Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!psuvax1!psuvm!!RULES." From: PDBROYLES@OWUCOMCN (The Golden Rule: He who has all the Gold makes the rules.) Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia Subject: RE: Hindu apologetics and the lack of Christian messages on this list Message-ID: Date: 10 Feb 90 19:05:00 GMT Sender: Practical Christian Life Reply-To: Practical Christian Life Lines: 93 Approved: NETNEWS@PSUVM Gateway Original_To: CHRISTIA PETER PDB >PDB I did'nt know this was the hindu defenders list. I started to read >your defense PDB but had to stop not because you were merely defending a >religion based on the demonic (Thousands and Thousands of gods, demons) >not because you were defending a religion whose people are in complete >bondage, but because of your attitude toward your brother. If you mean my attitude towards my brother being a disliking for ignorance then you are right. MAKS is obviously very knowledgable and much of what he says is correct, but when anybody attacks another out of ignorance and hearsay, then I'll defend them---especially when there are probably very few people on this list who would. Anyway, how would you look when trying to witness to your Hindu neighbor and you mentioned that Hindu's were wrong because they believe XYZ when in fact they believe ABC---you'd loose your credibility. One of the best tools to witness to another is to show them that you care and that you have an interest in where they are coming from. If you really want to get through to a Hindu, knowing his religious background would do wonders. Of course, as I realize now, this list is not interested in truth, but rather in justification of their beliefs! >What would >Jesus have done if you came up to him and said yes Lord I love you I >follow you I'm your disciple but, I really think these hindos are ok >right on people in the way they believe. I'm sort of angry here and I do >not believe I'm sinning in my anger by reproving you. Who will >comprimise in Jesus' Name. By His Grace not me. Majjor difference, if Christ condemned them, I think he would have A) known the facts and B) not condemned them as an entire culture (the woman at the well whose people were looked down upon by the Jews, the parable of the good samaritan, Jesus going ouut to the sinners/thieves, telling the Roman soldier he was saved not to mention the thief on the cross!!!) If somebody wants to condemn a group of people, judging by association, then I feel sorry for them. If somebody wants to condemn a group, let him represent the facts of the matter not biased uneducated opinions! >If I'm wrong in what >I've just said in this note I pray God will reprove me. If any one wants >to condemn me pray first. That way it will be conviction. The hindos >might be real nice people but what is the state of their soul, and more >than that what is the state of your soul if your are encouraging them to >keep their belief. I'm sorry if this will start any arguments but this >is a Christian reader. I would like to see Christian readings not hindo >apoligetics. I too would like to see a list with a Christlike attitude, not one where one can attack his fellow human and be praised in the act! Christ told us "Do not Judge," and I don't care how many scriptures you can pull out justifying your condemnation of a particular religion, in doing so you are acting as God. If the Hindu's are wrong, let God condemn them, but a couple of questions: a) what if they are right and you are wrong? Yes the operative word hear is "IF," but what IF? b) Are you not violating numerous instances in the Bible where JC said do not judge when you condemn another simply because of their religion? c) Does not the Bible say, I believe it is in Isiah, "Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord God Almighty!" If that is true, then it's God's place to condmen not yours. d) If you honestly feel that the Hindu's are wrong, pray for them and love 'em. Prayer and Love are the two MOST powerful weapons one has! You will NEVER convince one that they are wrong unless you can first convince them that you do care---about them. e) As an extenstion of point D, a lot of what I have heard on this list is: As Christians it is our duty and responsibility to lead the Hindu's to Christianity. In otherwords, convert the heathen. Well, do you know how this attitude comes accross, especially on this list? It's our duty to convert them, if we don't we're risking our souls, and therefore, let's find out everything that is wrong with Hinduism so that we can show them just how rediculous their religion is. f) leading to this point. Many Christians come out concerned more for their souls in the effort to make converts than they do for the people they are trying to convert. Trust me, this will never work. 1) it makes Christianity look like hypocrits 2) it puts the Hindu on the defensive I challenge this list to adopt a Christlike attitude and love your neighbor, love the Hindu next door to you, don't approach him with the attitude "I'm right, your wrong, therefore I must convince you of the error of your ways...." Paul Ps, I use Hindu in this message simply because it is the religion we have been discussing (although I am not the one to bring it up originally). I could have just as easily used: Muslim, Buddhist, Jew, Jain, Sikh, Druid, Mormon, Shinto, and for some of you even Catholic! PDB