In the comments following the article about how the Pope has reasserted the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, and said that other Christian churches are not “true churches”, Kathleen raised an interesting question:
But that’s just the point. If he believes that his path is correct - and it’s obvious that he or anyone would, or they wouldn’t be on that path - then other paths, are, by default, incorrect. Is there a middle ground that I don’t see?
As I see it, we all can make different statements about our own beliefs and life-paths.
These statements are not exactly the same, and don’t necessarily come as a group.
When dealing with people of other religious backgrounds, and when speaking of them and to them, It would be wise to know how other people hear what you’re saying.
I picture life as a forest, and we’re all making our way through it. I’m on a path. A little ways to my left, I see other people on a path. A bit to my right, there are some more. Each of us can see the path we’re on more clearly than we can see other people’s paths. If I look down toward my feet, the path is clear. If I look over to the people I see to my right, I can’t see their legs, let alone their path.
The truth is, none of us has been all the way through the forest.
Now, I like my path. I think it’s a good path. It’s wide and mostly free of brambles. Sometimes there are berries along the path.
Sometimes I speak with the people on other paths. If I would like some folks to join me, how should I speak with them? I think it would be better to tell them about the berries and the width and safety of my path.
What probably wouldn’t work would be to tell them that from my vantage point, they have no path at all.
-Siamang
WHO KNOOO?
Posted in A Cacophony of Posts | 2 Comments »When I was growing up, we had a saying we would use when someone was blocking our view of the television … “You make a better door than a window.”
Many years ago, I tried my hand at songwriting. I went through a period where it came fairly easy to me, and one I was working on but never finished was called “Casting Shadows.” It was based on these two verses from scripture:
John 9:5 - While I am in the world, I am the light of the world
Matthew 5:14 - You are the light of the world.
It occured to me that Jesus Christ was the light of the world while he was here (and still is for those who believe in him), but now that he’s gone, his followers are. Or to personalize it … I am. Read the rest of this news item »