[Sri Ramakrishna] Children playing : )

[Guest guest]

I CAN believe the attitude that you experienced from

Christians. Their fundamental theology is based on

" Jesus is the only Way. " Most Christians believe that

only through Jesus can you find salvation from sin

(whatever that means). All other paths are wrong or

inferior. Look at the history of Christianity- the

Crusades, the subjagation and slaughter of indiginous

peoples in Mexico, S. America, etc. Look at it's

labeling of scientists and mystics as " heretics. "

Except for Islam, it's hard to find a more narrow and

dogmatic faith (and even Islam has a healthy

appreciation of mysticism among it's Sufis). What's

the surprise here?

 

Only recently, in America, England and other Western

countries, where Christianity has become close to

irrelevant in most people's daily lives- has the seed

of real religious inquiry and practice taken root.

Thank God for the great spiritual teachers from the

East who have encouraged us toward a more open-minded,

tolerant, and practical view of religion and

spirituality. Hence the great blossoming of Yoga and

Buddhist and Sufi centers all across America and

Europe.

 

Cheers,

Richard

 

--- Vivekananda Centre <vivekananda

wrote:

> Further to a recent event of presenting Hinduism to

> some

> Christian Ministers in London ..We have had a few

> emails

> as under.....

> Let us quickly conclude this topic...... jay

> Vivekananda Centre

>

> " tracey wright " <tracew411

> <vivekananda

> Wednesday, January 30, 2002 07:17

> Re:Fireworks

>

>

> Dear All

> We have been members of this group for some time,

> and

> have enjoyed and learnt a great deal from your

> topics

> and discussions.

> I felt I had to write to you with regards to this

> subject. I have been raised as a Christian and I

> have

> to say I am ashamed to read about ministers from

> this

> religion treating those in such a manner! I cannot

> believe that those who represent the Christian faith

> use this attitude! It makes me very angry!

> All I can say is that they are obviously 'isolated'

> and 'bitter' in their own small world. And lets face

> it - its small, the numbers of Christians are

> falling!

> My partner is a Hindu and I have a great interest in

> his faith, I think it is very spiritual. I find I

> have never had a problem form others of your faith,

> it

> is such a peaceloving religion.

> Best Wishes

> Tracey & Ahilan

>

>

>

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

> " Gopi Krishna " <gopi

> Fireworks.....

>

> Poojya Jay,

>

> Pranams.

>

> Although apparently the intention behind the

> questions on Hinduism was to

> belittle this great religion, we must accept that

> they were thought

> provoking, at the same time. I am very keen to know

> the answers that you had

> offered to them. May I request you to post your

> answers also to the

> questions, so that it would help people like me a

> lot. I sincerely request

> you to adopt this procedure in future also.

>

> Pranams and Love.

>

> Gopi Krishna

>

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~response~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

> Dear List

>

> Let us quickly conclude this topic as else it will

> become

> counter-productive.

>

> I am invited to talk at many meetings held by both

> Christians

> and Hindus. I do my best to present the teachings of

> Vivekananda

> in a sweet and gentle manner - hoping to touch them

> with the

> wonderful material left by our mentors. I never try

> to score points

> nor put down any approach to spirituality..... else

> my master

> will take me to task : )

>

> I have been asked to present Hinduism to a great

> many

> Christian ministers .... this was the third batch

> from this

> same Christian college..... Normally things work out

> well

> and at the end of most of the sessions everyone

> feels uplifted

> and feel that 'spirituality is for real'....

> In fact I have commented candidly that the people

> from

> the West seem to relate more strongly to the

> teachings of Vivekananda than people of Hindu

> background.

>

> This year the first session started off very

> well....but then

> perhaps it went too well... I suspect that the

> co-ordinator

> of this group could not allow the Christian

> ministers

> to go away thinking that Hinduism is so

> grand...hence

> meetings must have taken place and it was perhaps

> decided to bring Hinduism down a peg or two.

>

> This became obvious as soon as I arrived for the

> second

> session. No smiles, no pleasantries, most members

> avoided

> eye contact let alone come near me.... " I was being

> prepared

> to be put down "

>

> It was with this attitude that the questions were

> fired. There was

> no real concern or interest in the topics.... it was

> a clear attempt

> to 'put down'......... Hence I had no choice but to

> stand up and

> respond with clenched teeth.

>

> It is pointless to repeat what the questions were

> and

> what the answers were. I was responding to a

> special situation....and hence my replies were very

> pointed and non compromising. I do not feel proud of

> this but I had no choice.... I fall back on the

> standard

> excuse of a youngster ........... " they started

> it.. " : )

>

> jay

> Vivekananda Centre London

>

>

>

>