A discussion on GSC nowadays is on Hinduism\conversion etc.
I thought the IOIF readers would be interested -
"If there is salvation outside the church, then why did Christ have
to die?"
I got to see another different perception of things reading this -
http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft9506/articles/dinoia.html
"Jesus and the World Religions" - J. A. Di Noia
A summary as I understood it -
So is Jesus the only way to Salvation?
I think I got the idea a bit wrong initially though unintentionally
(you see this word "salvation" is so much used in the world today
that you tend to lose context) - Yes, indeed Jesus is the ONLY way
to salvation.
Salvation has a distinctively Christian content: transformation in
Christ with a view to ultimate communion with the triune God.
Each religion has its own aim\ultimate goal set forth. Based around
these aims, each religion develops its own unique traditions to
enable its members to reach that ultimate goal.
A Hindu does not seek salvation. Just as when a Buddhist says -
"Buddha is the unique revealer of Nirvana" we have no issues with
that - and we are not disturbed that we are excluded from Nirvana -
since,as Christians, we are not aiming for Nirvana anyways .
Thus each faith System has its own perception of the ultimate. The
idea of the ultimate Truth is different, so the means to attain them
are different too. No one faith system is superior to the other.
Thus the questions that first need to be looked at are - Is there
God? (No, says the Buddhist) Do we need salvation? (Yes, says the
Christian)
So, yes, Jesus is the exclusive mediator of Salvation. We really do
not attribute anyone else as the "Saviour". But this in no way gives
anyone the ticket to militant evangelism or to judge the others. It
is showing Christ in very poor light when we indulge in these. They
do not realise how much harm they are doing to the witness of Christ
when they sought to preach Christ in this manner. As I said before -
we are called to be witnesses of Christ, our Master - for the His
great Love for us on the Cross. But by being humble, meek human
beings expressing genuine Love.
The Christian idea of "Salvation", the Buddhist philosophy
of "Nirvana", the Hindu thinking on "Mukthi", even though they may
not coincide - they may still not be contradictory. Hope the members
contribute more on this, so that we may learn and grow.
"The more we know, the more we understand how little we know!!".
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/5888
I thought the IOIF readers would be interested -
"If there is salvation outside the church, then why did Christ have
to die?"
I got to see another different perception of things reading this -
http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft9506/articles/dinoia.html
"Jesus and the World Religions" - J. A. Di Noia
A summary as I understood it -
So is Jesus the only way to Salvation?
I think I got the idea a bit wrong initially though unintentionally
(you see this word "salvation" is so much used in the world today
that you tend to lose context) - Yes, indeed Jesus is the ONLY way
to salvation.
Salvation has a distinctively Christian content: transformation in
Christ with a view to ultimate communion with the triune God.
Each religion has its own aim\ultimate goal set forth. Based around
these aims, each religion develops its own unique traditions to
enable its members to reach that ultimate goal.
A Hindu does not seek salvation. Just as when a Buddhist says -
"Buddha is the unique revealer of Nirvana" we have no issues with
that - and we are not disturbed that we are excluded from Nirvana -
since,as Christians, we are not aiming for Nirvana anyways .
Thus each faith System has its own perception of the ultimate. The
idea of the ultimate Truth is different, so the means to attain them
are different too. No one faith system is superior to the other.
Thus the questions that first need to be looked at are - Is there
God? (No, says the Buddhist) Do we need salvation? (Yes, says the
Christian)
So, yes, Jesus is the exclusive mediator of Salvation. We really do
not attribute anyone else as the "Saviour". But this in no way gives
anyone the ticket to militant evangelism or to judge the others. It
is showing Christ in very poor light when we indulge in these. They
do not realise how much harm they are doing to the witness of Christ
when they sought to preach Christ in this manner. As I said before -
we are called to be witnesses of Christ, our Master - for the His
great Love for us on the Cross. But by being humble, meek human
beings expressing genuine Love.
The Christian idea of "Salvation", the Buddhist philosophy
of "Nirvana", the Hindu thinking on "Mukthi", even though they may
not coincide - they may still not be contradictory. Hope the members
contribute more on this, so that we may learn and grow.
"The more we know, the more we understand how little we know!!".
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/5888
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