>>
>> No. I certainly don't believe Jesus was a liar.
>
>Aren't you conflicted here?
No.
>
>>
>> If Jesus said these actual words in exactly the context presented, and
>> not all biblical scholars accept these words as consistent with Jesus'
>> other more inclusive sayings (and the synoptic gospels are not
>> infalible in this way - there are many inconsistencies over the four
>> chosen canon) - then I simply and respectfully disagree with him.
>>
>
>If I simply and respectfully disagreed with your statement that you are a follower of
>Buddha, would you be surprised at folks interpreting that to mean that I believe you are
>lying?
That is not the same thing at all.
If I said - I am buddha, and the only way to paradise was through my
teachings and no other - and you disagreed, that is not the same as
you accusing me of lying is it. I might truly think I am the only way
- yet be mistaken.
>> Simply look to the recent scandals within the Roman Catholic Church,
>> priests found guilty of sexual misconduct, child abuse, the bitter
>> enmity between factions over points of theological contention - the
>> protestant situation regarding homosexual ministers, women ministers
>> etc....the declaration that war is 'righteous in the eyes of God' by
>> certain church leaders....
>
>Are any of these showing inconsistencies within God's Word?
According to those ministers arguing the toss, God's Word is open to
much varied interpretation - and there is the nub of your problem.
>
>> do you think Jesus would recognise these as
>> his followers simply because they 'believed he was Lord' regardless of
>> their behaviour?
>>
>
>Being that Jesus, as God the Son, sees into the hearts of men, He knows who are truly His
>followers regardless of their actions.
Nevertheless, I am sure you would not disagree that a mans actions are
far from irrelevant in the eyes of God.
>How do you know where Buddha is, did he come back to tell his followers?
Nirvana is not a 'place' - it is a state of mind. The mind continues
in a subtle state even after physical death until reincarnation.
In the same way you believe Christ was resurrected and will come
again, buddha has been reborn many times in many circumstances to
continue helping other sentient beings reach enlightenment.
A recent example being the reincarnation of His Holiness the 14th
Dalai Lama.
>
>Witnessing as God's humble servant,
May the precious jewel in the lotus, the supreme bodhicitta, grow
wherever it is needed.
>
>Andrew