This is an expansion of both the last post, and the question of how other faiths can be understood. I want to make three distinct points, and then indicate the way in which they work together in this project. Christianity is, I believe, uniquely vulnerable in one particular way: if it were shown that Jesus had not in fact been crucified, then Christianity would fail. It is not impossible that such a thing could happen, eg a discovery of a text describing a deceit (perhaps
I agree wholeheartedly that Islam is vulnerable to violence, it's really its glaring defect in my view.
As to having to pick a path up the mountain... This is true, and yet, a canny observation I read once went like this:
> The problem with appealing to tradition is that every tradition got started by a heretic.
This is very true, and it can be put in a less quippy way: new paths get created by someone striking out on their own. As the poet says in Spanish: walker, there is no path, the path is made by walking. There is even a necessity of this happening, as it is precisely through people striking out on their own that spirituality gets regenerated.
The way I see it, Jesus is even expecting this of Christians, as in John 14:12:
> Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
"Greater works than these." Has any Christian accomplished this or even attempted it? We're letting Jesus down in so many ways...
Yes, I realize this is all heterodox and even outright heretical (I do wonder what is the orthodox interpretation of John 14:12 though. What is the one you would give it?), but I don't think I have a choice in this matter.
I agree wholeheartedly that Islam is vulnerable to violence, it's really its glaring defect in my view.
As to having to pick a path up the mountain... This is true, and yet, a canny observation I read once went like this:
> The problem with appealing to tradition is that every tradition got started by a heretic.
This is very true, and it can be put in a less quippy way: new paths get created by someone striking out on their own. As the poet says in Spanish: walker, there is no path, the path is made by walking. There is even a necessity of this happening, as it is precisely through people striking out on their own that spirituality gets regenerated.
The way I see it, Jesus is even expecting this of Christians, as in John 14:12:
> Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
"Greater works than these." Has any Christian accomplished this or even attempted it? We're letting Jesus down in so many ways...
Yes, I realize this is all heterodox and even outright heretical (I do wonder what is the orthodox interpretation of John 14:12 though. What is the one you would give it?), but I don't think I have a choice in this matter.