9/20-9/24

The past week I have started to study Buddhism. I always thought that Buddhists "worshiped" Buddha when actually they don't really believe in one god. One could say that Buddhists are atheists in a way. They look inside them selves to find freedom from Samsara not to a god of sorts. Something else that I found interesting was the way that Buddhism started. It was founded in India during great political, social and spiritual unrest. It shares the concept of Dharma and Samsara with Hinduism but strays away from any one god.

9/6-9/10

Ninian Smart Chart:


1) Practical and Ritual
a) Non-Liturgical Sunday Worship
b) Christmas/Advent, Easter
c) Baptism
d) Communion

2) Experiental/ Emotional
a) Prayer

3) Narrative/ Myth
a) Bible
b) Incarnation of Jesus

4) Doctrinal
a) Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)

5) Ethical
a) Follow the Ten Commandments
b) "Love in Freedom"
c) Live like Christ (Or as close as I can)

6) Social
a) Bible Studies
b) Church

7) Material
a) Bible

8/30-9/3

What stuck out to me this week? I never gave much thought how I view other religions and how my christian faith affects that view. There are 3 main views: Exclusivist/Replacement, Inclusivist/Fullfillment, Pluralist/Mutuality and an additional view, Acceptance. Initially, I decided that I was in Inclusivist/ Fullfillment because that sounds the most non-judgemental and appropriate. The inclusivist views all faiths as fullfilled by the word of Christ. Even though each religion is very different from eachother. In other words, all faiths have the seed of Christ. But, the more I gave thought to how I view other faiths it became more clear that I have more of the Exclusivist/ Replacement view. This view says that all faiths revolve around a central faith conviction. There are similarities but they aren't real. All other faiths must be replaced by Christianity. I am not completely comfortable with this however, because I feel that God can work through all faiths. Who am I to judge if Christ can intercede and let a Hindu, Muslim, or Buddist into heaven? It just is easier to believe that my own faith is the one true faith.