Pope Calls For Dialogue
Pope Benedict XVI visited the main Jewish synagogue in Rome on Sunday, a trip that unfolded amid heightened tension between Catholics and Jews.
Benedict was the first pope in 24 years to visit the Tempio Maggiore, or Great Temple. He called on Catholics and Jews to keep an open dialogue and work together to tackle problems, such as poverty and disease.
"As Moses taught ... and as Jesus affirms in the Gospel, all of the commandments are summed up in the love of God and loving-kindness towards one's neighbor," the pope said, according to a Vatican transcript.
"This rule urges Jews and Christians to exercise, in our time, a special generosity towards the poor, towards women and children, strangers, the sick, the weak and the needy."
Christians and Jews "share to a great extent a common spiritual patrimony," but "often remain unknown to each other," he said.
"It is our duty, in response to God's call, to strive to keep open the space for dialogue, for reciprocal respect, for growth in friendship, for a common witness in the face of challenges of our time, which invite us to cooperate for the good of humanity ..." -CNN World
The world of religion is so complex and such a double edge sword that it will take a miracle for each to see eye to eye. For whatever reason, which totally baffles my mind, each sect believes that it’s the only one that is right, that they are the only ones who has the keys to heaven, and they are the only ones who will inherit the new earth. If this were true then the majority of us have no chance at all. We might as well live in sin and simply enjoy.
When you put this fatal exclusive mentality up against the gospels, you can’t help but find that this wired philosophy is far from the truth. No single religion holds the absolute truth, no single religion has sole access to heaven, and no single religion will have exclusive rights to or in the new earth.
I believe that dialogue between all religions is a wonderful thing. Respect between all is long overdue. However, as long as mankind is running the “show” there will never be a “coming together” in which each can agree that it is through Christ alone that mankind is saved. The church isn’t going to save you. It’s “truth” isn’t going to save you. It’s exclusivity isn’t going to save you. The bottom line, Jesus is our only hope and salvation … all the rest is nothing more than man made and to some extent a lie to suite their own salvation agenda.
Pope Benedict XVI visited the main Jewish synagogue in Rome on Sunday, a trip that unfolded amid heightened tension between Catholics and Jews.
Benedict was the first pope in 24 years to visit the Tempio Maggiore, or Great Temple. He called on Catholics and Jews to keep an open dialogue and work together to tackle problems, such as poverty and disease.
"As Moses taught ... and as Jesus affirms in the Gospel, all of the commandments are summed up in the love of God and loving-kindness towards one's neighbor," the pope said, according to a Vatican transcript.
"This rule urges Jews and Christians to exercise, in our time, a special generosity towards the poor, towards women and children, strangers, the sick, the weak and the needy."
Christians and Jews "share to a great extent a common spiritual patrimony," but "often remain unknown to each other," he said.
"It is our duty, in response to God's call, to strive to keep open the space for dialogue, for reciprocal respect, for growth in friendship, for a common witness in the face of challenges of our time, which invite us to cooperate for the good of humanity ..." -CNN World
The world of religion is so complex and such a double edge sword that it will take a miracle for each to see eye to eye. For whatever reason, which totally baffles my mind, each sect believes that it’s the only one that is right, that they are the only ones who has the keys to heaven, and they are the only ones who will inherit the new earth. If this were true then the majority of us have no chance at all. We might as well live in sin and simply enjoy.
When you put this fatal exclusive mentality up against the gospels, you can’t help but find that this wired philosophy is far from the truth. No single religion holds the absolute truth, no single religion has sole access to heaven, and no single religion will have exclusive rights to or in the new earth.
I believe that dialogue between all religions is a wonderful thing. Respect between all is long overdue. However, as long as mankind is running the “show” there will never be a “coming together” in which each can agree that it is through Christ alone that mankind is saved. The church isn’t going to save you. It’s “truth” isn’t going to save you. It’s exclusivity isn’t going to save you. The bottom line, Jesus is our only hope and salvation … all the rest is nothing more than man made and to some extent a lie to suite their own salvation agenda.
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