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Originally posted by irateplatypus
lebell, i'm not certain which of us is more correct... but your reading of thagrastay's post is a lot different than mine.
i agree w/you that the two (Christianity and Eastern philosophies) aren't like "apples and oranges" or mutually exclusive in all respects. but, i think thagrastay's point was that it is difficult to claim that you are a follower of Christ, yet ignore his teachings and nature in favor of eastern substitutes.
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Then I don't see that you and I are in any real disagreement.
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eastern religion can certainly compliment Jesus' teachings from the perspective of an intellectually honest Christian (cause, let's face it... many principles are the same. oftentimes, eastern philosophers said them first.). but if Christ is recorded as saying something concrete and unequivocal such as:
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
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I also agree that study of Eastern religions can enhance our study of Christianity.
But I must take issue with these words: "Christ is recorded as saying "...
Unfortunately Christ is recorded as saying nothing, nor was someone writing things down even remotely temporally close to when he said them, which is a huge source of grief for biblicists and other theologians.
In short, I am in agreement with many who think Jesus likely did not utter those words, which are found only in the Gospel of John.
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Then the true follower of Christ must take that as the root of truth. All other knowledge must be understood within the context of the foundation of truth exemplified by Christ.
There are many who choose not to make Jesus Christ the foundation of their faith. That's fine. I just think that it was Thagrastay's point that if they do profess that he is, Jesus should be the cornerstone of their theology in all cases that he can be applied. [/B]
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Let us assume for an instant that Jesus
did utter those words and let's look at the phrase, "no one comes to the Father but through me".
We already know what orthodoxy says, so let's set that aside. Another way of looking at this is to ask who is Jesus and can we find him elsewhere? For example, contrast this with the two greatest commandments, as taught by Jesus:
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Matt22:37-40
And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second like unto it is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets.
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This was Jesus'
public teaching.
So why didn't he tell the crowd, "Thou shalt love
me, the Lord, thy God...", if that was the way? But he didn't. He directed the people to worship God the
Father.
This is but one reason that I believe there maybe other ways to find God beyond a strict Biblical worship of Jesus. I also don't think this is against what Jesus taught.
In otherwords, many people may know the Christ without realising that it is Him they know.
Conversely, many may think they have Jesus nailed down (pun intended) without knowing him at all.
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Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
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