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From: jnelson@trwrba.UUCP (John T. Nelson)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: A Good Example of Religious Toleranc
Message-ID: <1115@trwrba.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 16-Nov-84 19:01:22 EST
Article-I.D.: trwrba.1115
Posted: Fri Nov 16 19:01:22 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 18-Nov-84 05:20:40 EST
References: <732@ihuxj.UUCP>, <26400001@uicsl.UUCP>
Organization: TRW EDS, Redondo Beach, CA
Lines: 25

> How would the Pope feel if the Buddhist leader told a crowd
> of Italians or Poles that Europe's Christian tradition
> provided "fertile terrain" for the spread of Buddhist beliefs?
> This is the main problem in any attempt to discuss religion
> in general and Christianity in particular. Each person views
> the other not as a rational person to engage in stimulating
> discourse, but as a godless heathen to be converted to the
> one true faith. This missionary mentality (especially among
> Christians) and the superiority complex it creates set up a
> barrier across which the warring parties can pointlessly shout
> at each other

But consider that it is the nature of the religion (not the men)
that requires the Pope to be a missionary and the Buddhist to
accept the Christian tradition to their country.

As odd as it may seem there is no contradiction or hypocracy here.

It would be a much different matter, however, if the Pope had entered
the country by force... or if the Pope acted in his own self-interests
as opposed to representing the views of the church.



					- Which John?