It doesn't, really, on one basic level. Ultimately we are all human and should be extending our love and "respect for the inherent worth and dignity" (UU first principle) to each and every person. Whether they worship, pray, and believe the same as us shouldn't enter into that part of the human equation.

However, the differences do matter because they help define us as individuals and communities. Knowing why and how Muslims are different from Christians or Buddhists are different from Sikhs enables to better understand each community and deal with them with respect for both the similarities and the differences. Knowing that a person is a Muslim or a Christian and what type of Muslim or Christian (Muslims have "denominations" and "sects" too) helps me know something about that person.

There was an interview recently on Tapestry with an author (whose name I forget) who was essentially putting forward the view that overemphasizing the similarities between faith traditions isn't helping tolerance because it tries to shoehorn traditions into a single model that may, in fact, be incompatible with some of those traditions. The approach that he emphasizes is to learn about and from the differences and then to respect and tolerate those differences. Which is really where I am at.

So, the differences do matter, but that need not make them a source of division and enmity between traditions. They can also be a starting point for learning and discussion which can lead to tolerance of those very differences.

Mendalla

It doesn't matter but then it does, if people's faiths are leading them to do ill or cause hurt. I think there is a richness in diversity, but not every religious practice is a safe and helpful one.

Hi crazyheart,

Well, that presupposes that there is only one Supreme Being known by many different names and not a bunch of beings more Supreme than ourselves also known by many different names.

The foundational problem though is not a question of Supreme Being (s) and different names it is simply a problem of how we deal with difference period.

Assume that the poison or corrosive substance warnings are only metaphorical.  Does that change how one drinks anti-freeze?

I suspect it matters because the how of worship is often identify forming.  When we are deprived of that with which we identify we feel that we as individuals are denied.  I am who I am.  Forced to worship in ways or with traditions that I do not embrace I am not allowed to be genuinely me.

I could grow and learn obviously.  So can others.

It matters if we are different because the difference is real.  Pretending there is no difference is an activity in ignoring this particular truth.  Establishing a value, particularly a negative value to that difference is problematic.  Recognizing that their is a difference is not, unless we only recognize the difference in an attempt to minimize or relegate those who are different in some way.

My wife and my neighbour's wife are both women  I think I would get into trouble if I treated my neighbour's wife as I treat my own.  I think my neighbour would object to my not seeing any difference.

It matters because difference is real.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Well, crazyheart, I think we can get into trouble saying "my God is your God known by another name".Why isn't it "your God, is my God, known by another name"? What do Christians do with Jesus?  Delete him? It seems a quick fix, but  there are also faiths that have more than one God and many gods. What then? Did we combine them all into one or did they divide the one into many?

Some of it comes from the "I'm right and you are wrong" dilemma that plagues humans, and  especially with regards to God.

We cannot say "I do not know" because we think that makes us stupid. So, we weigh in on a side, concrete in some ideas to feel and appear smart, enlightened... 

We cannot say "I do not know. I am not God", because of how it looks and it is maybe way too scary. 

 I sat with a friend over the weekend who chose not to be intubated and steadily approached death. I did not say, "you are going to God" or "your loved ones are on the other side". I simply said, "I do not know what happens beyond this, but know you are not alone" and I held their hand. It is all I have that is honest.

But we  have been making up answers and rules and  saying "these are the good words and those words suck". We cannot say," I do not know what happens after death", we insist there is a good place and a bad place because it makes us feel better and makes us feel it is fair that good people get good things and that bad folks get punished. . So, we say "this gets you in and this keeps you out" 

I could say it is because we are genuinely worried about other people. I cannot say I believe that. I think we have forever been pushing other people to make room for ourselves. We act like God has limited love and limited room and we have to make sure "those folks" don't get in and we are left out....

Personally, I think we need to work out our own salvation and let others work out their own. I can help people with thinking about it, discerning for themselves. I cannot get anyone into heaven, period.

The problem is that some folks abuse others with "I'm right" and we have to stand up when people scar young people with "wet dreams will send you to hell" or when their words tell gay teens that homosexuals are condemned and they feel they might as well kill themselves before they act on their feelings.

So, it does not matter and yet it does. Discernment and asking if what we say is for the benefit of self or for others?

I don't think the solution is fionding a way to say "it doesn't matter".  It does, because we are nto all the same, because theses things are part of our identity.  But the solution may be is asking "HOW does it matter?".

And how do we respond to the reality of difference.

CH wrote:

Why does it matter if we are different in our faiths?

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because ultimate Truth is objective and so all faiths can be wrong, they cant all be right

A few random thoughts to add further to my first post:

• I didn't learn from Hinduism and Buddhism (two non-Christian traditions that I have drawn on) by looking at them as being similar to Christianity. I learned from studying the differences.

• How can we say we respect another person's beliefs and practices if we are assuming that they are ultimately the same as our own? To truly respect them, we need to understand, respect, and tolerate what is different.

Mendalla

To be a bit non-dualist here, they can all be somewhere on the continuum from wrong to right. Indeed, I don't know that "right" and "wrong" are the right concepts to be employing. To my mind, ultimate truth may well be objective, but the faculties that we use to approach it are subjective. The analogy of the blind people and the elephant is one that I've heard used a lot. The elephant is there. The elephant is real. But each person can only experience the part of it that they are touching. I experience the trunk, you experience the legs, CH experiences the tail, and so on. Each of us defines the elephant by the part that we experience, but none of us really knows the whole elephant and it may take a long time for any of us to experience the whole, if we ever do. And even if we do, we may not be able to express that experience that to the others who are still seeing parts (and seeing parts isn't wrong anyway, it's just incomplete). This is why we can have multiple traditions, none of which is wholly right nor wholly wrong. Rather we are all right within the part of the elephant (ultimate truth) that our tradition experiences. Right, but incomplete.

Mendalla

Mendalla , old stories still hold a  truth for us.

I so totally agree, this is one reason why Jesus died an Rose, we no longer need to be subjective

I so totally agree, this is one reason why Jesus died and Rose, we no longer need to be subjective

Why does the story of the Cross and Empty Tomb transcend subjectivity? Isn't that just another tradition and story that has a piece of that ultimate truth? That is right but not complete? How does it bring us closer to the objective Ultimate Truth than, say, Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna in the Gita or the revelations of Mohammad in the Qu'ran?

Not trying to diss your faith, bb, but I'd like to explore this notion of Jesus' revelation meaning that we "no longer need to be subjective" further.

Mendalla

No, its not tradition, its a reality, a truth.

The subjective has been penetrated by the objective in human form, That is a Truth that apart from some history books and movement of planetary peoples to this very day also has an objective Spirit that witnesses to this Truth.

that gives tremendous amount of credibility to the One who clammed that He is the embodiment of that Objective Truth.

in my yrs of study, so far i have not seen anyother religion even come close to that truth.

*blinks*

"The subjective has been penetrated by the objective in human form, That is a Truth that apart from some history books and movement of planetary peoples to this very day also has an objective Spirit that witnesses to this Truth."

What are you inhaling?

BB,

but since that is a statement of faith doesn't it make it inherently subjective?

In questions of faith (or in most of life for that matter) is there such a thing a ture objectivity?

Rivers of Living water

I guess it does, until one is witnessed by Holy Spirit, then it becomes Objective Truth

I believe there is,

Holy Spirit

It's giving you dementia.  Try the tap water instead.

Na, to much fluoride in tap water, you stick to it, its keeping you well with in your own limits

That's kind of what I was trying to get at with my questions. BB's entitled to his faith, but faith is definitely what I had in mind when I said that we perceive Ultimate Truth using subjective faculties. That's why there are differences and why we need to learn to live with and respect those differences. If Ultimate Truth was an objective truth (as is, say, gravity), then the differences shouldn't exist.

Mendalla

the Messiahs message is important. so i would say it 'does matter'
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And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
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16I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
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4Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

5They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

6As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

7Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.

8Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:

9That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
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14And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
15And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
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23And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

24I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

25Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

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John 6:51:"I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;"

John 8:23: And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I AM from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

John 8:12: Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I AM the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

John 10:9: "I AM the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."

John 10:11: "I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

John 10:36: "do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?

John 11:25: Jesus said to her, "I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

John 14:6: Jesus said to him, "I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 15:1: "I AM the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
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I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

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--31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

32Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

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41The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

42And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

43Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

45It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

46Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

47Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

48I am that bread of life.

49Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

Except that Crazyheart didn't ask if the Messiah's message matters, Stephen. The thread question is whether and why the differences between views of God, faith, religous practice, etc. matter. To keep it Christian since I know you reject any other faith path: Jesus' message matters, to you and to millions of others, but even within that group not everyone agrees on the details and nuances of meaning. Do those differences matter?

Mendalla

1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

2But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

6This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

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16And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
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Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
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30As he spake these words, many believed on him.

31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

35And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

36If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

37I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

38I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

39They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

40But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

41Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

42Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

43Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word
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1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
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I can only believe, God intended the Messiahs message to be heard by us, and by us, i mean humanity, and you and me.so i guess you can simply say in this way it does matter.
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37In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

40Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

41Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

42Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

43So there was a division among the people because of him.

44And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.

45Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?

46The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

47Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?

48Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?

49But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.

50Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)

51Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?

52They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.

53And every man went unto his own house.

SB, I appreciate that you want to contribute to this thread but quoting passage after passage won't do it. It is very distractive to conversation.IMO

I tried to steer him on topic, crazyheart. Guess it didn't register.

Mendalla

maybe we can try again, Mendalla

erased

it has everything to do with the converstaion, reading the passages might help you understand that....do y ou understand there is only one God?.....

you guys limit Christ to his birth as a man on earth,, as the Messiah.

maybe this will help too

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John 8:58

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16I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root   

and the  

offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
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dont you get it?...... if not , maybe i can only suggest to people they read Matthew, Mark , Luke , John, themselves.

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refusal to read the passages or contemplate them does not mean that my relatings these verses is invalid to the thread. i cant hand belief to someone.

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google this... "10 Things Noah's Ark Teaches Us About Jesus "

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Revelation 22:13

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seriously,.... have some of you tried opening your bibles and reading Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as a way to learn Jesus's message?

do we expect people to read for us and hand things to us? (as much as we would love it to be that easy)

If we regard our religious expressions as artistic, and our truths as metaphorically true, and regard everyone else's the same way, then it doesn't matter that we are different in our faith. Then our differences are necessary artistic differences, which we joyfully share with each other in a spirit of artistic sharing.

Unfortunately, some people belive their artistic expressions to be all-applicably valid and absolutely right. Everyone who does not share their expressions is absolutely wrong.

To add to this clear post - when I was in Japan at buddhist/christian event the buddhist were very happy because we talked about differences and how those difference might enhance our perpsective- perpsective matters.

It also matters to the person to enhance their worship experience - naming does give clearity about the experience. And the different naming gets us different information - deep down we are not talking about the samething.  Yes there is human experience generally but it is experienced in particularity.

There may be an aesthetic of beauty but jazz gives us a unique experience of it just as other forms of music gives another - and not all forms of paintings are the same, each form does something that only that form can do.... poetry is different from fiction and both give an aestheitc experience.    Now it would be wrong to say that only jazz or classical is final and full expression of music, for music evolves.  No one view can say it all.

Even our experience of gravity is different given context - however David I get what you are saying and agree with one slight change - objective truth is even mutable.

Because if I don't have the "One Truth" then I'm not special.

Mendalla wants us to think non dualistically and many of the answers ( both chansen and bb) come at the question dualistically - either/or - though bb gets close when he says the objective is embedded in the subjective--- but all we have is perspective and by sharing perspective we can imagine an objective ( and the objective is also a process, not immutable form)

Everyone is special.

do we not understand that the world is full of 'opinions' and ppl from all history think they can conform  God into their own belief systems that serves their will....so we will find reigeous beliefs systems that ar enot of the truth, being than man did not believe, and built on mans theories......its a question of a belief in one God and a acceptance of Gods will. but many will not, and there is much division, as we are told there would be, and that we are to endure to the end....in regards to othere religeons, what need do  we have  of them, what can we truly learn anyway....it does not make sense to me, if i am here, why do i need to go over there, in a attempt to get here by my own will, when i am already here striving to followlearn Gods will for me.   there is a teachings regarding some, that if they didnt believe Moses or maybe it is Abraham (this is a loose ref) they are not going to believe us anyway. so draw a circle, is your finger already in the circle?

 many know of Christs name, and deny him without care for the message of the Messiah....so thats that....they deny God, whatever they call him....its like saying ...we dont believe in God, but we believe in our man made concept of God, wether God likes it or not.....   so ask, are they interested in Gods will, or their own.?

'not sure',   that sums you up chanson....shhhhhh...listen to what people say. read the Messiahs message, then im sure we could have a more interesting converstaion about it ..... another unique point of Christianity, unlike other religeons, you can say whatever you want to us, without fear of us. why dont you experiment with your methods and opinions on a islam site or jewish site...see how well you get along.

Why would you think that Muslims and Jews would treat him worse than we do? I'd suggest that there are other Christian sites that would treat him far worse than they would (of the evangelical and fundamentalist ilk). Sure, there are fanatics in both of those faiths. They exist in Christianity, too. Tolerance is not a unique point of Christianity. Indeed, there has been some horrific acts of intolerance committed by Christians against various groups (including Muslims and Jews) over the centuries.

And there are no Jewish temples today, BTW, only synagogues. The last temple was destroyed by the Romans a hair under 2000 years ago.

Mendalla

Congratulations, Christians, for being generally less murderous than Muslims or Jews. Give yourselves a pat on the back.

You should make that into a Boy Scout merit badge.  Scouts could earn the "Not Murderous" badge by listening to atheists with a loaded gun in front of them, and not firing it.

Yeah, I could've gone with the "Christians not violent?  Not so fast..." response, but I thought the merit badge line was too good to pass up.

wow, all i was refering to was their consideration to your  mocking and rejection of their faith ad the label you put on people.

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easy, big wheel.

Pot to kettle----you are black

i am aware of the many faiths. i speak in regards to Christianity at a Christian site, kinda plays in.

This is what stephenb2012 originally had written in the above (1/28/2011 19:25):

So here we go folks, such cowardice and hypocrisy.

And now I see he has changed it at last twice -- I guess it makes it all better for stephenb2012.

what are you talking about? i reworded a post to for more accurate delivery, so? now you call me a hypocrite and a coward?.... wow

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on another thread im being called a lliar because i didnt set up my profile.

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this is getting silly, it seems  some of you are desperate to grasp something 'on' me....

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please stop.

inna gets the wondercafe police  of the day award, you can share it with the person who keeps talking about not divulging my age on my profile (37) or not  setting up my profile age when i made it or whatever they think the problem is.

Great topic CH.

For my own part, I'd like to repost a story that I've posted before, but it really illustrates better than I could, how I feel about the subject.

Pathways

Well, it had been yet another bad day in the office, and once again it was the fault of that new girl, MaryAnne. She is one of those Wiccans,  a so called witch. How can anyone in their right mind make this claim, knowing that it goes against God and all of the teachings of the bible?  She doesn't even have the common decency to keep her satanic symbol,  her pentagram necklace hidden from the view of the decent, God fearing people in the office. She has some nerve. I find that I cannot hate her  for this though, for I know that she has been deceived. Satan works his  evil in ways that she cannot see. I've seen that so called Wiccan Rede  that she has tacked to the wall above her computer. On the surface, it  looks like a decent loving belief, but all one must do is look, look  closely and see that by practicing this way, and not embracing Jesus  Christ as savior she is on the pathway to hell. As I've said, it was a  bad day in the office.

Three times in the past few weeks I have been called in to see my supervisor, and he has told me that I am not allowed to preach to MaryAnne the word of God, to show her the error of her ways. Today, my  supervisor told me that if I continue to "harass" MaryAnne, he will be  forced to terminate me. How can he say this? He himself is a God  fearing man. And, how can he be so tolerant of the evil that he sees  insinuating itself into our workplace?  As I lay down to sleep last night, I asked the Lord for guidance. "God,  grant me a true vision of you, so that I may better lead the faithless  onto the righteous path," "Oh, a true vision of Me is it? Are you sure that you're ready, truly ready to see, my son?" I sat  bolt upright in bed, and there, at the foot of my bed, white of hair  and beard, in a long, flowing white robe, stood the Lord my God. I made  to leap from the bed and fall to my knees in front of Him, but he  stopped me with a gesture. "Kneel not before me at this time my son.  Instead, rise and walk with Me, so that you may get a glimpse of what I  truly am, as you asked of me in your prayer."

He took my hand, and as I looked, my bedroom was no longer there, but a  pathway thru the woods. We started to walk, and I was too awestruck for  words. We took the path to the left, and we were then inside St.  Catherine's Church, in the middle of a service. While still standing  beside me, God seemed to expand and fill the whole of the church. I could see smiles of contentment forming on some of the  parishioners faces. I felt blessed. God smiled upon me."The Catholics  hold such pretty masses, don't they? I like to stop here in this  church, because not only do they speak the words, but they live the  life, thru teaching, helping the sick and poor, not only with handouts,  but helping them learn to help themselves. Now let us walk on," And we  were back on the pathway.

We traveled a bit further along, and then were in the parlor of a  funeral home. A young woman was kneeling before the casket, resting  her head on it and crying. I could see by the similarity, that this  dead man must be her father. God knelt beside her, and drew His arms  about her. "Miss him, that is all right, but weep not for him, for now  he is with Me". She wiped her eyes, and stood with a sad smile upon  her face, and said "Good-bye Daddy. I'll miss you," and turned and left  the room.

And we were back on the pathway. We walked a little ways, and we were  in front of a large lodge of some kind. I could hear music and  laughter spilling out of the windows. I turned to look at God, and was  shocked to see, not the flowing white robe, but Him wearing leather and  animal furs, his hair and beard now the color of wheat, and a sword  strapped across His back. He strode forth, and I saw him approach a  figure I had not seen before. As I looked close, I was shocked to see  that it was the same face that I had just seen dead, but looking young  and strong, and dressed in ancient looking garb, an ax strapped to his  waist. God strode up to him and grabbed him in a great bear hug.  "Welcome my son. We've been waiting for you. Now, go inside and raise a  cup or two, and meet with your brother." And, with a hearty slap on the  back, he sent the man inside. And then we were back on the pathway.

We walked a bit further, and then we were in a mosque. At least I believed so, as I had never been in one before, but had seen pictures  of them. The group of worshippers was not large, but I could see their  rapt faces as they listened to the mullah speak. He was speaking to  them of purity, both of the mind and the body, bringing them closer to  Allah. And as he spoke, God, dressed now in the robes of the desert,  walked among them and briefly laid his hands upon each set of shoulders. And, from their faces, I could see that these men knew that the words of the mullah  were true, and that their spirits felt touched by God. And then we  were back on the pathway.
After we had walked a bit, we found ourselves in an African village.  People with skin as black as night, the women with their breast shamefully bared, were dancing in a circle, to the rhythm of the drums being played by a group of men. Somehow though, I was not offended by the bared breasts, and the music seemed to seep into my soul. God was  then a mighty lion, and He let forth a mighty roar. The villagers did  not seem to hear, but the drums increased their pounding, and the  dancers danced with a frenzy.
And then we were back on the pathway.
We walked a bit more, and were on the top of a cliff. There sat,  painted and covered with feathers, an old Navajo man. As I watched, he  seemed to change into the form of an eagle and take flight, and we were  flying with him, soaring high into the air, seeing the vista spread out  below us. And God, in the form of an eagle Himself, seemed to guide  this other eagle thru the air, over mountains and thru valleys, until  he came upon a group of men. As I watched, the old Navajo man was no  longer an eagle, but a young boy instead, and he sat at the feet of  these men, to listen to the words of his elders. And then we were back  on the pathway.

We traveled a bit, and then we were in a forest clearing. I knew this  place. It was known as a place of devil worship and evil. In the center  of the clearing roared a great bonfire, and kiwi torches outlined a  circle of sorts. Inside this circle, in a circle themselves, stood 7  men and 6 women, dressed in robes of varying colors, their arms raised  to the moon. Was that one woman MaryAnne? I really couldn't be sure.  And God walked among them in the circle, touching each one. He seemed  not to be an older man now, but as he made each of three turns around  the circle, he was first a young girl, bouncing with energy, then a  woman of middle years, with a tender smile for all Her children, and  finally, an old woman, body bent, but holding Her head up with pride.  And a woman stepped forward, and yes, it was MaryAnne, and lifted her  head to the sky. "Great Goddess, Mother of us all, thank you for  joining us tonight. Stay if You will, go if You must. Know in our  hearts You will always be welcome.Blessed be!!" And we were back on the pathway.

As we walked along, ahead in the distance I saw the most beautiful man.  Yes, beautiful, though I would never normally think of a man this way.  With blonde hair, and a golden robe, he seemed to radiate sunshine. God  and this golden man nodded to each other as they passed, sharing a  smile together. "My Lord" I asked, "was that an angel?" "Well, yes, he is known as that to some. He is also known to some as a good himself. That was Lucifer" And His words caused me to stumble. I couldn't believe that we had just passed the ultimate evil. God looked  at me, and He knew my mind. And he chuckled a bit. "Think about it  logically My son. The Lucifer that you know is a fallen angel, cast out  of heaven for challenging Me. If I am the all powerful being, above all  others, how could he do this? How could I allow it?" "But, in the  bible...." I stammered. "The Bible is a wonderful book, as are the  Koran and the Torah and many others, but they are just books, written  by the hand of man, not written by Me. And, it's a bit confusing as  well if the truth be known, but that's not up to Me to fix. These books  are wonderful, but only as guidance, for each man and woman must think  for themselves." And, I believed He was right in this.

"Now, come forth, we must journey a little more before you go back" and  He took my hand once again. As we followed the pathway, we soared thru  the stars, listening to the music of the heavens, we became a little  flower and a mighty oak, we became a babbling brook, and a mighty  ocean. We flitted from flower to flower as a little honey bee, and ran  across the plains as a mighty stallion.

And, all too soon the pathway returned us to my home. God held my hand  a moment longer, and smiled into my face.
"My son, you prayed tonight for a true vision of Me. For vision, you must only open your eyes and see what there is to see. Good night to you". And then He was gone, and I was back in my bed. A dream I thought, only a dream, that couldn't have been real. At that  time, a bolt of lightning lit up my room thru the window, and thunder  crashed thru the sky, and I thought I heard, from seemingly far away,  "Remember, the Lord works in mysterious ways My son".

This morning as I entered the office, I went to the machine for a cup of coffee, and standing there, I spied MaryAnne. As I approached her,  I could see her barely cringe, and I could see in her face that she was  expecting yet another onslaught from me and my book. She seemed to  cast her eyes about for a way to escape, but there was none. I walked  up to her and smiled. "I think I owe you a bit of an apology" I said.  "I've been a bit narrow minded of late, and I really had no right to  subject you to what I did. It's not up to me to say how you find your  path to your spirit, and I was wrong to think that was so," MaryAnne  just stood there, not knowing what to say.
"So, I just wanted to say that I'm so sorry, and I hope you will forgive my trespass. God bless you MaryAnne, and...uh.... Blessed Be?"  You know,
I always thought that it was just a saying, about peoples jaws dropping  to the floor, but MaryAnne did her best at that moment to prove me  wrong.

"The Pathways" was written by Dream Dancer.

Berserk,

why do you think your G_d didn't just somehow 'hardwire' the teachings that He tried to give to mankind into our very atoms or whatever (including giving us the experiences necessary for it to stick and be true)?