Dear Paul1405,

You wrote;

“With more than half the worlds population professing adherence to one or the other of the big two monotheistic religions, Christianity and Islam”

Really only the latter really deserves the label monotheistic. The modern fundamentalist Christian certainly places the figure of Jesus over the father, something runner does without thinking,and in doing so can not be deemed monotheistic unless through severe contortion of both logic and commonsense..

The prophet of Islam left strict instructions in an attempt to prevent the same occurring within that faith and to a degree he succeeded.

SteeleRedux some Christians might believe there is three persons in a Godhead, but the Christian scriptures do not allow this idea. It is a Roman Catholic idea that spatial persons comprise a Godhead. However God is one spirit revealed in many ways, character, behaviours, attitudes, creativity and wisdom in the scene of the living. Christ Jesus Spirit, revealed God by his character, behaviour, actions creativity and wisdom. Similarly a person truly born again by the Spirit of God. There is only one Holy Spirit, most human spirits are estranged from God because of their selfish nature and need forgiveness and radical change.

Dear Not_Now.Soon,

Regarding adjusting to one's audience:

«Any audience can benifit from hearing what is from God. If they believe and apply their new knowledge it is even more benifitual.»

Are you saying that it is beneficial for someone to hear what is from God even if they do not understand? even if they disbelieve it? even if they fail to apply that knowledge? even if they react in defiance?

Please allow me to provide two extreme examples of bad and good ways to teach:

The bad example (I couldn't find the source as it was in a movie I saw many decades ago): The Spanish army was conquering South America and along the troops rode the archbishop. They encountered an Indian chief who knew not a word in Spanish, so the archbishop handed him a bible, the good news. The chief previously never saw a book in his life, so he held it, weighed it in his hand, knocked on it, turned it, rubbed his hand against it to feel its texture, then having found nothing familiar, he placed it next to his ear trying to listen to it, smelled it and finally tried to eat it. As it proved to be unpalatable, he spit and threw it to the ground. At that the archbishop ordered the troops: "kill this despicable heretic".

The good example: http://breslov.org/rebbe-nachmans-story-the-turkey-prince

«But if no one says anything to teach you them then they won't have the chance to be better because of it.»

Yes, but they can still become better by other means.

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«Just because someone fears how others will react is no reason to not try to bring smeone to God.»

Buddha did not fear anything happening to him, but rather that untimely information about God might instead lead his audience away from God.

The Jewish disciples of Jesus were already familiar with the concept of God - many of Buddha's disciples were not.

«I don't think all Buddhists believe in God even though they follow Budda's teachings.»

In fact, so many Buddhists do not follow Buddha's teachings (see the Buddhist persecution of Rohingya in Burma), nor do certain Christians believe in God. They may tick the right box "God exists", "The Lord is my saviour", etc., but their cruel behaviour towards His children indicates that they couldn't possibly take God seriously.

The purpose of religion is to actually bring you to God, rather than to make you know the right answers. Reality is much more important than theory.

«Infinity minus infinity has nothing to do with what I'm talking about»

Infinity minus something finite, actually: being united with God minus physical pain, including from cancer in the case of Ramakrishna or from nails piercing hands and feet in the case of Jesus.

«what's more direct then talking to Him and being in the presence of Him.»

Recognising oneself to BE Him.

«Not that you've argued what is a better path then another path Yuyutsu»

I have not claimed, nor think, that either Christianity or Buddhism is better than the other. My view is that Christianity is a better path for some people while Buddhism is a better path for others.

«"My God, my God. Why have you forsaken me?"»

Can God forsake Himself?

This quote actually comes from Psalms 22:1

Rather than lengthy explanations based on scripture that you do not accept, I refer you to a Christian source: http://www.alamoministries.com/content/english/Gospel_literature/Jesus_Never_Said.html

To Yuyutsu.

The idea that Jesus Did not say "why have you forsaken me?" is something I'll keep in my mind until there's a chance to correct it or confirm it. Language is not my strong suit, so this might just rest in the back of my mind as a possibility without being resolved if it is true or not. Either way thank you for the reference, and for understanding that I am better with a Christian perspective instead of a Hinduism perspective, (more on that in a sec).

Even without the point of Jesus on the cross though, there is still the example of Jesus's anguish before coming to the cross. In Mathew 26:36-46 Jesus is praying about the crucification that's coming. In that time Jesus asked if "this cup" could be taken away from him. But as He prayed, Jesus also said only if it was God's will instead of just Jesus's will. Mark 14:32-42 covers the same event, but verses 33-34 covers an extra detail. Jesus takes three of his disciples with Him and was deeply distressed. In that time Jesus said, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” then he said. “Stay here and keep watch."

With this in mind I understand your point on Buddha an Jesus being the same in relation to being close to God. I disagree with that point though. What I am addressing is that even being the son of God Jesus had moments of distress. If you want to believe that being God will remove sorrow and pain from you, then that can be your belief. There are many who take no notice of their pain because they focus on a greater focus. For example some are like a parent looking after the children they love, makes any pain they are going through bare-able or not noticeable; or by focusing on God and being ready for anything because of their love and joy in God. They both relate to people not noticing a distressing moment in their lives due to their focus on other things.

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However even with that, there is a limitation to this. Being mindful and focused is one thing, but if Jesus (who I think is the closest person to God) was able to be pained and distressed, then finding God will not be an escape of pain or suffering for any of us either. That should not be the focus or the reason. What can we hope for is that regardless of pain, sorrow, distress or other issues in life, that through our faith and our relationship with God, we will be a a better path then we would be without God in it.

Going back to teaching. Again I thank you for giving the Christian perspective instead of a Hindu scripture. I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but there are reasons why I accept Christian scripture, but only consider other writings, even if they are considered scripture to another religion. One of the biggest reasons for this is in recognizing that not all religions come from God. In fact this is a major struggle in the Old Testament, the issue of rejecting Idols and foreign gods. God had strong words to give Israel through His prophets calling them adulterous in their idolatry. There were religions that had prostitute shrines, and religions that sacrificed their children. Both of these must be recognized by you as not coming from God, therefore the issue of what is from God and what isn't is a worth while consideration. Not all religions are from God, and not all paths lead to God.

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