Comments on: Contra "One World Religion" http://www.peacebang.com/2005/11/21/contra-one-world-religion/ The manic mind of the minister -- Auntie Mame Meets Cotton Mather Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:00:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Jaume http://www.peacebang.com/2005/11/21/contra-one-world-religion/#comment-1051 Jaume Mon, 21 Nov 2005 16:46:20 +0000 http://www.peacebang.com/2005/11/21/contra-one-world-religion/#comment-1051 Apparently that student had not much idea about diversity within Buddhism. The devotional path, aka "Pure Land" Buddhism, is precisely based on the idea that very likely you will not be able to achieve enlightenment trust your own efforts only, and therefore you put your trust in Buddha Amitabha (Amida) so that He takes you to the Pure Land after you die, thus decisively helping you to achieve nirvana once you are reborn there. Pure Land is probably the most popular version of Mahayana and it is quite widespread in Japan and South-East Asia. Therefore it sounds to me rather as lack of information or just an excuse to justify his conversion to Christianity. Apparently that student had not much idea about diversity within Buddhism. The devotional path, aka “Pure Land” Buddhism, is precisely based on the idea that very likely you will not be able to achieve enlightenment trust your own efforts only, and therefore you put your trust in Buddha Amitabha (Amida) so that He takes you to the Pure Land after you die, thus decisively helping you to achieve nirvana once you are reborn there. Pure Land is probably the most popular version of Mahayana and it is quite widespread in Japan and South-East Asia. Therefore it sounds to me rather as lack of information or just an excuse to justify his conversion to Christianity.

]]> By: SC Universalist http://www.peacebang.com/2005/11/21/contra-one-world-religion/#comment-1050 SC Universalist Mon, 21 Nov 2005 12:05:54 +0000 http://www.peacebang.com/2005/11/21/contra-one-world-religion/#comment-1050 The first minister could have saved himself alot of time and trouble by just buying one of the many books about the subject (even Marcus Borg did one). Any book store with a religious section should have at least one of those books -- a library should have some too...<br/> As for the second minister, sure, and he sounds like most converted Unitarian Universalists doesnt he? - "If my old religion had had anything good in it, I would have stayed that - keep that trash outta here" (hopefully i am vastly exagerating for comic effect). <br/> Not only does this explain the reason there will never be a one world religion, it also explains why there will never be a one world Christianity (another popular idea of the idealistic 1950s). <br/><br/>if the attempt of the one-world-religion idea is to make just one world religion, then not only is it doomed -it is about as close to impossible as anything can be. If, on the other hand, the attempt of the one-world-religion idea was to show what common ground that the world religions share, then that (imho) remains a credible goal , and ties in nicely with historic Univeralism. (ie: God loves us all, and what are our common ground).<br/><br/>but yeah, sometimes it seems Modern UUs just wants to be "lets do exotic stuff that looks cool", but let's not blame that completely on 50s Universalists. The first minister could have saved himself alot of time and trouble by just buying one of the many books about the subject (even Marcus Borg did one). Any book store with a religious section should have at least one of those books — a library should have some too…
As for the second minister, sure, and he sounds like most converted Unitarian Universalists doesnt he? - “If my old religion had had anything good in it, I would have stayed that - keep that trash outta here” (hopefully i am vastly exagerating for comic effect).
Not only does this explain the reason there will never be a one world religion, it also explains why there will never be a one world Christianity (another popular idea of the idealistic 1950s).

if the attempt of the one-world-religion idea is to make just one world religion, then not only is it doomed -it is about as close to impossible as anything can be. If, on the other hand, the attempt of the one-world-religion idea was to show what common ground that the world religions share, then that (imho) remains a credible goal , and ties in nicely with historic Univeralism. (ie: God loves us all, and what are our common ground).

but yeah, sometimes it seems Modern UUs just wants to be “lets do exotic stuff that looks cool”, but let’s not blame that completely on 50s Universalists.

]]> By: Kim http://www.peacebang.com/2005/11/21/contra-one-world-religion/#comment-1049 Kim Mon, 21 Nov 2005 03:47:55 +0000 http://www.peacebang.com/2005/11/21/contra-one-world-religion/#comment-1049 I think it may turn out that the similarities that matter are not the theology -- in that area we want difference as the young man said-- but in form. Does the service feel familiar? Am i comfortable in it? Is it too foreign to me?<br/>I think in real life the feel is more important than the content to most people. I think it may turn out that the similarities that matter are not the theology — in that area we want difference as the young man said– but in form. Does the service feel familiar? Am i comfortable in it? Is it too foreign to me?
I think in real life the feel is more important than the content to most people.

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