IS INTERFAITH VIABLE?

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

In Buddhism: what happens after death?

A lot of Buddhist beliefs are devoted to that subject but yet is any of it factual?

Can a Buddhist still be a Buddhist but also acknowledge "This is what we believe but for all practical purposes, we can not prove one iota?"

I would say "Yes!"

Religions, such as Buddhism and Christianity, provide their followers with hope based on faith at what happens after a person dies. But in reality, what 'special' things happen after death can not be proven - it is just a theory.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

In Buddhism: what happens after death?

A lot of Buddhist beliefs are to that subject but yet is any of it factual?

Can a Buddhist still be a Buddhist devoted but also acknowledge "This is what we believe but for all practical purposes, we can not prove one iota?"

I would say "Yes!"

Basically the processes of rebirth continue with death, though there is no identity or entity enduring the process according to the philosophy, but still, the Buddhist symbolic structure is internalised as personal identity, and Buddhists become collectively violent when the religion is undermined as this tendency is inherent to all religious identification. In recent times, it's mainly Buddhist conflict with Muslims, but of course, the Islamic religious identity is constructed in the same way; just with a different set of symbols. Buddhists vs. Tamils (mostly Hindu) is another recent example. Of course all these religions give lip service to peace, compassion, forgiveness and all the good stuff, but they don't understand how the act of religious identification is inherently violent in the first place, and hence the conflict between identified groups will continue until such time as these groups cease.


Understand that what I'm saying is not an attack. It doesn't hurt anyone to lose their religion and I have no interest in making people do that, but if they did, it would not hurt anyone. They will still wake up, have breakfast, drop the kids at school, go to work and live their lives just as they did before - just without the delusion of symbolic identity systems which are only constructs of thought.

[feather]

The Bahai religion believes in the worth of all religions and unity of all people

[feather]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

Religions, such as Buddhism and Christianity, provide their followers with hope based on faith at what happens after a person dies. But in reality, what 'special' things happen after death can not be proven - it is just a theory.

Amen to that BigJohn - the truth will be what the truth will be

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by feather

The Bahai religion believes in the worth of all religions and unity of all people

I really like the Baháʼí people....... they are down to Earth.

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by feather

Amen to that BigJohn - the truth will be what the truth will be

I am glad to see somebody believes in the viability of interfaith. For moment, I thought the idea was a 'lost' cause.

Originally Posted by BigJohn

I am glad to see somebody believes in the viability of interfaith. For moment, I thought the idea was a 'lost' cause.

I also believe in interfaith.
Which is in part a big reason why I stick around this forum.
I wish to understand peoples spiritual ways of faith better.

I do find it hard to see past differences, since there is a lot of different
ways of expression and langue, to describe a subject.
I however believe people are basically the same on a core level.

My main beliefs come from the Way of the Pipe(As handed down from The White Buffalo calf Maiden)
We follow the Hoop of Life. One teaching of the Hoop is the four colors of people.
Black(Water),Red(Earth),Yellow(Air),White(Fire).
All people being equal on the Hoop of Life
but each has their own medicine or uniqueness.
All people worthy of Love, kindness and respect,etc. etc....
Another main teaching is All are my relatives(Or All is connected)
So from the Rock people to the Eagle people and beyond in All direction
we strive to see our connection, even to the unseen worlds.

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by ImthatIm

I also believe in interfaith.
Which is in part a big reason why I stick around this forum.
I wish to understand peoples spiritual ways of faith better.

I do find it hard to see past differences, since there is a lot of different
ways of expression and langue, to describe a subject.
I however believe people are basically the same on a core level.

My main beliefs come from the Way of the Pipe(As handed down from The White Buffalo calf Maiden)
We follow the Hoop of Life. One teaching of the Hoop is the four colors of people.
Black(Water),Red(Earth),Yellow(Air),White(Fire).
All people being equal on the Hoop of Life
but each has their own medicine or uniqueness.
All people worthy of Love, kindness and respect,etc. etc....
Another main teaching is All are my relatives(Or All is connected)
So from the Rock people to the Eagle people and beyond in All direction
we strive to see our connection, even to the unseen worlds.

Would it be a nice feeling to go from one belief system's house of worship to another and be accepted?

Not to far away from me is a Pentecostal type Church. I talked to one of the members and as we concluded our conversation, he asked to attend a meeting and said I might be able to give a talk. Apparently, we did have a lot in common.

Originally Posted by BigJohn

Would it be a nice feeling to go from one belief system's house of worship to another and be accepted?

Not to far away from me is a Pentecostal type Church. I talked to one of the members and as we concluded our conversation, he asked to attend a meeting and said I might be able to give a talk. Apparently, we did have a lot in common.

I am reminded of the song imagine, by Lennon.

Perhaps if more people concentrated on spirit of the message instead of arguing about the finer points of the meaning of the words and missing the whole point.

http://www.theinvisiblegorilla.com/videos.html#tryit