Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!sun-barr!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: ee8kag@gdt.bath.ac.uk (K A Goatman) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Interfaith - How should Christians respond? Message-ID: Date: 6 Mar 91 04:05:50 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Bath University Computing Services, Bath, England Lines: 30 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu >[What do you mean by the interfaith movement? Are we talking about >ecumenical action among Chistians, cooperation with non-Christians on >specific projects where we share goals, or a commitment to the idea >that "it doesn't matter what you believe as long as you are sincere"? >--clh] Sorry that the posting was a bit unclear on this point. Of the options listed above it is the later which I believe sums it up. The Interfaith group here in Bath says that it exists to promote dialogue between different faiths; to show that religious dogmatism is man-made and to show there is a unity in all religions. It is certainly true that many of the world's problems can often be attributed to religious pressures or intolerance. Some people could no doubt argue that the world would be a far better place if religions were simply abolished (and there have been many threads on this theme!) The early church, though, were clearly rigorous in maintaining their religious purity. For instance, at the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) there were arguments about whether the Jewish practices which were creeping into the church were acceptable. Judaism is surely the closest 'relative' to the Christian faith and yet there could not even be compromise with the Jews! Examples like this are easy to find. I am really looking for examples from the life and teaching of Jesus which might shed some light on the subject. Keith. ee8kag@gdt.bath.ac.uk