Chapel and other religions.

[Tellyontellyon]

Hi I'm a Buddhist, but I've been reading the Bible and the figure of Jesus is quite inspiring.
I've been going to some Zoom meetings at a local chapel. They are called 'Unitarians' and they seem very open and I feel quite in tune with them.
The services are lovely and there is poetry and readings from the Bible as well as inspiration from other religions.

Do other Christians find that they can find truth and inspiration from other religions?

Does this happen in your church?

 

[Tolworth John]

Do other Christians find that they can find truth and inspiration from other religions?
Does this happen in your church

It is possible to find ' truth ' in other religions, but that there is very little truth.
Why do I say that.
Christianity is based on the fact that Jesus is the Way, the Life and the Truth and that Noone gets to God, unless they go via Jesus.
How many religions, including Buddhism say that is how one gets to God.

What happens in the church services I watch on zoom.
The minister and the assistant and selected others announce hymns, notices, read the Bible, say prayers or make announcements. After this interspersed by hymns, all recordings and available for use, then there is a sermon and a closing song and benediction.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

I don't think God can be contained in one religion, even Christianity. Chrisianity provides the key personal relationship but when it comes to the cosmos, the human person, consciousness and just how it all works. There is so much to explore.

 

[hedrick]

To some extent. I think you'll find that Christians and Jews often share insights. Some well-known Christians have admired Buddhism and tried to interpret it for Christians. Beyond those two, however, I have to say that my personal reactions start being less positive.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Hi I'm a Buddhist, but I've been reading the Bible and the figure of Jesus is quite inspiring.
I've been going to some Zoom meetings at a local chapel. They are called 'Unitarians' and they seem very open and I feel quite in tune with them.
The services are lovely and there is poetry and readings from the Bible as well as inspiration from other religions.

Do other Christians find that they can find truth and inspiration from other religions?

Does this happen in your church?

There are bits of truth in many religions, and also there are many beautiful things that I can respect. As an individual I can, for example, find some of the poems of the Sufi poet Rumi to be beautiful and inspirational. But in the context of Christian worship, it would be inappropriate to supplement the Scripture readings or other aspects of the Divine Service with writings, prayers, meditations (etc) from other religions. Indeed, there are songs, prayers, etc which are found even in other Christian traditions that would be inappropriate for a Lutheran Divine Service.

But that's not because those things are bad, it's because Christian worship is Christian worship. In the Lutheran tradition the Latin motto of lex orandi lex credendi is taken seriously; it translates to "the law of prayer is the law of belief". The meaning being that our worship shapes our faith, and so every effort is to be made that what happens during the Divine Service is there to faithfully preach the Gospel. I can find some of the writings of Rumi to be beautiful, lovely, and good--but they aren't and never will be the Gospel. Because there is no Gospel without the One who is Himself Gospel, Jesus Christ.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[crossnote]

Hi I'm a Buddhist, but I've been reading the Bible and the figure of Jesus is quite inspiring.
I've been going to some Zoom meetings at a local chapel. They are called 'Unitarians' and they seem very open and I feel quite in tune with them.
The services are lovely and there is poetry and readings from the Bible as well as inspiration from other religions.

Do other Christians find that they can find truth and inspiration from other religions?

Does this happen in your church?

Jesus didn't come to 'inspire' people. He came to save them from sin through dying for them and subsequently rising from the dead.
A person can have lot's of 'head knowledge' about truth and yet die in their sins...forever.

 

[hedrick]

In case the OP isn’t aware. The modern Unitarian church is not exclusively Christian. Thus it’s a fairly atypical example of Christian practice. There are surely Christian members, but also others. And the Christian members would normally be at far left end of the Christian spectrum. (CF regards them as non Christian, though I don’t necessarily)

 

[Sketcher]

Hi I'm a Buddhist, but I've been reading the Bible and the figure of Jesus is quite inspiring.
I've been going to some Zoom meetings at a local chapel. They are called 'Unitarians' and they seem very open and I feel quite in tune with them.
The services are lovely and there is poetry and readings from the Bible as well as inspiration from other religions.

Do other Christians find that they can find truth and inspiration from other religions?

Does this happen in your church?

Unitarians aren't known as really Christian, though they'll retain some trappings of Christian teaching and tradition. They embrace the teachings of other religions on a level that most Christians will not.

This isn't to say that traditional Christians will never acknowledge that another religion can make a true statement about something. Many of us will. We tend to be far more inclusive of Jewish interpretations of many Old Testament passages than we are of what other faiths say about something. This is because we believe that God established Judaism, and we include what they call the Tanakh in our Bible as the Old Testament, and that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah. The last part is the break point. For faiths other than Judaism, we're not as likely to elevate what they say as divine truth. If Christians are talking about stealing and why it's bad to steal, we're generally not going to bother quoting Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, pagan, or other teachings against stealing. We've got what we need for truth on the matter of stealing in the Bible. Sometimes however, when preaching to those of another religious background, Christians may take teachings that can hint at what our God has to say, and leverage them to introduce God. An example of this is in Acts 17:16-34. Paul did quote pagans, but not in a way that equates the two religions. It's more like, "if you believe ____, you should listen to this idea about God."

 

[1watchman]

It is possible to find ' truth ' in other religions, but that there is very little truth.
Why do I say that.
Christianity is based on the fact that Jesus is the Way, the Life and the Truth and that Noone gets to God, unless they go via Jesus.
How many religions, including Buddhism say that is how one gets to God.

What happens in the church services I watch on zoom.
The minister and the assistant and selected others announce hymns, notices, read the Bible, say prayers or make announcements. After this interspersed by hymns, all recordings and available for use, then there is a sermon and a closing song and benediction.

Quite true! To be in accord with the mind of our Creator-God, who sent His "...beloved Son" to show us His mind, and become the sacrificial lamb upon the altar, we MUST know the Holy Word of God, and that means to be confident one is with a Bible-only fellowship (which are few) where the reasonings of men is not the ministry, but deep study by all the "priesthood" of redeemed saints present, of God's Word and praise to our "Redeemer". I can comment more thoroughly on that to one who might write me personally in the Conversation section herein. -1watchman

 

[Tolworth John]

we MUST know the Holy Word of God, and that means to be confident one is with a Bible-only fellowship (which are few)

The Bible is the word of God. But we Must know it? How much of it, is there a set amount which confirms we are Christian etc

We are saved by the gift of faith, true growth comes through knowing Jesus and that is through church, service and Bible study.

 

[gentlejah]

Hi I'm a Buddhist, but I've been reading the Bible and the figure of Jesus is quite inspiring.
I've been going to some Zoom meetings at a local chapel. They are called 'Unitarians' and they seem very open and I feel quite in tune with them.
The services are lovely and there is poetry and readings from the Bible as well as inspiration from other religions.

Do other Christians find that they can find truth and inspiration from other religions?

Does this happen in your church?

Absolutely, yes. While I haven't read all the Hindu epics myself I grew up in a home hearing stories from The Mahabharata, The Upanishads, The Sutras, The Shobogenzo and you would be hard pressed to find anything as mind expanding. Nagarjuna has one of the most incredible minds in history.
and something like Zen Buddhism can certainly be practiced by a Christian
just learning that quietness of mind alone is an invaluable gift

 

[1watchman]

The Bible is the word of God. But we Must know it? How much of it, is there a set amount which confirms we are Christian etc

We are saved by the gift of faith true growth comes through knowing Jesus and that is through church, service and Bible study.

Good question! We ought to know as much of the Word of God as He reveals to us, which means to read it daily, if possible. ALL saints of God should value His Holy Word of Truth ---right? AFTER salvation (as John 3) we need to grow in the faith. Some seekers only 'cherry pick' Scripture, so many true saints recommend a faithful seeker will learn the four Gospels first, and study the Epistles weekly to learn about Church truth, which explains the Gospels and the revealed mind of God by His Apostles. There ARE NO CONTRADICTIONS IN THE BIBLE, as many saints know, so let us always be "...rightly dividing the Word of Truth" as enjoined to do (note 2 Tim. 2:15). Good commentaries are available from reliable sources as Bible Truth Publishers, Addison, IL. One can ask questions there and at the sound site: Biblecounsel.net, to learn much of what our God intends for His testimony in the world. We all need to keep learning. Keep looking up always! -1watchman

 

[Albion]

Hi I'm a Buddhist, but I've been reading the Bible and the figure of Jesus is quite inspiring.
I've been going to some Zoom meetings at a local chapel. They are called 'Unitarians' and they seem very open and I feel quite in tune with them.

Most Unitarians do not consider themselves or the Unitarian Church (called the "Unitarian Universalist Association" in the USA) to be Christian, and for good reason. However, I do find their style to be admirably charitable, kind, tolerant, and so forth.

 

[tampasteve]

Do other Christians find that they can find truth and inspiration from other religions?

Sure. I have found much to value in some Buddhist traditions, and I have found much truth and value in Judaism. Understanding Judaism helps us understand Christianity better as well.

Does this happen in your church?

Yes, we have interfaith services on occasion with a Reform Judaism congregation. Some local parishes have meditation times where all are welcome as well.

 

[Lukaris]

The Lord calls us to evangelize ( Matthew 28:18-20) or to at least support evangelists ( Matthew 9:36-38 ). Our general prayer for anyone ( Matthew 6:9-15, 1 Timothy 2:1 etc.) should include evangelism ( among many things).

As far as non Christian systems, we should not embrace any particular group. We should discern anything good God sees in them ( Psalms 15, Ezekiel 18:4-9, 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, Philippians 4:8 etc.). We need to consider these within the Lord’s preaching on the powers of His redemption ( John 3:16-21) within the context of what St. Paul preaches in Romans 2 & in light of the Lord’s judgment ( John 5:22-30 etc.).

 

[Tolworth John]

We ought to know as much of the Word of God as He reveals to us,

You are really talking about Romans 12:1+2.

 

[Radagast]

Hi I'm a Buddhist, but I've been reading the Bible and the figure of Jesus is quite inspiring.

In general, Christianity and Buddhism have somewhat similar things to say about the problem: that people are sinful; that they have wrongful desires; that this causes suffering.

When it comes to the solution, however, Christianity and Buddhism are a long way apart (as you may have noticed).

They are called 'Unitarians' and they seem very open and I feel quite in tune with them.

Unitarians don't meet the Christian Forums definition of "Christian." Many Unitarians are, in fact, atheists. From the uua.org website:

"Unitarian Universalists have many ways of naming what is sacred. Some believe in a God; some don’t believe in a God. Some believe in a sacred force at work in the world, and call it 'love,' 'mystery,' 'source of all' or 'spirit of life.' We are thousands of individuals of all ages, each influenced by our cultures and life experiences to understand 'the ground of our being' in our own way. Unitarian Universalists are agnostic, theist, atheist, and everything in between."

They are certainly open, however. They are as open as you can possibly get. And they are very Buddhist-friendly: some Unitarians are, in fact, Buddhists (or are influenced by Buddhism).

 

[1watchman]

So, after all is said as herein, seekers will go where they like. God, however, calls us to Him by His immutable "Word of Truth".