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Post by Pietro on Aug 31, 2005 9:36:41 GMT -5
Quite often concern is expressed about Christians tampering with things like Tai Chi and Yoga because these things originate in philosophies foreign to our own. In Eastern philosophy and understanding everyone and all things have the divine within them and are, in fact, divine but don't realize it. It is a pantheistic orientation.
We have a different understanding and theology. Does that mean we ought not strive for physical and emotional well being through whatever methods available? Because others misunderstand them?
I am reminded of the controversy St. Paul spoke of with regard to eating meat. Some Christians took great offense at this. Others had no problem. Paul also had no problem but added that if some are offended because of weak faith the others should refrain from meat so to not offend them. So the only problem with eating meat was not the meat itself but what it meant to those of weaker faith. It seems to me to be a parallel with many things we might borrow from pagans.
See:
Romans 14 & I Corinthians 8
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Post by Shirley on Sept 10, 2005 10:09:27 GMT -5
Most of Christianity was borrowed from paganism to begin with..
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Post by Pietro on Nov 7, 2005 9:05:56 GMT -5
Most of Christianity was borrowed from paganism to begin with.. Ok, Shirley, let me argue with you for a while. When I think of Christianity I think of one God revealed as three persons. I think of one of these persons incarnating to teach and to suffer and die for our sins. I think of the Eucharist, the koinonia (community), the ecclesia (church). While some of this might share commonality with some aspects of paganism what would you say actually was "borrowed". Let me add that this thread is so old that I have no idea of what I was originally talking about.  |
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Post by Shirley on Nov 8, 2005 17:25:15 GMT -5
Most of Christianity was borrowed from paganism to begin with.. Ok, Shirley, let me argue with you for a while. When I think of Christianity I think of one God revealed as three persons. I think of one of these persons incarnating to teach and to suffer and die for our sins. I think of the Eucharist, the koinonia (community), the ecclesia (church). While some of this might share commonality with some aspects of paganism what would you say actually was "borrowed". Let me add that this thread is so old that I have no idea of what I was originally talking about. Hmm..yeah, and its been two months since I posted that too..let me get back to you on some of it. I just know that there are many virgin birth, saviour dies epics in other religions. I'll do some digging and come back..hopefully before two months pkmtyolp..  |
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Post by LauraJean on Nov 16, 2005 8:31:16 GMT -5
[I just know that there are many virgin birth, saviour dies epics in other religions. I'll do some digging and come back..hopefully before two months pkmtyolp.. Gosh, I hope so.... I am unfamiliar with any virgin birth/savior dies stories apart from Jesus. I would be mightily interested to learn about this! Blessings, LJ |
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Post by PhilipDC78 on Nov 16, 2005 16:41:54 GMT -5
[I just know that there are many virgin birth, saviour dies epics in other religions. I'll do some digging and come back..hopefully before two months pkmtyolp.. Gosh, I hope so.... I am unfamiliar with any virgin birth/savior dies stories apart from Jesus. I would be mightily interested to learn about this! Blessings, LJ I'll give you a hint.. there are none. |
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Post by LauraJean on Nov 16, 2005 22:38:41 GMT -5
I am unfamiliar with any virgin birth/savior dies stories apart from Jesus. I would be mightily interested to learn about this! I'll give you a hint.. there are none. That would certainly explain why I am unfamiliar with them!  Blessings, LJ |
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Post by Archangelwolf on Nov 17, 2005 1:23:29 GMT -5
Ummm....there are a few actually. The first that comes to mind is the pagan god Mithrais; who even rose from the grave.
I was trying to find a site I saw posted on another chatboard; but it seems to have disappeared. There were MANY pagan virgin birth stories. Of course, there is the Roman god Zeus who impregnated just about everything he touched.
I sense the theme of this thread has more to do with a person's level of faith. God grants us enough faith to accomplish His will. Some are given much faith, and some are given little. Why? Because God knows our limitations of what we can handle.
Some people see the Christian religion as this box around their lives. Everything in the box is okay; while everything outside this box is a sin. This box works for them. It provides structure and self-confidence; it also provides assurances for their faith.
Other Christians see this box and venture outside of it; some more than others. Their level of faith is very high; because they know that nothing separates us from God, and we are saved by grace not action.
An example of this could be the Harry Potter books. Someone who believes "inside the box" might see these books as putting a good spin on witchcraft and sorcery; which to them dishonors the image of Jesus Christ as the only light to the world. Others who think "outside the box" might see these as the educational tool that they are; and allow their children to read them, perhaps with daily discussions on the comparisons between them and the Bible.
So, who is right? Well, the truth is that they both are. If our faith causes us to doubt reading Harry Potter books, and we do it anyways, we dishonor God by doing so; even though the actual reading is not a sin. It essentially becomes a sin because we believe it is a sin.
Now, some will use this argument to claim that we give licence for pornography, drugs, promiscuity, and other sins. That is simply not the case. A TRUE follower of Christ seeks to glorify God in all that he/she does. Remember, God created all things as good. It is sin, and Satan (or whatever we percieve Satan to be), that has turned what God called good into evil. So, likewise, what has been turned into evil can be returned to good. Think about it. Nuclear physics is certainly something that can be very destructive; but has a lot of upsides to it as well. Stem cell research, if we are not careful, can be very dangerous and inhumane; yet there is huge potential for medical possibilities if done in an ethical manner.
The main point is to ask ourselves, when we engage in any action, if we dishonor God in what we do. Some are gifted with more faith than others; which is purely by the blessing of God and we should not question it. If someone feels that an action dishonors God; then we must abstain while that person is present, lest we cause them to stumble in their faith. When they have departed, and we do not feel that an action dishonors God, then we can participate in it.
This is not rocket science. Paul alludes to this in his 14th Chapter of Romans. We are saved by grace, by a gift given us by God. We are not saved by any action that we ourselves do. This does not give licence to sin; because if we are truly followers of Jesus Christ, we will not stray far from the vine.
Hope this makes sense.
Be a blessing,
Arch.
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Post by MorningStar on Jan 6, 2006 23:56:21 GMT -5
Gosh, I hope so.... I am unfamiliar with any virgin birth/savior dies stories apart from Jesus. I would be mightily interested to learn about this! Blessings, LJ What about Mithras (Roman Mithraism) and Horus (Egyptian God of Light)? |
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Post by LauraJean on Jan 17, 2006 15:10:57 GMT -5
Hi, MS! Long time no post! Thanks for responding... I haven't been around much myself so I missed this until today. Glad to see you still pop in once in a while too!
What's your take on the fact that neither the Roman nor the Egyptian gods are still worshipped, but the God of the Bible is worshipped (in some way, shape, or form) by over half the world's population?
Have a blessed day!
LJ
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Post by LauraJean on Jan 17, 2006 15:12:49 GMT -5
Pietro, in you OP, were you looking for a discussion on Christian Liberty or on the practice of adopting pagan customs and "converting" them to Christian customs... like celebrating the birth of Christ on Dec. 25?
Blessings,
LJ
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Post by Pietro on Jan 17, 2006 17:38:45 GMT -5
Pietro, in you OP, were you looking for a discussion on Christian Liberty or on the practice of adopting pagan customs and "converting" them to Christian customs... like celebrating the birth of Christ on Dec. 25? Blessings, LJ Yes, but also like the idea most of us have about the soul. I think I started this thread because of Genesda always talking about pagan as if they were all satanic fiends. But Plato and the Greek pagans, from whom we get a notion of an eternal soul, also give us mathematics and philosophy. |
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Post by Kee on Jan 24, 2006 20:58:29 GMT -5
Yes, but also like the idea most of us have about the soul. I think I started this thread because of Genesda always talking about pagan as if they were all satanic fiends. But Plato and the Greek pagans, from whom we get a notion of an eternal soul, also give us mathematics and philosophy. Hi Pietro, Long time..... I wouldn't agree that the Christian biblical concepts of the soul say very much about it at all. Other religions and philosophies seem to explore that idea more deeply and thus they are more intriguing intellectually, perhaps. To me, I resonate with the concept that the soul is not something that you have, but rather what you are. If your hand or leg is cut off, are you still you? What's the YOU? |
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Post by heathen76 on Jan 25, 2006 12:10:54 GMT -5
Yes, but also like the idea most of us have about the soul. I think I started this thread because of Genesda always talking about pagan as if they were all satanic fiends. But Plato and the Greek pagans, from whom we get a notion of an eternal soul, also give us mathematics and philosophy. Hi Pietro, Long time..... I wouldn't agree that the Christian biblical concepts of the soul say very much about it at all. Other religions and philosophies seem to explore that idea more deeply and thus they are more intriguing intellectually, perhaps. To me, I resonate with the concept that the soul is not something that you have, but rather what you are. If your hand or leg is cut off, are you still you? What's the YOU? Hi Kee! Long time no see, my sweet sweet lover. How are things? |
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Post by Pietro on Jan 25, 2006 15:20:32 GMT -5
If your hand or leg is cut off, are you still you? What's the YOU? Good question. And if one is stricken with Alzheimer's, cut off from memory and rational powers, what's the you? Are you familiar with, "Not this...not this". The soul even transcends all the thoughts and feelings of the ego we normally identify with ourselves.  Is there a distinction between soul and spirit? Or are they different words for the same thing? |
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