World Religions - continued (from notes)

Roman Catholicism recognizes the legitimacy of all world religions. Therefore, is Mohamed the prophet and the Koran the word of God? 1. Christianity at the time of Mohamed was oppressive (baptism or death). 2. First translation in 1873 by the Jesuits. Full text of the bible translated into Mandarin is 1960. What Mohamed heard of the gospel was heard through Greek or nothing in the Middle East. Mohammed - portrayed Jesus. What is the Koranic view of Jesus? Recognize old/New Testament as revelation of God. Koran speaks of Jesus in glorious terms - believe in Jesus and Mary - Jesus from the Virgin mother, not a sign of divinity. Recognizes Jesus Christ as Messiah and will come at end of time, but denies his death and resurrection. The Islamic denial of Jesus divinity (like Jews/ is integrated world view of Koran. The fall of Adam had consequences. It condemns humans of all time. This is Augustine’s point of view - not in the bible. Muslims don’t buy that. Augustine’s theology is for salvation. For Muslim’s, God is compassionate. People do sin. Here we hear the prodigal son. Same response is the Jews. In not accepting doctrine of original sin. They deny that Jesus died on the cross. He was mysteriously taken into heaven and an imposter put in his place. If Abraham would not be permitted for his son to be killed how can God allow his son to be killed? There is more than one way to understand how Jesus is died. In 1956 - Harvard - First woman to study theology. Islam is part of God’s Salvation - Muslims form a unity of faith. Koran is a word of God. Jesus is the word of God. No Muslim says he can be saved from Mohammed - only the Koran. Hinduism - believe in one God. Buddhists - no. Theories of truth - when say Jesus is son of God. We say it metaphorically. Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Ghost. If three are equal = cannot be Christ alone. If salvation is Christ alone, then Jesus can do something that Holy Ghost can do or God cannot do that Jesus can do. So preoccupation with Jesus Christ alone, diminishes God and Holy Spirit. So, if they are all = even (Paul 2nd) can be saved by the Holy Ghost. Orthodox - no original sin. Collect data, understand and then make judgment. So, as a chart we have the Church, Ecclesiocentric. Christ 1492 1. Church. Salvation - no definition. Baptism by water 2. baptism by desire.Theocentric so maybe more dialogue outside of God - no salvation. Soteriocentric - outside the suffering of the world there is no salvation. Ethics - what can we do together to learn about the Kingdom of God. Emphasis on Justice and what we can do to each other. Hinduism - 40,000,000 (at time of writing notes) living outside India. Most of World Hindus are highly educated. Buddhish Hindus - 1, they argue not a religion. There is a complex of spiritual thought - no congregation. Religion - no uniformal sacraments - change. No initiating rites. No practises. Being Hindu is an individual decision. The notion of re-birth Christianity has a linear vision, beginning and end. Hinduism - what goes around, comes around. To be Hindu, don’t have to believe in anything Secular view of history. Hinduism is how to become one with Brahman. Three sote - grace alone, faith alone and prayers alone. Hinduism is not a world religion because there is no uniformity. Mostly confined to India but changing. Not a religion because they consider themselves a quest for righteousness. They are seekers. They believe that everyone has their own truth. Since 52AD, Christianity in India - doubting Thomas. He founded the Syrian Church. There is dispute whether Thomas got there in 52, but there is evidence that Christianity existed there before the fourth century. The Syrians still exist there today. Trouble started in 1498 when Portuguese thought you had to accept Christ and Western view. It was suggested that an inquisition began to Christianize the Hindus. Things went bad in 1599 at the Synod of Diamper when it was indicated that all had to join the Roman Church. This continued til 1605, Robert de Ivobili. He said you had to be wearing their clothes and eating their food to Christianize, Bitagarad Gita. Roman said you can’t do that (cultivate the faith in their culture). It was still too westernized. When you have so much truth, you get defeated by truth. Post Dutch - Protestant approach was very different. It was very aggressive. They would stand at sidewalks (with belts?)and call them pagans. They were attracted to Jesus. We consider Jesus Western but in many cultures, Jesus is considered Asian. It was regarded as an Eastern religion. So people like Cheshub Chunder Sen, 1834 -1888, became disciple of Christ while remaining Hindu. At least six churches today run by Hindus but they don’t want to join the Western Church (to be told they are wrong). To be continued……….(week after next)