xjwsforChrist

CHAPPY SAID

So it's no secret that I am an atheist. And it's no secret that many here are not fond of churches. But I was thinking about religious organizations that gain my respect in some areas, and thought to share it here. I've shared such elsewhere, including the big forum and the secular forum, but thought it would make interesting conversation here too.

There is something to the idea of being organized and united to get certain things done. Intentional community, charity, and social justice.

I am impressed with both the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Church. Both seem to be pretty open and liberal, and content to let members come to their own conclusions and follow their path without any pressure. They are both also deeply interested in social justice and education.

The Quakers also caught my eye. They quietly work to relieve quite a bit of suffering, and without pomp and circumstance. When I researched the Kindertransport and saw how the Quakers took the lead, along with Jewish organizations, to get Jewish children out of Nazi occupied territories, I was so very surprised. It doesn't get broadcast. They also worked for the abolition of slavery, and Susan B Anthony started out a Quaker, but then became a Unitarian. She did so much good too.

YPPUPLLEH SAID

Don't forget the Buddhists though they also have their share of controversy
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Love is a warm rubber puppy...

CHAPPY SAID

Hey, Pup. I'm not really familiar with the Buddhists. What have they done?

YPPUPLLEH SAID



That is a good question I suppose they have performed similar acts for public good as the other religious institutions whether it be aid to the poor, social works, etc

It's mostly a journey of discovery of the self and compassion. For some it takes the pursuit of that philosophy to bring out the humanity in them. There are many sects so the umbrella of "Buddhism" may be a bit too vague.
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Love is a warm rubber puppy...

CHAPPY SAID

Yeah, I don't recall seeing Buddhist organizations pop up as a force for social justice, but that could simply be Christian bias in those reporting. Also it seems to me that the biggest concentration of Buddhists are far away and don't play a big role in our everyday life. Their impact may be much larger in other parts of the world.

From what I understand ( and this could be very flawed) it's highly philisophical and concentrates on self enlightenment. I suppose this could lead one to be philanthropic, but I don't know how they organize those efforts or the impact they have. I know they aren't big on a deity. Intelligent people are attracted to the religion (per my history instructor, LOL, who is not Buddhist) perhaps because there is a lot of contemplation.

I also heard (from a history book) that Ghandi encouraged lower class Hindus to become Buddhist to free them of the unforgiving caste system.

Other than those things, and depending on their accuracy, that's all I know.

ELDERELITE SAID

Lol well ive never made my zen leanings a secret. I dont know about "social" good per say but the attention to respect for life and philosphy of awarness and resect etc etc have a positive impact in many areas. Many have speculated that christs teachings were founded in budhisium!

CHAPPY SAID

The UU church I attend occasionally has some book clubs, and they were reading and discussing a book that reports that Jesus traveled around India. I don't know if we can prove or disprove it, and I wasn't interested enough to attend, but many people have concluded that Jesus mixed some Eastern philosophy in with his teachings.

A time machine would be helpful! LOL.

YPPUPLLEH SAID

Are there any similarities between the stories of Jesus, Gautama, Osirus, Krishna, etc?
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Love is a warm rubber puppy...

CHAPPY SAID

I believe so, and I used to know a lot of them, but have forgotten some. I may google to post them here though.

AGUEST SAID



There are, dear HP (peace to you!), and like dear Chappy (peace to you, as well!), I have forgotten some of them - I haven't seen the need to remember them. This is because of what I have NOT forgotten: my Lord's explanation when I asked him about this (it started with the similarities in various cultures as a global Flood and I wanted to know what that was "all about").

His response had to do with wild beast with seven heads of Revelation. I won't go into that right now (TMI), but the gist is that at one time there was only one faith/belief... as well as one God, He that is NOW known as the MOST Holy One of Israel... JAH of Armies (He is the Most Holy One of ISRAEL... only because the issue with Abraham - that Abraham's seed would be His people). He was not always known as or by that.

The bottom line (if you don't mind me jumping to that) is that all of these matters are bit a like the "telephone" game: you start with one statement... and by the time it makes it around the circle it's either only a shadow of the original statement OR has no resemblance at all.

Abraham came from the "east"; however, mankind didn't start there. Yet, some of what HIS children were taught and believed came from what he understood when he was in the east. Because the people of the east had similar beliefs as his. He was called OUT of the east because (1) those there had begun worshipping multiple and false gods, and (2) JAH was going to given him land in Canaan (which was part of Egypt at the time).

My point is that in ALL religions, beliefs, even myths (many of which had their origins in belief systems, versus just being stories)... have some common threads. So, yes, you are going to hear things in "non-christian" faiths/beliefs/religions/stories/myths... that are common to the things you may have heard about God, Christ, Flood, Son, cross, stake, disciples, numbers, events... and more.

What many don't understand is that the account of Christ is NOT patterned after those who came before his day in the flesh... but that such accounts are patterned after HIM... and what he was to be WHEN he came in the flesh. Even many Bible accounts. And so, the acounts of, say, Adham, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, etc., are not BEFORE Christ... but AFTER him.

As he is recorded to say, "Before Abraham... I am."

He said this because he existed before Abraham. And before Noah. Before Enoch. Even before Adham.

If we want to know the TRUTH about these accounts, stories, myths, prophesies, etc., we can look to the stories/tales/accounts/myths, etc., fomented by man... including the Bible... OR... we can look to the One in whom many of these things were fulfilled... were "yes." I have found that to be easier, actually... and much less tiresome/time consuming.

I hope this helps!

Again, peace to you!

YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,

SA

TEC SAID



There are some generalized similarities between 'savior stories'. To which I could not have replied better than Shelby did above.

However, the zeitgeist comparisons and such, and copycat theorists... these are not valid, and have been debunked.

Peace,
tammy