Religion
Questions 61-70
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THE
QUESTION:
RE70: Islam is the second-largest religion in America, and
growing fast. It accepts all the Jewish prophets and Jesus. Why is it
then, that many Jews and Christians have an aversion to Islam, even
though most Muslims are peaceful?
POSTED JUNE 26, 1998
Brad, Honolulu, HI
ANSWER 1:
1) Islam does not accept Jesus as Christians understand
him (second person of a triune God). See C.S. Lewis for a discussion
of the importance of accepting the divinity of Christ if acceptance
means anything. 2) Iranians may have good historic, cultural and
political reasons to hate the United States, but Muslims should not
be surprised that hearing a nation constantly chant "Death to
America" and identify the United States with Satan results in an
aversion to Islam. 3) Muslims practice their religion freely in the
United States - Christian missionaries are persecuted in Islamic
countries. I don't justify the aversion by these observations, but I
understand it.
POSTED AUG. 1, 1998
Charles B., 51, white
<owlfran@aol.com>,
Haverford, PA
FURTHER NOTICE:
Mohammed, the founder of Islam, did say that he
acknowledged the prophets of Israel and Jesus as prophets, but that
he was truly The Prophet of Allah (the name of God according to
Islam). Thus, what he says is the final truth, and all truth is
contained in the Koran. Christians believe Jesus is "The Prophet" of
YHWH (Yahweh or Yehovah; no one knows the vowels for certain) and
truly the Son of God and Messiah, as prophesied. Jesus taught that He
would be the last Prophet and that He was the fulfillment of the Law
(Torah) and all prophecy. All new revelation from God ceased with the
teaching of Jesus the Messiah, and any teaching from man or an angel
of God that does not completely conform with His teaching is not from
God. This is why Christians do not accept the teaching of Islam.
POSTED AUG. 3, 1998
Scott C., 40, Christian
<scampbel@netset.com>,
Worthington, OH
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
My introduction to Islam took place at the university.
Before that, I had no opinion about Islam and was only vaguely aware
of it. Many of the other students at this university were Islamic. I
was instructed by one that while Christians say "turn the other
cheek," Moslems say "hit back twice as hard." Those were his words.
He was from India. I was a graduate assistant and taught labs. One
day four men came up to me in a group and accused me of giving unfair
grades to them because of their ethnicity. They too were Islamic,
from Iran. As a lone woman, I was intimidated by this group of men. I
took their complaint to the head of the department, who gave the
papers to an instructor (also foreign, from Cameroon) to compare. He
returned them with the comment, "The grades are fair." These
instances and the things I have read about the treatment of women in
Islamic counties have given me a bad opinion of the Islamic
religion.
POSTED AUG. 7, 1998
Theist, 47, white, Ann Arbor , MI
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
Islam's image is that of a zealous, violent religion
intolerant of others' beliefs and religions. This may or may not be
accurate, but we all see Iran and the intolerance toward the writings
of Salmin Rushdie to the point of ordering his death, and we see the
lack of women's rights , forced female circumcision , suicide bombers
and kidnappings. This shapes our image. We never see Islam promoting
world peace, non-violence or women's rights.
POSTED AUG. 17, 1998
Dave
<GILSTRAP@MS13.HINET.NET>,
Easley, SC
FURTHER NOTICE 4:
In my humble opinion, the reason many Jews and Christians
have an aversion to Islam is because of some of the statements you
read here. Not because they are true, but because it's the common
belief. Some of the notions here are purely laughable to me. Many
misconceptions abound. The name of the religion "Islam" comes from
the Arabic root for "peace" or "tranquility." Most Muslims want
nothing more than peace. However, in the face of oppression, Muslims
must fight for what's right. As for unfair treatment of women, it
truly does not exist in an Islamic framework. Just because someone
states something is Islamic, or because they come from an "Islamic"
country, doesn't mean what they do is Islamic. Just as the ethnic
cleansing in Serbia, the KKK or the Spanish Inquisition should not be
considered "Christian." A little bit of research on the part of
individuals or the Western press will find that Islamic creed and
Christian creed are rather similar, and that a relationship built on
similarities instead of differences would be far more advantageous to
everyone.
POSTED SEPT. 21, 1998
David, 29, Muslim
<dk4@bigfoot.com>,
Washington, DC
FURTHER NOTICE 5:
Most of the aversion to Islam that I perceived as I grew
up in a Catholic environment was related to militant groups such as
Middle Eastern Muslim terrorists. Generally, Christian terrorists
kill themselves (i.e. the Branch Davidians in Waco, or the followers
of Jim Jones), whereas the Islamic terrorists are portrayed as
hijackers and kidnappers.
POSTED OCT. 7, 1998
Eric, 26, raised Catholic
<eze@home.com>, Bryn Mawr,
PA
FURTHER NOTICE 6:
I'm a young Muslim girl living in Morocco. I don't wear
tchador but I practice my religion in peace and respect those who
have other beliefs. Why do some people always associate Islam only
with Iran or India? I can assure you that most Muslim people only
want to live their religion in peace and harmony. Other problems are
rather politic issues. Islam does recognize other religions; the only
difference is that we don't believe Jesus is the son of God.
Unfortunately nowadays the media only focus on the problems in the
Muslim community, forgetting that the Muslim civilization has had her
glory period and that the problem of fundamentalism is due to
political deceptions, poverty and ignorance. Yes, ignorance because
Islam has preached tolerance: Few people understand that.
POSTED OCT. 9, 1998
Hind, 22, Moroccan
<yseult30@hotmail.com>
Morocco
FURTHER NOTICE 7:
1) They are not Christians; 2) They are not Jews; 3) They
are so closely connected to terrorism in the Middle East, i.e.
suicide bombings in Israel and Lebanon against Jews and Christians,
and the Iranian problem since 1979. Then there is the World Trade
Center bombing by Muslims, led by a Muslim cleric here in America.
Certainly most Muslims here are peaceful, but when Americans see all
these acts, including the subjugation of women in Afghanistan and
persecution of Christians and Jews where the Muslim religion controls
the government, you can't be too surprised that there is a general
attitude that a growing Muslim presence in America might not be
desirable. For better or worse, most stories about them around the
world are not very positive.
POSTED OCT. 26, 1998
Chris, 40, white male, Kokomo, IN
FURTHER NOTICE 8:
The real problem is the misconception concerning Islam.
Because of the media, when one thinks of Islam, they tend to think of
an Arab. The truth of the matter is that four out of five Muslims are
not Arab. One should not judge an entire religion based upon a few
misguided individuals. How many members of the KKK call themselves
Christians. Too many people take what they hear from the media (TV,
newspapers, magazines, etc.) as the truth. Most often, when a Muslim
is portrayed in the media or movie, he is a terrorist of some type.
My daughter attends an Islamic school with blacks, whites, Moroccans,
Pakistanis, etc. I have attended numerous Kutbah's (Friday Sermons),
fund raisers and events at the local Masjid and have never once heard
anyone speaking of hatred or intolerance toward other peoples or
their religion. Islam is a religion of tolerance. Islam translated
from Arabic means "total submission to the will of God." We must
learn to seek out the real truth before formulating an opinion. By
the way, I am a 32-year-old black American who converted to Islam
three years ago.
POSTED NOV. 3, 1998
David N., 32, black male
<davneal@aol.com>,
Baltimore, MD
FURTHER NOTICE 9:
I think many Americans (Jewish or Christian) have negative
feelings about Islam because the majority of our information about
Islamic religion and culture comes from the media. In the media, most
of the imagery is that of the more radical elements, which consist of
American flag burning, terrorist attacks, and general declarations
against "McWorld". They see Western culture as an attack on the way
of life of the true believers. Muslims praying and doing charity work
is hardly the kind of thing that would capture high ratings. However,
put 10,000 Muslims chanting "Death to America" and burning our flag
on TV, and you're bound to get some viewers.
POSTED NOV. 29, 1998
Rob, 26, white Christian guy
FURTHER NOTICE 10:
There could be several reasons for this. First, most
Christians tend to believe that Christianity is the final religion
ordained by God, and that Jesus was the final prophet and Messiah. To
believe in any other religion would be (to some) to deny God's will.
An example of this would be Fundementalist Christians. Since, in
their view, Jesus was the final prophet and Messiah sent by God, all
other religions are false. Muslims, on the other hand, believe Jesus
was merely a prophet, not the Messiah. Mohammed was the final
prophet; therefore Islam is the true religion. Notice that Mohammed
is considered a prophet, not a Messiah. To my knowledge, Muslims do
not believe in a Messiah sent by God to save Mankind, only a prophet
to spread the word of Allah (God). This is why the term "Mohammedan"
is false. Muslims revere Mohammed as the final prophet, but they do
not worship him. That is reserved for Allah.
POSTED DEC. 30, 1998
Scott O.
<sroring@dmci.net>,
Jackson , Mi
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE QUESTION:
RE69: It's my feeling that some Christians, particularly
fundamentalists or born-again Christians, feel a need to tell others
how to live their lives. On the other hand, while messages from
society and the media may not necessarily be "Christian," I don't see
non-Christians telling Christians to change their beliefs. Wouldn't
it be more "Christian" to live and let live, or turn the other cheek?
Is their some religious reason behind this?
POSTED JUNE 17, 1998
Allison S., 33, white female,
<alnshawn@aol.com>,
Mission Viejo, CA
ANSWER 1:
Have you known married people who love to fix up their
single friends? They are so happy being married they want their
friends to know the same happiness. That is how it often is for
born-again Christians. We sometimes get overzealous when sharing our
joy. It is an intensely personal and emotionally charged topic, and
it can be hard to discuss in a sensitive manner without seeming
holier-than-though. True Christians know we are sinners like
everybody else, but it's like we've discovered the "cure" for guilt
and shame. When we become Christians, we are forgiven and lifted up
into a loving relationship with God. We want our friends to know the
same joy.
POSTED JULY 26, 1998
T. Arthur, 38, born-again Christian
<MrsArthur1@aol.com>,
Sterling Heights, MI
FURTHER NOTICE:
There is definitely a Christian teaching behind helping
others. It was the whole point of Jesus Christ's life on earth.
Imagine if you saw a burning building. Would you feel the urgent need
to get the people out? Most people would say yes, because those
inside are going to die. However, if you try to help someone out and
they refuse, you move on to someone who wants your help. This is how
we feel about those who are not Christians (and even some who claim
to be.) Matthew 28:19-20 tells us to "Go therefore and make disciples
of people of all the nations ... teaching them all the things I have
commanded you." If however, someone does not want to learn, that is
their choice. God has given us the free will to decide how we will
live our lives. But I don't want people to make an uninformed
decision about such an important matter.
POSTED JULY 27, 1998
M.A.M., 25, Atlanta, GA
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
If you saw a person standing in front of a speeding truck,
would you scream at him to move? Of course you would. That is how
Christians feel about the secular world. They see a steaming
locomotive coming to crush you and feel duty-bound to warn you. As
for not being forced into others beliefs, try attending an Ivy League
college such as Harvard. Try being a religious person of any
persuasion not in the closet. You will be treated as if an aborigine
from Borneo had invaded the place.
POSTED AUG. 13, 1998
Elaine C. <
eoder1@compulinx-net.net>, Columbus , OH
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I, too, have found the fundamentalist/right-wing
Christians to be ones who not only feel the need to tell others how
to live their lives but also make judgments on the upcoming afterlife
of others not believing in "their " form of Christianity. To me, a
Christian is one who believes in God and Jesus, the son of God and
follows the rules of living a good, honest life, etc. However, I
happen to be Catholic, and was told by many different "denominations"
of "Christians" that I was doomed to hell because I wasn't a
Christian. Catholics are Christians, but many people in right-wing
factions say otherwise. I would like to understand why this is.
POSTED SEPT. 5, 1998
Sue
<obriens@vcss.k12.ca.us>,
Thousand Oaks, CA
FURTHER NOTICE 4:
It can happen both ways. Some non-Christians will bluntly
tell Christians to "get a life" or "loosen up" when the Christian's
beliefs get in the way of the non-Christian's personal agenda. Some
non-Christians even tell Christians not to share their beliefs, which
for some Christians is a vital part of their belief system. We are
often taught that we are supposed to witness to others: To make a
concentrated effort to tell as many people as possible about Jesus
Christ. There are scriptures that back up that belief. I prefer to
only answer people's questions, but some people take a more assertive
approach to witnessing, which offends some non-Christians. But to
tell them to not share their beliefs is to ask them to change their
belief that sharing is the Christian thing to do.
POSTED SEPT. 23, 1998
W. Lotus, 29, non-denominational Christian
<wlotus@dreamscape.com>,
Syracuse, NY
FURTHER NOTICE 5:
Jesus said, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the
Holy Ghost." (Matthew 28:20). I just wish he had said something about
only telling it once or being nice about it.
POSTED OCT. 13, 1998
Cynthia, Unitarian Universalist Agnostic
<ThePowers@aol.com>,
Greensboro, NC
FURTHER NOTICE 6:
Many denominations of Christianity are taught to convert
as many people as possible. Believe it or not, they are doing so with
the best of intentions (usually). They believe they have found the
"one true way" and anyone else is going to hell. So, they're out to
save your immortal soul. I've had born-again Christians ask me if I
was "saved." In one instance, I was on a plane and rather than get
into a big debate, I merely said, "That's a very personal question."
She began to cry and said she would pray for my soul et al. I was
annoyed and frustrated for the rest of the trip. Turning the other
cheek refers to attacks against you, e.g. if someone slaps you "turn
the other cheek."
POSTED NOV. 29, 1998
Rob, Irish Catholic
FURTHER NOTICE 7:
It's my understanding that in many fundamentalist,
evangelical Christian sects, a follower's salvation depends in part
on how many conversions he/she achieves. That's why some door-to-door
proselytizers are so persistent - it's not just your immortal soul
they're worried about.
POSTED NOV. 29, 1998
Laura, 37, lapsed Methodist, Bel Air, MD
FURTHER NOTICE 8:
Fundamental Christian religions are based on the belief
"Saved by grace, through faith" (believing that Jesus died for our
sins). When you accept Christ as your savior, you believe that
because Jesus had so much love for us he made the ultimate sacrifice
and died for your sins. Therefore, in return you will (should) have
the desire to emulate his teachings and his life on earth, avoiding
sin and temptation. This is being born-again. You also believe that
this is the only way into heaven. Most born-again Christians are not
telling non-Christians how to live their lives. What they are doing
is following the commandments to tell others of Jesus Christ and his
love, and "Love thy neighbor as thyself." Imagine if you knew beyond
a doubt (faith) that if you do step A (accept Jesus as your savior),
then you will get reward B (eternal life in heaven). Wouldn't you
want all the people you love and care about to know this and convince
them of this truth? And knowing that after you have done step A, you
will/should have a desire to avoid sin, wouldn't you want to teach
these people that you love how to live this way? I do not evangelize,
but I will not hesitate to explain this belief to anyone who
inquires, showing them Bible passages explaining this. To me, it is
more Christian to love others and teach them this, than to "turn the
other cheek" and wait for them to spend eternity in hell. So yes,
there is a religious reason behind this.
POSTED NOV. 30, 1998
Kris, 23, female, former Wiccan, Baptist, Phoenix, AZ
FURTHER NOTICE 9:
Christians are taught to spread the Gospel, which means
good news, of Christ. Many Christians feel this gives them the duty
to point out where others, who in their opinion are failing to live
to Christ's teachings, need improvement. Some Christians lead by
example and have a live-and-let-live belief. Christianity is a
complex religion, with may levels of understanding. Fundamentalists
view the religon on a "fundamental" level - i.e. "Live to 'these'
beliefs and you go to heaven, don't do it and you end up in hell if
you don't repent your ways." On its most basic level, Christianity
offers fundamental teachings and ideal ways of living - an anchor to
hold on to. A large group of the "born-again" Christians I have run
across have been people who recently had been leading bad or drifting
lives and made changes that brought positive results. The need to
profess this change is strong. I believe they do it out of goodness
and concern rather than with any malice.
POSTED DEC. 22, 1998
Jay, Roman Catholic, male, 35, MI
FURTHER NOTICE 10:
It partly depends on your definition of Christianity. If
you believe Christian practices should be imitations of the actions
of Jesus of Nazareth, then the modern practice of trying to convert
"non-believers" is an inconsistency. Jesus was a Jew. He helped and
healed many people, unconditionally. The emphasis on converting is
actually a Paulian practice. Attempts to convert others goes beyond
the desire to share joy. I experience a deep and abiding satisfaction
stemming from my spiritual practices, and I share that by simply
being an example of happiness and satisfaction. Christians who
approach me to witness never ask me if I am happy or satisfied with
my spiritual path. They ask me if I am willing to accept Jesus as my
"personal savior," indicating their belief that there is only one
right way. Some have gone so far as to tell me that my perception of
joy is actually an illusion created by Satan. In summary, the
practice of conversion is based on a need to be right, not a desire
for others to experience joy.
POSTED JAN. 29, 1999
Gypsy (Eclectic Neopagan)
<gypc@accessus.net>
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE QUESTION:
RE68: I do not belong to a church and would like to become a
member of one. But I don't understand the differences between
Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, Episcopal, etc. Can someone
please explain them to me? (Director's note: For space reasons, Y?
would prefer that answers focus on only the most fundamental
differences among these denominations.)
POSTED JUNE 17, 1998
J.G., Orion, MI
ANSWER 1:
I am a Christian who has had the occasion to be a member
of many different denominations. I will give you a layman's answer to
the best of my ability since this is a complicated question. The
denominations are divided into types of worship. All have the Bible
as a foundation for their beliefs. But all interpret their style of
worship differently. The Catholic, Episcopal and Lutheran churches
are liturgical. That means their worship is centered on an order of
service. It can be High service (Catholic or High Episcopal) or Low
service (Lutheran and some Episcopal). The Protestant churches -
Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist - are "pulpit-centered." That is,
the personality of the congregation is derived from the minister. The
fundamentalist churches - Assembly of God, Nazarene, Church of God,
etc. - are Bible-centered, "Spirit-led" churches. They believe in the
personal activity of God through his Holy Spirit in each service.
All of these denominations have the basic tenets of the church:
Personal acceptance of Jesus Christ, belief in the Virgin Birth,
acceptance of Christ's death and resurrection, the use of prayer as a
personal communication with a living God, baptism, confrontation of
individual sin and assistance from God in turning from that sin to
live a holier life, acceptance of personal responsibility for your
actions. All of the above churches believe in life after death, which
will be joyful because it is in the presence of the Living God, and
that absence from that is Hell.
There are differences among denominations on certain subjects,
such as 1) Baptism - do you need to be baptized at birth, or must you
make that a personal decision at the age of accountability? 2)
Forgiveness of sins - must they be confessed to a confessor, or is
that personal and private? 3) How vocal should one be in his faith? A
major difference between the Liturgical church and the Protestant is
on the Eucharist, or Communion. The Liturgical churches believe
Christ inhabits the bread and wine, while the Protestant believe the
service is symbolic. But basically, all the Christian faiths are
consistent with the beliefs stated at the Council of Nicea in 325,
today known at the Nicean Creed. The prime differences you will find
will be in style of worship service. You must find the one that suits
you.
POSTED JUNE 24, 1998
J.L.K., 60, Fort Myers, FL
FURTHER NOTICE:
I agree with the above summary for most Christian
religions, but there are some Christian religions that do not hold to
the Nicean Creed. I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses, and we are
Christian. Add to the above list the understanding of who God is. The
doctrine of all the aforementioned religions states that Jesus Christ
is part of a trinity God-head (although many individual members do
not believe this teaching). As Jehovah's Witnesses, we worship a
single God, as the "Old Testament" Jews did. This God revealed His
name to Moses as YHWH (Jehovah in English). Until a few centuries
ago, all Christian religions used this divine name. Now, few do. We
believe Jesus Christ is the son of God and acts as our Ransomer and
Redeemer. Without Him we would have no forgiveness of sins and no
approach to Jehovah God. We do not believe in a burning hell.
Mankind's punishment for refusing to serve God is simply eternal
death. We do not believe man has a soul that lives on after death -
if he did, what would be the purpose of resurrection? Finally, we
believe Jehovah God created this earth for humans to live on in
paradise forever. When Adam and Eve chose not to be part of that, God
did not change His mind and decide that all "good" humans could come
and live with Him in heaven. No, He made the earth for us and wants
us to live here. So at His appointed time, He will cleanse the earth.
This includes resurrecting both the "good" and the "bad" to give them
a chance to know Him and live by His standards. Any who choose life
will be able to live forever on a paradise earth in perfect health.
At that time if any want to rebel again, He will use our experience
to prove that living under His rule is better than living under our
own rule. To get the Scriptural proof of these teachings, go to
www.watchtower.org .
POSTED JULY 27, 1998
M.A.M., 25, Atlanta, GA
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I am a Seventh-Day Adventist Christian. Although our
beliefs are similar in most aspects to other Protestant
denominations, we have some very distinct differences. One very
obvious one is the seventh-day Sabbath.We believe that at Creation,
God blessed, sanctified and rested on the seventh day. Jesus observed
the seventh-day Sabbath, as well as His disciples. This is the fourth
commandment of the 10 God set forth. Many have set this aside as
unimportant, but it is important to God, or He would not have
instituted this special day to worship him. This is found
specifically in the first chapter of Genesis and also the twentieth
chapter of Exodus. There are many other references throughout the
Bible as well.
Secondly, SDAs are very health-conscious people. We abide by the
rules set aside for diet in Leviticus 11 and Deuteromony 14. These
state that pork, shellfish and other scavengers are unclean to eat.
This is very brief; for more details refer to the Scriptures. As for
death and the resurrection of man: When a person dies, they are
asleep. They know nothing of what is going on around them. Their
souls are not immediately sent to heaven. Instead, when Jesus returns
for the second time, all those who are saved and have been given
everlasting life will rise from their graves and meet Jesus in the
sky. Hell is not an everlasting torture as many believe. Instead, it
is a punishment that can continue only as long as there is fuel for
the fire. The wicked will "burn forever" just as Sodom and Gormorrah
did - until there is nothing left. The two cities from Genesis are no
longer burning today, just as the wicked will not burn for eternity.
These are just basic beliefs of Seventh Day Adventists. For more
specific answers to your questions, you should visit: www.iiw.org and
www.adventist.org.
POSTED JAN. 15, 1999
Krystal R., 18, Seventh-Day Adventist
<rubytuesday_2@hotmail.com>,
Surfside Beach, SC
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE QUESTION:
RE67: I have trouble accepting all the teachings of the
Baptist church, although baptized by my own will. My main concern is
the belief that you should not drink alcohol. Why is this? All the
references to drinking in the Bible I have found basically say not to
obsess/get drunk. Besides, Jesus turned water into wine. This has
prevented me from attending church faithfully, as I don't want others
in the church to condemn me for wanting a glass of wine with my meal.
I prefer Scripture quotes if anyone responds.
POSTED JUNE 17, 1998
Krystina L.
<krystina@okicol.com>,Columbus,
OH
ANSWER 1:
The occasion of the "Last Supper" when Jesus shared wine
with his Apostles was not an uncommon thing. They evidently shared
wine at meals on a regular basis. But as you mentioned, they drank in
moderation. I can only say that I believe the Baptist religion is
teaching something that is not in harmony with the Bible. Paul
addresses this at 1 Timothy 5:23: "Drink no water longer, but use a
little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine infirmities." He advises
Timothy to drink wine, though only a "little." In 1 Tim chapter 3,
Paul gives the qualifications for overseers in the congregation.
Verse 3 says, "not given to drunkenness." We are all responsible for
investigating what our religion teaches. If we do not think one, some
or all of the teachings agree with the Bible, we must ask ourselves,
"Is the truth more important to me than this religion?" Live with
your conscience once you've answered that question.
POSTED JULY 27, 1998
M.A.M., 25, Atlanta, GA
FURTHER NOTICE:
You will probably never agree with all the teachings of
any denomination. I haven't found one I completely agree with. The
important thing is to believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ. St.
Paul advises in Romans 14:21 not to eat meat or drink wine or do
anything that causes your brother to stumble. In his letter to the
Ephesians in 5:18, Paul says to be not drunk with wine. In his first
letter to Timothy 5:23, he advises him to "...use a little wine for
his stomach's sake..." Use Paul's teachings as a guide, but know that
Jesus is absolute truth. Jesus says in Matthew 15:11-20 that it is
not what goes into a person's mouth that defiles him but what comes
out. What enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated,
but what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and from the
heart proceeds evil thoughts, murders, etc. These are the things that
defile a person.
POSTED AUG. 14, 1998
J.B., 45, non-denominational
<berryjb@swbell.net>,
Missouri City, TX
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
As a former Baptist I can tell you that the prohibition
against alcohol started in The Prohibition. The current stand is
probably more dogmatic than it needs to be. Considering the Baptist
belief in the priesthood of the individual, you should not be outcast
for having a drink, but also consider whether your drink might be a
stumbling block to others. As a religious conservative I will add
that a modern glass of wine has far more alcohol than the Biblical
glass. In the Middle East, grape juice will quickly ferment if not
consumed immediately. Modern wine processing and grape selection is
built to increase the alcohol content. And, of course, "new wine"
(always praised in the Bible) will have far less alcohol than "old
wine." As a tea-totaller, I personally would rather not start
drinking because of the bad example of drunks in my family. The same
has been true of smoking and coffee. All are acquired tastes I have
found no need to acquire.
POSTED SEPT. 7, 1998
Craig, 40, male, MO
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I've never been a drinker, although I did experiment a bit
a college. I'm sure you've found all the Scriptures that deal with
drinking, and you're right: Nowhere does it say "Thou shalt not
drink"; but we are to be witnesses to others by our actions. For
example, say I was gossiping with a fellow Christian about a third
person; not publicly slandering, just gossiping among ourselves. If a
person I�d been witnessing to overheard me, I wouldn�t appear very
Christ-like (and that is, after all, what Christian means). They may
draw the conclusion that the Christian lifestyle is no different from
their own, so why bother with it. Or, they may throw around the �H�
word (hypocrite). The same could be said for an occasional drink.
You're not getting drunk, but what if someone you'd been witnessing
to saw you having that drink? They may be misled.
Don't get me wrong. I don't think an occasional drink is going to
send anyone to hell, and I certainly don't want to condemn anyone,
but I know what works for me. You stated that this whole drinking
thing is the main reason you don�t attend church regularly. If it�s
that much of an issue, maybe you have bigger things to worry about
than what people think of you. You�re basically saying that if the
Church does indeed condemn it, you choose alcohol over the Church.
Romans 14:20 and 21 says �...All food is clean, but it is wrong for a
man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better
not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause
your brother to fall.� I, personally, would rather not open any doors
(in my spiritual life) that may one day lead another down the wrong
path. Ephesians 4:27 says to �...do not give the devil a foothold.� I
believe alcohol to be a foothold, whether it is controlled or not.
Please don't hold the opinion of a few church members against the
church itself. We shouldn�t choose a religion (or denomination) by
finding one that doesn�t require us to make any changes in our life.
Christianity is all about change. Ask God to help you make the
decision that's right for you. Pray for wisdom, not just for the
thing you want.
POSTED SEPT. 11, 1998
Danny J., 33, Baptist
<articulate@earthlink.net>,
Austin, TX
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
Romans 14 seems to apply to your situation, particularly
verses 14-23. (I won't quote here, for the sake of space.) Paul
basically says if you know a certain thing offends your brother, do
not engage in it in that person's presence. But you can have faith
privately before God that partaking in that food or drink does not
condemn you. Remember this, too: People's condemnation has no effect
on your salvation or relationship with God, though their judgments
against you may hurt. Only God has any real say in the matter.
POSTED OCT. 7, 1998
W. Lotus, 29, non-denominational Christian
<wlotus@dreamscape.com>,
Syracuse, NY
FURTHER NOTICE 4:
My father's favorite Biblical quote was from the book of
Timothy: "Take a little wine for thy stomach's sake."
POSTED NOV. 29, 1998
Laura, 37, lapsed Methodist, Bel Air, MD
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE QUESTION:
RE66: As a Boy Scout leader in a large community, and as a
person raised Baptist, I find it confusing that the Jewish members of
the troop do not celebrate the birth of Christ. In order to
understand these children's backgrounds, I would like to know why
they do not celebrate this.
Ashlinn T.
<heretherealso@hotmail.com>,
Arlington, TX
ANSWER 1:
Jews believe Jesus was simply another Jew who lived in
Israel, probably a very charismatic person, but not the son of God,
and therefore not someone whose birth is to be celebrated. For us,
the Messiah has yet to arrive.
POSTED JULY 20, 1998
Vered
<vered@geocities.com>,
Tel Aviv, Israel
FURTHER NOTICE:
This is probably the question I get asked the most, being
a Jewish person. It is very difficult for people of other religions
to understand why we do not believe in Jesus. But it is not so
difficult to understand if you are familiar with Judaism. Judaism
began long before Jesus's time. It was founded and practiced
thousands of years before Jesus was born. Our religion is made up of
the Torah, or the five books of Moses. This is what Christians
consider to be the Old Testament. To us, there is no New Testament,
so we do not call it the Old Testament. All of our practices and
followings are deeply rooted in our past and are meaningful to all
who practice them. It is sad to me to think that the Jewish boys in
your troop are having to explain to you why they do not wish to
participate in your beliefs. You should be embracing all of their
beliefs, and not signaling the fact that they are different, as is
what is usually the case. No Jewish person will deny Jesus existed,
or that you feel he was important to your religious beliefs, but you
must understand he had nothing to do with the founding or practicing
of our religion. Only to Christians does Jesus have anything to do
with Judaism.
POSTED JULY 22, 1998
Robin, Jewish
<Buka163090@aol.com>,
MI
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
The birth of Jesus is celebrated because he was considered
by some to be the Son of God. Anyone who does not believe this has no
reason to celebrate this event. I grew up Catholic but am now
agnostic. I can't speak for anyone else, but even with my background,
I end up getting annoyed by the time Christmas rolls around because
of Christians' insistence that everyone must celebrate this holiday
and/or hear about their celebration of it. If it is such a holy,
special time, why is it turned into such a spectacle?
POSTED JULY 24, 1998
Eva M.
<emm1942@bjcmail.carenet.com>,
St. Louis, MO
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
Those of the Jewish faith, such as myself, do not believe
Jesus was anything more than a Jew. We do not believe in the
immaculate conception, that he was the son of G-d or that he saved
anyone with his death. To help you understand Judaism further, I
recommend that you read the Old Testament, or as we refer to it, the
Torah. The history of the Jewish people is recorded there along with
all the guidelines that define the way we live. Jesus is not
mentioned there and being that he is not a part of our religion, we
certainly wouldn't celebrate his birth.
POSTED JULY 26, 1998
Rachel, 24, Orthodox Jew
<SpeedyRae2@aol.com>,
Oceanside, CA
FURTHER NOTICE 4:
Jews do not celebrate Christmas because we do not believe
Jesus was the Messiah. We are still waiting for the Messiah to come,
at which time we will be in the Messianic Era, when G-D consciousness
will permeate the world. Our most important holidays are Yom Kippur
(Day of Repentence), Rosh Hashanah (New Year, in September/October)
and Passover (in March/April).
POSTED AUG. 5, 1998
Naomi S. 23, Jewish, Lansdale, PA
FURTHER NOTICE 5:
Actually, your question contains the answer you want. In
Hebrew, the word "Mashiach" means "the anointed one," what in English
one calls the Messiah. When the Hebrew Scriptures were translated
into Greek in the third century before the common era (B.C.), the
Greek word "Christos" was used for "Mashiach." The Book of Isaiah
contains powerful images of the Messiah and the Messianic Age.
According to Jewish Messianic tradition, when the Messiah arrives,
the world will know true and complete peace, because the Messiah will
usher in the reign of God. In fact, peace is to be the primary way by
which the arrival of the Messiah will be evident, ("...the lion will
lay down with the lamb..." [Is. 11:6]) Judaism does not expect the
Messiah to be divine. Greek-speaking Jews in the first century who
acknowledged Jesus as the annointed one called him Christos, thus the
name "Jesus Christ," or Jesus the Messiah. Judaism does not hold that
Jesus was the Messiah, and thus your Jewish scouts neither observe
Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ /Messiah) nor worship Jesus
Christ/Messiah.
POSTED SEPT. 11, 1998
C.J.L.
<ProfMokita@aol.com>,
West Bloomfield, MI
FURTHER NOTICE 6:
Jews don't celebrate Christian holidays because Jews don't
believe that Jesus was or is the Messiah. (As you may know, the New
Testament is not a part of the Jewish scriptures.) You might want to
contact the parents of your Scouts in order to decide which holidays
it's appropriate to celebrate; most Jewish parents are understanding
about "cultural" celebrations -- Christmas trees, Frosty the Snowman
-- but very sensitive about "religious" celebrations -- Nativity
scenes, religious carols and such. Also, if the Jewish kids aren't
shy about public speaking, ask them to talk about their holidays!
POSTED SEPT. 29, 1998
Robin S., 35, Jew
<rmshapiro@hotmail.com>,
Bluefield, WV
FURTHER NOTICE 7:
Christians celebrate Jesus' birthday because Jesus is
central to the Christian faith. However, the Jewish faith does not
recognize Jesus as a contributor to the Jewish faith. He is not
regarded as the son of God or even as a prophet. Interestingly, Jews
do not celebrate the birth of any of their religious leaders. In
fact, very few Jews could tell you when Moses was born.
POSTED OCT. 14, 1998
Jewish male, 30s
<rkwiat@mbs.umd.edu>,
MD
FURTHER NOTICE 8:
As a person raised Jewish, I have to tell you that we just
don't learn about Jesus one iota, so it follows that we don't
celebrate his birthday. Your religion is not ours. No matter how
possibly worthy, if you don't know the stories about Jesus, you will
not celebrate his birthday. Jews do not concern themselves with
"being saved" or avoiding hell, and have never read the New
Testament. Why don't you celebrate the birthday of Krishna, Rama or
the Buddha? Some of their followers revere them as incarnations of
God, too. But, overall, basically it's ignorance and lack of
interest. Jews do not buy the "only Son of God" stuff, nor do they
want to hear about sin and salvation and eternal life. Many will also
say that God is not a man.
POSTED OCT. 30, 1998
Michael, 29, Jewish, B.A. religious studies
<mikeg36776@aol.com>,
Saratoga, CA
FURTHER NOTICE 9:
Maybe it's because Jesus was "just another Jew," no one
particularly special. Or maybe, if he is acknowledged as a prophet,
his birth isn't celebrated because none of the prophets' births are
celebrated. Remember, Jesus is central to Christians, not others. Why
don't Baptists celebrate Yom Kippur? Or Ramadan? Because these are
not central to your beliefs.
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
Andy B. <ATB0118@aol.com>,
Branchburg, NJ
FURTHER NOTICE 10:
Jews do not believe the Christ was the "promised one."
Jews believe that the "promised one" has yet to appear. One
celebrates that which one sees as significant. A Jew celebrating the
birth of Christ would be the same as a Tahitian celebrating the
Fourth of July as a holiday.
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
F.M., 47, born and raised a Jew, now a Baha'i for 20 years
<fmunroe@slonet.org>,
Grover Beach, CA
FURTHER NOTICE 11:
To Robin (Further Notice): Why must you "feel sad" for the
Jewish Scouts in this gentleman's troop? He never said he was
grilling them on their religious beliefs. That's the whole idea
behind a site like this - it's a forum for asking such questions.
Must we fear stepping on someone's toes all the time? How much more
democratically could his question have been posed?
POSTED DEC. 2, 1998
Danny J., 33, male, Baptist
<articulate@earthlink.net>,
Austin, TX
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE QUESTION:
RE65: What is the meaning behind certain Catholic practices,
holidays and holy days, such as not eating meat on Fridays, and Lent
and Good Friday?
POSTED JUNE 14, 1998
Angie, Los Angeles, CA
ANSWER 1:
Many of the holy days are holy in that they have been set
aside for reverence of a holy person or event in the Christian faith
(i.e. Christmas for the birth of Christ, Easter for the Resurrection,
Good Friday for the day Christ was crucified). The practice of
abstaining from meat on Fridays in Lent is a form of fasting that
provides physical denial of that which is usual in our lives. This
denial is thought to enhance spirituality in the Christian soul.
POSTED JUNE 27, 1998
Dan R., 23, Roman Catholic
<rankind1@egr.msu.edu>,
East Lansing, MI
FURTHER NOTICE:
The Catholic Church began in the non-Christian world of
the First Century. In that world, there existed many older religions
of non-Christian deities. These religions celebrated holy days in
honor of certain events in their Gods' stories. The Catholic Church
incorporated some of these feasts. Easter always comes near the
Vernal Equinox, the return of the Light. Christmas is always near the
Winter Solstice, the lengthening of the daylight. Jesus is reported
to have said, "I am the Light of the world..." so they fit nicely.
These events, central to certain non-Christian religions, were
"baptized." Abstaining from meat on Fridays was for penance for one's
sins and the sins of the world since that is supposedly the day Jesus
died; similarly, one fasts (only one full meal daily)and abstains
during weekdays of Lent.
POSTED JULY 1, 1998
Rev. Kenneth K., 54, Universalist
<pontiff@mail.sstar.com>,
Gretna, LA
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE QUESTION:
RE64: I am aware that there has long been hatred of Jews, but
I have never understood why. What is it about Jews that has caused
this history of hatred?
POSTED JUNE 13, 1998
Ray K., RayK50plus@aol.com, Ramona, CA
ANSWER 1:
Some of the reasons are irrational, some contradictory,
some absurd and some dishonest, and a few have some small
basis in reality. Let's start with ancient, pre-Christian times. The
Jews alone, among all peoples in the world, held that there is only
one God. This was an affront to all other nations. Though pagan
nations had different names for their gods, they all believed in
pretty much the same gods, and respected each other's gods. Jews,
however, proclaimed the pagan gods did not exist. This made them
unpopular in the ancient world.
Things got worse for the Jews during the Christian era - though
Jesus was a Jew, and so were all the earliest Christians, by 70 AD,
most Christians were Gentiles, and increasingly, they perceived Jews
who did not embrace Christianity as "stiff-necked" people who
rejected Jesus. Over time, these Gentile Christians began to blame
the Jews, rather than the Romans, for the crucifixion of Christ (this
is often called "the blood libel" by Jews).
In medieval Europe, Jews were often denied the right to own land
and were often forced by law to live in "ghettos" isolated from
Christians. This isolation spawned new anti-Semitism in two ways:
First, because Jews were not allowed to own land, they often turned
to other trades, including trades Christians were not allowed to
pursue - like money lending. The notion that Jews are moneygrubbers
arose during medieval times, when most leading moneylenders were
Jews. Second, Jews have always been greatly concerned with hygiene.
The Jewish ghettos were kept quite clean, which meant Jews did not
have the same problems with rats and lice that Christians did. That
meant Jews did not suffer from the Black Plague. When Christians saw
that Jews were not dying from the Black Plague, they began to think
Jews were in league with Satan.
POSTED JUNE 25, 1998
Astorian
<Astorian@aol.com>,
Austin, TX
FURTHER NOTICE:
Another reason may be that the Jewish people have a strict
code of behavior dictated by the Torah. The Torah has served the Jews
well for 5,000 years, and they are not willing to bend to current
thought. They are unchanging and have existed successfully in almost
every nation on earth by following the precepts found in the Torah. I
believe this makes many people distrustful of Jewish people because
they will not accept other beliefs as their own.
POSTED AUG. 21, 1998
Roy M., 58
<roym@umd5.umd.edu>,
Baltimore, MD
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I would add to Roy M. that the Jewish community has long
been somewhat insular and very self-supporting. The Torah is just the
pre-Christian books of the Bible, a.k.a. the Old Testament. Any other
Jewish religious text is not part of the Torah.
POSTED AUG. 27, 1998
Bakum, white Jewish male
<bakum@bigfoot.com> San
Francisco , CA
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I find it unfortunate how hated Jewish people are. I don't
agree or understand this logic, but here is the reason I've heard the
most regarding hate towards Jews: Everywhere you turn you hear about
Jews. Jewish people are trying to convert everyone to their religion.
Jews are all you hear about on TV, in movies, on the radio, etc.
The Diary of Anne Frank has been done and redone several times
... it's all a giant "conspiracy." Please remember I do not agree
with this; I have a lot of contact with the public, and these are the
kinds of things I hear.
POSTED SEPT. 1, 1998
D. Phillips, multi-ethnic background
<DruBDoo3@aol.com>,
Fernley, NV
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE QUESTION:
RE63: I am Pagan and am curious about why we are looked down
upon by Christians, when we follow our rede of, "An' it harm none, do
as ye will"? Isn't that a contradiction?
POSTED JUNE 13, 1998
Anthony E., dianicwitch@yahoo.com, Wichita, KS
ANSWER 1:
People with the spirit of Christ in them don't look down
on anyone. There are those who profess to be followers of Jesus who
don't practice His ways. Don't confuse these people with Christians.
The greatest commandments are "Love the Lord your God with all your
mind, heart and spirit" and "Love your neighbor as yourself." If
anyone does not love his neighbor, he doesn't know or love God, and
therefore is not a Christian. Christ came into the world to save the
lost. That, my friend, includes all of us.
POSTED JUNE 26, 1998
Johnny B.
<berryjb@texaco.com>,
Missouri City, TX
FURTHER NOTICE:
I think the animosity Christians feel for Pagans comes
from one event in history. Prior to contact with the Pagan Celts,
Christianity saw Satan as a fallen Angel, beautiful and terrible.
When the Holy Roman Empire moved into Celtic areas and sought to
convert the Pagans, they co-opted most of the Pagan Deities (Saint
Brigit from Bride, etc.) but one they could not co-opt was Cernunos,
The Horned God, God of the Hunt, Consort to the Goddess. That Horned
God, Master of Animals, became the new image for Satan. And thus,
modern Christians see Pagans as worshipers of their Satan, while
Pagans don�t believe in the Christian Satan any more than in the
Christian God. And as for a contradiction, it would be your animosity
to Christians that contradicts the Rede, not theirs for you.
POSTED JUNE 27, 1998
Gordon P., 31
<gordon@albedodesign.com>,
Sunnyvale, CA
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
It is my opinion it stems from the belief that if you do
not accept Jesus as your Savior, you are doing the devil's work. The
fact that Wiccans do not believe in the existence of Satan is not
believed by the more Fundamental Christian denominations. Our belief
in the Rede and other practices are foreign to the tenets of their
faith. Plus,the admonition in Exodus 22:18 "Thou shalt not suffer a
witch to live," if strictly interpreted, is not conducive to
tolerance. Too many have died over the centuries because of this
passage. Forums such as this may help in bringing about
understanding, if not acceptance. But I crave neither. My religion is
between the God/dess and myself.
POSTED JULY 1, 1998
S.O., 46, Wiccan Solitaire, Kent, OH
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE QUESTION:
RE62: What, specifically, do Mormons believe? I've heard a lot
about Josef Smith, some gold plates and a doctrine that has been
rewritten over and over, but to me the whole religion seems weird and
secretive. Could a Mormon follower with a grasp of your beliefs
explain what the church is all about?
POSTED JUNE 12, 1998
George B., Mobile, AL
ANSWER 1:
The Articles of Faith are 13 concise statements that give
some of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint's basic
beliefs: 1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son,
Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. 2. We believe men will be
punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression. 3. We
believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be
saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. 4. We
believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are:
first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third,
Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of
hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. 5. We believe that a man must
be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those
who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the
ordinances thereof. 6. We believe in the same organization that
existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors,
teachers, evangelists, and so forth. 7. We believe in the gift of
tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of
tongues, and so forth. 8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God
as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of
Mormon to be the word of God. 9. We believe all that God has
revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will
yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom
of God. 10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the
restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be
built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally
upon the earth, and that the earth will be renewed and receive its
paradisiacal glory. 11. We claim the privilege of worshiping the
Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and
allow all men the same privilege, letting them worship how, where or
what they may. 12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents,
rulers and magistrates, in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent,
virtuous,and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we
follow the admonition of Paul - We believe all things, we hope all
things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure
all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely or of good report
or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
POSTED JULY 1, 1998
David J.
<jachmann@paracel.com>,
Pasadena, CA
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE QUESTION:
RE61: If America is based on freedom of religion and thought,
then why is it that Native Americans have only small reservations to
practice their beliefs?
POSTED JUNE 11, 1998
L.C., 15, white male, lord_Chaos_1@htomail.com, VT
ANSWER 1:
Beliefs cannot be contained by borders, and while some
reservations are hubs of Native spiritual activity, most Native
Americans I have known would tell you that wherever they go, their
beliefs go with them, and that in truth most of their most sacred
ancient lands fall outside borders set up by the government - sacred
lands now accessible only to them through National Parks or "by
permission" of the companies or individuals who now "own" them. It is
wrong and unjust, but faith transcends territory lines, and
reservations cannot hold Native spirituality.
POSTED JUNE 27, 1998
MarchHare, 33, Wiccan with some Native blood,
<marchhare32@webtv.net>,
Fairfield, OH
FURTHER NOTICE:
What's accepted as freedom of religion and thoughts is
regulated by the controlling power of the country. When America was
expanding, Native Americans stood in the way of westward
expansionism; therefore, their way of life was not desirable or
acceptable to the controlling powers of the United States at the
time. When we did take all the land away from the Native Americans,
the white public viewed them as lower than themselves, and therefore
did not really care about their beliefs. They just gave them land in
the desert and tried to forget about them. Now it's pretty much too
late to do anything else about it. We can't give them U.S. land, so
they just have their reservations.
POSTED JUNE 30, 1998
Casey, white male
<cdreier@inav.net>,
Iowa
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
The previous statements concerning the mistreatment of the
Native American are true except, "Now it's pretty much too late to do
anything else about it. We can't give them U.S. land, so they just
have their reservations." There is no reason why we, based on the
eternal principles of our Constitution, with the benefit of hindsight
and the wisdom only experience can bring, cannot dredge up those
myriad treaties that certain of our avaricious forebears scorned and
misused, and make every conscientious effort to see they are acted
upon and carried out with diligence and humility. We could, as a
result, chip away very slightly at the mountain of karmic debt that
looms in the distance.
POSTED JULY 26, 1998
Oddball, <zoom1@ccia.com>,
Crescent, PA
To respond
BACK TO TOP