"You are true to your own beliefs if..."

[labguy22]

I have been reading a book on Buddhism, and read a quote from Ashoka the Great (304 B.C.E. - 232 B.C.E) a fierce warrior and conqueror who converted to Buddhism; creating a fourteen point edict of compassion and non-violence.
"You are true to your own beliefs if you accord kindly treatment to adherents of other faiths. You harm your own religion by harassing followers of other creeds."
or
"Whoever praises his own religion, due to excessive devotion, and condemns others with the thought "Let me glorify my own religion," only harms his own religion. Therefore contact (between religions) is good."

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Ashoka

[Pablo Rafael]

Good thought, Nick,

I am a Christian and I make no apologies for being a Christian. I personally desire to see Christianity spread througout the world. I believe that only happens through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is not of our power, and when we try to force those beliefs on others, I believe we only hinder the work of God. Just a quick look through history shows the devestation brought about when one group imposes its beliefs on others.

Also from a practical standpoint: I think no one has the "true" religion. I feel that no one's belief system is perfect. All are influenced by human frailty and prejudice. I have long since cast aside the convictions of my youth when I thought I had everything figured out.

When people say we should have a Christian government in the United States, I disagree with them, usually to their surprise. From what I have seen, when religion influences government, a legalistic, materialistic, fundamentalist Christianity seems to take hold. That is NOT my Christianity. If God himself would come down and run things, I would be happy, but I don't want to be forced to adhere to someone else's idea of religion.

I might not agree with the beliefs of others, but they have a right to hold those beliefs just as much as I have a right to hold mine.

Tu Amigo, Pablo

[sailaway58]

Growing up in a church that taught everyone but us is going to hell, well maybe the Nazarenes had a chance to join us, I felt an urgency to correct the Catholics, or anyone that wasn't like me. I grew out of that and although my church had pretty conservative and restrictive values my family did not. Combing our conservative church with a little common sense ultimately made for a pretty balanced view of life.
Tony Compola (SP?) was put in a corner and asked if Muslims, Buddhists. or Hindus would go to heaven. He said he didn't know but if they do it is because of Jesus Christ. At the time I was a little disappointed with his answer. I wanted him to make a clear stand for "truth!"
In reality he stated the very crux of our Christian faith. Jesus said, "no man comes to the father except by me"
He stood for his faith without the condemnation of others. I have used his words several times over the years.