INTERFAITH DIALOGUE: Why do we fail?

The root of our problem lies in the theology, whereas most of us would rather not discuss the theology while having dialogue (at least in my country, Indonesia - this is the case).

1. If someone has to be true to the contents of Hindu Bhagavatam and produce a movie based on them, especially the 10th canto of the scripture - it would definitely be rated XXXXXXXX, hard porn.

2. There are verses in the Muslim Al-Qur'an, which openly tells you to kill those identified as infidels. And, enmity against the Jews and Christians are sanctioned.

3. The Old Testament God of Christian Bible suffers from attention deficit disorder.

Similarly, in the Buddhist, Zarathustrian, and ALL OTHER SCRIPTURES - there are verses/chapters which, in my opinion MUST BE DISCUSSED.

We have to keep our heads cool and see whether they are universal, contextual, still relevant, or not.

If such issues are not discussed, and we do not come to some kind of general agreement - i am afraid we shall continue having dialogues with no, or a very little result.

There has to be a MINIMUM AGENDA agreed upon by the practitioners of all religions, and all religious institutions.

Just a thought, please forgive me, and forget this note if it offends you.

I seek your blessings - ever......

Tags: Buddhism, Christianity, Hindu, Interfaith dialogue, Islam, Religion

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Permalink Reply by Richard Boothe on August 31, 2011 at 12:48am
 
You asked for various scholars to share their understanding of scriptures.  The problem, here, is that mere scholarship does not reveal the inner truth of mystical writings.  Such knowledge - all true knowledge in fact - comes from personal experience.  While this can be guided by scholars, they just as frequently misguide readers.  So, as you've pointed out, it's best to read the original scriptures if possible.  In the case of Christianity, however, some the most important original scriptures are missing.  One of those is the so-called 'Gospel of the Hebrews' (the one used by Jesus' original followers in Jerusalem, according to Church Fathers), of which only fragmentary quotes remain.  These quotes more closely resemble sayings in the Gospel of Thomas (which Roman theologians originally destroyed, but was then rediscovered in 1945) than those in the New Testament.  In my view, the close resemblance between certain passages in Thomas, and in the Gospel of the Hebrews, tends to affirm the former's authenticity, which is important because many of the ideas found there are key to both understanding what Jesus actually taught, and bridging the gap between Christianity and other religions.
Paradoxically, Christian theology has largely ignored Christ's teachings in favor of Paul's - many of which clash with those of Jesus and his original disciples - and has also introduced Gentile beliefs foreign to both.  It is instructive, here, that a close reading of Jesus' words in the Bible, coupled with those in the Gospel of Thomas, reveals an entirely different faith - one based on practicing said teachings and experiencing heaven on earth, as opposed to the Roman theological goal of life after death. That, in turn, is key to bridging the gap between Christianity, Islam, Judaism and other faiths because, once we grasp that Jesus' original goal was heaven on earth - otherwise known as Paradise - it becomes nearly identical to the original goals of Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism and Hinduism.  This is readily accomplished, however, only when one has put those teachings into practice and discovered what they really mean.


Mike Ghouse said:
Dear Anand,

I wish you had attended the program we did on reading the scriptures, it was a powerful program and these issues were addressed there.

God wants his creation to co-exist in harmony and the Qur’aan is God’s guidance to live in peace with oneself and what surrounds one; life and matter. The human weakness manufactures imaginary enemies, so did the European Medieval Kings in the 11th century, who paid to deliberately mis-translate the Qur’aan for their obvious gains, they duped the public then, and most of non-Muslim Islamic Scholars today are doing the same thing.

Now coming to your point

2. There are verses in the Muslim Al-Qur'an, which openly tells you to kill those identified as infidels. And, enmity against the Jews and Christians are sanctioned.

If you read the Quraan yourselves with the idea that we all belong to God, then you would understand that you were reading the mis-translations to have quoted the above item.

There are over 40 items, but please do read at least three:

An apology to Jews, Christians and others:
http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2008/01/unlike-jews-or-christians-17.html .


Slay the idolaters wherever you find them
http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2007/12/slay-idolaters-95.html

Muslim response to Geert wilders
http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2008/01/muslim-response-to-wilders.html

Please read it, you appreciate the Bhagvad Gita’ verse, “ finding the truth is one’s own responsibility and you may see that individual are bad, not their religion, no matter what religion.

Hilali Khan, a Muslim also mistranslated the book to appease his extremist friends, that is the free copy you may have it in your hands. Just remember God wants goodness for his creation, every one of it, then read Qur’aan in that light. Mohammad Asad’s translation is recommended at this time until a good one comes along where any one on the earth can read it and feel that God wants all of us to live in peace and harmony.

Finding the truth is your own responsibility.

I hope the scholars in Bible, Torah and others can share the wisdom in their texts, am sure it is mis-interpreted. The neocons are re-writing the Bible to suit their agenda.


Peace to you my friend, religion is never the problem, it is the greed, hate, insecurity of "men" that is the problem.

Blessings,

Mike Ghouse
Permalink Reply by GPDC on August 31, 2011 at 8:03pm
Very simple..no one want to let go, all think they are the right path.....yes i agree on that  with you but.....parliment end up as photograph and how are you party,,if not what have we actually acheived--..one more thing each religion are having their own problems not solve..sorry brother and sister for being blunt...peace and love
Permalink Reply by GPDC on September 18, 2011 at 1:26am
simple human are selfish, religious leader spiritual leaders are all human beings
Permalink Reply by Anand Krishna on September 18, 2011 at 5:10am

I thank everyone who has contributed to this dialogue.

Encouraged by this, we have inititated the first ever Online Interfaith Studies in Indonesia (www.oneearthcollege.com). Please keep us in your prayers and meditations.

 

I seek your blessings

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