Respect for the Spiritual Path of others

@suzianne said
But, you know what? I don't think Jesus would be very happy about his "followers", who take his name in their religion, when they continually put down other religions and claim they are the "chosen ones" over a majority of the rest of the world. Quoting the Bible isn't exactly going to prove your position to people brought up under a different religion than you. Every tim ...[text shortened]... How can we turn our backs on the world now? Do we no longer lift our lamp beside the golden door?

Matthew 22
37And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38“This is the great and foremost commandment. 39“The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40“On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 7 
12“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Christianity doesn't have the above at its core. When you boil everything down, this IS the problem with Christianity and hence Christians. How can you not see that?

Christianity has believing in the atoning sacrifice at its core. Christianity has accepting "the free gift" at its core.

@thinkofone said
Matthew 22
37And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38“This is the great and foremost commandment. 39“The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40“On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 7 
12“In everything, therefore, treat ...[text shortened]... ieving in the atoning sacrifice at its core. Christianity has accepting "the free gift" at its core.

Listen to yourself.

The two greatest commandments ARE the core of Christianity despite Christians themselves not following them, and people like you who love to claim otherwise just to have something to beat them up about. Those who choose not to heed these greatest commandments are the failed Christians, not mainstream Christians, regardless of how long you beat the drum.

You take the fringe and use them to represent the mainstream. Republicans do this too. You're both wrong.

@rajk999 said
Jesus is the way to God, not Christianity. Christianity preaches a doctrine contrary to Christ and is the way to damnation. Jesus says that these people here enter the Kingdom of God :
- the peacemakers
- the charitable givers
- the merciful
- those who help the needy
- those who feed the poor
- those who clothe the naked
- the truthful
- the righteous

Jesus a ...[text shortened]... Jesus is the life - life eternal, and the judge of who gets life eternal and who gets eternal death.

It is also written:

John 5:"36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You study[c] the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life."

Here is the big issue of not believing the one who was sent.

We also have lines like:

Hebrews 4:2: For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

Faith is an essential element and it is really missing from your list.

Instead, you are preaching [i]salvation by works alone, picking and choosing only what you want of the Bible.

Why believe at all? For you do not believe the Bible, but believe only in the piecemeal garment that you have stitched together.

@philokalia said
Why believe at all?

Do you believe following Jesus' teaching is a good way for people to live their lives?

@thinkofone said
Matthew 22
37And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38“This is the great and foremost commandment. 39“The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40“On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 7 
12“In everything, therefore, treat ...[text shortened]... ieving in the atoning sacrifice at its core. Christianity has accepting "the free gift" at its core.

John 18:37
Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

@suzianne said
Listen to yourself.

The two greatest commandments ARE the core of Christianity despite Christians themselves not following them, and people like you who love to claim otherwise just to have something to beat them up about. Those who choose not to heed these greatest commandments are the failed Christians, not mainstream Christians, regardless of how long you beat the dru ...[text shortened]... e the fringe and use them to represent the mainstream. Republicans do this too. You're both wrong.

The two greatest commandments ARE the core of Christianity despite Christians themselves not following them, and people like you who love to claim otherwise just to have something to beat them up about.

In your mind what is the essential requirement for "salvation"? For "eternal life"? For "living in the Kingdom"?

You take the fringe and use them to represent the mainstream.

By definition the "mainstream" are the majority and the "fringe" are a small minority. Do you disagree?

Year in and year out, the majority of Christians have voted Republican in the presidential elections:
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/09/how-the-faithful-voted-a-preliminary-2016-analysis/ft_16-11-09_relig_exitpoll_religrace/

How does that square with what you've written here and elsewhere?

@kellyjay said
John 18:37
Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

If you have a point, then plainly state it.

@thinkofone said
If you have a point, then plainly state it.

Are we saved by our efforts or Jesus'?
Why did Jesus come into the world?
Why did Jesus leave this world?

@kellyjay said
Are we saved by our efforts or Jesus'?
Why did Jesus come into the world?
Why did Jesus leave this world?

How about this suggestion:

Are we saved by our efforts or Jesus'?

Jesus' teaching, if observed by humanity, might help to "save" us from ourselves.

Why did Jesus come into the world?

Because his parents decided to have children.

He grew up to be a maverick rabbi. He caused quite a stir.

Why did Jesus leave this world?

We all die. He was executed - in his prime - by the Romans.

@kellyjay said
Are we saved by our efforts or Jesus'?
Why did Jesus come into the world?
Why did Jesus leave this world?

If you don't want to plainly state your point, then don't.

@chaney3 said
Because no matter how cordial Suzianne may be to you, or Ghost, or the Buddhist, in the end.....she knows SHE is right.

She'll be nice to you, but so what. In the end, she did you no justice.

You are not making sense. Suzianne is cordial. Suzianne is a Christian. Ghost of a Duke and I are not Christians. Ghost of a Duke and I know what Christian beliefs are. Ghost of a Duke and I know that Suzianne is a Christian. Ghost of a Duke and I know what her beliefs are - she talks about them all the time. She has explained her beliefs to us. She knows that we do not have the same beliefs as her. How is Suzianne 'being cordial' a case of her doing "no justice".

@thinkofone said
If you don't want to plainly state your point, then don't.

No, the point is Jesus, not us. Our salvation is through Him, and He came into the world for a reason, everything He said and did was for a reason after He died and rose from the dead it was for a reason. It is in Him we are saved, due to Him, that is just the beginning from there life begins loving God and each other. It is He who calls and we who answer, this is being done today with each of His.

His influence was not limited to what was said and done while He walked the earth. If all He did were done and said while He walked the earth, He would be no different from any other dead guy now. You may as well have Bob as your savior.

@kellyjay said
No, the point is Jesus, not us. Our salvation is through Him, and He came into the world for a reason, everything He said and did was for a reason after He died and rose from the dead it was for a reason. It is in Him we are saved, due to Him, that is just the beginning from there life begins loving God and each other. It is He who calls and we who answer, this is being done ...[text shortened]... arth, He would be no different from any other dead guy now. You may as well have Bob as your savior.

Presumably you read what I wrote to Suzianne and wanted to make a point about it. It would be best if you explicitly stated what point you're trying to make in regards to my post to her.

@suzianne said
Listen to yourself.

The two greatest commandments ARE the core of Christianity despite Christians themselves not following them, and people like you who love to claim otherwise just to have something to beat them up about. Those who choose not to heed these greatest commandments are the failed Christians, not mainstream Christians, regardless of how long you beat the dru ...[text shortened]... e the fringe and use them to represent the mainstream. Republicans do this too. You're both wrong.

At the core of Christianity is faith and faith alone. There is no teachings about loving your neighbour. This fact has been demonstrated on this forum many many times.

@thinkofone said
If you don't want to plainly state your point, then don't.

You ask the man to state his point and he responds with 3 questions.