Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: cle@cbnewse.ATT.COM (carole esposito) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: ONE TRUTH--ONE PATH (was Pungentt) Message-ID: Date: 22 Oct 89 17:48:23 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 45 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In Resonse to Hans W. Zegerius' article "PUNGENT AND PERTINENT" I can't agree with Kamram Hakim's reaction to it, ie., that >It saddens me to see >that a respected religious leader should write such an article. I hope that I am in full agreement with Mr. Zeregius that multi-religious prayers should not be a part of the school day. I base this believe first on scripture, "Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Prov. 22:6) It is my God-given responsibility to train my child., and secondly, I would not want my child confused by the introduction of many types of religions, and certainly would not want my child to be required to participate (note I say "child.") On the topic of Baha'ism, I know little of it. If it is at all similar to New Age religion (of which I do know) I would run as fast as possible from it. That is neither a statement of attack on Baha'ism or one on New Age. It is simply obeying scripture. John 3:18 states: "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." You see, for Christians, Jesus is mutually exclusive of all other beliefs, ie., one truth, one path, NOT one truth, many paths. About Mr. Hakim's other statement: >I hope that >such articles does not widen the gap of mutual understanding and friendship >between the followers of various religions in the fast shrinking world of >today. For me to say Baha'ism is Pagan does not make a practitioner of Baha'ism my enemy. I can still be (and am) friends with persons of many different beliefs; I simply cannot accept their beliefs because those beliefs do not provide for salvation. It isn't a judgement on the person, merely on the belief, and I didn't make the judgement, God did (again John 3:18). Of course, I don't go around telling my non-Christian friends they're not saved (unless they ask!) I didn't get the impression Mr. Zegerius was attacking Baha'ism or any other religion, simply warning his readers of the danger to the Christian family. That is the job of prophets, to warn us and keep us on the straight and narrow (like Jonah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, et al.). Jesus was never afraid of widening the gap between Himself and the Pharisees--He merely spoke the truth (in love).