All the Middle Eastern religions (short of the Ba'hai, as far as I know) seem to have the fire and brimstone edge to them. Basically, we are born worthless and in a state of despair (without accepting Christ or Allah).
There just isn't all that damnation baggage in the Eastern religion and even when there are overlaps, the ME religions come across as inferior (IMO). The downside in Buddhism is that if you don't ascend to a higher level, you could go down the spiritual ladder and be on the treadmill forever, doomed to continued suffering like we have here on Earth. It isn't a punishment, but more a recognition of the reality of physical existence. It is exceedingly hard to get points as an ant or other lower lifeform, according to this doctrine because you just don't get many opportunities.
That is what is cool about it, Greg, -- it celebrates our humanity and spiritual uniqueness without setting us apart from our environment and our responsibility in the greater physical world. The truths are representation so therefore don't have to be absolutely true. The truth lies in the obviousness and gentleness of the religion as a whole. The whole Judeo-Christian ethic has largely led us to do really horrible things (to ourselves and our environment) because of the interpretation of certain scriptural passages. If you aren't in lock-step with the philosophy, there is not gentleness, there is anger.
I've always said that the Bible has pretty much anything you want to argue in it. Solon has gone over the top on it I think, but it is generally true. I've heard people tell me that I'm not as good as a now Born-Again serial murderer who tortured his victims in the eyes of the Lord because I haven't "found Christ" (whatever that means). Never mind that I've really gone out of my way to right my wrongs and to do the right thing by all creatures under my control. That just doesn't count - that's a bogus philosophy for me.
For someone who is holistic and sees the big picture, without considerable manipulation of scripture, it just isn't going to appeal to someone like me. I have a good friend that claims to be a Christian, but he would probably not be a "good" Christian according to many because he believes in multiple paths. "I am the way" could be interpreted to mean, "I am the way for me, and you are the way for you" where "I" is a representational abstraction of the self.
Tell me that you could allow such a liberal interpretation and still qualify as a Christian in your viewpoint! I don't think you would or can. I know that there are considerable doctrinal problems between your flavor of Christianity and those of the Catholics or even other charismatic Christian sects.
Sorry, but I just don't see Christianity as being a one size fits all religion that is a UNIQUE source of UNIVERSAL truth. You can make some pretty decent spiritual progress with parts of the doctrine but for me it is way too limited in its scope and has a certain inflexibility to it. Seems way too primitive and unevolved (IMO). |
