It is a fact that generally all peoples, including primitive tribes, have had religious beliefs and cults, belief in a god or gods and various rites and rituals of worship. While some of the religions have remained in the primitive stage, others have developed philosophical and doctrinal systems. Some have so many adherents spread over a large part of the globe that they have been called 'world religion.'

It is an unfortunate fact in the history of mankind that even battles have been fought and blood has been shed in the name and for the sake of religion, and there have been hostilities and wars among the religions themselves.

Every person should have, as a fundamental right, the freedom to follow and practice the religion of his or her choice. So also the freedom to change from one religion to another. From this arises one's duty to respect the religious views and practices of others, however convinced one may be that one's religion is the true one, just as an ardent supporter of one political party must respect the views and policies of other parties or a scientist who values his theories must respect even the contrary theories of the other scientists.

It is a fact, moreover, that while some of the teachings of these various religions are identical, there is also disparity in respect of other teachings, some of which are even contradictory, so that it cannot be logically said that all religions are the same or all are equally true.

Christianity is a unique religion, because that Christianity is a religion directly revealed by God, by the Lord Jesus Christ who is God, is the belief of the Christian. This conviction has been the basis of all missionary endeavor in the history of the Universal Church. Although it is Catholic Christian belief that those of other faiths or no faith can also be saved if they do not sin and live righteously according to their conscience, the Church has never ceased from its inception till now to bring to non Believer of God and non Christian peoples a knowledge of the Christian faith. This missionary has been carried out at great cost, in the face of numerous humiliation, hardships and the sacrifice of lives of many missionaries.

In spite of Christianity being the God-revealed religion, God's presence in other religions has to be noticed too. Catholic Christian attitude to other faiths has in the past [before Vatican II] been very much a negative one. The present positive approach to them, which is a very desirable change, has come mainly from Vatican II. The Council has given an impetus to the study and appreciation of the positive values of other religions and encouraged dialogue with them.

These religions are seen as a preparation for the Gospel and playing a providential role in the Divine economy of salvation. They contain "treasures a bountiful God has distributed among the nations of the earth, but the Church has to illumine these treasures with the light of the Gospel." This is in keeping with Christ's instruction to his disciples: The mission of the world.

Meanwhile the eleven disciples set out to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them. When they saw him they fell down before him, though some hesitated. Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time." - Matt. 28:16-20 -

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -