Will America become Hindu by the end of the century?

Spirituality Religion
#241

I’m not saying the church doesn’t do anything to help the poor. They do, and I realize that. All I’m saying is they could do more. Do you really need all those expensive statues, pictures, stained glass, gold chalices, and cloths to properly worship? You can be in awe of God without all of that. None of that matters at all.

My own church looks like a gymnasium with a few cheap statues here and there. We could sure use some “adornment.”

The ornate churches on the east coast have been around for a long time, and the expense spread out over many years–sometimes hundreds of years. No, we don’t “need” them, and we don’t need to live in nice houses either. We could get by living in a little hut or a tent and give the rest away.

I am happy for whatever “adornment” we have, and wish we had more. I wish we could spend more money on better singing and musicians. The money is well-spent, and those statues and stained glass windows, and whatever else, last a long long time, to be enjoyed by many. And they are more than just window dressing, but are methods of teaching, and aids to worship.

One could criticize the Buddhist who sits in meditation for five hours. Why doesn’t he instead get off his butt and do something useful to help others?

Or could it be that by his meditation that he can be most useful?

#242

Thomas you need not take things so personally! My goodness!

#243

[QUOTE=lotusgirl;43882]Thomas you need not take things so personally! My goodness![/QUOTE]

I like to discuss. I like to challenge positions. I like to repsond when my position is challenged.

None of it is personal. None of it is in anger.

Please don’t presume.

#244

Thomas,

You are sounding like SD now!

You misunderstand/misinterpret what write. I was not challenging your position. I didn’t know you had one on adornment. Discussing is wonderful. That’s what we are all about here.

I was merely making an observation. You could have responded in a gentler way instead of criticizing Buddhists. That was not necessary. An observation about what your church does would have sufficed. And what, no compassion from you regarding my story?

And I currently live in the midwest and have so for most of my life. The churches here, except in much poorer areas, are greatly adorned. My children have gone to many different churches over the years and from what we’ve experience, the protestants do more work with the poor, especially in their community. Food for the poor, holiday dinners, needed household items purchased, help with fixing houses and so on.

#245

Interfaith heroes

http://www.readthespirit.com/interfaith_heroes

These are high caliber personalities, who crossed the boundaries between religions.

Look, eg, at Sri Ramakhrishna a highly respected Hindu sage. He was embracing other religions too,ike Christianity and islam.

Look at Rabindtranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi, embodiments of Indian culture. They embraced other religions too, like Christianity and Islam.

You can find many other examples in the above web site.

Now look at the other side of the coin: who is attacking Christianity and Islam, even on this forum ? Draw your own conclusions.

#246

@Oak

I hope your above post was not in response to me questioning the adornment issue. No need. And if it is, all you need to do is go check the Abrahamic religion thread to see how SD reamed me for defending Christianity.

#247

[QUOTE=lotusgirl;43900]@Oak

I hope your above post was not in response to me questioning the adornment issue. No need. And if it is, all you need to do is go check the Abrahamic religion thread to see how SD reamed me for defending Christianity.[/QUOTE]

No, I did not think of you in that post.

#248

Good! Sigh of relief!

#249

I think what should be considered first is whether America will survive the end of the 21st century without the entire world venting their anger at them in some form or fashion.

#250

[QUOTE=oak333;43893]Interfaith heroes

http://www.readthespirit.com/interfaith_heroes

These are high caliber personalities, who crossed the boundaries between religions.

Look, eg, at Sri Ramakhrishna a highly respected Hindu sage. He was embracing other religions too,ike Christianity and islam.

Look at Rabindtranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi, embodiments of Indian culture. They embraced other religions too, like Christianity and Islam.

You can find many other examples in the above web site.

Now look at the other side of the coin: who is attacking Christianity and Islam, even on this forum ? Draw your own conclusions.[/QUOTE]

Missionary, your definition of higher caliber personality = someone who compliments Christianity.

#251

I do not agree as I cannot see any special thing in Hinduism to convert others to it. Its just a collection of rituals without any base whatsoever.

#252

[QUOTE=Davidhop;45802]I do not agree as I cannot see any special thing in Hinduism to convert others to it. Its just a collection of rituals without any base whatsoever.[/QUOTE]

In that case, you need not post in these forums since by your logic Yoga is just another Hindu “ritual.”

Wonderful. Another dense Christian, anti-Hindu westerner that Surya Deva and I must mercilessly crush in a debate. I look forward to it.

#253

It will be like shooting fish in a barrel. The poor evil Western bigoted Christian fool! (Did he say he was a Christian?)

Thank the Lord Shiva for their silly Christmas season when they are out worshipping Santa instead of their false God, and totally absorbed in their evil materialsm. At least for a few days they leave us alone, and all we have to worry about is Muslims blowing up the Seven-11s, which reminds me, I must return to my post…

#254

[QUOTE=Silly Davie;45820]It will be like shooting fish in a barrel. The poor evil Western bigoted Christian fool! (Did he say he was a Christian?)

Thank the Lord Shiva for their silly Christmas season when they are out worshipping Santa instead of their false God, and totally absorbed in their evil materialsm. At least for a few days they leave us alone, and all we have to worry about is Muslims blowing up the Seven-11s, which reminds me, I must return to my post…[/QUOTE]

Even more hypocrisy… it’s so pathetic. :smiley:

#255

[QUOTE=Indra Deva;45822]Even more hypocrisy… it’s so pathetic. :D[/QUOTE]

That statement in and of itself was indicative of your hypocrisy.

#256

In India some time back christian missions used to convert peoples to Christianity saying Jesus is the son of god there by giving helping hand to the poor.They utilized their poverty to make them convert by giving some monetary help but now all peoples who want to enlighten willingly follows Hinduism.

I too love Jesus but the way the missionary people wanted to spread Christianity was not fair.
Everyone got the right to follow whatever religion they like to follow.Ways may be different but Realizing god is ultimate goal.if there is true love and longing one can realize god in whatever religion.
Hinduism and its ways touched many across the globe.Many will grab this religion.
In the end truth alone triumphs.

#257

[QUOTE=dinksma;45827]In India some time back christian missions used to convert peoples to Christianity saying Jesus is the son of god there by giving helping hand to the poor.They utilized their poverty to make them convert by giving some monetary help but now all peoples who want to enlighten willingly follows Hinduism.

I too love Jesus but the way the missionary people wanted to spread Christianity was not fair.
Everyone got the right to follow whatever religion they like to follow.Ways may be different but Realizing god is ultimate goal.if there is true love and longing one can realize god in whatever religion.
Hinduism and its ways touched many across the globe.Many will grab this religion.
In the end truth alone triumphs.[/QUOTE]

I agree with you completely. But we must facilitate the way for the Truth to triumph. We must intellectually fight against the evil in Christianity and Islam and make others aware of their insidious and debilitating impact, even today, in the modern world. Pacifism has only exacerbated the problems within Hinduism because Christians and Muslims take advantage of this supposed weakness. Only then will Christianity and Islam reform their ways (lest they perish) and only then will the world be free to see the Truth as appeals to them.

#258

Christianity and Islam are not the same religion–not even close.

#259

[QUOTE=thomas;45854]Christianity and Islam are not the same religion–not even close.[/QUOTE]

When I say Christianity AND Islam, you need to see the context in which it is used. The point I was trying to make was that they both have a large amount of teachings that can produce horrific results when acted upon. Hence, why I linked them together with the conjunction “and.”

#260

I can walk down the street and in the name of Jesus kill 20 people and claim that Jesus made me do it, and maybe even find a rationale for it somewhere, but that would go totally against my Christian beliefs to do so.

And it would be unfair to blame those murders on my Church which forbids them.

There is nothing in Christiainity which tells us to kill infidels or do violence to anyone, except in the case of self-defense or a “just war.”

But this is getting old and you are beginning to seem to be a one trick pony, Nietzsche. Every post you say “Christianity is stupid and evil” but not much more substance than that.