IS INTERFAITH VIABLE?

[The Cobbler's Apprentice]

Unity is fundamental. Once known, diversity can follow without mishap.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by The Cobbler's Apprentice

Is inter-faith viable? Maybe not, but if it is, it begins with ourselves.

It's just the identity issue will always perpetuate 'us and them', which makes religious interfaith unviable. If we drop the religious identity, there is no religious person, and nothing to 'inter-anything'. People will still be religiously identified and trying to make inter-religion work, but they don't understand that becoming religious in the first place created the problem, and are not prepared to address the cause. This implies not religion in particular, but identity structures in general.

[BigJohn]

Why get hung up on 'us and them'?
Is it not just 'us'?

[The Cobbler's Apprentice]

It is why "selflessness" is another fundamental throughout the Faith Traditions. Fully realised there can be no "other".

Evil ones unite in chaos.
The noble ones just keep bickering about themselves as to which path leads to freedom.

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by Eelco

Evil ones unite in chaos.
The noble ones just keep bickering about themselves as to which path leads to freedom.

Noble ones? Ha!
I would add:
The Wise accept and know all is taking it's perfect course and remain at peace.

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by The Cobbler's Apprentice

...Fully realised (know) there can be no "other".

I do not want to appear as a contrarian...but I would offer
that one would not have to be fully realized ---
just have to have experienced ONE time all is One, to know.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

Why get hung up on 'us and them'?
Is it not just 'us'?

First there's just people, but then some start to identify as religious, Christian, Jew, Buddhist etc. When you become a Christian, for example, you separate yourself from 'not-Christians'. Thus the very act of becoming religious un-unifies, and it's folly to un-unify and then say we want to interfaith.

[The Cobbler's Apprentice]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

I do not want to appear as a contrarian...

I'm happy to accept most sects.

I was simply following the logic that if we self-identify as white, we shall inevitably see black. Only the realisation of complete selflessness will dissolve what/who we see as "other". I have certainly not "achieved" such a state.

Personally I have never had an almighty experience that "teaches" me with one single stroke of illumination.

But your words have given me pause for what passes for "thought" in my mind, in.between sipping my extra-hot cappuccino and munching on my bacon butty. I must get back to Bodhidharma's sermon on "The Entry Into The Way" for further clarification.

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by Gem

First there's just people, but then some start to identify as religious, Christian, Jew, Buddhist etc. When you become a Christian, for example, you separate yourself from 'not-Christians'. Thus the very act of becoming religious un-unifies, and it's folly to un-unify and then say we want to interfaith.

I don't 'see' it that way.

From what I have 'seen', most people are born into a religion. When they go to school, shopping, etc., they interreact with people of other beliefs. That interaction sometimes motivates a person to look at other religions to see what they are all about. If the interaction is 'good', the person may start accepting beliefs from that religion they were looking at.

Look at the New Age people......... they have accepted a lot of beliefs from various religions. Look at the various religions that accept as 'norm' the belief in Chakras and Auras? Look at the various religions that believe in Angels, Heaven, Hell, etc. These beliefs seem to have come about thru assimilation of other beliefs, not thru separation.