THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 19, 1996 TAG: 9610180080
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E7 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Issues of Faith
SOURCE: Betsy Wright
LENGTH: 89 lines
Last Week's Issue: Cafeteria-style religion
This week's Reader Responses:
From Miles Pelton of Virginia Beach: ``All of the Religious sects mentioned (atheism, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto) already existed at the time of Christ's ministry on earth, except Islam, so there is no need to try to figure out how Jesus would relate to those of other faiths. The Scripture tells us the number one `law': `Worship no god but me.' Christ said he did not come to do away with the law of Moses or the teachings of the prophets, but to make their teachings come true (Matthew 5:17). . .
``When you seek the truth, even by examining `other' religious beliefs, you will find God the Creator, the source of all wisdom and understanding. It's easy to forget that the enlightenment that is received actually came from God, the source of all wisdom. Believing in Jesus makes it easier.''
From Rabbi Israel Zoberman of Congregation Beth Chaverim, Virginia Beach: ``For the sake of me, I can't understand why some followers of all faiths believe that appreciating certain aspects of other religions is a no-no. . . . (when we do appreciate certain aspects of other religions) we receive a gift enriching our own perspective and practice, becoming more aware of our uniqueness without putting down those who differ. History ought to have taught us by now that without tolerance and mutual respect, we turn God into a devilish weapon of destruction, instead of an essential source for love and growth.
``Building bridges of shalom in a fragile world is both a sacred duty and a joy.''
From Lindsey Rigell of Virginia Beach: ``I strongly disagree with your comment in (last week's column) that said `I must truthfully admit that (Christianity) doesn't always answer all my questions or meet all my spiritual needs.'
``A personal walk with Jesus Christ will always satisfy all of your spiritual needs. You should not feel that you need to turn to other religions to meet your spiritual needs.''
``I also disagree with your comment that God led (you) to those `side dishes.' God will never lead you to another religion to meet your spiritual needs. That was your own mind telling you that it was OK for you to feel peace about getting your spiritual needs met by a different religion. That was not God's peace, it was a false sense of peace.''
``I am 13 years old and I have never felt that I needed to turn to another religion to meet my spiritual needs. God has always provided for me and he always will.''
From Michael Nixon of Virginia Beach: ``I had a nice experience today at DMV. I was able to meet an Islamic person. (That experience confirmed) to me God is an expression of all religions, a multi-faceted diamond, and each religion is an expression of God, for he is all one. . . Your `dishes-on-the-side' are just a part of the divine order of expanding your consciousness to a higher reality.''
From Richard Stockton, minister of Universal Life Church, Church of the Open Ocean in Virginia Beach: ``Dorothy Todd of Chesapeake got it right last week. You've got to look to all the other religions to get a cinder of where real religion is, and that is in the heart of the beholder . . . Some people are just stuck in their old ways, into their own religion, and won't open their hearts to other religions as (I believe) Jesus would do were he living (on Earth) today. (I believe) he would say to all people, `Come unto me' and open the door to everyone.
From an anonymous reader, who simply signed ``A new Virginian and happy to be here'': ``I am fairly new to this area, but would like to suggest that your readers will find much the same approach to religious thinking by getting acquainted with the Edgar Cayce foundation, the Association for Research and Enlightenment or A.R.E.
``The prophet Cayce was a Christian, but through his unusual insights, encompassed an overall view of faith, life and the hereafter. I have found (his works) most enlightening.''
From Thomas W. Miller of Norfolk: ``My new wife and I discovered the Unitarian Universalists last spring and in September were married in their beautiful church in Ghent. My wife is of Jewish descent and I was raised Methodist. Neither one of us had found fulfillment in these belief systems and had pretty much gone our spiritual journeys alone. When we stumbled across the Unitarian Universalist Church we found a home of marked diversity and just as marked acceptance.
``The core of the Unitarian Universalist beliefs come from the Judeo-Christian tradition with open acceptance and consideration of the wisdom to be found in Buddhist, Native American, Pagan and humanistic teachings, to name a few. The goal is to benefit from the collective experience of all who have asked the questions we now ask ourselves and to share with each other our successes, failures and wisdom gained in an atmosphere of more than just tolerance, but acceptance.''
``If you truly want a venue of diversity where you can learn from the combined wisdom of all the world's people and take home from this `cafeteria' that which helps you in your religious journey, I strongly suggest (the Unitarian Universalist Church of Norfolk). . . '' by CNB