God Universal or God Exclusive?
 

Christians say their God is the one and only "God", but is that true? They don't seem to like the idea of "God" having many faces in other religions. What do you think? I personally like to think of "God" as universal not exclusive to any religion.

Love Thy Neighbor
 

How can they preach this if they hate Jews, homosexuals, and other religions?

Simple. They have a narrow definition of "neighbor".

Accroding to them, "neighbors" live in a "neighborhood", which is a group of generally similar people, grouped by race, religion, background, and economic status.

Anyone not in your "neighborhood" is not a "neighbor", and therefore deserves no love.

Who is "they"?

God is definately universal. He wouldn't limit himself to one chosen group of people. He's kind of like Santa Clause. In each country he's known by another name.

*ask and thy shall receive*

Well you also have to remember that christanity IS a religion. And one of the doctrines of its religion is that there is one god. Their god. Islam and Judiaism is the same way. Thats why they all get along so well together.

Christians..

I am my own God. When I screw up I don't say,"Why in God's name did that happen" and likewise when I achieve something I don't say, "First of all I would like to thank God," but rather I thank myself.

People can believe anything they want and how they want to. I prefer to follow my instincts regarding life rather than having someone to tell me or show me the way. I'm happy with my outlook on life from an areligious standpoint.

i merged these threads....

Daval

This reminds me of a wonderful skit from South Park, where the newest residents of Hell are about to meet Satan and begin their "orientation program".

"How did I end up here? I was a vigilent practicing Orthodox Jew!"

"I was a pure, regular church going Roman Catholic"

The bunch of moral religeous damned were then informed of the correct group in a rather gentle informative tone:

"The Mormons....yes, the Mor-mons"

Organised religeon is either somebody's idea of a cruel joke to play on the human race, or further proof as if proof were needed that people are irational, insecure and narrow minded.

universal

'nuff said.

Every religion has fanatics that hate other religions, just as they have moderates and liberals who don't.

I should of said monothesists..

I don't have a problem with god, it's his fan club that I can't stand :)

I'm still trying to figure things out too. The "Christian" religions which include Baptist claim exclusive of course. I grew up Baptist and have studied things closely. I don't agree with everything I have heard from them. In fact I'm rejecting more all the time. ONe thing that bothers me is that they talk about this God as being supreme and that the only reason he made us, continues to help us, or causes us trials is for HIS glory. My husband went through such turmoil when he had his injury 2 years ago or so. He was in a coma and still has lingering effects of the injury. Everyone we knew kept saying. This is for GOD's glory. If some human were to do something like that to another human just for their glory they would be considered egotistical and selfish. If that "supreme" being that they tout were such a "good" God than why would he cause that for HIS glory. It seems so contradictory to me. Why should I give glory to this being that causes me harm and pain? I'm beginning to like the idea of a universal being that has no personal or selfish designs. Not sure where I stand yet though.

The answer is simple. There is nothing outside of God. God is everything, everywhere and in everyone! We are all part of God and God is all of us. When you see God in everything, your time is up! You don't need to be here anymore...you can go home...

I was always under the impression that the jews, christians and muslims worshipped the same god

You are correct, Jasmar.
It's those who earn there keep by telling others who and how to worship that cause the problem. They have the power and the vested (pun intended) interest in promoting their faith, creed, sect, cult; while trying their best to destroy the others (even while professing tolerence and brotherhood). Witness the Muslims in Iraq or the Christians in Ireland. They'd rather kill each other than let the other guy stand to pray instead of kneel.

There could be a possibility of a an infinite number of deities.

'You shall have no other gods before Me.'

That's more like saying, hey, don't care about them, look at ME.
This sentence could even be interpreted as admitting to the existance of other "gods".

I've thought a lot about this, and without going juvenile on you, wasn't Adam created in God's image, with a full set of reproduction organs even before Eve was created?

Jasmar, Jews, Christians, and Muslims do not worship the same God. Jews believe that God is alone in the God-head, the same as Muslims, but its not the same God as the Muslims. They worship Allah, and he is not the same as God from judaism. Christians believe in a trinity, as I explained in the questions from the bible thread, and as such hold Jesus to be God. This is blasphemy to the muslims, and a stupid joke to the Jews.