I ain't no preacher but, thanks for being open to that possibility. Wouldn't you be worried you might loose some members because of me?

I'm going to jump out on a limb here and say no.
Why?
Tolerance!

We have learned a lot about that today

well I have to say Arlo is one of the most patient and tolerant beings I have ever known!

No! Not now...not ever.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0105-03.htm

This link tells a different story.

You're thinking a little too black and white..."All" can mean all religions, within their own context, not "all religions blended together as a whole".

We went to Egypt awhile ago...part of the tour included visits to many mosques. They were very beautiful, and our tour guide was very informational about the Muslim faith. And we found that there was much more in common with Christian beliefs than not. We'd stop a couple times a day so he could go into a mosque and pray (or find a quiet corner for his prayers) and he also explained the praying...which is all about showing respect to God. It's different than what we were raised with... That's it. There's nothing scary or bad going on.

Our daughter's best friend since she was about 12 (she's 26) is Vietnamese. She's Taoist. Same thing...different. Nothing bad or scary going on. Those people have claimed our daughter as their own, and we've claimed theirs as ours; we're all better off for embracing another culture and learning about another religion. People are people the world over...and no matter what the religion, we've all got more in common with each other than not.

Jim, your spin is delicious. You read what you want to read and you hear what you want to hear. I'll give you your props. Carry on!

I suggest that you slow down and read it again; it does not tell a different story. It says what we've all said here, from day one.

If you were referring to this:

"'We need to find a way of saving local cultures from extinction and at the same time continue the process of becoming one world,' said Mr. Guthrie..."

There are two concepts there--"individual cultures" to be preserved and the "one world" they occupy together. "One world" isn't a bad term; it doesn't mean we all have to be the same; it's just a fact that we all share the planet Earth. To me, that means that we have to learn to get along--the sandbox isn't going to get bigger.

Learning about another religion or culture doesn't mean I have to adopt it; it means I understand it better, and when you understand something, it's not scary. Fear is the natural and inevitable result of lack of knowledge, and fear is what leads to violence and war.

Shelley

Hi Sue,
What would you expect fom a person named TarBabyJim?

I don't understand the difference?
I wouldn't be afraid to visit a mosque but I wouldn't pray there. They ARE beautiful buildings and would be something to see.

In the past I have been in churches where they were teaching things I didn't think were right.
Once a guest speeker came into my church and while she was preaching she opened her dress and pulled out a long red string. She began to tell us it was washed in the blood of Jesus and was protecting her from evil. I stood up and yelled, "WITCHCRAFT"! Can you imagine what they would do to me at a mosque!? I better stay in a church in America.

"Culture is one thing, worship is another." Studying culture in India is good, drinking the water is iffy (if you get my gist).
Jim

Jim,

I just read a story about an American who was so impressed with a talk by the Dali Lama that he decided to convert to Buddhism.
Upon hearing of this, the Dali Lama said,
"Why would you do that? Christianity is a perfectly good religion."

He has it figured out.

Whether you realize it or not, you have belittled and insulted people here by suggesting that your way is the only correct way.

You have used outlandish examples (chicken decapitations and cults) that probably have never played nor ever will play a part in the lives of most people here. And even if they are part of a so called cult, Christianity started out as a cult as well. Yours is a glass house.

You have threatened:
"Melanie called me a "predjustice biggot" because I challanged her Hindu guru hugging whatever. I thought Jesus said," I am the ONLY way." All these artists pushing their one world religion are hurting people. I wish they would keep their religion to themselves and stop pushing them on this fan. You can read more on my website about Melanie and the god-woman if you would like. http://LetHerIn.org
Maybe I should start another page about Arlo." (Threatening, belittling and insulting.)

and

"Are you talking to (or about) me Arlo? If so, I think it's time you banned me from your board. You may not like my next message.
Jim"


You have even expressed that yours is a god prone to anger:
"He gets mad sometimes and turns things upsidedown."

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying God would kill a Christian that opened themself up to other gods but, God might be real pissed off."

Perhaps you should not second guess how your god feels. It may come back around.

And there was this:
"I care about people and want to shine a light on the false gods that lead people down a dark path."

Belittling, insulting and egotistical.

It's ironic that you seem to have gone down a dark path that you try to turn others from. You have become what you fear others may. Your words are hurtful, violent, hateful and angry. You lash out at those who just want to live their lives on the paths that they have found or pull others from their own paths of self discovery.

You have a warped sense what the Guthrie Center is all about. It's not about having a one world religion. It's about the world being a big table and there's plenty of room for every one. It's about sharing, not forcing what you have down some one else's throat. If the next person has something to share that I can use, I can ask .... if I want to. If I have something, some one might ask me .... if they want to. It's about enjoying each other's diversity, it's about growing together. We all may be different flowers but we can share the same earth.

You have turned your spirituality into a self centered crusade. There's room for only one flower in your garden. The rest are weeds to be pulled up or manipulated into what you want. Your dogma and doctrine have smothered the soul of your spirituality.

No one is saying that your spiritual system is wrong .... for you! But don't even think of telling me that your way is absolute. Too many petty dictators, control freaks and self servers have used that load of crap in the past and it's always ended badly for some one.

Change comes from within. The change you seek isn't coming from the outside or from turning others by use of fear, insults and anger. You need to look deeply inside your own heart and see the darkness that has grown there.




[/i]

Hi Shelley,
I'm not afraid, I know God will watch over me. If the sandbox gets too full He will push someone out.
Jim

Jim, you would do well to consider where and how the "all or none" quote had it's origins in the Guthrie family.
Woody and his wife years ago in a hospital with a child about to die were asked by the hospital staff what religion to put down on the hospital forms.
Independant of each other, they were both asked and said to put "all" on the form. When the hospital worker said that they could not do that, they both answered independant of each other "then put none".

They were not being asked this question by God, a God, a preacher or whatever, they were being asked by a hospital beaurocrat. I think they gave a fine answer. I was nobody's bussiness but their own, unless they wanted it to be.

Sounds like false humility to me.


Ok, you made a good pont. I shouldn't have "threatened" to make a Arlo page like my Melanie page. I'm sorry.


Your opinion....... Thank you.


Wow, all I can do is quote Eminem, "You're a mean mean man."


I love my beautiful flower. I'll let God do the weeding.


I understand what you are trying to say. "NO ABSOLUTES"..... Well, I am "absolutely" sure there is a God who has a Son named Jesus. There is no other to call upon to be saved.

Is that clear enough?

Your point being?

>>sigh<< I think this guy's 15 minutes of fame are about over. There's work to be done; sweeping up, getting ready for tomorrow, tucking in kids and singing them a lullaby or just listening to their tales of their day. There are dogs to be scratched and cats to cuddle, and there are dreams to be dreamt. Tomorrow there are hungry people to feed, and millions of little things (as Pete would say) that need doing to make the world a better place. The world needs good, loving people who are too busy and too in love with the world to evangelize, defame, belittle or insult others, particularly when they come to the party of a host who is so tolerant and so loving himself. These people don't need guns as a daily accessory nor the ability to taunt and grandstand. They are humble not righteous, and they know what good music, art, laughter food and good loving are. So, in the morning, perhaps we'll each see which side of the bed we get up on, and find our place in the world. The darkness will still be out there perhaps, but we will be the light. Good night, and thank you, Arlo.

Please don't talk AT me buterball, talk TO me.

By the way, I don't need "15 minutes of fame". Fame means nothing.