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Pastimes : Understanding Islam -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: uu who wrote (156)	10/18/2001 10:57:12 AM
From: James Calladine	Respond to of 2926

RELIGIONS: If you examine the history of religions of various kinds, you find there is a certain pattern: -- each originates with a great Teacher -- the exact Teaching that was given during that lifetime if often IMPERFECTLY recorded in "hard copy" form, but rather passed on from the disciples remaining after the death of the original Teacher in verbal communications -- very often as much as HUNDREDS of years after the original Teacher has left the physical, the various existing Teachings are collected and codified by a "priest class" who, in the process, establish their sovreignty and power -- that which is so promulgated may be FAR removed from the original Teaching The merit of the original Teacher is generally that they are a more direct manifestestation of the the Divine, BY FAR, than the average man. The Priests, generally speaking are very little advanced beyond the average man. People act as if the ONLY Teachers of merit lived thousands of years ago. ABSOLUTELY not true. It is just that the RELIGIONS have existed that long. The religions as they exist may have very little to do with the original Teaching. Man has a great ability to corrupt and defile Divine Wisdom and Truth. In the common era (in my personal view, there have been a number of great Teachers at least of the status of Krishna, Buddha, Mohammed, Jesus. In this category I would nominate Swami Muktananda, Ramana Maharshi, Meher Baba, Swami Vivekananda, Ramakrishna. There have been others as well. There are also LIVING Great Teachers. Mine is Adi Da (see www.adidam.org). What is the difference between a living or dead Teacher (or Guru)? Adi Da says: "Dead Gurus don't kick ass" Namaste! Jim

To: uu who wrote (156)	10/18/2001 11:24:51 AM
From: IN_GOD_I_TRUST	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 2926

You mention two belief systems which I am intimate with. I was born a Jew, and believe in the Christian faith. Firstly, I agree with you about religion. Religion is man made and formed basically to control people. There is no "right" religion in this world. However, IMO, there is a correct belief system. And that is Christianity. Belief and religion are very different things. You do not need religion to have a relationship with God. As for the religion you mention, Judaism (Christianity is not a religion, it is a belief!) it is not a violent religion. In fact, it is very peaceful. Most Jews, and specifically Israel, find themselves defending themselves most of the time, rather than being on the offensive. The verses you read in the Old Testament, that are clearly, violent, which there is no doubt about, are meant for a specific group of people, at a specific time. It was to keep the Jews together, according to God's will, because if they did not partake in these acts, Judaism would have been eradicated. However, any violence in the Old Testament was close ended to a specific place and time. And once Israel and the Jews were intact, any violence is condemned. (Punishment for crimes, however, are an exception. But they are defensive acts, not offensive.) So you must ask, well is the Islamic teachings close ended and only meant for a specific time? That would make them OK. Well, personally, I have studied Islamic teachings (along with Judaism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism) and they are very open ended. They are not meant for a specific place and time. They are meant forever, including today. They are very offensive in nature (i.e. - terrorism). So that is what the difference between Judaism and Islam, and why Islam is violent and Judaism is not (and most other major religions for that matter!). God Bless, Steve