JAM and Opi,
Doesn't it all really boil down to what Christ said when questioned about "the Law". That the two things that really matter are first to love God with your whole heart and soul, and second to love your neighbor as yourself. (Or as we used to say in my Chapter, be cool with the Boss and hang with your bros).

I'm not religious. I was born Jewish, had a bar mitzvah and have even been to Israel. I haven't found a need for religion in my liife, and don't see that changing anytime soon.

In my mind, you hit the nail on the head. Your interpretation is what I feel "spirituality" is all about. I don't see how all these different denominations can point a finger at others and state, "YOU people are all going to hell because__________"
fill in the blank. I know one of our foundations is to believe Jesus
is the Son of God and I DO. It's the idea that because someone calls God by a different name than me, they are banished from heaven- that seems ludicrous. I guess in time we will all find out.

When I went through the RCIA (adult conversion to Catholocism), I was working with an awesome priest who explained it like this...

He drew a big circle with a dot in the middle. He said the dot represented being one with God. He then put dots all over within the circle, including one that was very close. He said each dot represented a different religion/denomination. Then he said that as Catholics, we'd like to believe that we are the dot closest to the center, but, we don't really know and the most important thing is that everybody is working toward the same goal. I was VERY surprised that a Catholic priest was saying this because I had expected that there was less tolerance for other religions within Catholicism. I was equally surprised that if you go through the RCIA and have been baptized in any other Christian denomination, it is recognized by the Catholic church and you then only have to do the sacraments of the Eucharist and Confirmation. (and confession of course).

Dee

AGDee What a beautful explanation! I am a tad shocked to hear this came from a priest. Then again, I have felt that nothing was really uniform any longer. It's like- depending on the congregation and the mindset of the priest, the age of Monsignor, the attitude of the bishop... you see what I mean?
I really need to check that out. My "religion" may need updating!
So cool to hear this! It's past due. Thanks for the sharing!!!!

I've always been told the best Catholics were our converts!:D

Practicing LCMS Lutheran (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod) -- we're more on the conservative side of Lutheranism. Hubby and I were both born and raised and our parents are still very active in their respective churches. It's what feels right for us. But I personally believe that as long as you believe in whatever you believe in and live your life to the best of your abilities in whatever beliefs you subscribe to (be it Buddhist, Muslim, RC, agnostic, whatever) then that's all you need to do for your life.

Whoa, me too. Except my mom was Episcopalian and I started questioning religion when I was a few years older. I was baptized Catholic, though.

I had a very similiar explanation from my Anglican theology prof. this summer and I really liked it. He was very big into universalism and managed to convert about half the class. I'm taking New Testament Overview with him this semester and he apparently has a lot of fun discussing why Fundies shouldn't take the Bible so darn literally, so I'm looking forward to that!

That seems ludicrous to me as well..doesn't God love *everybody*? Why would he send someone who believes in him to hell? That's one thing I love about the Mormon doctrine..we don't believe that anyone "not Mormon", or of other denomination or an unbeliever, is going to hell.

I have found that I am becoming more religious as I (1) get older, and (2) have children.

I was not raised in a religious home at all. I only remember going to church maybe 10 times by the time I was in high school.

I found God and Jesus when I was initiated into my fraternity. Believe it or not, our Ritual started it all for me to look more deeply into the Bible, and, I found what I was looking for.

I'm Jewish and I am what you call nonpracticing. I go to synagogue on the High Holidays and bar mitzvahs but that is about it. I was much more religious in high school after I returned from Israel.

One of these days I'll probably get more into religious life.

You have NO idea how comforting that is to me! So glad you posted!

Thanks so much! It's very true.

The initiation ritual started me on the path. And I hope I'm not the only one!

Now, I'm very involved with church, leading a Bible study, conduction communion, etc...