Questions ???

Story_Bud

Hello i am a catholic and i am try to become more faithful to god.I have questions i need answering ...

What should my view be of other religions be ? after all aren't they worshiping the same god?

What should my view be of israel and palestine ? I am a harsh critic of israel due to their treatment of palestinians and i find it hard to accept that the jewish people who are meant to be gods people do this to others, i am not trying to start a debate but where does this leave us when the jews are gods people ??
Thanks in advance

Onesimus

Story_Bud wrote: »

Hello i am a catholic and i am try to become more faithful to god.I have questions i need answering ...

What should my view be of other religions be ? after all aren't they worshiping the same god?

What should my view be of israel and palestine ? I am a harsh critic of israel due to their treatment of palestinians and i find it hard to accept that the jewish people who are meant to be gods people do this to others, i am not trying to start a debate but where does this leave us when the jews are gods people ??
Thanks in advance

Hello. Great to see you are doing your best as are we all.

To address your first question: We should respect other peoples religions/beliefs however much we disagree with them. Some religions i.e buddism/hindi believe in more than one God and this term is known as ''polytheistic''.The muslims and Jews (along with us Catholics) believe in One God and this term is known as ''Monotheism''.

The Muslims and Jews do not accept Jesus as the Christ and One truine God therefore we are not and can not be the same in belief and worship.

Your second question can be likened to that of Catholics and protestants who commited many atrocties either in the name of God or cultural and ethnic differences, however their actions do not represent the God they worship. The God the Jews and Muslims kill in the name of ( and Catholics and protestants ) are the ones they themselves created in the folliness of their hearts and minds.

Onesimus

Sonics2k

Buddhists don't believe in any God.

Instead they believe more a long the lines of a living Force (if you will) and that all life is connected. Once Man can look past the material gains of life, and be at true peace, they shall reach a state of Nirvana.

Onesimus

Sonics2k wrote: »

Buddhists don't believe in any God.

Instead they believe more a long the lines of a living Force (if you will) and that all life is connected. Once Man can look past the material gains of life, and be at true peace, they shall reach a state of Nirvana.

Not what my study of Buddism in early years brought me to believe. In buddism they have hundreds upon hundreds of deities as do hindis.

Sonics2k

Deities aren't Gods.

Anyway, read up some more http://www.buddhanet.net/ans73.htm

I'm not looking to post further on this as you were right in the rest of your comment, just wanted to clear that bit up.

saa

You can't aquire your own view off someone else, of course it should be respectful but I think independent non biased research over time is the only thing that will formulate this, not just looking at the good or bad side alone.

Onesimus

Sonics2k wrote: »

Deities aren't Gods.

Anyway, read up some more http://www.buddhanet.net/ans73.htm

I'm not looking to post further on this as you were right in the rest of your comment, just wanted to clear that bit up.

Yes you are right in your argument. I was just coming back now to clear up the fact that Buddhism is a philosophy but there are certain sects of buddhism that believe in more than one god.

But the true Buddhism as taught by Buddha himself does not call for a belief in a deity.

Thanks

Onesimus

Benny_Cake

Story_Bud wrote: »

Hello i am a catholic and i am try to become more faithful to god.I have questions i need answering ...

What should my view be of other religions be ? after all aren't they worshiping the same god?

What should my view be of israel and palestine ? I am a harsh critic of israel due to their treatment of palestinians and i find it hard to accept that the jewish people who are meant to be gods people do this to others, i am not trying to start a debate but where does this leave us when the jews are gods people ??
Thanks in advance

You should make up your own mind about issues - there is no "off the shelf" set of opinions to adopt if you want to be a better Christian.Just like anyone else,judge each issue on it's merits.

My 2 cents...

- You can hold any view of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute you like. As regards the Jews being God's "chosen people" I remember reading a Rabbi who described it like this, God went to every nation on the Earth and offered them His law. None accepted it, finally He went to the Israelites and they accepted it. A nice way of putting it I thought. In any case, you can criticise Israeli policy to your hearts content, but anti-Semitism is a different matter and is never on. Many Jews feel exactly the same way about the Middle East as you do

- As regards all religions worshipping the same God, well obviously that isn't the case. However, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, the Bahai faith and Zoroastrianism would have a kinship in that they worship one God - many would argue it is the same God, understood differently. I think it is important to respect the rights of others to follow their conscience in any case.

Story_Bud

But i not a anti semitic, i have no problem with jewish people my problem is with israel its self and its treatment of palestinians and i find it hard to believe god would love me with my views towards a country full of his people ?

PDN

Story_Bud wrote: »

But i not a anti semitic, i have no problem with jewish people my problem is with israel its self and its treatment of palestinians and i find it hard to believe god would love me with my views towards a country full of his people ?

The Palestinians are Semites too.

There are plenty of Christians who are very deeply disturbed at the behaviour of Israel.

Onesimus

Story_Bud wrote: »

But i not a anti semitic, i have no problem with jewish people my problem is with israel its self and its treatment of palestinians and i find it hard to believe god would love me with my views towards a country full of his people ?

As long as its their actions that you dislike and judge, that is ok. Just as long as you dont ''hate'' them or judge them personally. there is a difference.

I'm appalled at the actions of the people towards the palestinians, its horrible as is God appalled at it too.

So there you go, you have something in common with Christ already ;-)

tommy2bad

i find it hard to believe god would love me with my views towards a country full of his people ?

We are all His people, I don't think God dose countries, nations yes. God loves everyone even- possibly especially- sinners.
God might be more concerned with how you deal with your neighbors than some people in another state.

Manach

Other posters have made fair comments about the Israel/Palestine state of affairs. However, that area has a long complex history. Israeli based accounts mention numerous pograms against the Jewish settlers during the 20s & 30s, stirred up by Muslim extremists. This does not excuse the current Gaza situation but it provides a context. Offhand an author which gives an even handed treatment of the Levant region is Bernard Lewis.