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“Why should they accept any other religion? Why should Muslims or Wiccans or Hindus? If they truly believe they are on the path to Heaven and that it is the only path why should they embrace paths leading away from Heaven?”
To the best of my knowledge, each and every single religion on the planet includes a “heaven” of one type or another in it’s structure, or at least some kind of reward that can be achieved for exemplifying the qualities most admired in that culture. Even Atheists have a socially motivated moral code. In your reply, you have either twisted the meaning of “accept”, or perhaps I have not made myself clear. Perhaps “respect” would be more appropriate. Respect, understanding, even mere tolerance would be preferable to the persecutions non-Judeo-Christian religions face in America today. Respect and acceptance of another’s belief structure, does not in any way imply that a person does not hold fast to their own beliefs, nor does it even endorse another religion. One must remember that there are many versions of “heaven” and many paths to acquire entrance. To deny or deride the existence of alternant views and religions, instigated by anyone of any faith, is in my personal opinion arrogant and selfish.
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“I wont speak for Christians but I will speak on behalf of Christianity and it teaches that all of us are evil, which is why we need Christ's perfectly good redemption.”
This is one of the main differences in theology, I believe. Christianity is a wonderful, loving religion, except when it is used to “lash” non-Christians. Most people of the world today know that there can be an underlying “evilness” that human being strive to over come, a selfish antisocial motivation to quench the fires of perceived, and natural, needs, wants, and perceptions. Each religion has it’s own series of checks and balances to help define what that culture considers “evil”, and to assist those in that community to act in ways socially and religiously acceptable and responsible in that society. Christianity utilizes the Christ to achieve that purpose.
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“Depends upon the context. What other nation besides Christian America has had so many diverse religious groups living peacefully as good neighbors?”
Oh, lets see, India, Japan, China, England, Italy, South America, Canada, Russia…
Need I go on? I assume you are speaking contemporarily. Even here in the States, there are disturbingly prevalent examples of persecution and violence, by Christians, towards others who do not follow that faith. From pagan, Wiccan, Muslim, and other groups being denied access to parks and buildings for worship practices when Christians are freely allowed, to verbal abuse in public, education, and work environments, to violence among our children in schools merely for having a different religion. Do a search on the Internet for violence or hate against pagans and Wiccans in the US by Christians, then do a search for the opposite; it will defiantly be an eye opener. The difference is that the pagan and Wiccan communities are reacting, defending our stance in legal and free speech forums, where the Fundies are actively persecuting people of other religions. The Fundamental Christian element is the instigator, the “big bully” in the schoolyards of the religious community.
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Xris, I in no way attack Christianity as a religion. As I said, it is a wonderful religion when a few members of that faith aren’t busy trying to convert the world. I will defend as strongly your right to worship, as you feel fit, as I will defend mine tooth and nail, but only in an atmosphere of equality, understanding, and respect. The Judeo-Christian God and his Son are not the only Gods of this world, and in my opinion, as soon as that minority in the Christian and Islamic faiths cease their “Fundie Manifesto”, the world will be a much better place. I intend only to provoke thought, to further the ideals of mutual understanding and respect.
It has been years since I read the Bible, but I seem to recall a passage relating to the evils of “blind faith”, if someone who is more intimately familiar with the scriptures would be so kind as to supply the referent passages.
"Oops, it appears I have run over your dogma with my karma."
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