Connecting Between Different Beliefs While Sticking To Your Own

Connecting between Different Beliefs While sticking to your Own

　

The Pilgrim’s Progress, a book by John Bunyan that I am currently reading, talks about a man who reads from a book, (I think we are to inference it as the Bible), which pronounces his judgment. He is panic stricken! He gains a heavy burden of all his sins now that he is aware of them. Then, he meets a man named Evangelist. Evangelist tells shows him a direction to go in and to find a gate where he will be admitted and told more directions as how to get rid of his burden. Christian, for that is his name, immediately goes home, where he tries to persuade his family to believe him and to come with him, but they will not. So he sets off by himself. He meets men name Pliable and Obstinate, (isn’t it funny how all the names are so obvious,) who try to persuade him to go home again, but they do not succeed. He keeps going, and Pliable travels with him for a little while.
Well, my job is not to tell you the story, (for I think you should read the book,) but to give an example of how, whatever religion you believe in, someone will always try to stop you. In WW2 Jews were prosecuted, in Europe, though the Middle Ages, and the Medieval times, Catholics and Protestants alike were discouraged, many kings did not like the idea of Islam. In the USA, we give freedom of religion, which means that we can worship or believe in whatever we like. It does not mean, however, that people will not try to get us to come over to their religion, or to stop our belief in other’s. I believe that is one reason why God gave us a conscience.  As J.I. Packer says in his book, Concise Theology,
       "It, (Conscience,) feels like a person detached from us, often speaking what we would like it to be silent, and saying things that we would rather not hear."

A conscience is like a little voice in our head. It tries to tell what is right and what is wrong. (We don’t usually listen.) I think this because, a lot of religions are false. There are also some preachers in the religion that are false. They make up things or go along with other people’s beliefs, so long as it is benefiting them. They like to accuse others of sins, and make following the law so hard, but so useless, so that they can look better than everybody else. In short, this is the definition of Pharisee in the Bible - the true law. They are also trying to lead you down the wrong road. This method is often called “Persuasive.” You probably have learned that term in Language Arts. But usually it is connected to writing. Well, the Pharisees did use writing, but they could also speak pretty persuasively.

I am not saying that you should have NOTHING to do with other beliefs than your own. No. It is good to show that you care about what other people believe, and respect their religion, whatever it is. That is showing respect for the person. But you should stick with whatever you really believe, and follow that belief.

End of Note