A more open-minded Christianity?

[SeekerOfKnowledge]

While I have re-joined Christianity on paper, despite the fact that I normally do not like organized religions (I felt a strong pull towards Jesus lately, as I see him, which is why), I still have problems to see Christianity as the only one true religion.

Jesus invited *****s and tollkeepers to his table, the most despised people of his time. Would he really condemn everyone who doesn't follow him to Hell?
Would the one who sacrificed himself to save humankind, who took so much suffering upon himself just to help others, really judge others by their backgrounds or beliefs?

Would Buddha go to Hell? Would Socrates go to Hell? Just because they were born too early and had their own ideas on how a soul could grow?

Will I go to Hell just because I still believe in reincarnation and that there is a personal way to God (whom you may find inside your own heart) for each single individual? Because I still think that all religions are equally valid? Because I am all pro tolerance and peace?

If so, then Hell may welcome me. I'd rather go to Hell than judge others or feel superior because of a personal choice.

[SaturninePluto]

I actually worship the Christian God, so I very much consider myself Christian, despite other Christians may not consider me this, and they wont.

My biggest problems with Christianity recently comes in 4 Easy to read grievances. They are:

1. The hatred preached in the bible- is not tolerable in my eyes and spirit as a living breathing human being, I refuse to condemn and hate others, based off more than a few men babbling off at the mouths about God, and what they consider sins.

2. Just as you said. They judge others for their beliefs. They are right everyone else is wrong. As a follower of God, I took a vow not to judge. Or do people (many Christian) seem to forget this commandment? It's there.

3. Number three is a big one for me and goes in hand with the bibles thoughts on divination, and prophecy. Prophecy goes in hand with the divination I practice, because that sort of what it technically is. I do not get my information from readings from wanton spirits. I get it clairsentially in communication with God. Most, not all, but most Christians seem to think that prophecy can not happen anymore, and died along with what? The last apostles was it? According to most Christians, God does not give the gift of Prophecy no longer. I find this arguable. I didn't learn about racism from the news, or my friends from school when I was a child. Or my parents as they were the one's who I pointed the finger at or rather questioned. At a young age we were watching a school play of one of my brothers. My parents were talking about politics and my father said something against someone, though that young I was not even aware of racism. In that instant where he said it, a voice began to speak to me, he told me he could not believe the level of racism that came out of my parents mouth. I had no idea what the word meant and asked the voice- Racism? "Yes Racist, Racism" I asked then what it meant, and the voice said it was hatred against the color of a person's skin, and asked me why it is they did that? This resulted in me telling my parents to stop being racist, and my father asked me where I heard that word- they had never talked to me about it- I told him God told me. And I didn't care what anyone thought, because it was true. No one around me in my area ever talked about racism- a lot of the adults were, and us kids really didn't care what they had to say.

That's number three. Christians do not allow for prophecy when I damn well know it still exists.

And we come to 4- There are way too many rules for me to be able to attend church and way too much trauma. When I was young I was sexually harassed by a Catholic priest during confessional. I've wanted recently to go back to church, there is a Catholic one not far from here, but as of yet I have not done so. The Catholics are harsh. Kneeling, and from what I remember of when I was young they were very strict within the congregation.

Essentially my number 4 issue with Christianity is that it is very very outdated for these times. It is very outdated, harsh, judgmental, and a lot of practices simply need a re-write. A new Christianity throughout the world I feel is sorely needed, very much so. But such ideas within the world as it is now, only get you branded as a devil by the religious. They don't want change. And it's there religion.

That is why I practice my own form of Christianity. I put faith in the moral code I find very important in Christianity and I merely cast all advocated hatreds aside.

And I worship the Christian God now instead of in a musty, painful Catholic church that holds nothing but very painful and embarrassing memories for me, in the privacy of my own home.

I worship God in reverence and in the privacy of my own home.

And until I can go into a church without automatic hateful dirty looks and other such abuses from Christianities followers, then I wish not be a part of their congregation.

I have respect highly for the morals set forth in the religion. I have much less respect for some of its abusive followers.

Actually make the words much less into no.

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by SeekerOfKnowledge

Jesus invited *****s and tollkeepers to his table, the most despised people of his time. Would he really condemn everyone who doesn't follow him to Hell?
Would the one who sacrificed himself to save humankind, who took so much suffering upon himself just to help others, really judge others by their backgrounds or beliefs?

Invited them to his table...good one...needed to be said!
You got it...the most despised!

[barrynu]

Welcome back to the world of God Seekerofknowledge
I agree with the words of Jesus but there is a lot of different interpretations of what he was saying regarding heaven and hell and "The way" to get there.The main teaching of Jesus was Love.
I like the teachings of Jesus but I also like some Hindu Teachings,I also like Buddha as he made people think about their existence...so what religion am I so???I don't have a specific religion but I know God exists just like the Hindu's and the Hare Krishna's etc.. know that God exists.The Native Americans have the great spirit in the sky.

I see the timeline as buddha brought serious thinking,Jesus brought unconditional Love,Muhammad brought devotion and cleanliness,the hindu's brought an everlasting journey with reincarnation...They are all parts of a big picture and you can get by with one of these parts but a full picture is much more rewarding to look at....There are probably more parts that I have not mentioned too.

You won't go to hell as it was a metaphor for something that i will not go into here.Hell is a place in the Human mind is a simple explaination.

Jesus died on the cross and came back to life to prove that death was not the end,thats my opinion which has nothing to do with dying for our sins..I believe the crucifixtion is not understood fully,but its not a problem either if you want to believe in "dying for our sins" as the most important lesson from jesus is LOVE.
Love your enemies,but better still Don't make enemies and be tolerent of your neighbour's even if they are buddhist's or muslim's or Hindu's etc...

Here is a little example of how jesus was.
.A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.)

[SeekerOfKnowledge]

Thank you, all of you, for your responses.

Unconditional love, peace and tolerance is what it is all about or should be if you ask me (but who am I, and what do I know...). That, and forgiveness. To forgive yourself and others. And do it better next time. As God and Jesus already have forgiven us, as Jesus by his sacrifice already has taken all our sins upon himself so that we are free.

So I am free and already have been forgiven. What else should I do then than spread the light?

And I am quite sure that Jesus won't mind that I still appreciate and adore the teachings of Buddha and the current Dalai Lama. Or the teachings of Ancient Greek philosophers, as long as I conclude from it that we are all one and thus should be compassionate. "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" I, personally read this as a guidance to ultimate unconditional love and forgiveness. Towards yourself and to others.

[Shivani Devi]

Originally Posted by SeekerOfKnowledge

While I have re-joined Christianity on paper, despite the fact that I normally do not like organized religions (I felt a strong pull towards Jesus lately, as I see him, which is why), I still have problems to see Christianity as the only one true religion.

Jesus invited *****s and tollkeepers to his table, the most despised people of his time. Would he really condemn everyone who doesn't follow him to Hell?
Would the one who sacrificed himself to save humankind, who took so much suffering upon himself just to help others, really judge others by their backgrounds or beliefs?

Would Buddha go to Hell? Would Socrates go to Hell? Just because they were born too early and had their own ideas on how a soul could grow?

Will I go to Hell just because I still believe in reincarnation and that there is a personal way to God (whom you may find inside your own heart) for each single individual? Because I still think that all religions are equally valid? Because I am all pro tolerance and peace?

If so, then Hell may welcome me. I'd rather go to Hell than judge others or feel superior because of a personal choice.

I think of it this way...and it is also a conundrum.

The concept of Hell is basically a Christian one, so it is Christians who believe in Hell.

What if you weren't a Christian and didn't believe in Hell? Would you still go to Hell?

Now, according to a Christian, you would...because that is their belief, but if you don't believe what the Christians do, what then?

[SeekerOfKnowledge]

Thank you, Shivani Devi,

I like the way how are you thinking.

I am Christian yet I am not. I feel drawn to Jesus, true. I wish I could be more like him (as I, personally, see him). I am striving for unconditional love, forgiveness and being non-judgemental.

[sky]

You don't have to be a christian to follow the teachings ofJesus Christ. I call it, Jesus without the baggage.

[barrynu]

Originally Posted by sky123

You don't have to be a christian to follow the teachings ofJesus Christ. I call it, Jesus without the baggage.

I like that,but I will go one step further so forgive me if I offend anyone.
Jesus without that Damn Heavy Cross!.....but Alas,that is not the full picture,its only looking at the joy of his life but its how I view the world,,,with joy.

[SeekerOfKnowledge]

Originally Posted by sky123

You don't have to be a christian to follow the teachings ofJesus Christ. I call it, Jesus without the baggage.

Can't find the "thumbs up" emoticon... very well said, thanks.