bin@PRIMATE.WISC.EDU (Brain in Neutral) (01/27/90)
From article <CHRISTIA%90012617222582@FINHUTC>, by GATLING@SUVM (Keith E Gatling | Who enters by the narrow door? The self-proclaimed Christian who reads | off a laundry list of all the things he has done for God (including correct | beliefs) or the non-Christian who is aware of his dependence on God and is | always calling on him for mercy? Neither of them? Paul DuBois Internet: dubois@primate.wisc.edu UUCP: rhesus!dubois FAX: 608/263-4031
pc1y+@ANDREW.CMU.EDU (Peter Capell) (02/03/90)
Keith,
I have vowed not to post on Christia, because it seemed that some people
don't want controversy to be introduced there. Therefore, I want to
ask you directly:
Why does it seem so antithetical to Christianity (among Christians), to
at least examine the hypothesis that the expression, "Jesus Christ" may
say something a little different from what meets the eye. My belief is
that "Christ" was not a last name given to Jesus by God. Rather, it is
more accurate to say that Jesus was "of the Christ," the sole, pure
reflection of God on Earth. My point is, that while one cannot really
go wrong by saying "I believe in Jesus Christ my personal savior." It
does not express a knowledgeable point of view, and suffers from the
short coming of exclusivity. My belief is that the Christ is the "one
way," and indeed, anyone who may ever know God will enter Him through
that door. And that the Christ includes Jesus of Nazareth, and far
beyond. That is, inasmuch as God cannot be contrained by mortal flesh,
neither is Christ. Therefore, irrespective of Jesus appearance in
history, His special message to the people of that time and area, the
Christ itself is omniscient, and may manifest in any period, through any
suitable physical vessel -- and has done so.
This is what I myself believe, and I believe it is far closer to the
truth than the standard dogmatic adherance to the notion that Jesus of
Nazareth is forever determining the fate of souls born both before and
after His arrival. Jesus of Nazareth was to me the vessel. Jesus, the
Christ was Jesus and the Christ as one. When he spoke the phrase, "None
may come to the father but by me," the Christ was speaking through that
body, at that time.
It is not a point for argument with me. I expect to see many many souls
in Heaven, not a select few, and I expect them to include Buddhists,
Moslems, Jews, and Hindus, not to mention countless others, including
professing to be Christians. My point is not to argue the point as to
find out why no one seems willing to examine the possibility at least.
At the very least, it is not a ridiculous hypothesis.
PeterD2MG@SDSUMUS (Kurt Evans) (02/04/90)
To Peter Capell:
Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead. If you rise from the dead,
I'll try to be a little more "broadminded" and "tolerant" and less
"narrow-minded" and "dogmatic."
"For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life,
and those who find it are few."
Jesus of Nazareth, *the* Christ
For His glory,
KurtUJCCPC@UNC (02/05/90)
> I have vowed not to post on Christia, because it seemed that some people > don't want controversy to be introduced there. Therefore, I want to > ask you directly: > > Why does it seem so antithetical to Christianity (among Christians), to > at least examine the hypothesis that the expression, "Jesus Christ" may > say something a little different from what meets the eye. My belief is > that "Christ" was not a last name given to Jesus by God. Rather, it is > more accurate to say that Jesus was "of the Christ," the sole, pure > reflection of God on Earth. My point is, that while one cannot really > go wrong by saying "I believe in Jesus Christ my personal savior." It > does not express a knowledgeable point of view, and suffers from the > short coming of exclusivity. My belief is that the Christ is the "one > way," and indeed, anyone who may ever know God will enter Him through > that door. And that the Christ includes Jesus of Nazareth, and far > beyond. That is, inasmuch as God cannot be contrained by mortal flesh, > neither is Christ. Therefore, irrespective of Jesus appearance in > history, His special message to the people of that time and area, the > Christ itself is omniscient, and may manifest in any period, through any > suitable physical vessel -- and has done so. > > This is what I myself believe, and I believe it is far closer to the > truth than the standard dogmatic adherance to the notion that Jesus of > Nazareth is forever determining the fate of souls born both before and > after His arrival. Jesus of Nazareth was to me the vessel. Jesus, the > Christ was Jesus and the Christ as one. When he spoke the phrase, "None > may come to the father but by me," the Christ was speaking through that > body, at that time. > > It is not a point for argument with me. I expect to see many many souls > in Heaven, not a select few, and I expect them to include Buddhists, > Moslems, Jews, and Hindus, not to mention countless others, including > professing to be Christians. My point is not to argue the point as to > find out why no one seems willing to examine the possibility at least. > At the very least, it is not a ridiculous hypothesis. > > Peter
JIM@AUVM (Jim McIntosh) (02/06/90)
In article <wZk_4a_00VE3A2BFlU@andrew.cmu.edu>, Peter Capell <pc1y+@ANDREW.CMU.EDU> says: >It is not a point for argument with me. I expect to see many many souls >in Heaven, not a select few, and I expect them to include Buddhists, >Moslems, Jews, and Hindus, not to mention countless others, including >professing to be Christians... This reminds me of a joke my mother told me about Catholics (very pre-Vatican II Catholics). Since I'm Catholic, I guess it's okay to tell it. There is a message in it for all of us! It seems a woman died and went to heaven. St. Peter is showing her around, introducing her to all the various people. She met Baptists, Methodists, and so forth. After a while, they came to a section which was surrounded by a wall. "What's in there?" she asked. "Shhhh!" said St. Peter. "That's where the Catholics are. They think they're the only ones in here." ------- Jim McIntosh (JIM@AUVM) The American University Washington DC 20016 USA