Is Jesus The Only Way?

[Green Tree]

Originally Posted by sky123

Can you see Buddhism in The Gospel of Thomas ?

I see similarities for sure. It is believed that Jesus learned from Buddhist teachers while in India.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Green Tree

I see similarities for sure. It is believed that Jesus learned from Buddhist teachers while in India.

Yes thats my opinion also, I firmly believe Jesus studied Buddhism during his lost years. If he didn't then he certainly connected with universal dharma..

[spiritualll]

I think you miss the point. They want to believe that Jesus is the only way because they are already attracted and put their faith in a monotheistic religion.
This type of religion searches for a supreme truth(which is a good thing) but disregards other sources of truth, which in my opinion is a bad thing.

My mother who is a Christian always tells that this is the only true religion because other religions such as Hinduism according to her worship cows or even rats and Islam for example leads to war, etc.

On the other hand, Jesus is unique for dying on the cross and his resurrection.
According to Christians, all the other religion founders died. Only Jesus rose to heaven.

[Green Tree]

Originally Posted by sky123

Yes thats my opinion also, I firmly believe Jesus studied Buddhism during his lost years. If he didn't then he certainly connected with universal dharma..

Well said. Jesus was indeed in touch with the dharma.

[Green Tree]

Originally Posted by spiritualll

I think you miss the point. They want to believe that Jesus is the only way because they are already attracted and put their faith in a monotheistic religion.
This type of religion searches for a supreme truth(which is a good thing) but disregards other sources of truth, which in my opinion is a bad thing.

I understand their position, beliefs, and desire for me to share in it. I was a Christian for many, many years.

Originally Posted by spiritualll

On the other hand, Jesus is unique for dying on the cross and his resurrection.
According to Christians, all the other religion founders died. Only Jesus rose to heaven.

Jesus is not the only historical figure who "died and rose again".

"History records many dying-and-rising saviors. Examples from the Ancient Near East that preceded the Jesus story include Tammuz, Osiris, Dionysus, Adonis, Attis, and Baal. Here is a brief introduction.
Tammuz was the Sumerian god of food and vegetation and dates from c. 2000 BCE. His death was celebrated every spring. One version of the story has him living in the underworld for six months each year, alternating with his sister.
Osirus was killed by his brother Set and cut into many pieces and scattered. His wife Isis gathered the pieces together, and he was reincarnated as the Egyptian god of the underworld and judge of the dead. He was worshipped well before 2000 BCE.
Dionysus (known as Bacchus in Roman mythology) was the Greek god of wine and dates to the 1200s BCE. The son of Zeus and a mortal woman, Dionysus was killed and then brought back to life.
Adonis (from 600 BCE) is a Greek god who was killed and then returned to life by Zeus.
Attis (from 1200 BCE) is a vegetation god from central Asia Minor, brought back to life by his lover Cybele.
In Canaanite religion, Baal (Baʿal) was part of a cycle of life and death. Baal and Mot are sons of the supreme god El (yes, one of the names of the Jewish god). When El favored the death god Mot over Baal, the heat of the summer took over and Baal died. He was resurrected when his sister-wife killed Mot.
All these gods:
came from regions that were close enough to the crossroads of Israel (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Asia Minor) for the ideas to have plausibly made it there,
were worshipped well before the time of Jesus, and
were of the dying-and-rising sort."

[sky]

Originally Posted by Green Tree

Well said. Jesus was indeed in touch with the dharma.

Have you read ' Living Buddha living Christ ? It's a beautiful book

[Green Tree]

Originally Posted by sky123

Have you read ' Living Buddha living Christ ? It's a beautiful book

I haven't read it. I'll check it out

[sky]

Originally Posted by Green Tree

I understand their position, beliefs, and desire for me to share in it. I was a Christian for many, many years.



Jesus is not the only historical figure who "died and rose again".

"History records many dying-and-rising saviors. Examples from the Ancient Near East that preceded the Jesus story include Tammuz, Osiris, Dionysus, Adonis, Attis, and Baal. Here is a brief introduction.
Tammuz was the Sumerian god of food and vegetation and dates from c. 2000 BCE. His death was celebrated every spring. One version of the story has him living in the underworld for six months each year, alternating with his sister.
Osirus was killed by his brother Set and cut into many pieces and scattered. His wife Isis gathered the pieces together, and he was reincarnated as the Egyptian god of the underworld and judge of the dead. He was worshipped well before 2000 BCE.
Dionysus (known as Bacchus in Roman mythology) was the Greek god of wine and dates to the 1200s BCE. The son of Zeus and a mortal woman, Dionysus was killed and then brought back to life.
Adonis (from 600 BCE) is a Greek god who was killed and then returned to life by Zeus.
Attis (from 1200 BCE) is a vegetation god from central Asia Minor, brought back to life by his lover Cybele.
In Canaanite religion, Baal (Baʿal) was part of a cycle of life and death. Baal and Mot are sons of the supreme god El (yes, one of the names of the Jewish god). When El favored the death god Mot over Baal, the heat of the summer took over and Baal died. He was resurrected when his sister-wife killed Mot.
All these gods:
came from regions that were close enough to the crossroads of Israel (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Asia Minor) for the ideas to have plausibly made it there,
were worshipped well before the time of Jesus, and
were of the dying-and-rising sort."

The resurrection in my understanding is about the realisation.....
There is no death only transformation, the story is of rebirth not a bodily resurrection as some believe.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Green Tree

I haven't read it. I'll check it out

You can get a free pdf, just look around....

[Green Tree]

Originally Posted by sky123

The resurrection in my understanding is about the realisation.....
There is no death only transformation, the story is of rebirth not a bodily resurrection as some believe.

Yep. All of these "resurrection" tales are about realization.