Lol....can't count the times I've seen the brotherly love preached from the pulpit get lost before folks get out of the parking lot!!!
That's kind of hypocritical though to criticize on that basis. I honestly can't think of a single religion without at least some level of syncretism.
Quite. I was alluding to a more subjective aspect, actually, the responses point to the very thing I was alluding to.
Indeed. A little like criticizing a bread maker for combining water an flour while you're eating a sandwich.
And you're surprised when people challenge your notions? Maybe it's because you've put yourself up as a leader and put them out there?
No to both questions. When you present ideas contrary to popular belief you'll always run into opposition. You need look no further than the Holy Bible to see that. So no, I'm not surprised by it. I merely pointed it out and asked others to share their experiences. I never put myself out there as a leader either. I merely express my views like everyone else. Some get it some don't.
Come now. Let's be honest here. You challenge everyone's understanding constantly; whenever it differs with what you've been taught. You're doing it right now. You see yourself as the leading authority on Christianity here and are completely unwilling to accept any other perspective. That's fine, but this is interfaith, you're bound to run across those who see things differently. We're all well educated individuals here with unique perspectives and ideas. You may not see what your neighbor sees, but that doesn't mean it isn't there. I'm not trying to detract, diminish or challenge anyone's faith, but rather expound upon it and show how one belief may possibly tie in with another. That's all.
Not really. Its more nuanced than that.
So apparently your accusations that I've put myself out there as a leader and am offering an alternative church experience, whatever that means, is baseless.
I'm not accusing you of anything.
Perhaps I'm being overly defensive, but it did come across that way to me. Rather like pointing a finger at someone who had done something wrong. As I have explained to you many times. I have not formed my own religion nor have I established an alternate church that I am the leader of. I have a private Madir on my property that several people of different faiths frequent from time to time. Mostly long time friends and family. They started doing this all on their own after seeing it. I have never asked anyone to attend. They ask questions, I answer, but I never tell anyone how to believe or what to believe and I always let it be known, as on this forum, that my interpretations of scripture fall outside of traditional teachings.
That's just it. I haven't mixed anything. Only attempted to show where one belief ties into another.
That's something I would never allow to happen. In my view denomination promotes division, causes undo conflict and detracts from faith on the whole. Especially when that conflict comes from within the same faith. That's what this thread was supposed to be about. Not me. I much prefer it when people define their faith in general terms like, Christian, Hindu or Jew. Instead of Protestant, Shaivist or what have you.
But going from only what you have written on this forum, is it allowed to have the opinion that bringing two faiths together you have in effect set up a new church? And also not thinking that you have done anything wrong.
More like an incorrect assumption in this case, but either way it depends on the spirit in which it is given. Admittedly, that can easily be misconstrued though.
