Kindest Regards, all!
I never really sat down to consider how I distinguish my faith. In reading the Bible (the KJV pretty much through, large parts of the Interlinear and Companion, portions of the 1611 and Peshitta), I see some passages as literal, some as metaphor and allegory. Either way, there is a lesson taught.
In the end, all of the arguing over dogma and doctrine isn't going to make any real difference. What is going to matter is what we do with what we know and learn. If dissecting and adding and deleting makes one's faith walk stronger, more power to them! If not, it is a fruitless search for a phantom that doesn't exist.
Paul, in Romans 10 I think it is, notes how those "with the law" search in vain for the loopholes, while those "without the law" understand the law "by nature." This is how I can understand G-d made Himself known to others beyond Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
G-d is an awesome G-d! So awesome, He created all peoples just as He intended them to be. To some He gave a Messiah who taught us how to behave. To some He gave prophets to instruct them in the proper ways. To some He gave a wisdom garnered from nature that still (when properly directed) points them towards Him. To some He gave philosophy that still points them toward "skillful actions" that aim them towards Him.
In short, we are all given a means by which to connect with the "IS." So, I guess that means I am not orthodox in that I believe G-d has made Himself known to all peoples in various ways, and each person is accountable only according to what they understand, and judged by what they do with what they understand.
Christians are not the only people who will make it to heaven. If it is by being chosen that that right is granted, then heaven is for the Jews only, sorry, the Bible says that much. Christians were granted a particular "gift," that of a Messiah that sacrificed himself as the ultimate blood sacrifice to cover sin. It is a welcome gift, and greatly appreciated, but of itself does not grant sole access to heaven. Consider, a Christian who does not do the things G-d asks "Love G-d and Love your neighbor," ain't gonna make it. That person will not make it to heaven because s/he denies the teaching of doing. Yeah, by grace ye are saved...yet faith without works is dead! Others understand this much, be they Jew or Buddhist or Pagan. If a Christian does not do the things required, their faith is like the tinkling of brass and the sound of a cymbol. In other words, vain.
In all of my travels looking into the various "apocryphal" teachings, I have found absolutely nothing that adds to this. There is nothing that adds to the basic concept of Love G-d, and Love your neighbor as yourself. Yet, strangely (to some Christians) the golden rule is taught around the world in all of the major world faiths.
Christ is the way for Christians. I follow His teachings, as a Christian. I can also see His teachings at work in Buddhists, Hindus, Pagans and others. Christianity is not nearly as exclusive as some would have us believe. That is why I throw off the shackles of dogma and doctrine, from all quarters, and live my live simply by the golden rule.
Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong, I dunno. But I think there is a lot, a whole lot, of intellectual energy wasted chasing phantoms that will get one no closer to heaven than the golden rule. Just a whole lot of commentary...chasing the wind and barking up the wrong trees.
, I'm happy you understood the root of my question.
