Gilberto, At 12:06 PM 1/12/2005, you wrote: >>I'm not blaming them. I'm describing them. All I'm saying is that the concept of finality of revelation is not as essential, or emphasized, or as clear in Christianity as it is in Islam. It's not the most common argument Christians have against Islam.<<
You don't think that the statement, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me," is the principal argument used by the fundamentalist and conservative evangelical websites against Islam? The exclusivity of Christ appears to be the most common objection raised by these folks against, not only Muslims, but Buddhists, Hindus, Baha'is, and just about every other religion I recall. With regards, Mark A. Foster Dearest Mark and Gilberto I am still over laden with midweek work and will join later God willing in this soul-enriching, educative, friendly conversation you are having. But just a brief word for the moment dear Mark. You are right that all Christian Communities use some passages of John to indicate finality and exclusivity and what they call NORMATIVITY. http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDFUNICI.HTM it says that the following "truths" are NEVER SUPERSEDED. 1]***the definitive and complete character of the revelation of Jesus Christ, the nature of Christian faith as compared with that of belief in other religions, the inspired nature of the books of Sacred Scripture, the personal unity between the Eternal Word and Jesus of Nazareth, the unity of the economy of the Incarnate Word and the Holy Spirit, the unicity and salvific universality of the mystery of Jesus Christ, the universal salvific mediation of the Church, the inseparability - while recognizing the distinction - of the kingdom of God, the kingdom of Christ, and the Church, and the subsistence of the one Church of Christ in the Church.*** 2]It says further quoting the passage of John ***As a remedy for this relativistic mentality, which is becoming ever more common, IT IS NECESSARY ABOVE ALL TO REASSERT THE DEFINITIVE AND COMPLETE CHARACTER OF THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. In fact, it must be firmly believed that, in the mystery of Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son of God, who is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), THE FULL REVELATION OF DIVINE TRUTH IS GIVEN: "No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him" (Mt 11:27)...*** ... Thus, the Encyclical Redemptoris missio calls the Church once again to the task of announcing the Gospel as the fullness of truth: "In this definitive Word of his revelation, GOD HAS MADE HIMSELF KNOWN IN THE FULLEST POSSIBLE WAY. HE HAS REVEALED TO MANKIND WHO HE IS. This definitive self-revelation of God is the fundamental reason why the Church is missionary by her very nature. She cannot do other than proclaim the Gospel, that is, the fullness of the truth which God has enabled us to know about himself".11 Only the revelation of Jesus Christ, therefore, "introduces into our history a universal and ultimate truth which stirs the human mind to ceaseless effort". [emphasis added] This statement by the Vatican is read in all the Churches. http://www.ewtn.com/library/COUNCILS/v2non.htm "The Church ever must proclaim Christ "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), in whom men may find the fullness of religious life." ****The man who has walked beside the sea and has heard the voice of Jesus saying "No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6), can ever get the consent of his heart thus to trifle with religion. He has been smitten with the love of God and the wonder of the cross AND HE CAN NEVER AGAIN BE TOLERANT IN THINGS THAT TOUCH HIS SOUL AND THE SOULS OF HIS FELLOW MEN. He will live beside, be patient with, minister to, pray for and love any religionist of whatever colour or creed from a cardinal to a medicine man from the long grass, But NEVER WILL HE COMPROMISE THE TRUTH TO STAY ON GOOD TERMS WITH ANYONE. The Only Way to the Father **** In relation to finality the Universal House of Justice http://bahai-library.com/published.uhj/religious.leaders.html urges " renunciation of all those claims to exclusivity or finality that, IN WINDING THEIR ROOTS AROUND THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT, have been the greatest single factor in suffocating impulses to unity and in promoting hatred and violence." Be happy affectionately khazeh __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[email protected] To unsubscribe, send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, use subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:[email protected] Web - http://list.jccc.edu/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
