Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
More Annotations
A complete backup of perfectgirls.net
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of www.kaufmich.com
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of www.redlights.be
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of www.naturistscans.com
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of www.quartier-rouge.be
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of playforceone.com
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of naughtyamericavip.com
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of www.czechspy.com
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of arabicfemdom.com
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
Favourite Annotations
A complete backup of https://pelion.com
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of https://klimaatverbond.nl
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of https://daihatsu.de
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of https://radiumcore.org
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of https://global14.com
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of https://laughnleap.com
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of https://idrawgirls.com
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of https://shinko-tw.com
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of https://chinaphonearena.com
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of https://cdnlashow.com
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
A complete backup of https://ppt118.com
Are you over 18 and want to see adult content?
Text
belief on
COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION The divine incarnation in Christianity - God the Son incarnated as Jesus Christ This is a summary taken from a previous file on the nature of salvation in Christianity.The Christian account of the divine incarnation presents God the Son willingly leaving his divine glory, taking a human body and descending into our world through thevirgin birth.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION The same is the case with the Pure Land School of Mahayana Buddhism, which flourished in Japan. According to its doctrine, the bodhisattva Amida (the Buddha of Infinite Light) is able to save even the most despised sinner by his grace (tariki).Heaven (Amida's Pure Land) can be reached only by his grace, not by human efforts such as meditation or performing good deeds. COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION An attempt to solve this difficulty was made by postulating the fact that prakriti operates instinctively for purusha's liberation. The Samkhya-Sutra (3,47) states that "creation ( prakriti) works for the sake of purusha, so that it may attain supreme knowledge." The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali (2,21) also mentions that prakriti exists onlyfor the
COMPARATIVE RELIGION WORLD RELIGIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS The comparative analysis presented here is focused on Christianity and the major Eastern religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism, because they play a major role in defining today's world spirituality. This is an obvious phenomenon on the Internet too, where a lot of spiritual movements indebted to classic Eastern doctrines and practices can COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION Hypnotic regression as proof for reincarnation. Spontaneous past-life recall by children as proof for reincarnation. Metaphysical reasons for rejecting past-life recall experiences as proofs for reincarnation. Many people who accept reincarnation in the West today claim that it can be scientifically proven. They usually ground theirbelief on
COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION The divine incarnation in Christianity - God the Son incarnated as Jesus Christ This is a summary taken from a previous file on the nature of salvation in Christianity.The Christian account of the divine incarnation presents God the Son willingly leaving his divine glory, taking a human body and descending into our world through thevirgin birth.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION The same is the case with the Pure Land School of Mahayana Buddhism, which flourished in Japan. According to its doctrine, the bodhisattva Amida (the Buddha of Infinite Light) is able to save even the most despised sinner by his grace (tariki).Heaven (Amida's Pure Land) can be reached only by his grace, not by human efforts such as meditation or performing good deeds. COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION An attempt to solve this difficulty was made by postulating the fact that prakriti operates instinctively for purusha's liberation. The Samkhya-Sutra (3,47) states that "creation ( prakriti) works for the sake of purusha, so that it may attain supreme knowledge." The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali (2,21) also mentions that prakriti exists onlyfor the
COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION 19. The way the two perspectives consider each other. Christianity is, at best, a mere inferior way (a bhakti type) of attaining liberation. As man cannot attain salvation by himself, and Jesus said he is the only way to God ( John 14,6), other religions can not play the samerole.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION Comparative Religion - Links to other websites. Links to other useful websites. Virtual Religion Index, Links for Research on Religion, designed by Prof. Mahlon H. Smith, Rutgers University. The Muslim-Christian Debate Website It aims to stimulate genuine debate between Christians and Muslims on a wide range of topics. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Conclusion. Each world religion acknowledges an Ultimate Reality that is eternal and unchanging. There are three fundamental ways in which it is defined: as a personal being (a personal and loving God), as an impersonal being (as origin and target of all personal beings) or as an eternal truth or principle that governs the universe. COMPARATIVE RELIGION The human condition in Hinduism. The human condition in the Vedas. According to the Vedic cosmogony of the golden egg (Hiranyagarbha), both gods and men have their origin in an impersonal primordial entity (Rig Veda 10,129).The Brahmana texts add the appearance of a creator (Prajapati) from the golden egg (Shatapatha Br. 11,1,6), who created the world and humans out of his own body, by the COMPARATIVE RELIGION Revelation and knowledge in Christianity. by Ernest Valea A potential problem in the Eastern religions is the way they harmonize empirical and absolute knowledge, i.e., the way we know the physical world and the way we know God. COMPARATIVE RELIGION The Gita is an episode of the great epic Mahabharata (6,25-42), which narrates the dialogue of Arjuna, one of the five sons of the Pandava family, with the Hindu god Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu. A major battle is about to begin in which Arjuna has a horrible assignment, that of fighting against his relatives, the Kaurava family. 5TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (2ND CONSTANINOPLE) THE FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THE SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE A.D. 553. THE ANATHEMAS AGAINST ORIGEN. I. IF anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Reincarnation and the Bible. Biblical texts that seem to imply belief in reincarnation. The most "convincing" texts of this kind are the following: 1) Matthew 11,14 and 17,12-13, concerning the identity of John the Baptist; 2) John 9,2, "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"; 3) John 3,3, "No one can see the kingdom of COMPARATIVE RELIGION Although it may seem that the mechanism of karma and reincarnation is the proper way to realize social justice, there are two main objections which contradict it: 1) As long as suffering (or the reward for good deeds) can be experienced only at a personal level (physical and psychical), and a human being ceases to exist as a person atphysical
AS THEOLOGICAL EXCHANGE xiii Introduction B uddhist-Christian dialogue is a vast domain to explore. There can be little doubt that the dialogue between these twoseemingly most dif-
WORLD RELIGIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS The comparative analysis presented here is focused on Christianity and the major Eastern religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism, because they play a major role in defining today's world spirituality. This is an obvious phenomenon on the Internet too, where a lot of spiritual movements indebted to classic Eastern doctrines and practices can COMPARATIVE RELIGION Hypnotic regression as proof for reincarnation. Spontaneous past-life recall by children as proof for reincarnation. Metaphysical reasons for rejecting past-life recall experiences as proofs for reincarnation. Many people who accept reincarnation in the West today claim that it can be scientifically proven. They usually ground theirbelief on
COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION The divine incarnation in Christianity - God the Son incarnated as Jesus Christ This is a summary taken from a previous file on the nature of salvation in Christianity.The Christian account of the divine incarnation presents God the Son willingly leaving his divine glory, taking a human body and descending into our world through thevirgin birth.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION The same is the case with the Pure Land School of Mahayana Buddhism, which flourished in Japan. According to its doctrine, the bodhisattva Amida (the Buddha of Infinite Light) is able to save even the most despised sinner by his grace (tariki).Heaven (Amida's Pure Land) can be reached only by his grace, not by human efforts such as meditation or performing good deeds. COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION An attempt to solve this difficulty was made by postulating the fact that prakriti operates instinctively for purusha's liberation. The Samkhya-Sutra (3,47) states that "creation ( prakriti) works for the sake of purusha, so that it may attain supreme knowledge." The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali (2,21) also mentions that prakriti exists onlyfor the
5TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (2ND CONSTANINOPLE) THE FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THE SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE A.D. 553. THE ANATHEMAS AGAINST ORIGEN. I. IF anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. WORLD RELIGIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS The comparative analysis presented here is focused on Christianity and the major Eastern religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism, because they play a major role in defining today's world spirituality. This is an obvious phenomenon on the Internet too, where a lot of spiritual movements indebted to classic Eastern doctrines and practices can COMPARATIVE RELIGION Hypnotic regression as proof for reincarnation. Spontaneous past-life recall by children as proof for reincarnation. Metaphysical reasons for rejecting past-life recall experiences as proofs for reincarnation. Many people who accept reincarnation in the West today claim that it can be scientifically proven. They usually ground theirbelief on
COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION The divine incarnation in Christianity - God the Son incarnated as Jesus Christ This is a summary taken from a previous file on the nature of salvation in Christianity.The Christian account of the divine incarnation presents God the Son willingly leaving his divine glory, taking a human body and descending into our world through thevirgin birth.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION The same is the case with the Pure Land School of Mahayana Buddhism, which flourished in Japan. According to its doctrine, the bodhisattva Amida (the Buddha of Infinite Light) is able to save even the most despised sinner by his grace (tariki).Heaven (Amida's Pure Land) can be reached only by his grace, not by human efforts such as meditation or performing good deeds. COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION An attempt to solve this difficulty was made by postulating the fact that prakriti operates instinctively for purusha's liberation. The Samkhya-Sutra (3,47) states that "creation ( prakriti) works for the sake of purusha, so that it may attain supreme knowledge." The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali (2,21) also mentions that prakriti exists onlyfor the
5TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (2ND CONSTANINOPLE) THE FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THE SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE A.D. 553. THE ANATHEMAS AGAINST ORIGEN. I. IF anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. COMPARATIVE RELIGION The human condition in Hinduism. The human condition in the Vedas. According to the Vedic cosmogony of the golden egg (Hiranyagarbha), both gods and men have their origin in an impersonal primordial entity (Rig Veda 10,129).The Brahmana texts add the appearance of a creator (Prajapati) from the golden egg (Shatapatha Br. 11,1,6), who created the world and humans out of his own body, by the COMPARATIVE RELIGION 19. The way the two perspectives consider each other. Christianity is, at best, a mere inferior way (a bhakti type) of attaining liberation. As man cannot attain salvation by himself, and Jesus said he is the only way to God ( John 14,6), other religions can not play the samerole.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION Conclusion. Each world religion acknowledges an Ultimate Reality that is eternal and unchanging. There are three fundamental ways in which it is defined: as a personal being (a personal and loving God), as an impersonal being (as origin and target of all personal beings) or as an eternal truth or principle that governs the universe. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Comparative Religion - Links to other websites. Links to other useful websites. Virtual Religion Index, Links for Research on Religion, designed by Prof. Mahlon H. Smith, Rutgers University. The Muslim-Christian Debate Website It aims to stimulate genuine debate between Christians and Muslims on a wide range of topics. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Revelation and knowledge in Christianity. by Ernest Valea A potential problem in the Eastern religions is the way they harmonize empirical and absolute knowledge, i.e., the way we know the physical world and the way we know God. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Reincarnation ( samsara) is the practical way in which one reaps the fruits of one's deeds. The self is forced to enter a new material existence until all karmic debt is paid: "By means of thought, touch, sight and passions and by the abundance of food and drink there are COMPARATIVE RELIGION The Gita is an episode of the great epic Mahabharata (6,25-42), which narrates the dialogue of Arjuna, one of the five sons of the Pandava family, with the Hindu god Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu. A major battle is about to begin in which Arjuna has a horrible assignment, that of fighting against his relatives, the Kaurava family. 5TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (2ND CONSTANINOPLE) THE FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THE SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE A.D. 553. THE ANATHEMAS AGAINST ORIGEN. I. IF anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Although it may seem that the mechanism of karma and reincarnation is the proper way to realize social justice, there are two main objections which contradict it: 1) As long as suffering (or the reward for good deeds) can be experienced only at a personal level (physical and psychical), and a human being ceases to exist as a person atphysical
AS THEOLOGICAL EXCHANGE xiii Introduction B uddhist-Christian dialogue is a vast domain to explore. There can be little doubt that the dialogue between these twoseemingly most dif-
WORLD RELIGIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS The comparative analysis presented here is focused on Christianity and the major Eastern religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism, because they play a major role in defining today's world spirituality. This is an obvious phenomenon on the Internet too, where a lot of spiritual movements indebted to classic Eastern doctrines and practices can COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION Hypnotic regression as proof for reincarnation. Spontaneous past-life recall by children as proof for reincarnation. Metaphysical reasons for rejecting past-life recall experiences as proofs for reincarnation. Many people who accept reincarnation in the West today claim that it can be scientifically proven. They usually ground theirbelief on
COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION The divine incarnation in Christianity - God the Son incarnated as Jesus Christ This is a summary taken from a previous file on the nature of salvation in Christianity.The Christian account of the divine incarnation presents God the Son willingly leaving his divine glory, taking a human body and descending into our world through thevirgin birth.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION The same is the case with the Pure Land School of Mahayana Buddhism, which flourished in Japan. According to its doctrine, the bodhisattva Amida (the Buddha of Infinite Light) is able to save even the most despised sinner by his grace (tariki).Heaven (Amida's Pure Land) can be reached only by his grace, not by human efforts such as meditation or performing good deeds. COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION An attempt to solve this difficulty was made by postulating the fact that prakriti operates instinctively for purusha's liberation. The Samkhya-Sutra (3,47) states that "creation ( prakriti) works for the sake of purusha, so that it may attain supreme knowledge." The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali (2,21) also mentions that prakriti exists onlyfor the
5TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (2ND CONSTANINOPLE) THE FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THE SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE A.D. 553. THE ANATHEMAS AGAINST ORIGEN. I. IF anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. WORLD RELIGIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS The comparative analysis presented here is focused on Christianity and the major Eastern religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism, because they play a major role in defining today's world spirituality. This is an obvious phenomenon on the Internet too, where a lot of spiritual movements indebted to classic Eastern doctrines and practices can COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION Hypnotic regression as proof for reincarnation. Spontaneous past-life recall by children as proof for reincarnation. Metaphysical reasons for rejecting past-life recall experiences as proofs for reincarnation. Many people who accept reincarnation in the West today claim that it can be scientifically proven. They usually ground theirbelief on
COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION The divine incarnation in Christianity - God the Son incarnated as Jesus Christ This is a summary taken from a previous file on the nature of salvation in Christianity.The Christian account of the divine incarnation presents God the Son willingly leaving his divine glory, taking a human body and descending into our world through thevirgin birth.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION The same is the case with the Pure Land School of Mahayana Buddhism, which flourished in Japan. According to its doctrine, the bodhisattva Amida (the Buddha of Infinite Light) is able to save even the most despised sinner by his grace (tariki).Heaven (Amida's Pure Land) can be reached only by his grace, not by human efforts such as meditation or performing good deeds. COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION An attempt to solve this difficulty was made by postulating the fact that prakriti operates instinctively for purusha's liberation. The Samkhya-Sutra (3,47) states that "creation ( prakriti) works for the sake of purusha, so that it may attain supreme knowledge." The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali (2,21) also mentions that prakriti exists onlyfor the
5TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (2ND CONSTANINOPLE) THE FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THE SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE A.D. 553. THE ANATHEMAS AGAINST ORIGEN. I. IF anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. COMPARATIVE RELIGION The human condition in Hinduism. The human condition in the Vedas. According to the Vedic cosmogony of the golden egg (Hiranyagarbha), both gods and men have their origin in an impersonal primordial entity (Rig Veda 10,129).The Brahmana texts add the appearance of a creator (Prajapati) from the golden egg (Shatapatha Br. 11,1,6), who created the world and humans out of his own body, by the COMPARATIVE RELIGION 19. The way the two perspectives consider each other. Christianity is, at best, a mere inferior way (a bhakti type) of attaining liberation. As man cannot attain salvation by himself, and Jesus said he is the only way to God ( John 14,6), other religions can not play the samerole.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION Conclusion. Each world religion acknowledges an Ultimate Reality that is eternal and unchanging. There are three fundamental ways in which it is defined: as a personal being (a personal and loving God), as an impersonal being (as origin and target of all personal beings) or as an eternal truth or principle that governs the universe. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Comparative Religion - Links to other websites. Links to other useful websites. Virtual Religion Index, Links for Research on Religion, designed by Prof. Mahlon H. Smith, Rutgers University. The Muslim-Christian Debate Website It aims to stimulate genuine debate between Christians and Muslims on a wide range of topics. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Revelation and knowledge in Christianity. by Ernest Valea A potential problem in the Eastern religions is the way they harmonize empirical and absolute knowledge, i.e., the way we know the physical world and the way we know God. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Reincarnation ( samsara) is the practical way in which one reaps the fruits of one's deeds. The self is forced to enter a new material existence until all karmic debt is paid: "By means of thought, touch, sight and passions and by the abundance of food and drink there are 5TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (2ND CONSTANINOPLE) THE FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THE SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE A.D. 553. THE ANATHEMAS AGAINST ORIGEN. I. IF anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. COMPARATIVE RELIGION The Gita is an episode of the great epic Mahabharata (6,25-42), which narrates the dialogue of Arjuna, one of the five sons of the Pandava family, with the Hindu god Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu. A major battle is about to begin in which Arjuna has a horrible assignment, that of fighting against his relatives, the Kaurava family. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Although it may seem that the mechanism of karma and reincarnation is the proper way to realize social justice, there are two main objections which contradict it: 1) As long as suffering (or the reward for good deeds) can be experienced only at a personal level (physical and psychical), and a human being ceases to exist as a person atphysical
AS THEOLOGICAL EXCHANGE xiii Introduction B uddhist-Christian dialogue is a vast domain to explore. There can be little doubt that the dialogue between these twoseemingly most dif-
WORLD RELIGIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS The comparative analysis presented here is focused on Christianity and the major Eastern religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism, because they play a major role in defining today's world spirituality. This is an obvious phenomenon on the Internet too, where a lot of spiritual movements indebted to classic Eastern doctrines and practices can COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION Hypnotic regression as proof for reincarnation. Spontaneous past-life recall by children as proof for reincarnation. Metaphysical reasons for rejecting past-life recall experiences as proofs for reincarnation. Many people who accept reincarnation in the West today claim that it can be scientifically proven. They usually ground theirbelief on
COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION The divine incarnation in Christianity - God the Son incarnated as Jesus Christ This is a summary taken from a previous file on the nature of salvation in Christianity.The Christian account of the divine incarnation presents God the Son willingly leaving his divine glory, taking a human body and descending into our world through thevirgin birth.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION The same is the case with the Pure Land School of Mahayana Buddhism, which flourished in Japan. According to its doctrine, the bodhisattva Amida (the Buddha of Infinite Light) is able to save even the most despised sinner by his grace (tariki).Heaven (Amida's Pure Land) can be reached only by his grace, not by human efforts such as meditation or performing good deeds. COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION An attempt to solve this difficulty was made by postulating the fact that prakriti operates instinctively for purusha's liberation. The Samkhya-Sutra (3,47) states that "creation ( prakriti) works for the sake of purusha, so that it may attain supreme knowledge." The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali (2,21) also mentions that prakriti exists onlyfor the
5TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (2ND CONSTANINOPLE) THE FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THE SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE A.D. 553. THE ANATHEMAS AGAINST ORIGEN. I. IF anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. WORLD RELIGIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS The comparative analysis presented here is focused on Christianity and the major Eastern religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism, because they play a major role in defining today's world spirituality. This is an obvious phenomenon on the Internet too, where a lot of spiritual movements indebted to classic Eastern doctrines and practices can COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION Hypnotic regression as proof for reincarnation. Spontaneous past-life recall by children as proof for reincarnation. Metaphysical reasons for rejecting past-life recall experiences as proofs for reincarnation. Many people who accept reincarnation in the West today claim that it can be scientifically proven. They usually ground theirbelief on
COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION The divine incarnation in Christianity - God the Son incarnated as Jesus Christ This is a summary taken from a previous file on the nature of salvation in Christianity.The Christian account of the divine incarnation presents God the Son willingly leaving his divine glory, taking a human body and descending into our world through thevirgin birth.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION The same is the case with the Pure Land School of Mahayana Buddhism, which flourished in Japan. According to its doctrine, the bodhisattva Amida (the Buddha of Infinite Light) is able to save even the most despised sinner by his grace (tariki).Heaven (Amida's Pure Land) can be reached only by his grace, not by human efforts such as meditation or performing good deeds. COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION An attempt to solve this difficulty was made by postulating the fact that prakriti operates instinctively for purusha's liberation. The Samkhya-Sutra (3,47) states that "creation ( prakriti) works for the sake of purusha, so that it may attain supreme knowledge." The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali (2,21) also mentions that prakriti exists onlyfor the
5TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (2ND CONSTANINOPLE) THE FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THE SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE A.D. 553. THE ANATHEMAS AGAINST ORIGEN. I. IF anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Conclusion. Each world religion acknowledges an Ultimate Reality that is eternal and unchanging. There are three fundamental ways in which it is defined: as a personal being (a personal and loving God), as an impersonal being (as origin and target of all personal beings) or as an eternal truth or principle that governs the universe. COMPARATIVE RELIGION The human condition in Hinduism. The human condition in the Vedas. According to the Vedic cosmogony of the golden egg (Hiranyagarbha), both gods and men have their origin in an impersonal primordial entity (Rig Veda 10,129).The Brahmana texts add the appearance of a creator (Prajapati) from the golden egg (Shatapatha Br. 11,1,6), who created the world and humans out of his own body, by the COMPARATIVE RELIGION 19. The way the two perspectives consider each other. Christianity is, at best, a mere inferior way (a bhakti type) of attaining liberation. As man cannot attain salvation by himself, and Jesus said he is the only way to God ( John 14,6), other religions can not play the samerole.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION Comparative Religion - Links to other websites. Links to other useful websites. Virtual Religion Index, Links for Research on Religion, designed by Prof. Mahlon H. Smith, Rutgers University. The Muslim-Christian Debate Website It aims to stimulate genuine debate between Christians and Muslims on a wide range of topics. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Revelation and knowledge in Christianity. by Ernest Valea A potential problem in the Eastern religions is the way they harmonize empirical and absolute knowledge, i.e., the way we know the physical world and the way we know God. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Reincarnation ( samsara) is the practical way in which one reaps the fruits of one's deeds. The self is forced to enter a new material existence until all karmic debt is paid: "By means of thought, touch, sight and passions and by the abundance of food and drink there are COMPARATIVE RELIGION The Gita is an episode of the great epic Mahabharata (6,25-42), which narrates the dialogue of Arjuna, one of the five sons of the Pandava family, with the Hindu god Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu. A major battle is about to begin in which Arjuna has a horrible assignment, that of fighting against his relatives, the Kaurava family. 5TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (2ND CONSTANINOPLE) THE FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THE SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE A.D. 553. THE ANATHEMAS AGAINST ORIGEN. I. IF anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Although it may seem that the mechanism of karma and reincarnation is the proper way to realize social justice, there are two main objections which contradict it: 1) As long as suffering (or the reward for good deeds) can be experienced only at a personal level (physical and psychical), and a human being ceases to exist as a person atphysical
AS THEOLOGICAL EXCHANGE xiii Introduction B uddhist-Christian dialogue is a vast domain to explore. There can be little doubt that the dialogue between these twoseemingly most dif-
WORLD RELIGIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS The comparative analysis presented here is focused on Christianity and the major Eastern religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism, because they play a major role in defining today's world spirituality. This is an obvious phenomenon on the Internet too, where a lot of spiritual movements indebted to classic Eastern doctrines and practices can COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION Hypnotic regression as proof for reincarnation. Spontaneous past-life recall by children as proof for reincarnation. Metaphysical reasons for rejecting past-life recall experiences as proofs for reincarnation. Many people who accept reincarnation in the West today claim that it can be scientifically proven. They usually ground theirbelief on
COMPARATIVE RELIGION The same is the case with the Pure Land School of Mahayana Buddhism, which flourished in Japan. According to its doctrine, the bodhisattva Amida (the Buddha of Infinite Light) is able to save even the most despised sinner by his grace (tariki).Heaven (Amida's Pure Land) can be reached only by his grace, not by human efforts such as meditation or performing good deeds. COMPARATIVE RELIGION The divine incarnation in Christianity - God the Son incarnated as Jesus Christ This is a summary taken from a previous file on the nature of salvation in Christianity.The Christian account of the divine incarnation presents God the Son willingly leaving his divine glory, taking a human body and descending into our world through thevirgin birth.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION An attempt to solve this difficulty was made by postulating the fact that prakriti operates instinctively for purusha's liberation. The Samkhya-Sutra (3,47) states that "creation ( prakriti) works for the sake of purusha, so that it may attain supreme knowledge." The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali (2,21) also mentions that prakriti exists onlyfor the
5TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (2ND CONSTANINOPLE) THE FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THE SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE A.D. 553. THE ANATHEMAS AGAINST ORIGEN. I. IF anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. WORLD RELIGIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS The comparative analysis presented here is focused on Christianity and the major Eastern religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism, because they play a major role in defining today's world spirituality. This is an obvious phenomenon on the Internet too, where a lot of spiritual movements indebted to classic Eastern doctrines and practices can COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION Hypnotic regression as proof for reincarnation. Spontaneous past-life recall by children as proof for reincarnation. Metaphysical reasons for rejecting past-life recall experiences as proofs for reincarnation. Many people who accept reincarnation in the West today claim that it can be scientifically proven. They usually ground theirbelief on
COMPARATIVE RELIGION The same is the case with the Pure Land School of Mahayana Buddhism, which flourished in Japan. According to its doctrine, the bodhisattva Amida (the Buddha of Infinite Light) is able to save even the most despised sinner by his grace (tariki).Heaven (Amida's Pure Land) can be reached only by his grace, not by human efforts such as meditation or performing good deeds. COMPARATIVE RELIGION The divine incarnation in Christianity - God the Son incarnated as Jesus Christ This is a summary taken from a previous file on the nature of salvation in Christianity.The Christian account of the divine incarnation presents God the Son willingly leaving his divine glory, taking a human body and descending into our world through thevirgin birth.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION An attempt to solve this difficulty was made by postulating the fact that prakriti operates instinctively for purusha's liberation. The Samkhya-Sutra (3,47) states that "creation ( prakriti) works for the sake of purusha, so that it may attain supreme knowledge." The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali (2,21) also mentions that prakriti exists onlyfor the
5TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (2ND CONSTANINOPLE) THE FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THE SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE A.D. 553. THE ANATHEMAS AGAINST ORIGEN. I. IF anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. WORLD RELIGIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS The comparative analysis presented here is focused on Christianity and the major Eastern religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism, because they play a major role in defining today's world spirituality. This is an obvious phenomenon on the Internet too, where a lot of spiritual movements indebted to classic Eastern doctrines and practices can COMPARATIVE RELIGION The human condition in Hinduism. The human condition in the Vedas. According to the Vedic cosmogony of the golden egg (Hiranyagarbha), both gods and men have their origin in an impersonal primordial entity (Rig Veda 10,129).The Brahmana texts add the appearance of a creator (Prajapati) from the golden egg (Shatapatha Br. 11,1,6), who created the world and humans out of his own body, by the COMPARATIVE RELIGION 19. The way the two perspectives consider each other. Christianity is, at best, a mere inferior way (a bhakti type) of attaining liberation. As man cannot attain salvation by himself, and Jesus said he is the only way to God ( John 14,6), other religions can not play the samerole.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION Reincarnation ( samsara) is the practical way in which one reaps the fruits of one's deeds. The self is forced to enter a new material existence until all karmic debt is paid: "By means of thought, touch, sight and passions and by the abundance of food and drink there are COMPARATIVE RELIGION Comparative Religion - Links to other websites. Links to other useful websites. Virtual Religion Index, Links for Research on Religion, designed by Prof. Mahlon H. Smith, Rutgers University. The Muslim-Christian Debate Website It aims to stimulate genuine debate between Christians and Muslims on a wide range of topics. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Revelation and knowledge in Christianity. by Ernest Valea A potential problem in the Eastern religions is the way they harmonize empirical and absolute knowledge, i.e., the way we know the physical world and the way we know God. COMPARATIVE RELIGION The Gita is an episode of the great epic Mahabharata (6,25-42), which narrates the dialogue of Arjuna, one of the five sons of the Pandava family, with the Hindu god Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu. A major battle is about to begin in which Arjuna has a horrible assignment, that of fighting against his relatives, the Kaurava family. 5TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (2ND CONSTANINOPLE) THE FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THE SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE A.D. 553. THE ANATHEMAS AGAINST ORIGEN. I. IF anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Although it may seem that the mechanism of karma and reincarnation is the proper way to realize social justice, there are two main objections which contradict it: 1) As long as suffering (or the reward for good deeds) can be experienced only at a personal level (physical and psychical), and a human being ceases to exist as a person atphysical
AS THEOLOGICAL EXCHANGE xiii Introduction B uddhist-Christian dialogue is a vast domain to explore. There can be little doubt that the dialogue between these twoseemingly most dif-
WORLD RELIGIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS The comparative analysis presented here is focused on Christianity and the major Eastern religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism, because they play a major role in defining today's world spirituality. This is an obvious phenomenon on the Internet too, where a lot of spiritual movements indebted to classic Eastern doctrines and practices can COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION Hypnotic regression as proof for reincarnation. Spontaneous past-life recall by children as proof for reincarnation. Metaphysical reasons for rejecting past-life recall experiences as proofs for reincarnation. Many people who accept reincarnation in the West today claim that it can be scientifically proven. They usually ground theirbelief on
COMPARATIVE RELIGION The same is the case with the Pure Land School of Mahayana Buddhism, which flourished in Japan. According to its doctrine, the bodhisattva Amida (the Buddha of Infinite Light) is able to save even the most despised sinner by his grace (tariki).Heaven (Amida's Pure Land) can be reached only by his grace, not by human efforts such as meditation or performing good deeds. COMPARATIVE RELIGION The divine incarnation in Christianity - God the Son incarnated as Jesus Christ This is a summary taken from a previous file on the nature of salvation in Christianity.The Christian account of the divine incarnation presents God the Son willingly leaving his divine glory, taking a human body and descending into our world through thevirgin birth.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION An attempt to solve this difficulty was made by postulating the fact that prakriti operates instinctively for purusha's liberation. The Samkhya-Sutra (3,47) states that "creation ( prakriti) works for the sake of purusha, so that it may attain supreme knowledge." The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali (2,21) also mentions that prakriti exists onlyfor the
5TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (2ND CONSTANINOPLE) THE FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THE SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE A.D. 553. THE ANATHEMAS AGAINST ORIGEN. I. IF anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. WORLD RELIGIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS The comparative analysis presented here is focused on Christianity and the major Eastern religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism, because they play a major role in defining today's world spirituality. This is an obvious phenomenon on the Internet too, where a lot of spiritual movements indebted to classic Eastern doctrines and practices can COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION Hypnotic regression as proof for reincarnation. Spontaneous past-life recall by children as proof for reincarnation. Metaphysical reasons for rejecting past-life recall experiences as proofs for reincarnation. Many people who accept reincarnation in the West today claim that it can be scientifically proven. They usually ground theirbelief on
COMPARATIVE RELIGION The same is the case with the Pure Land School of Mahayana Buddhism, which flourished in Japan. According to its doctrine, the bodhisattva Amida (the Buddha of Infinite Light) is able to save even the most despised sinner by his grace (tariki).Heaven (Amida's Pure Land) can be reached only by his grace, not by human efforts such as meditation or performing good deeds. COMPARATIVE RELIGION The divine incarnation in Christianity - God the Son incarnated as Jesus Christ This is a summary taken from a previous file on the nature of salvation in Christianity.The Christian account of the divine incarnation presents God the Son willingly leaving his divine glory, taking a human body and descending into our world through thevirgin birth.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION An attempt to solve this difficulty was made by postulating the fact that prakriti operates instinctively for purusha's liberation. The Samkhya-Sutra (3,47) states that "creation ( prakriti) works for the sake of purusha, so that it may attain supreme knowledge." The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali (2,21) also mentions that prakriti exists onlyfor the
5TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (2ND CONSTANINOPLE) THE FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THE SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE A.D. 553. THE ANATHEMAS AGAINST ORIGEN. I. IF anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. WORLD RELIGIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS The comparative analysis presented here is focused on Christianity and the major Eastern religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism, because they play a major role in defining today's world spirituality. This is an obvious phenomenon on the Internet too, where a lot of spiritual movements indebted to classic Eastern doctrines and practices can COMPARATIVE RELIGION The human condition in Hinduism. The human condition in the Vedas. According to the Vedic cosmogony of the golden egg (Hiranyagarbha), both gods and men have their origin in an impersonal primordial entity (Rig Veda 10,129).The Brahmana texts add the appearance of a creator (Prajapati) from the golden egg (Shatapatha Br. 11,1,6), who created the world and humans out of his own body, by the COMPARATIVE RELIGION 19. The way the two perspectives consider each other. Christianity is, at best, a mere inferior way (a bhakti type) of attaining liberation. As man cannot attain salvation by himself, and Jesus said he is the only way to God ( John 14,6), other religions can not play the samerole.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION Reincarnation ( samsara) is the practical way in which one reaps the fruits of one's deeds. The self is forced to enter a new material existence until all karmic debt is paid: "By means of thought, touch, sight and passions and by the abundance of food and drink there are COMPARATIVE RELIGION Comparative Religion - Links to other websites. Links to other useful websites. Virtual Religion Index, Links for Research on Religion, designed by Prof. Mahlon H. Smith, Rutgers University. The Muslim-Christian Debate Website It aims to stimulate genuine debate between Christians and Muslims on a wide range of topics. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Revelation and knowledge in Christianity. by Ernest Valea A potential problem in the Eastern religions is the way they harmonize empirical and absolute knowledge, i.e., the way we know the physical world and the way we know God. COMPARATIVE RELIGION The Gita is an episode of the great epic Mahabharata (6,25-42), which narrates the dialogue of Arjuna, one of the five sons of the Pandava family, with the Hindu god Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu. A major battle is about to begin in which Arjuna has a horrible assignment, that of fighting against his relatives, the Kaurava family. 5TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (2ND CONSTANINOPLE) THE FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THE SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE A.D. 553. THE ANATHEMAS AGAINST ORIGEN. I. IF anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Although it may seem that the mechanism of karma and reincarnation is the proper way to realize social justice, there are two main objections which contradict it: 1) As long as suffering (or the reward for good deeds) can be experienced only at a personal level (physical and psychical), and a human being ceases to exist as a person atphysical
AS THEOLOGICAL EXCHANGE xiii Introduction B uddhist-Christian dialogue is a vast domain to explore. There can be little doubt that the dialogue between these twoseemingly most dif-
WORLD RELIGIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS The comparative analysis presented here is focused on Christianity and the major Eastern religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism, because they play a major role in defining today's world spirituality. This is an obvious phenomenon on the Internet too, where a lot of spiritual movements indebted to classic Eastern doctrines and practices can COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION Hypnotic regression as proof for reincarnation. Spontaneous past-life recall by children as proof for reincarnation. Metaphysical reasons for rejecting past-life recall experiences as proofs for reincarnation. Many people who accept reincarnation in the West today claim that it can be scientifically proven. They usually ground theirbelief on
COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION The divine incarnation in Christianity - God the Son incarnated as Jesus Christ This is a summary taken from a previous file on the nature of salvation in Christianity.The Christian account of the divine incarnation presents God the Son willingly leaving his divine glory, taking a human body and descending into our world through thevirgin birth.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION An attempt to solve this difficulty was made by postulating the fact that prakriti operates instinctively for purusha's liberation. The Samkhya-Sutra (3,47) states that "creation ( prakriti) works for the sake of purusha, so that it may attain supreme knowledge." The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali (2,21) also mentions that prakriti exists onlyfor the
WORLD RELIGIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS The comparative analysis presented here is focused on Christianity and the major Eastern religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism, because they play a major role in defining today's world spirituality. This is an obvious phenomenon on the Internet too, where a lot of spiritual movements indebted to classic Eastern doctrines and practices can COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION Hypnotic regression as proof for reincarnation. Spontaneous past-life recall by children as proof for reincarnation. Metaphysical reasons for rejecting past-life recall experiences as proofs for reincarnation. Many people who accept reincarnation in the West today claim that it can be scientifically proven. They usually ground theirbelief on
COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION The divine incarnation in Christianity - God the Son incarnated as Jesus Christ This is a summary taken from a previous file on the nature of salvation in Christianity.The Christian account of the divine incarnation presents God the Son willingly leaving his divine glory, taking a human body and descending into our world through thevirgin birth.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION COMPARATIVE RELIGION An attempt to solve this difficulty was made by postulating the fact that prakriti operates instinctively for purusha's liberation. The Samkhya-Sutra (3,47) states that "creation ( prakriti) works for the sake of purusha, so that it may attain supreme knowledge." The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali (2,21) also mentions that prakriti exists onlyfor the
COMPARATIVE RELIGION 19. The way the two perspectives consider each other. Christianity is, at best, a mere inferior way (a bhakti type) of attaining liberation. As man cannot attain salvation by himself, and Jesus said he is the only way to God ( John 14,6), other religions can not play the samerole.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION The human condition in Hinduism. The human condition in the Vedas. According to the Vedic cosmogony of the golden egg (Hiranyagarbha), both gods and men have their origin in an impersonal primordial entity (Rig Veda 10,129).The Brahmana texts add the appearance of a creator (Prajapati) from the golden egg (Shatapatha Br. 11,1,6), who created the world and humans out of his own body, by the COMPARATIVE RELIGION Links to other useful websites. Virtual Religion Index, Links for Research on Religion, designed by Prof. Mahlon H. Smith, Rutgers University. The Muslim-Christian Debate Website It aims to stimulate genuine debate between Christians and Muslims on a wide range of topics. The Good Way Is the best way to God the way of the Torah, theway of the
COMPARATIVE RELIGION The Parable of the Prodigal Son. in Christianity and Buddhism. by Ernest Valea Most Westerners are familiar with the Parable of the Prodigal Son as it appears in Luke's Gospel, but probably few are aware that it has a Buddhist parallel in one of the major writings of Mahayana Buddhism. Although both parables seem to convey a similar message regarding God's compassion for humans, a closer look COMPARATIVE RELIGION The same is the case with the Pure Land School of Mahayana Buddhism, which flourished in Japan. According to its doctrine, the bodhisattva Amida (the Buddha of Infinite Light) is able to save even the most despised sinner by his grace (tariki).Heaven (Amida's Pure Land) can be reached only by his grace, not by human efforts such as meditation or performing good deeds. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Revelation and knowledge in Christianity. by Ernest Valea A potential problem in the Eastern religions is the way they harmonize empirical and absolute knowledge, i.e., the way we know the physical world and the way we know God. COMPARATIVE RELIGION The Gita is an episode of the great epic Mahabharata (6,25-42), which narrates the dialogue of Arjuna, one of the five sons of the Pandava family, with the Hindu god Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu. A major battle is about to begin in which Arjuna has a horrible assignment, that of fighting against his relatives, the Kaurava family. 5TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (2ND CONSTANINOPLE) THE FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL THE SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE A.D. 553. THE ANATHEMAS AGAINST ORIGEN. I. IF anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. COMPARATIVE RELIGION Although it may seem that the mechanism of karma and reincarnation is the proper way to realize social justice, there are two main objections which contradict it: 1) As long as suffering (or the reward for good deeds) can be experienced only at a personal level (physical and psychical), and a human being ceases to exist as a person atphysical
AS THEOLOGICAL EXCHANGE xiii Introduction B uddhist-Christian dialogue is a vast domain to explore. There can be little doubt that the dialogue between these twoseemingly most dif-
Comparative religion main articlesUltimate Reality
Human condition
Salvation
Nature of evil
Conclusion
Reincarnation articlesReincarnation in
world religions
Past-life recall
Cosmic justice
Reincarnation and Christianity Eastern religions articlesPantheism
Samkhya
Yoga
Bhagavad Gita
Buddhism
Christianity vs. Eastern religions articlesAvatars
Other Saviors
Eastern sayings
Prodigal son
Revelation
Those who never heardOther websites
Alternative Medicine. A Christian Assessment: Buddhism and Christianity. Resources for further study: PDF excerpt with permission of Wipf and Stock Publishers Last modified: March 23, 2020 A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE MAJOR WORLD RELIGIONS FROM A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVEby Ernest Valea
The goal of this site is to investigate whether or not there is sufficient evidence to prove that world religions are complementary, according to the model inspired by an old Indian tale - that of the blind men who tried to describe an elephant. It is said that once upon a time a king gathered a few men who were born blind. They were asked to describe an elephant, but each one was presented with only a certain part of it. To one was presented the head of the elephant, to another the trunk, to another its ears, to another the leg, the body, the tail, tuft of the tail, etc. The one who was presented with the head said: "The elephant is like a pot!" The one who was presented the trunk answered, "The elephant is like a hose." The one who touched only the ears thought that the elephant was a fan, the others said that it was a pillar, a wall, a rope, a brush, etc. Then they quarreled among themselves, each thinking that he was the only one right and the others were wrong. The obvious truth is that the elephant is a unity of many parts, a unity that they could not grasp in their ignorance. According to the pattern suggested by this tale, it is often said that world religions form a unity, and only this unity provides the right perspective on ultimate truth. A similar pluralistic trend is encouraged by the suggestion to consider the various world religions as alternative paths to the same transcendental finality or, using a known illustration, many paths to the same mountain peak. Although this vision is arousing a lot of enthusiasm in many people today, it is important to know that it is not the only one, as Christianity and Islam each claim to be the only right path to God. Therefore the other option is that world religions are not pieces of the same puzzle (parts of the same spiritual "elephant") or alternative paths to the same goal. Theoretically, both possibilities exist. Therefore, a proper evaluation of such opposite views must be done before we decide on a course of action. If the first is true (all religions lead us to the same finality), and we choose the second (only one of them is right), we have not lost anything. Despite our ignorance, we will arrive at the same happy end as the other travelers who have chosen other spiritual paths. A less happy situation would be given by the second possibility, that a single spiritual path is valid and we have chosen the wrong one. In this case religious pluralism misleads travelers to spiritual disaster, so they at least should be warned. A third possibility, that all spiritual paths are wrong, is denied by the nature of our spiritual quest itself, which demands a real fulfillment. Otherwise, our hunger for ultimate truth could not be justified and all religions would be nothing but human fantasy. The following articles are not meant merely to generate a conflict of rational proofs for justifying one or another alternative. No matter how complex and logical the rational proofs on behalf of one or the other cause might be, it is possible to find counterpoints of the same nature, so that at a rational level, the dispute could fill many books with no benefit to anyone. Nobody can be persuaded or converted to one or another religious perspective only through rational proofs. This may be possible in science, but not in religion. However, rational proofs have to be considered because we are rational beings. Reason should not be rejected and experience proclaimed the only way of knowing truth. No divorce between reason and experience should be accepted, because they are complementary and work together, so that neither can exclude the other. As a result, we do not have to reject a _priori_ the proofs of reason in our spiritual quest in order to abandon ourselves to the arms of mystical experiences, whatever theirnature might be.
Rather than generating sterile debates, the information presented here should help you clarify your own stand toward comparative religion and develop a critical ability to analyze today's spiritual market. Suggestions, comments and critiques are strongly encouraged, with the hope that they will improve the content of this site. Please make them as specific and clear as possible. The comparative analysis presented here is focused on Christianity and the major Eastern religions, especially Hinduism and Buddhism, because they play a major role in defining today's world spirituality. This is an obvious phenomenon on the Internet too, where a lot of spiritual movements indebted to classic Eastern doctrines and practices can be found. Some may believe that a comparative analysis of the major world religions like this may fuel religious hatred and intolerance, but this is wrong. Religious tolerance and freedom cannot be built on ignorance but rather on the understanding of commonalities and differences. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of teaching love for one's neighbor despite religious differences (see The Parable of the Good Samaritan ). Unfortunately, some of his followers have done the opposite. Loving the person is possible even if one rejects his or her religious convictions. The Christian approach will be grounded on The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed as statement of faith, which is common to all three branches of Christianity - Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism. The Holy Bible (NIV ecumenical translation) is acknowledged as the first doctrinal authority, and second the doctrinal commentaries of the Church Fathers of the first centuries AD, as far as they are accepted by each of the three branches of Christianity. The analysis will survey and compare the following defining aspects of all world religions: 1. God or the Ultimate Reality, and creation 2. The human condition 3. Salvation and eternal destiny 4. The nature of evil5. Conclusion
Special articles refer to more specific issues that have emerged in this debate and need particular attention: 1. Reincarnation. Its meaning and consequences. Reincarnation andChristianity
2. Possible difficulties in pantheism 3. Possible difficulties in the dualistic Samkhya-Yoga metaphysics 4. Possible difficulties in Yoga as a spiritual path towardstranscendence
5. Possible difficulties in the philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita 6. Possible difficulties in Buddhism 7. The divine incarnation in Hinduism and Christianity ; Jesus Christ and other Saviors and religiousfounders
8. Alleged Eastern equivalent sayings of Jesus Christ 9. The Parable of the Prodigal Son in Buddhism and Christianity 10. Revelation and knowledge in Christianity 11. How can those who have never heard about Christ be saved? The quotes used for describing each religious perspective belong to scriptures considered to be firsthand authority by its followers. Some useful links will be suggested for in-depth study and clarification. A thoroughly comparative study of Christianity and Islam has not been pursued, as there is enough literature available online on this topic. Since the domain of comparative religion is so vast, the present analysis is far from being exhaustive. It had to be limited to a brief account, sacrificing many details and secondary aspects, but with the hope that global relevance will not be affected. The question is: Can such a comparative analysis of world religions be unbiased? Unfortunately, it cannot. Nobody can judge religious issues independently of his or her own religious convictions. This is why the title says "... from a Christian perspective". Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, etc, may see these things differently, they can even reach opposite conclusions. But this doesn't mean that such an analysis is useless. All one needs to do is to look for more information, to try to understand the other perspectives and reach his or her own conclusions. This is neither the first nor the last attempt to discuss the complementary and divergent thought among world religions. The discussions, arguments and debates in comparative religion did not start recently and will certainly not stop until the end of the world, the time when Truth will reveal itself in fullness. Back to Top | Home | E-Mail Copyright Ernest Valea. No part of this work will be used or reproduced by any means without prior permission from the author.Details
Copyright © 2024 ArchiveBay.com. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | DMCA | 2021 | Feedback | Advertising | RSS 2.0