Saying for today: PEOPLE BECOME LIKE THE GOD/god THEY WORSHIP. Unknown.
It's official! Yesterday I realized that I am now a part of Oxford! 11 days to feel this way: the customs, the rain, the walking, the language, the diversity, the classes, the streets, Wadham College, the food, etc.
Even with all the rain and cool weather, it is so fun. My room has no heat (it is turned off for the summer), so you just put on another layer and a scarf and go on. I have a hot water pot and tea cups and tea in my room so I can warm up that way too!
We had a full day of classes yesterday on Hinduism by Brian Nelson. He lived in India for 10 years and now works with Hindus in West London. He adopted and raised 3 Indian children.
We finished the day out at the well-known pub called The Eagle and Child. This was one of C. S. Lewis' favorite places to meet with his friends called the Inklings, including J. R. R. Tolkien. They met informally every Tuesday a.m. to discuss the books they were reading and writing.
I will give some interesting points on Hinduism:
* They worship around 330 million gods.
* Some of the most important ones are: Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Ram, Krishna, Ganesh, Lakshmi
* Rituals and ceremonies are more important than doctrine or evidence. They are after "experience" such as universal consciousness.
* They believe All is One. We are but a "drop" in the ocean. We all merge together.
* There is no scripture for the average person--no authoritative scripture. Only the Vedas are for the priests.
* What you DO and SAY are most important. What you BELIEVE is not important.
* They believe that we live in a world of illusion--this life is not the ultimate reality.
* They believe that truth is relative.
* Hindu's are not readers--maybe a newspaper, etc.
* The caste system is 5000 years old. It is a sociological category. It has nothing to do with belief.
* The caste system is made up of the highest level: Brahmin - priests
then the next level: Kshatriya - warriors and rulers
then the next level: Vaisya - skilled traders or merchants
the lowest level: Sudra - unskilled workers called dalits--they are oppressed and untouchable
outcasts
* They can only change caste levels through reincarnation
* Karma: The overall effect of one's behavior to determine one's destiny in a future existence.
* Karma and reincarnation lead to salvation. It takes 8.4 million life cycles to get there.
* The terms "Christian," "conversion," and "missionary" carry extremely negative connotations for Hindus. We speak of ourselves as a follower of Jesus, his disciple.
* Many Hindus follow some type of guru, a spiritual teacher and guide, and may be open to a presentation of the Lord Jesus as the "true guru."
TODAY, IT WAS BACK TO THE STUDY OF ISLAM. Tanya Walker was our teacher. She was born into a Christian family in Iran. She has an undergraduate degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Christ Church College, Oxford University. She is finishing her PhD in Islamic Studies.
She gave us a comparison study of the Christian God and the Muslim God (Allah). I will briefly give the highlights. She was way over my head this afternoon speaking on the political front of the world as it relates to Islam. She is an amazing teacher and speaker.
1. The Christian God is relational. He created us to love him and glorify him. He created us to know him. It is the grandest love story. God created us out of the overflow of his love. He wins us by giving his life- the ultimate love.
The Muslim God is like Big Brother watching you. He is the master and you are the servant. There is no intimate relationship with Allah.
2. The Christian God has made himself known. Knowing and being known is the basics of love. Without the knowing and being known part, the relationship is only a fantasy. We can know God because of his consistency of character. Jeremiah 9: 24 "Let him who glories, glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practice steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things, I delight, says the Lord." John 17:3 "And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." Jeremiah 24: 7 "I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord." How has he revealed himself? Through the life and death of Jesus, his nature, and his Word.
Allah does not make himself known. The Qur'an does not revel his nature. Muslim's want to know Allah's will.
3. The Christian God is love. It is his nature and his essence. God put his image on us so that we could know his love. God is true to his nature. 1 John 4:16 "So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in loved abides in God, and God abides in him."
God loves everyone including the broken, the sinner, the outcast, etc. God is the initiator of this love.
We love him back. We worship him. Love must be freely given, no strings attached. You can not force love. You can't love someone that you don't know.
It is not required or possible to love Allah. Muslims are in bondage or submission to Allah. What about heaven? Your deeds are weighed on the scale. The Qur'an says "Only fools are assured of salvation." The fear of hell is an overriding feature for Muslims. Allah is not love.
4. The Christian God experiences suffering and grieves.
Allah cannot experience suffering or compassion. Suffering is considered weakness.
5. The Christian God is holy. He is set apart. He is morally perfect and cannot tolerate sin. Our sin separates us from God. He provides a way out through Jesus Christ. God sacrificed himself on the cross through the person of Jesus Christ.
Allah is not holy. He does not require holiness. He is deceitful and is a schemer.
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