the more obscure details in the Bible.

[roygrip]

"The more you're exposed to different religions, the more interest you likely have in your own faith."

Very interesting concept. When I was about 15 or 16, this would be '71 or '72 my parents, both brought up in the Catholic faith (we're Italian American) were very adamant about my studying comparative world religions in school, and that I should make my own desicions in regards to my beliefs. (they were both college profs as well) My journey led me thru addiction and into recovery. I believe, though I'm considered spiritual. I thank my parents profusely, for allowing me to read and learn about the many faiths, and to make decisions based on that knowledge

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Jun 13, 2012 16:24:58 GMT -5 egginbonce said:

How old is the quran?............i thougt it was about 600AD

. Correct.


What does it mean to be a recovering Catholic Chiver? I think that's what my wife is. LOL

Roy, being spiritual is where it's at, I really like it steeped in logic..

I agree with both of you, obviously, understand leads to acceptance. When something is meant to be it is eventually accepted, even if it takes a couple thousand years or so.

[roygrip]

Ahamburg! Yep I just feel much more "real" and "comfortable" with my one on one with the "God of my understanding" than following one set religion. I believe, I don't want to make the wrong choice. So it's much easier to talk to Him directly ;D, I pray, HE listens....... If you catch my drift, (no intermiediaries making introductions for me )

[Deleted]

If we imagine for a moment the beliefs a person holds to be akin to a piece of a jigsaw puzzle - I.e. just one of many different pieces which together add up to the bigger picture of what is meant by 'spirituality'; it makes sense for a person to get some of the other pieces out of the box and examine them - doing so will lead to a greater understanding of their own piece, how it fits into the bigger picture etc.

[femmefatale]

Jun 19, 2012 17:40:55 GMT -5 roygrip said:

Ahamburg! Yep I just feel much more "real" and "comfortable" with my one on one with the "God of my understanding" than following one set religion. I believe, I don't want to make the wrong choice. So it's much easier to talk to Him directly ;D, I pray, HE listens....... If you catch my drift, (no intermiediaries making introductions for me )

[roygrip]

Jun 19, 2012 18:10:13 GMT -5 @devianity said:

If we imagine for a moment the beliefs a person holds to be akin to a piece of a jigsaw puzzle - I.e. just one of many different pieces which together add up to the bigger picture of what is meant by 'spirituality'; it makes sense for a person to get some of the other pieces out of the box and examine them - doing so will lead to a greater understanding of their own piece, how it fits into the bigger picture etc.

;)I like that Astro! I like that a lot! ;D

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Jun 19, 2012 17:40:55 GMT -5 roygrip said:

Ahamburg! Yep I just feel much more "real" and "comfortable" with my one on one with the "God of my understanding" than following one set religion. I believe, I don't want to make the wrong choice. So it's much easier to talk to Him directly ;D, I pray, HE listens....... If you catch my drift, (no intermiediaries making introductions for me )

I like this a lot. ;D The bold part had me , as I couldn't agree more! Who needs a filter anyway?

[roselia]

The more you're exposed to different religions, the more interest you likely have in your own faith.

"Muslims are turning to faith in Jesus Christ, and out of that movement is emerging an entirely new way of expressing Christianity within the context of the Middle Eastern culture," he said......

Something called ''contradiction''.

[roygrip]

Jun 19, 2012 22:34:22 GMT -5 Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger said:

Jun 19, 2012 17:40:55 GMT -5 roygrip said:

Ahamburg! Yep I just feel much more "real" and "comfortable" with my one on one with the "God of my understanding" than following one set religion. I believe, I don't want to make the wrong choice. So it's much easier to talk to Him directly ;D, I pray, HE listens....... If you catch my drift, (no intermiediaries making introductions for me )

I like this a lot. ;D The bold part had me , as I couldn't agree more! Who needs a filter anyway?

;D Exactly! And who knows if it's the RIGHT filter

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Jun 20, 2012 8:08:54 GMT -5 @roselia said:

The more you're exposed to different religions, the more interest you likely have in your own faith.

"Muslims are turning to faith in Jesus Christ, and out of that movement is emerging an entirely new way of expressing Christianity within the context of the Middle Eastern culture," he said......

Something called ''contradiction''.

How's that?

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Jun 20, 2012 18:20:23 GMT -5 roygrip said:

Jun 19, 2012 22:34:22 GMT -5 Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger said:

I like this a lot. ;D The bold part had me , as I couldn't agree more! Who needs a filter anyway?

;D Exactly! And who knows if it's the RIGHT filter

Exactly! I'll trust the combined effort of thousands and over 250+ yrs of work and knowledge building thanks. Because the fact is....



Good Sabbath to you RoyGrip...

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Now that it has been established that Christianity is firmly rooted in China and is a growing phenomenon. It's time to get back into the surrounding areas, just as a quick refresher....

Apr 3, 2012 12:14:07 GMT -5 Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger said:

This falls right in with the fact that JC was the messiah...

'Chrislam' Movement Misguiding Former Muslims?
www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2012/March/Chrislam-Movement-Misguiding-Former-Muslims/

Open Doors USA President Carl Moeller called the phenomenon like a "fourth branch" of Christianity.

"Muslims are turning to faith in Jesus Christ, and out of that movement is emerging an entirely new way of expressing Christianity within the context of the Middle Eastern culture," he said......

.............."Because of lack of training and discipleship and teaching, we can come up with our own ideas or comfort zones," Rachid said. "Where we can please our former faith and our new faith, and come up with a new mixture of the two faiths."

Some call this growing trend "Chrislam," a blend of Christianity and Islam.

Further evidence supporting this trend.. Shabbat Shalom.

Why Muslims Are Becoming the Best Evangelists

Author Garrison subdivides the Islamic world into nine global regions.
After traveling 250,000 miles through Dar al-Islam ("House of Islam") as Muslims call their world, career missiologist David Garrison came to a startling conclusion:

Muslim background believers are leading Muslims to Christ in staggering numbers, but not in the West. They are doing this primarily in Muslim-majority nations almost completely under the radar—of everyone.

In the new book, A Wind in the House of Islam: How God is Drawing Muslims Around the World to Faith in Jesus Christ, Garrison takes the reader on his journey through what he describes as the nine rooms in the Muslim-majority world: Indo-Malaysia, East Africa, North Africa, Eastern South Asia, Western South Asia, Persian, Turkestan, West Africa, and the Arab world. Muslims in each of those regions have created indigenous, voluntary movements to Christ.

"What did God use to bring you to faith in Jesus Christ? Tell me your story." This was the core question Garrison asked as he traveled and conducted more than 1,000 face-to-face interviews. In his background research, he documented 82 historic Muslim movements to Christ, consisting of either at least 1,000 baptisms or 100 new church starts over a two-decade period. The first sizable movement of Muslims toward Christianity did not occur until the mid-19th century, nearly 1,300 years after Mohammad established Islam. Garrison said 69 of these movements today are still in process:

• In Algeria, after 100,000 died in Muslim-on-Muslim violence, 10,000 Muslims turned their backs on Islam and were baptized as followers of Christ. This movement has tripled since the late 1990s.

• At the time of the 1979 revolution in Iran, about 500 individual Muslims were following Christ. Garrison projects that today there may be several hundred thousand Christ-followers, mostly worshipping in Iranian house churches.

• In an unnamed Arab nation, an Islamic book publisher Nasr came to Christ through satellite broadcast evangelist Father Zakaria. Sensing a call to evangelize, Nasr started a local ministry that in less than one year baptized 2,800 individuals.

In total, Garrison estimates that 2 to 7 million people from a Muslim background worldwide now follow Christ. (This is a projection since a comprehensive count is not possible.)

[truthbound]

Been exposed to all of them. Hasn't helped me confirm anything.

[thyme4change]

I saw Life of Pi last night - he was a Catholic-Muslim-Hindu.  I'm not sure why that movie was suppose to make me believe in God.  

[MarleyKeezy78]

While my family (grandparents, parents, ect...) were brought up Catholic I was never baptized, took Conformation or what have you. I never felt I fit in at church so as I got older I read about and talked to others about different religions and I have come to my own feelings and conclusions as to what I believe in. I even got myself baptized several years back and tried attending a Christian church (I was totally out of place there!) I have a very open mind about different religions and I have found people can be such bigots of them and the people that belong, and I just can't be a part of that. (I know not all are like that, don't get me wrong!) I look at it this way, if there is a God then all the people of all these different religions are heading in the same direction, just read from a slightly different book. Maybe the details are a bit different but the books were written by man and everybody has there own interpretation. 
Also, I believe in reincarnation because I remember choosing my family. I remember looking down from the top kitchen cabinet on which I was sitting and watching them work on the house. Strange, yes, but I remember. This is a really good thread, DS is 5 and I have been teaching him that our souls can be reborn. I think it may be time to visit the Hindu Temple near us, hmmmm. 
I think it's nice we could have second, third, ect... Chances in life. Only my opinion

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

I'm glad you're enjoying the thread Marley.. I hear you about not fitting in with the church crowd. In my case, they don't like hearing they are one.

I look at it this way, if there is a God then all the people of all these different religions are heading in the same direction, just read from a slightly different book. Maybe the details are a bit different but the books were written by man and everybody has there own interpretation.

JMO, but that's exactly it, Marley. It gets real interesting when you throw science in the mix. I'm reading an real good book right now about the history of science. The author is glossing over how much Judaism influence early schooling, etc.. but that is a different topic.

Basically, what scientists would consider pseudo science now a days, is where science is rooted. By first studying the universe(stars), we have gained a better understanding of how everything came to be. Science has been passed around the globe and every culture has added and influenced where it is today.

History, science, and world religions are on a converging path. That path is headed directly towards what the Magi called the wise God.(Which they understood is the God that Israel/Abraham has brought the world.) 

[Deleted]

thyme4change, let me ask you this, do you think the cook or the tiger story was the real one? 

[Shooby]

I have no problem with exposing kids to a variety of religions. Unfortunately, in our "wisdom" we have decided kids shouldn't learn about anyone's religion.

[Deleted]

May 4, 2014 5:41:43 GMT -5 Shooby said:

I have no problem with exposing kids to a variety of religions. Unfortunately, in our "wisdom" we have decided kids shouldn't learn about anyone's religion.

I'm not sure what you mean? 

[Shooby]

I mean why can't schools have a course on religion and expose kids to the Bible, Koran, etc?

[Deleted]

They can. I would guess it is difficult to fit in more than the cursory mention that religion gets in History and other social science texts. After all, there aren't a whole lot of social science tests kids have to pass... Most emphasis is on math and science and reading/writing...

I'd guess they could offer an elective, but that not everyone would take it. As I've read many object even to the cursory treatment that 'other' religions get now... 

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

May 4, 2014 6:06:45 GMT -5 Shooby said:

I mean why can't schools have a course on religion and expose kids to the Bible, Koran, etc?

They "could" - but in order to expose kids to one religion you have to expose them to ALL religions - the reason religion is no longer taught in public school, is because students today come from many faiths (or lack thereof). The continent is a melting-pot of cultures & beliefs.

Would you be willing to accept Wiccan, Atheism or Witchcraft being taught to your child in school? Just asking.

If you want your child to take a religion course, send them to a private school that focuses on that subject and the religion of your choice - whether it's Christianity or any other religion.

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

May 4, 2014 5:41:43 GMT -5 Shooby said:

I have no problem with exposing kids to a variety of religions. Unfortunately, in our "wisdom" we have decided kids shouldn't learn about anyone's religion.

Shoobs, I was going to touch on this last night a bit but was losing focus. As you could probably see by the, exactly is it, part to my response. (just changed it)

I think that it's the single most important part to ones physical well being to understand the spirit (energy) that flows through us all.

I have my kids in catholic school (even though I'm not catholic), they dive into lots of different cultures as well. I really notice my second one picking up on it. He's always talking about Jesus, it's totally .

[Deleted]

Religion IS taught in History/Social Studies classes...

[Deleted]

Learning that the Crusades were considered a "holy war" is not learning about religion.