Tag: beliefs

www.religiousunity.wordpress.com

and his various other blogs are at http://craigsblogs.wordpress.com/2013/09/28/craigs-blogs-and-writings/. Obsessive or WHAT!

Other Articles by Craig are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 and http://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=981
(Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, spiritual, ‘spiritual writings’ (how ‘airey-fairey’), words of inspiration and money management, how boring now, craig

Publishing Guidelines:
All my writings may be freely published, electronically or in print.

“We share what we know, so that we all may grow.”

GANDHI AND CHRIST

Submitter’s Note:

Craig is studying the teachings of different religions and faiths (to attempt to find ‘common ground’/principles) and as he learns from his research, is sharing these notes in the spirit of ‘enlightening’ (himself and perhaps others) regarding ‘eternal and universal truths.’ Hope this piece may be of interest to you too (as well as perhaps promoting more understanding of other faiths…as in sharing, I learn too!

What did Jesus mean to Gandhi? Did he have any influence on Gandhi’s life and teaching? What according to Gandhi was the essence of Christ’s message? Was Gandhi a ‘secret Christian’? What is the challenge that Gandhi presents to Christians and Christianity today?

Answers to these questions may be found in a recent book, ‘Gandhi and Christianity’ edited by Robert Ellsberg and published by Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York 10545. This book is an anthology of the speeches and writings of Gandhi on the subject as well as responses to Gandhi’s challenge by various Christian scholars. It should be a valuable reference book on the ongoing dialogue between Christians and representatives of other religions.

Early in his life, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi had been reading the Bible to keep a promise he had made to a friend. He found the Old Testament extremely difficult going. He disliked the Book of Numbers. But the New Testament produced a different impression, especially the Sermon on the Mount which went straight to his heart. The passion of Jesus Christ moved Gandhi greatly. The verses about not resisting evil but offering the other cheek and giving the cloak to one who asked for one’s coat delighted him beyond measure. They reminded him about something he had learned in his childhood about returning with gladness good for evil done.

“I did once seriously think of embracing the Christian faith“, Gandhi told Millie Polak, the wife of one of his earliest disciples. “The gentle figure of Christ, so patient, so kind, so loving, so full of forgiveness that he taught his followers not to retaliate when abused or struck, but to turn the other cheek, I thought it was a beautiful example of the perfect man…”

However, on another occasion, he said he could accept Jesus “as a martyr, an embodiment of sacrifice, and a divine teacher, but not as the most perfect man ever born. His death on the Cross was a great example to the world, but that there was anything like a mysterious or miraculous virtue in it, my heart could not accept”.

“The message of Jesus as I understand it”, said Gandhi, “is contained in the Sermon on the Mount unadulterated and taken as a whole… If then I had to face only the Sermon on the Mount and my own interpretation of it, I should not hesitate to say, ‘Oh, yes, I am a Christian.’ But negatively I can tell you that in my humble opinion, what passes as Christianity is a negation of the Sermon on the Mount… I am speaking of the Christian belief, of Christianity as it is understood in the west.”

Gandhi could speak beautifully about the message and personality of Jesus. Talking about the Gospel passage of the rich young man, he said, “St. Mark has vividly described the scene. Jesus is in his solemn mood. He is earnest. He talks about eternity. He knows the world about him. He is himself the greatest economist of his time. He succeeded in sermonising time and space – He transcends them. It is to him at the best that one comes running, kneels down and asks, “Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said unto him, “One thing thou lackest. Go thy way, sell what thou hast and give it to the poor, and thou shall have treasure in heaven – come, take up the cross and follow me.” Here you have an eternal rule of life stated in the noblest words the English language is capable of producing.” Gandhi went on to say that he could quote even stronger passages from the Hindu scriptures and the lesson he wanted to draw was that if we could clean our houses, palaces an

Poverty, suffering, the Cross, non-violence, morality – all these were part of the Kingdom of God. But for Gandhi what struck him most in the Sermon on the Mount was Christ’s teaching on non-retaliation, or non-resistance to evil. “Of all the things I have read what remained with me forever was that Jesus came almost to give a new law – not an eye for an eye, but to receive two blows when only one was given, and to go two miles when they were asked to go one. I came to see that the Sermon on the Mount was the whole of Christianity for him who wanted to live a Christian life. It is that sermon that has endeared Jesus to me.”

“Jesus occupies in my heart,” said Gandhi, “the place of one of the greatest teachers who have had a considerable influence on my life. I shall say to the Hindus that your life will be incomplete, unless you reverentially study the teachings of Jesus… Make this world the kingdom of God and his righteousness and everything will be added unto you. I tell you that if you will understand, appreciate, and act up to the spirit of this passage, you won’t need to know what place Jesus or any other teacher occupies in your heart.”

For Gandhi, Jesus was the prince of ‘Satyagrahists’.* “The example of Jesus suffering is a factor in the composition of my undying faith in non-violence. What then does Jesus mean to me? To me, He was one of the greatest teachers humanity has ever had.” For Gandhi, to say that Jesus was the only begotten son of God was to say that “in Jesus’ own life was the key of his nearness to God, that he expressed as no other could, the spirit and will of God… I do believe that something of the spirit that Jesus exemplified in the highest measure, in its most profound human sense exist… If I did not believe it, I should be a sceptic, and to be a sceptic is to live a life that is empty and lacking moral content. Or, what is the same thing, to condemn the human race to a negative end.”

* I think the word literally means ‘soul-force’

Gandhi believed that in every man there was an impulse for good and a compassion that is the spark of divinity, that will one day burst into the full flower that is the hope of all mankind. An example of this flowering, he said, may be found in the figure and in the life of Jesus. “I refuse to believe that there not exists or has ever existed a person that has not made use of his example to lessen his sins, even though he may have done so without realising it. The lives of all have, in some greater or lesser degree, been changed by His presence, His actions and the words spoken by His divine voice… I believe that he belongs not solely to Christianity, but to the entire world; to all races and people, it matters little under what flag, name or doctrine they may work, profess a faith or worship a God inherited from their ancestors.”

For Gandhi Jesus was the true ‘satyagrahist’, who passed the test of non-violence, even if he seemed to be otherwise a failure. “The virtues of mercy, non-violence, love and truth in any man can be truly tested when they are pitted against ruthlessness, violence, hate and untruth… This is the true test of Ahimsa… He who when being killed bears no anger against his murderer and even asks God to forgive him is truly non-violent. History relates this of Jesus Christ. With his dying breath on the Cross, he is reported to have said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what to do.”

According to the theory of ‘Satyagraha’, said Gandhi, an adequate appeal to the heart never fails. “Seeming failure is not of the law of ‘Satyagraha’, but of incompetence of the ‘Satyagrahist’ by whatever cause induced. The name of Jesus at once comes to the lips. It is an instance of brilliant failure. And he has been acclaimed in the west as the prince of passive resisters. I showed years ago in South Africa that the adjective ‘passive’ was a misnomer, at least as applied to Jesus. He was the most active resister known perhaps to history. His was non-violence par excellence.”

This article was directly sourced from http://www.geocities.com/orthopapism/gandhi.html + http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080620072944AAmRmHq

(and I’m sharing these thoughts and ideas in a spirit of in some small way, promoting better understanding and dialogue between faiths…or at least trying (thanks!).

Also see an excellent article/link at https://sites.google.com/site/whoisthisjesus/gandhiandchristianity

“My life is my message.” – Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi

“Ï love Christ, but am not so keen on his followers.” and/or “I would have been a follower of Christ, if it weren’t for the Christians!”

(Apparently, Gandhi was kicked out of a church during his time in South Africa)

Gandhi greatly admired Christ; God is not a religion. God is love. Religious tradition is the enemy of true spirituality. Seek God and shun religion. It is the only path to true peace with God.

“Religion divides; whereas truth unites.”

So after all that…

Isn’t WHAT UNITES US IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT DIVIDES US!

“There is neither east nor west, tribe nor ethnicity, male or female, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist. Christian nor Jew. There is only a God-filled humanity.”

Find, then walk your OWN path to Highest Truth and be happy

Shared by craig

“I would like the British (military) to leave India as friends.”

PS: Former Archbishop in South Africa Desmond Tutu said these inspirational words: “We have come to a time in the history of the world, where we need to rediscover the path to peace, and the path to peace can never be war. This pathway is lined with the concept of co-existence and co-inhabitance of the world.”

“A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation, long supressed, finds utterance.”

– Jahrulal Nehru, first Prime Minister of India

“It is time for people of good will from every faith, culture and nation to recognise that a terrible danger threatens humanity. We must set aside the partisan bickering between nations and join together to confront the danger that lies before us. Let us seek common ground between peoples around the globe… because what unites us is far more important than what divides us.

In our own little ways in our individual lives we can touch so many others and share our common humanity. And in so doing we can illuminate the hearts and minds of humanity. We must offer a compelling alternate vision for the world: a bright future of justice, tolerance, respect for other traditions and values and especially a vision of goodness and hope fuelled by the flame of love – one that banishes the fanatical ideology of intolerance and hatred to the darkness from which it emerged.”

– craig (as inspired by and adapted from the words of Abdurahman Wahid, former President of Indonesia)

About the submitter:

Craig likes (no loves) to share information and insights to encourage others to be all they are capable of being. He’d love to try to ‘build bridges’ (not metal or wooden ones, thank goodness!) between people, firmly believing that what we share is way more important than what divides us. In his life mission Craig hopes to encourage, motivate and inspire people to be their best through realising their full potentials and live their very best lives. He believes in the great potential of every human being in the journey of life and loves to encourage people to share their individual (and guiding) spirits, so that they become all that they are CAPABLE of being

The various books that Craig “felt inspired to write” are available at

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B005GGMAW4_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Craig+Lockhttp://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4 www.creativekiwis.com/amazon.html and http://goo.gl/vTpjk

The submitter’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at http://peacepursuit.wordpress.com/ www.sharefaith.wordpress.com

http://breakdownwalls.wordpress.com/

www.breakdownbarriers.wordpress.com

http://drmartinlutherking.wordpress.com/

www.religiousunity.wordpress.com

and his various other blogs are at http://craigsblogs.wordpress.com/2013/09/28/craigs-blogs-and-writings/. Obsessive or WHAT!

“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.”

~ Franz Kafka

Craig’s new manuscript, ‘A New Dawn’ is set in the Middle East: In it he attempts to find ‘common ground’/principles between different religions and cultures and to try to make some difference in building bridges in an ever more dangerous, turbulent and uncertain world. A passionate story of inspiration: hope, faith, peace and especially love.

“A good book should take you from your everyday life to another place entirely.”

These thoughts may be published, electronically or in print (with acknowledgment to the source web sites, thanks)

“What we learn in the darkness, we are to share in the eternal light.”

“Live simply, so that others may simply live.” – Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi once said to a group of missionaries: “You Christians look after a document containing enough dynamite to blow all civilisation to pieces, turn the world upside down and bring peace to a battle-torn planet. BUT you treat it as nothing more than a piece of literature.”

When the missionary E. Stanley Jones met with Gandhi he asked him, “Mr. Gandhi, though you quote the words of Christ often, why is that you appear to so adamantly reject becoming his follower?”

Gandhi replied, “Oh, I don’t reject Christ. I love Christ. It’s just that so many of you Christians are so unlike Christ.”

“If Christians would really live according to the teachings of Christ, as found in the Bible, all of India would be Christian today,” he added.

from http://in.christiantoday.com/articledir/print.htm?id=2837

For more reading on Mahatma Gandhi and Christianity

See http://in.christiantoday.com/articledir/print.htm?id=2837 and

Gandhi’s message to Christians

Click on http://www.mkgandhi.org/africaneedsgandhi/gandhi%27s_message_to_christians.htm

“Let us look in the mirror of history*, heeding its lessons, then hold hands will all peoples in facing and heralding in a better future, a brighter tomorrow for all peoples around the globe.”

-craig

* that’s a metaphor, btw

“Whilst we can (and should) celebrate our uniquenesses, let not our different beliefs set us apart as human beings, but rather let the Spirit of our shared humanity be what defines and unites us as common citizens of our planet.”

“Lord,

Help lift our eyes a little higher.”

What are Some Key Similarities between Christianity and Islam?

“Whilst we can (and should) celebrate our differences, our unique cultures, let not our different beliefs set us apart as human beings, but rather let our shared humanity be what defines and unites us as common citizens of our planet.”

– me

“Peace. it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.”

– author unknown

“Instead of the limits of borders (of countries and of our minds) let us and our leaders expand our sense of possibility… and together let’s look at building bridges to distant horizons, far and great. Lord, help us all lift our eyes a little higher.”
– craig

What are Some Key Similarities between Christianity and Islam?

Article Title: What are Some Key Similarities between Christianity and Islam?
Shared by: Craig Lock

Category (key words): Christianity, Islam, religion, faith, beliefs, peace, spiritual, spiritual unity, breaking down barriers, building bridges

Web sites: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B005GGMAW4_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Craig+Lock&sort=relevance&ie=UTF8&qid and http://goo.gl/vTpjk

The submitter’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at www.peacepursuit.wordpress.com

www.sharefaith.wordpress.com

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B005GGMAW4_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Craig+Lock&sort=relevance&ie=UTF8&qid and http://goo.gl/vTpjk

http://craigsblogs.wordpress.com + so many others I can’t keep track (obsessive or WHAT!)

Other Articles are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 and http://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=981
(Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, spiritual, ‘spiritual writings’ (how ‘airey-fairey’), words of inspiration and money management, how boring now, craig)

Publishing Guidelines:
All my writings may be freely published, electronically or in print.
# #

WHAT ARE SOME KEY SIMILARITIES BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM?

Submitter’s Note:
Craig is studying the teachings of different religions (to find ‘common ground’/principles/ and as he learns from his research, is sharing these notes in an attempt to ‘enlighten’ (himself and perhaps others) regarding ‘eternal and universal truths.’ These notes form part of Craig’s new novel set in the Middle East, titled ‘A New Dawn: Let the Journey Begin’. Hope this piece may be of interest to you too.
*
INTRODUCTION

The issue of RELIGION throughout history of mankind and today evermore plays a vital part in many conflicts around the world. Religion is (and was) often blamed as the cause of the conflicts; whereas it is/was people misusing religion for their own ends (often taking particular and significant interpretations out of context) that have shaped societies and cultures. I truly believe it’s critically important to emphasize the common values shared by different religions to drastically reduce tensions around the globe. So that religion (and it’s beliefs) can be turned around from being part of the conflict to be part of the SOLUTION. Instead of focusing on the differences between people, in this ‘battle of ideas/ideologies” we should focus far more on what we have in common.

So what are the foundations, what is the frame-work of the respective beliefs?

Most religions of the world espouse (nice word, eh!) good moral values as a code of conduct: the virtues of passion for liberalism, tolerance, compassion, decency and generous ideals. However, there is a fundamental doctrinal incompatibility between the major faiths of Islam and Christianity (though together with the Jews, they worship the God of Abraham). These three major religions share the common truth of the Old Testament, having many prophets in common and consequently have many “shared values” that have shaped societies over the past two millennia.

Whilst there are some major differences between Islam and Christianity, from my research (fascinating and mainly online) some of the fundamental similarities in beliefs between these two main religions (as well as Judaism) are as follows:

ISLAM

The main beliefs:

* There is only One True God: the Sovereign Ruler of the universe…
and has full control over our lives (and will meet all of our needs)

* God (Allah) is the Creator of everything and central to Muslims lives. Allah is simply beyond human thought and understanding.

* True believers are not to worship any other gods

* Allah’s goodness and benevolence is seen everywhere, because He is compassionate and merciful.

* Many Old Testament prophets were from God (ie. were sent by God as messengers to the world)

* Jesus’s strong sense of mission, unity and sense of purpose.
He was sent by God to serve humanity and being divinely inspired was a great moral teacher and prophet.

* God gave the Torah, the prophets, the Koran and the Gospel to guide our lives. ( I don’t know enough about Mohamed and his “divine destiny” to pass comment on his “mission”).

* We are to obey God’s words (as in the first five books of the Old Testament, the ‘Pentitukes’- spelling?)

* We should surrender/sacrifice ourselves fully to God
(in fact, the word ‘Islam” means ‘full submission to God’s will’)

* Jesus will return to earth one day (though in which form is uncertain). Though Jews do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah…
and I’m not sure on that point with Islam.

* Humans have free will and exercise a choice between doing good or evil in their daily lives.

* Humans only live once on this earth, then face judgment:
One day there will be a day of Judgment for how we’ve lived our lives.

* Believers who die will go to ‘heaven’ and live forever (though the concept of heaven is not precisely defined).

* Disbelievers will go to ‘hell’ (or suffer torment, which is ‘separation from God’ forever). Heaven or hell are written about in the Qur’an in poetic terms, ie. symbolic rather than actual places.

* It is important to pray to God frequently (Muslims do it five times a day) and attend a congregation at least once a week (usually mid-day on Fridays)

* We should have a spirit of charity and help the poor and those in a less fortunate position to ourselves (with money and/or works)

* A person’s allotted time on earth is predestined.

* All people are equal before the law.

and finally

* We should respect our differences and Christians, Jews, and Muslims should never be killed purely on account of their faith.

#
CHRISTIANITY

Christianity and Islam are both missionary religions. Both faiths believe they have a monopoly over the truth. Both want to share their version of truth with others and both compete in seeking converts. I am motivated to share these “truths” with others, so people may benefit and enhance their lives in a meaningful way…if they so CHOOSE.

There IS a significant difference from Islam: Christianity exists solely on the basis that Jesus Christ is the ‘son of God’ (ie. the fact is taken literally); whereas the faith of Islam exists purely on the basis that God dictated his laws to Mohammed and that the Koran contains God’s actual words. Most “informed” Christians, however, do not believe the Koran is the un-intermediated word of God. Most followers of Christ know very little about Mohammed being perceived as a ‘messenger of God.’ They can, therefore, only think that Mohammed was deluded, if not a liar. (Of course, most Christians are far too polite to say such a thing!).

The Bible teaches that Jesus is the son of God/God incarnate (“the human face of God”) and that he dies on a cross to reconcile mankind and God. Then he was resurrected after three days and now lives in heaven. The gospel message teaches that reconciliation with God is to be found through the redemptive work of Jesus only.

Good works as “entry” to heaven count for nothing, in the absence of acceptance of Jesus.

And as regards Christianity, it’s the notion of the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit as one), which rationalists find to be the most implausible aspect of Christianity. If Jesus was not the Son of God, then he too was deluded, crazy … or perhaps even a “liar”. And if he – as opposed to He – was either of those things, then the Resurrection is also a lie and Christianity, as a faith rather than as a philosophy is utterly null and void.

Christianity is based on the concept of FAITH and God’s Infinite Grace. We are “saved for eternity” (so our soul lives on) through our faith in Jesus and are not solely judged for the ‘hereafter’ by our good works during our lifetime. (And these good works are inspired by our faith and the ‘divine spirit’ at work through God’s Infinite Grace). This is a battle of ideas. Cardinal Ratzenberger: “Islam simply does not have the separation of the political and religious spheres which Christianity had from the very beginning. The Koran… insists that the whole order of life be Islamic (ie. no separation of religion/church and state). One must understand that Islam is not simply a denomination that can be included in the free realm of a pluralistic society.”

True Muslims cannot accept either the separation of powers or the freedom under the law (ie. “democracy”), which are the hallmarks of Western civilization.

* extracted from an article (excellent) in ‘The Independent’ by Dominic Lawson.

As we are what we believe yourself to be (You are what YOU believe), I believe that Jesus genuinely believed himself to be a ‘Son of God’, divinely ordained with a specific mission, a unique purpose which he CHOSE to fulfil in his short life. Christians say that the tradition of Jesus of Nazareth points us to a new life and new thoughts, as well as new possibilities… as a community and as a nation. Still you may or may not CHOOSE to believe in Jesus Christ and follow his teachings as YOUR pathway to connect to God, a Higher Power, ‘the Ground of all Being, the Essence of Existence’, your spiritual self.
#

Whilst we can celebrate our differences, we should love God (whatever we understand the concept to be) with all our hearts, minds and souls and our neighbour as we love ourselves (common teachings from both faiths of Islam and Christianity). Simple, eh!

It’s not such a matter of conflicting ideologies, the great ‘battle of civilizations’ is it?

So
Isn’t WHAT UNITES US IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT DIVIDES US!

and

God’s greatest gift to us is allowing us to find, then choose to follow our own truths.

Craig Lock

Former Archbishop in South Africa Desmond Tutu: “We have come to a time in the history of the world, where we need to rediscover the path to peace, and the path to peace can never be war. This pathway is lined with the concept of co-existence and co-inhabitance of the world.”

“A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation, long supressed, finds utterance.”
– J.Nehru, first Prime Minister of India

“It is time for people of good will from every faith, culture and nation to recognise that a terrible danger threatens humanity. We must set aside the partisan bickering between nations and join together to confront the danger that lies before us. Let us seek common ground between peoples around the globe…
because what unites us is far more important than what divides us.

“What we learn in the darkness, we are to share in the eternal light.”

“What we believe is not nearly as important as how we relate, interact with each other… and how we live. Only when we can say, ‘I am first and foremost a human being, and second a Jew, Muslim, Shi’ite, a Sunni, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu ,or a Sikh…’ will we progress and break down barriers between peoples, nations and cultures, both east and west. Let not our beliefs , but our shared humanity (ALL of us) define who we really are. “

“Let us build bridges rather than barriers, openness rather than walls. Rather than borders, let us look at distant horizons together…in the common spirit of the value and dignity of a shared personhood – our common humanity as citizens of planet earth.”

– craig

“God’s greatest gift to us is allowing us to find, then choose to follow our own truths.”

“Let not our different beliefs set us apart as human beings, but rather let our shared humanity be what defines and unites us as common citizens of our planet.”

– me

About the submitter:
Craig is “a passionate ‘extremist’ about respect for religious tolerance and moderation”. In his various writings little by little, one mind, one heart, one soul, one small step at a time, Craig hopes to promote better understanding across countries and cultures, striving in some small way to break down economic, social, cultural, religious and political barriers. He truly believes that whilst we should celebrate our differences, what we share in the form of our common humanity is way more important than what divides us. http://www.craiglockbooks.com http://www.selfgrowth.com/experts/craig_lock.html

Craig’s new manuscript ‘A New Dawn’ is set in the Middle East: In it he attempts to find ‘common ground’/principles between different religions and cultures and to try to make some difference in building bridges in an ever more dangerous, turbulent and uncertain world. A passionate story of inspiration: hope, faith, peace and especially love.

Craig’s booklet ‘Jesus Meets Muhammad’ is available at http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Meets-Muhammad-Real-ebook/dp/B005H86TPU/

The various books* that Craig “felt inspired to write” (including his books on Jesus and his numerous e-books on “the spiritual journey”) are available at: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4

“The world’s smallest and most exclusive bookstores”

“A good book should take you from your everyday life to another place entirely.”

The submitter’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at www.peacepursuit.wordpress.com

www.sharefaith.wordpress.com

www.breakdownwalls.wordpress.com and www.religiousunity.wordpress.com .

http://craigsblogs.wordpress.com + so many others I can’t keep track (obsessive or WHAT!)

“Whilst we can (and should) celebrate our differences, let not our different beliefs set us apart as human beings, but rather let the Spirit of our shared humanity be what defines and unites us as common citizens of our planet.”

-me

Together, one mind, one heart, one life at a time, let’s plant the seeds, the hope of a better and brighter future.

THESE THOUGHTS MAY BE FREELY PUBLISHED, electronically or in print

“Peace. it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.”
– author unknown

Gandhi and Christ: What Did Jesus Mean to Gandhi?

Article Title: Gandhi and Christ: What Did Jesus Mean to Gandhi?
Submitted by: Craig Lock
Category (key words): Gandhi, Jesus, Christianity, faith, peace, pursuit of peace, beliefs, spiritual, spiritual unity, religion, unity of religion/s, spiritual growth
Web Sites: http://www.geocities.com/orthopapism/gandhi.html + http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080620072944AAmRmHq
Submitter’s web Sites: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4 http://goo.gl/vTpjk and http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/craiglock

The submitter’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at http://nzwriter.blogtown.co.nz/http://craigsblogs.wordpress.com/2013/09/28/craigs-blogs-and-writings/ www.buildbridgesofunity.wordpress.com www.buildbridgesofunderstanding.wordpress.com

Publishing Guidelines:
All my writings may be freely published, electronically or in print.

“We share what we know, so that we all may grow.”

GANDHI AND CHRIST

Submitter’s Note:

* What did Jesus mean to Gandhi? Did he have any influence on Gandhi’s life and teaching? What according to Gandhi was the essence of Christ’s message? Was Gandhi a ‘secret Christian’? What is the challenge that Gandhi presents to Christians and Christianity today?

“The message of Jesus as I understand it”, said Gandhi, “is contained in the Sermon on the Mount unadulterated and taken as a whole… If then I had to face only the Sermon on the Mount and my own interpretation of it, I should not hesitate to say, ‘Oh, yes, I am a Christian.’ But negatively I can tell you that in my humble opinion, what passes as Christianity is a negation of the Sermon on the Mount… I am speaking of the Christian belief, of Christianity as it is understood in the west.”

* I think the word literally means ‘soul-force’

This article was directly sourced from http://www.geocities.com/orthopapism/gandhi.html + http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080620072944AAmRmHq

(and I’m sharing these thoughts and ideas in a spirit of in some small way, promoting better understanding and dialogue between faiths…or at least trying (thanks!).

“My life is my message.” – Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi

“Ï love Christ, but am not so keen on his followers.” and/or “I would have been a follower of Christ, if it weren’t for the Christians!”

(Apparently, Gandhi was kicked out of a church during his time in South Africa)

Gandhi greatly admired Christ; God is not a religion. God is love. Religious tradition is the enemy of true spirituality. Seek God and shun religion. It is the only path to true peace with God.

“Religion divides; whereas truth unites.”

So after all that…

Isn’t WHAT UNITES US IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT DIVIDES US!

“There is neither east nor west, tribe nor ethnicity, male or female, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist. Christian nor Jew. There is only a God-filled humanity.”

Find, then walk your OWN path to Highest Truth and be happy

Shared by craig

“I would like the British (military) to leave India as friends.”

“A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation, long supressed, finds utterance.”

– Jahrulal Nehru, first Prime Minister of India

– craig (as inspired by and adapted from the words of Abdurahman Wahid, former President of Indonesia)

About the submitter:

The various books that Craig “felt inspired to write” are available at

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4http://www.creativekiwis.com/amazon.html

http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/craiglock + www.lulu.com/craiglock

www.breakdownwalls.wordpress.com and www.religiousunity.wordpress.com .

“A good book should take you from your everyday life to another place entirely.”

These thoughts may be published, electronically or in print (with acknowledgment to the source web sites, thanks)

“What we learn in the darkness, we are to share in the eternal light.”

“Live simply, so that others may simply live.” – Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi once said to a group of missionaries: “You Christians look after a document containing enough dynamite to blow all civilisation to pieces, turn the world upside down and bring peace to a battle-torn planet. BUT you treat it as nothing more than a piece of literature.”

When the missionary E. Stanley Jones met with Gandhi he asked him, “Mr. Gandhi, though you quote the words of Christ often, why is that you appear to so adamantly reject becoming his follower?”

from http://in.christiantoday.com/articledir/print.htm?id=2837

For more reading on Mahatma Gandhi and Christianity

See http://in.christiantoday.com/articledir/print.htm?id=2837 and

Gandhi’s message to Christians

Click on http://www.mkgandhi.org/africaneedsgandhi/gandhi%27s_message_to_christians.htm

“Let us look in the mirror of history*, heeding its lessons, then hold hands will all peoples in facing and heralding in a better future, a brighter tomorrow for all peoples around the globe.”

-craig

“Lord,

Help lift our eyes a little higher.”

* that’s a metaphor, btw

Sharing some Spiritual Thoughts and Principles on Jesus from Neale Donald Walsh’s book ‘Tomorrow’s God’

Article Title: Sharing some Spiritual Thoughts and Principles on Jesus from Neale Donald Walsh’s book ‘Tomorrow’s God’
Author’s Web sites (ND Walsch): www.newspirituality.org and www.HumanitysTeam.com
Submitted by: Craig Lock
Category (key words): Spiritual growth, Neale Donald Walsch, books, Jesus, Jesus Christ, faith, beliefs, spirituality, ‘Conversations with God’, religion(s), Christianity
Web sites: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4 and http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005Z6BFX0

The submitter’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at http://craigsblogs.wordpress.com

Other Articles by the submitter are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 and http://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=981
(Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, ‘spiritual writings’ (how ‘airey-fairey’), words of inspiration and money management (how boring now, craig!)

Publishing Guidelines:
These writings may be freely published.
(Copyright ‘Tomorrow’s God’ by Neale Donald Walsch, published by Hodder and Stoughton, a division of Hodder Headline)

“We share what we know, so that we all may grow.”
#

Submitter’s Note:

This information that I’m sharing is sourced from an excellent and insightful book titled ‘TOMORROW’S GOD’ by Neale Donald Walsch (published by Hodder and Stoughton, a division of Hodder Headline).

I have taken what I feel to be the main points, directly as they appeared in Chapter Twelve of Walsch’s thought-provoking great new book (together with a few additional points of my own – in brackets). Hope this piece (including a few thoughts of my own in brackets) may be of interest to you too.
*
THE JESUS FACTOR

(from ‘TOMORROW’S GOD’ by Neale Donald Walsch)

“Slowly and gradually, out of a rich experience of the world, one builds a faith.”

God and I are one! That is, God is within each one of us. Jesus taught that we and God are One, but that no one wanted to believe it; because it did not serve the human agenda. Jesus was and is a saviour to all humankind. He knew Who He Really Was and his mission. So he declared it, his sense of mission and ‘unity of purpose’ for all to hear.

He declared something else. He said that what he did on the earth, we could also do. By elevating and expanding His consciousness, together with a high level of FAITH is the key to experiencing these gifts. That was the central message that Jesus taught.

“According to your faith, be it unto you.”
“Oh woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.” And the woman’s daughter was made whole from that very hour!
“If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, ‘Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible to you.”
– Jesus’s words

Still if we cannot believe in ourselves and in our own divine heritage (and because so many people cannot), Jesus in an act of enormous love and compassion, invites us to believe in Him. (That was why He invited us, gently, to go to God, the Creator of the Universe THROUGH Him.)

“Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth in me, the works that I do, shall he also do; and greater works than these he shall do, because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I WILL do it.”

This was an extra-ordinary promise. So great and so complex was Jesus’s understanding of who He was and of who we are (“I and my Father are one“). He knew deeply that there was no limit to what we could do, if we believed in ourselves, or in Him.

(Read ‘The Magic of Believing’ by Claude Bristol)

So great was His love for all humankind, and so full was his compassion for their suffering, that he called upon Himself to rise to the highest level, to move to the grandest expression of his being, in order to present a living example to all human beings everywhere.

And then He prayed that we would not only see the evidence of His Oneness with the Father, but our own Oneness with God as well.

It was a marvellous inspiration for him to invite those who could not imagine themselves to be a part of God to imagine themselves to be a part of Him. He knew that it would be easier for us to see ourselves as “Brothers in Christ” than as One with God!
“I and my Father are one (John 10:30). That is: God is within EACH ONE of us.
“And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.” (John 17:22)

He stated repeatedly the truth of our oneness with God.
And if Jesus Christ was One with God, then so too are we. We simply do not know it, refuse to believe it and cannot imagine it!
(Because we may think too “lowly” of ourselves).

So Jesus gently invited us to follow him…to go through him to God, the Father, our Creator (because most of us don’t believe we can do it directly). So he said: “I am the Life and the Way. Live your life as I live mine, go the way I’ve gone, ie. follow me – and you will experience God.

That is the truth I came to reveal to you. I came not to humble you, but to exalt you. Not to put you down, but to raise you up.

In essence, Jesus is saying: ‘I am the Life and the Way. Live your life as I live mine, go the way I’ve gone, ie. follow me – and you will experience God’. That is the truth I came to reveal to you. I came not to humble you, but to exalt you; not to put you down, but to raise you up.

Jesus, like other masters and messengers (like Buddha, Abraham, Krishna, Moses and Mohammed) LOVE you today as they did in their times on planet earth. Jesus INVITES you today, as those other masters did then to accept and embrace the wonder and glory of Who You Are. He repeated these truths frequently, so that we would get the message.

His message was that he was greater than none, nor is any one greater than any other, for You are all One.

(Jesus Christ chose to live with the “highest thoughts” and consequently lived at the highest level of humanity as “son of man”.) Jesus said what He said and did what He did – that you may know who He was… and thus know also Who YOU Are.
Often what is hard for us to believe about ourselves, we can believe about another – and Jesus knew this! That was His mission: precisely what He knew and why He chose do do what He did …in life and in death. Thus, it is not Jesus’s death that can save us, but his LIFE!

We are the hope of humanity
YOU too can CHOOSE to be the HOPE OF HUMANITY

Neale Donald Walsch
www.HumanitysTeam.com and www.newspirituality.org

“YOU can be a CHANNEL of God’s (the Ultimate Source’s) justice, peace and love. The world needs a deep change, a ‘transformation of heart’: to one of forgiveness and generosity of spirit through masses of ‘ordinary’ people. And that is the real evidence of God’s (‘Divine Presence’s’) return to planet earth”.

“God is leading us to the light. What we learn in the darkness, we are to share in the eternal light.”
*
Submitter’s note:
Craig is studying the teachings of different religions, as he researches and writes his latest novel ‘A New Dawn’ ( already available at http://www.amazon.com/A-New-Dawn-ebook/dp/B005GXS350/ref=sr_1_28?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322765801&sr=1-28) ), set in the Middle East: To attempt to find ‘common ground’/principles between different religions and cultures. And as he learns from his research, is sharing these notes in an attempt to ‘enlighten’ (himself and perhaps others) about different religious faiths. As I “try to grow” spiritually, I am sharing some of the author’s writings on this most significant man, for you to ponder on (if you so choose) – the person who Christians believe to be ‘God in human form’), whose life and death 2000 years ago largely shaped human history and our beliefs about life (and what is indeed possible to achieve!). I am motivated, perhaps “inspired” to share these ‘eternal truths’ about Jesus by Neale Donald Walsch, so that all our lives may greatly benefit in many ways.

Be happy

Submitted and shared by craig

What we learn in the darkness, we are to share in the eternal light.
Let this be your task, let this be your greatest joy: to give back to themselves…even in their darkest hour.”
– adapted (slightly) from Neale Donald Walsch (‘Conversations with God 3′)

“There is neither east nor west, tribe nor ethnicity, male or female, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist. Christian nor Jew. There is only a God-filled humanity.”

About the submitter:
In his writings Craig strives in some small way to break down and economic, social, cultural and religious barriers. Craig believes that whilst we should celebrate our differences, what we share in the form of our common humanity is way more important than what divides us.

The various books that Craig “felt inspired to write” are available at: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005Z6BFX0and craig’s various books on Jesus and the spiritual; journey are available at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B005GGMAW4_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Craig+Lock&sort=relevance&ie=UTF8&qid=1374375740

“The world’s smallest and most exclusive bookstores”

The submitter’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at www.sharefaith.wordpress.com and http://craigsblogs.wordpress.com

“Together, let’s see how many people we can impact, uplift, empower, encourage and perhaps even inspire to reach their fullest potentials.”

These thoughts may be freely published.

P.S: These powerful, deep and moving words have great significance to me in my journey…and this is my reason for sharing…

“The moment of your greatest darkness may yet become your grandest gift. As you are gifted, so too will you gift others, giving to them the highest treasure: to BE THEMSELVES

“Instead of the limits of borders (of countries, of peoples and of our minds) let us and our leaders expand our sense of possibility… and together let’s look at building bridges to distant horizons, far and great. Lord, help us all lift our eyes a little higher.”

– craig

Sharing some Spiritual Thoughts and Principles on Jesus from Neale Donald Walsh’s book ‘Tomorrow’s God’

Article Title: Sharing some Spiritual Thoughts and Principles on Jesus from Neale Donald Walsh’s book ‘Tomorrow’s God’
Submitted by: Craig Lock
Category (key words): religion(s), Christianity, Jesus, Jesus Christ, faith, beliefs, spirituality, books, Neale Donald Walsch

Author’s web sites (ND Walsch): www.newspirituality.org and www.HumanitysTeam.com
Submitter’s web sites: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007E2WXW0and http://www.creativekiwis.com/amazon.html

Craig’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at www.sharefaith.wordpress.com .wordpress.com

www.peacepursuit.wordpress.com

http://craigsblogs.wordpress.com + so many others I can’t keep track (obsessive or WHAT!)

Other Articles by the submitter are available at:http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 andhttp://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=981
(Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, ‘spiritual writings’ (how ‘airey-fairey’), words of inspiration and money management (how boring now, craig!)

Publishing Guidelines:
These writings may be freely published.
(Copyright ‘Tomorrow’s God’ by Neale Donald Walsch, published by Hodder and Stoughton, a division of Hodder Headline)

“We share what we know, so that we all may grow.”
*

Submitter’s Note:

This information that I’m sharing is sourced from an excellent and insightful book titled ‘TOMORROW’S GOD’ by Neale Donald Walsch (published by Hodder and Stoughton, a division of Hodder Headline).

This article (in point form) was largely based upon notes , whilst studying the link between the human mind (psychology) and spirituality. Whilst I may not agree with all of Walsch’s views and beliefs on the concept of God, a “Higher Power’, I’m sharing this piece to hopefully stimulate thinking and discussion on these concepts from Walsh’s personal ideas and beliefs on the ‘airey-fairey spiritual journey’ (and do ‘try to test’, further explore and then apply these principles in ‘real life’).

Enjoy

*
THE JESUS FACTOR

(from ‘TOMORROW’S GOD‘ by Neale Donald Walsch)

“Slowly and gradually, out of a rich experience of the world, one builds a faith.”

God and I are one! That is, God is within each one of us. Jesus taught that we and God are One, but that no one wanted to believe it; because it did not serve the human agenda. Jesus was and is a saviour to all humankind. He knew Who He Really Was and his mission. So he declared it, his sense of mission and ‘unity of purpose’ for all to hear.

He declared something else. He said that what he did on the earth, we could also do (see John 12). By elevating and expanding His own consciousness, together with a high level of FAITH is the key to experiencing these gifts. That was the central message that Jesus taught.

This was an extra-ordinary promise. So great and so complex was Jesus’s understanding of who He was and of who we are (“I and my Father are one”). He knew deeply that there was no limit to what we could do, if we believed in ourselves, or in Him.

And then He prayed that we would not only see the evidence of His Oneness with the Father, but our own Oneness with God as well.

He stated repeatedly the truth of our oneness with God.
And if Jesus Christ was One with God, then so too are we. We simply do not know it, refuse to believe it and cannot imagine it!
(Because we may think too “lowly”).

So Jesus gently invited us to follow him…to go through him to God, our Creator (because most of us don’t believe we can do it directly). So he said: “I am the Life and the Way. Live your life as I live mine, go the way I’ve gone, ie. follow me – and you will experience God.

That is the truth I came to reveal to you. I came not to humble you, but to exalt you. Not to put you down, but to raise you up.

His message was that he was greater than none, nor is any one greater than any other, for You are all One.

(Jesus Christ chose to live with the “highest thoughts” and consequently lived at the highest level of humanity as “son of man”.) Jesus said what He said and did what He did – that you may know who He was… and thus know also Who YOU Are.
Often what is hard for us to believe about ourselves, we can believe about another – and Jesus knew this! That was His mission: precisely what He knew and why He chose do do what He did …in life and in death. Thus, it is not Jesus’s death that can save us, but his LIFE!

We are the hope of humanity
YOU too can CHOOSE to be the HOPE OF HUMANITY

Neale Donald Walsch
www.HumanitysTeam.com and www.newspirituality.org

“God is leading us to the light. What we learn in the darkness, we are to share in the eternal light.”
*
Submitter’s note:
Craig is studying the teachings of different religions, as he researches and writes his latest novel ‘A New Dawn’, set in the Middle East: To attempt to find ‘common ground’/principles between different religions and cultures. And as he learns from his research, is sharing these notes in an attempt to ‘enlighten’ (himself and perhaps others) about different religious faiths. As I “try to grow” spiritually, I am sharing some of the author’s writings on this most significant man, for you to ponder on (if you so choose) – the person who Christians believe to be ‘God in human form’), whose life and death 2000 years ago largely shaped human history and our beliefs about life (and what is indeed possible to achieve!). I am motivated, perhaps “inspired” to share these ‘eternal truths’ about Jesus by Neale Donald Walsch, so that all our lives may greatly benefit in many ways.

Be happy

Submitted and shared by craig

P.S: These powerful, deep and moving words have great significance to me in my journey…and this is my reason for sharing…

“The moment of your greatest darkness may yet become your grandest gift. As you are gifted, so too will you gift others, giving to them the highest treasure: to BE THEMSELVES.

“There is neither east nor west, tribe nor ethnicity, male or female, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist. Christian nor Jew. There is only a God-filled humanity.”

“Together, let’s see how many people we can impact, uplift, empower, encourage and perhaps even inspire to reach their fullest potentials.”

These thoughts may be freely published.

The various books* that Craig “felt inspired to write” are available at:http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GGMAW4http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007E2WXW0www.creativekiwis.com/index.php/books/74-craigs-booksand http://www.creativekiwis.com/amazon.html and http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/craiglock

Craig’s blogs (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) are at www.sharefaith.wordpress.com .wordpress.com