Mike, I was raised a Christian and most of my friends were too. Some of them are now fundamentalist Christians, some once-a-week Christians and some have discarded their Christian ties entirely and become agnostics or adopted some other religion. Only a very few are what I would consider to be 'true' Christians.
I do use quotes from the Bible and other historical texts, usually direct quotes attributed to Jesus, to illustrate what I think is the synchronicity between Jesus and zen. I admit I 'cherry-pick' these, but offer no apology for that. I think if nothing else quotes like this are useful in conveying zen teachings to an audience more used to hearing things like this talked about in Christian-like terms. Again, I think words do matter - at least in the beginning...Bill! --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote: > > Bill!, > > Thanks for the heads up, but to be honest I've become completely bored of > this whole Christianity thing. I've learnt enough during this past week not > to knock it, but it is just superfluous to my journey at this moment. I do > now, however, feel better equipped to be able to engage in a conversation > about the deeper aspects of Jesus' putative message and the parallels with > Zen (amongst other religions). I still feel there is more for me to learn > about life in eating a bar of chocolate (I'm not being facetious) than > trawling thru 1000s of pages of text. Appreciated tho. > > Mike > > > > ________________________________ > From: Bill! <BillSmart@...> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Tuesday, 7 August 2012, 8:19 > Subject: [Zen] Re: Chan and zen > > >  > Mike, > > Christianity doesn't teach that Jesus came to CHANGE the Old Testament, but > to FULFILL it with the promised New Covenant.  You can read all about it > on Wikipedia (a somewhat neutral source) > at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Covenant. > > Mind you, I'm not backing all this, just reporting it... > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@> wrote: > > > > Bill and Bill!, > > > > I hear this claim that Jesus came to change the Old Testament all the time. > > Doesn't seem to ring true at all. > > > > > > Below are Jesus' quotes from the New Testament: > > > > > > ââ¬Å"For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, > > not an iota, not a dot, will pass the law until all is accomplished. > > Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches > > men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does > > them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of > > heaven.ââ¬ï¿½ ââ¬" Matthew 5:18-19 > > ââ¬Å"It is easier for Heaven and Earth to pass away than for the smallest > > part of the letter of the law to become invalid.ââ¬ï¿½ (Luke 16:17) > > ââ¬Å"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the > > prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, > > until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest part or the smallest > > part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken > > place.ââ¬ï¿½ (Matthew 5:17) > > ââ¬Å"Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the > > lawââ¬ï¿½ (John7:19) > > > > > >And what are these laws from the Old Testament?: > > > > > >Blasphemy is Punishable by Death > > >One who blasphemes the name of the LORD shall be put to > > death; the whole congregation shall stone the blasphemer. Aliens as well as > > citizens, when they blaspheme the Name, shall be put to death. > > (NRSV) ââ¬" Leviticus 24:16 > > >Cheaters Must Die > > >If a man commits adultery with another manââ¬â¢s wifeââ¬"with the > > wife of his neighborââ¬"both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put > > to death. (NIV) ââ¬" Leviticus 20:10 > > >Dishonoring Your Mother or Father is Punishable by Death > > >Anyone who dishonors father or mother must be put to death. Such a person > > >is guilty of a capital offense. (NLT) ââ¬" Leviticus 20:9 > > >People Who Work on Sunday Should be Killed > > >You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the > > seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to > > the LORD. Anyone who works on that day must be put to death. (NLT) ââ¬" > > Exodus 35:2 > > >If a Woman is Not a Virgin When She Gets Married, She Has to Die > > >ââ¬Å"If any man takes a wife, and goes in to her, and detests > > her, and charges her with shameful conduct, and brings a bad name on > > her, and says, ââ¬ËI took this woman, and when I came to her I found she > > was not a virgin,ââ¬â¢ ââ¬Â¦ and evidences of virginity are not found > > for the > > young woman, then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of > > her fatherââ¬â¢s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death > > with stones ââ¬Â¦ (NKJV) ââ¬" Deuteronomy 22:13-14,20-21 > > >Thereââ¬â¢s Nothing Wrong With Slavery > > >Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from > > >them you may buy slaves. (NIV) ââ¬" Leviticus 25:44 > > >Gays Should be Put to Death > > >If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an > > >abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is > > upon them. (NRSV) ââ¬" Leviticus 20:13 > > >Women Should Shut the Hell Up and Do as Theyââ¬â¢re Told > > >A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do > > not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be > > silent. (NIV) ââ¬" Timothy 2:11-12 > > > > > > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
