Very nice but not biblical. Remember the Jews rejected Jesus? He said if they reject Him, they reject the Father also. It all comes down to one question....."Who do you say that I AM?

Also God said in his first commandment..."Have no other gods before me

God said to Moses...tell the people that I AM sent you...to differentiate from all the other gods out there. Same today....many gods but only one true God.

A famous pastor I really admired said once in reply to the question..."Do you think Jews are going to hell cuz they rejected Christ?" He answered...."My own dear children will see hell if they reject Christ."

See they tried to trap this godly man and he answered so biblically, so Christlike, they had no retort. He left them speechless.

Jesus said there is no other way to the Father but thru him....today that is very intolerant speech. But the question remains...."Who do you say that I AM?"

God is love. Does God love Muslims, Hindus, Jews and Christians alike? I'm sure He does, otherwise what kind of God are we putting our faith in? I think Christians should consider this issue more and embody the spirit of love as our global awareness rises.

I think you are right!  That I agree with.

God is LOVE.....but he hates Sin!! That's the part everyone forgets about.....He said himself....Jacob have I loved and Esau I hate. It's not the person, it's what the person represents. He loves all and is not partial in any way. He accepts all that will come to Him, Jew, and Gentile alike....... and that is the key...those who come to him he will in no way cast out.

He loves all and is not partial in any way. He accepts all that will come to Him, Jew, and Gentile alike....... and that is the key...those who come to him he will in no way cast out.

So he will not cast out someone who has never heard the Gospels, yet still leads a good and holy life, right?

Very nice but not biblical.

but it is Biblical. What are your views on the following verses, KFC? (Italics are mine)

1 John 2.2: "And Christ himself is the means by which our sins are forgiven, and not our sins only, but also the sins of everyone."

John 12.32: Jesus said, "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me."

1 Timothy 4.10: "We trust in the living God, who is the saviour of all men, especially of those who believe".

Colossians 1.20: "God made peace through His Son's blood on the cross, and so brought back to Himself all things, both in earth and in Heaven."

John 1.9: "That was the real Light - the light that comes into the world and shines on everyone.”

"There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (1.29).

1 John 4.16: "God is love, and whoever lives in love lives in union with God and God lives in union with him."

1 John 4.7: “Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God.”

Remember the Jews rejected Jesus? He said if they reject Him, they reject the Father also. It all comes down to one question....."Who do you say that I AM? Also God said in his first commandment..."Have no other gods before me God said to Moses...tell the people that I AM sent you...to differentiate from all the other gods out there. Same today....many gods but only one true God. A famous pastor I really admired said once in reply to the question..."Do you think Jews are going to hell cuz they rejected Christ?" He answered...."My own dear children will see hell if they reject Christ." See they tried to trap this godly man and he answered so biblically, so Christlike, they had no retort. He left them speechless. Jesus said there is no other way to the Father but thru him....today that is very intolerant speech. But the question remains...."Who do you say that I AM?"

Christ is God, and there's only One God. I believe that the different religions of the world are in touch with the same God, whether they recognise Him as Jesus or not. But that's my personal opinion and interpretation. (We can't really deny that our own views are rooted in subjective perspective and interpretation.)

KFC, ask your self honestly: if you had been born into a loving Muslim household in a different country, (i.e. in a Muslim culture), do you think you'd now be promulgating what the Qu'ran says, and wouldn't give a hoot about what the Bible says? And if you were in a similar fundamentalist mindset, wouldn't you be now attempting to convert people to Islam? (Remember, nearly two thirds of the entire planet are Muslim.)

One of the most harmonious and wise teachings that I've come across regarding inter-faith issues, comes from Zen Buddhist Master, Thich Nhat Hanh. He writes:

“Real dialogue makes us more open minded, tolerant and understanding. In a true dialogue, we allow the good, the beautiful and the meaningful in the other's tradition to transform us. ... When we have peace within, real dialogue with others is possible … The career of the practitioner is the career of enlightenment. Enlightenment here means ‘Touching the ultimate’.”

Hahn continues, “When we touch the ultimate dimension of reality, we get the deepest kind of relief. Each of us has the capacity to touch Nirvana. … Christian contemplation includes the practise of resting in God which I believe is the equivalent of touching Nirvana. …. The Kingdom of God is available here and now. The energy of the Holy Spirit is the energy that helps us touch the Kingdom of God. … I do not think there is that much difference between Christians and Buddhists. … A truly happy Christian is really a Buddhist. And vice-versa".

And another wise bloke, Indian spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy, wrote “Each religion is right, absolutely right, in its own way, but when we cry for the highest truth, the love of God becomes the only religion.”

Ok Andy...geeesh did you haveta bring up so many.........I think I know where you're going or what you are thinking these verses mean....but before I take them one at a time...just a couple of others first to put with what you put down. You haveta reconcile all together when you come up with an answer. What do you think these mean?

John 17:9 I pray for them, I pray not for the world, but for them which you have given me for they are yours.

John 17:14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world even as I am not of the world.

He calls his own out of the world. He tells them to be in the world but not of the world.

This is the intercessory prayer that Jesus prayed to the father. Notice he says he doesn't pray for the world.

Also John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, which Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world to the Father having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

John 3:16 I don't think I haveta write it out.cuz I'm very sure you know this one....but what doesn't get quoted is the next couple of verse after this which states:

John 3:17-19 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on Him is not condemned but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

All thru the bible the prerequisite for gaining entrance into heaven....is belief.....all hinges on that...but not just any old belief....it has to be in the Son of God which we all know is Jesus. Look at that word "belief" in John 3:16 as well. If we say there are other "ways" out there then we are calling Jesus a liar. He said there is no other way. Now having said that...onto your scriptures you picked out.......

1 John 2.2: "And Christ himself is the means by which our sins are forgiven, and not our sins only, but also the sins of everyone."

Ok, this is talking about Christ being the only offering that satisfied God concerning sin. God's wrath over sin is satisfied in this sacrifice, the perfect one. Christ died for the sins of the whole world, the entire race. If that's what you're saying...I agree with you.
But again you have to come to a belief in this...he didn't just die in vain, he died for those willing to come to the cross and follow him. Also somewhere else in scripture it says there is no other sacrifice that will be done. This is it.

John 12.32: Jesus said, "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me."

Now here he was talking to the Jews but the Greeks (gentiles) were outside (not allowed in the temple) and he was saying His saving grace will be available to Greeks as well as to the Jews.Paul talks about the great mystery in Eph 3:1-6 which basically says that the Gentiles would be fellowheirs and partakers of all the promises made to the Jews. All without distinction. This also has been aluded to in John 10:6 in the "other sheep" outside the Jewish fold. Also he speaks of by his death gathering together the children of God who are scattered abroad 11:52. ]His death will obliterate all racial and religious barriers.[

1 Timothy 4.10: "We trust in the living God, who is the saviour of all men, especially of those who believe".

He paid the ransom for all (2:6) but not all are going to accept this...again belief is the prerequisite.

Colossians 1.20: "God made peace through His Son's blood on the cross, and so brought back to Himself all things, both in earth and in Heaven."

well you have to read this in the whole context....go down to V23 which says:

If you continue in the faith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you have heard and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven.....

1:20 is saying that Christ is the mediator, the remedy for our alienation from God. He will eventually reconcile all things as it says but some of this is going to involve judgment...not all love and good stuff. You see this in:

1 Cor 15:24-28 Then comes the end when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God even the Father when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he has put all things under his feet. But when he says all things are put under him it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him that God may be all in all.

John 1.9: "That was the real Light - the light that comes into the world and shines on everyone.”

My favorite book..... this doesn't mean "every" man as you might be thinking but every man that is redeemed. This redemption comes from Jesus, and this light is available for all men. But not all men accept this, (Read what I quoted above in John 3:17-19). Keep reading in 1:12

1:12 But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name.

There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (1.29).

You should know history on this to really understand the context. The Passover Lamb was celebrated every year for the Jews alone. This was their celebration for God's deliverance out of Egypt and also represented his covering their sins with the blood of the lamb. Remember they had to put blood over their doorposts to escape the wrath of God? Well this looked forward to one day there would be a perfect lamb that would not just cover (atone) but would completely take away the sins and not the Jews only but now including all the non Jews of the world. Again, you would have to believe in God to put the blood over your doorpost or in the NT believe in Jesus's blood to take away your sins forever.

I fear I've made this quite lengthy and it's hard to do justice over JU so I hope this is enough info for you. One thing to keep in mind tho.....a text taken out of context is a pretext. It's just a principle I've learned over the years when it comes to scripture especially. Also again and again...we see the criteria for being a child of God and belonging to Him is belief in His Name.

Acts 4:12 says Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men wheby we must be saved.

Sorry for so much HW......feedback?

So he will not cast out someone who has never heard the Gospels, yet still leads a good and holy life, right?

What the heck...since I'm on a roll here...........well Doc ok if I answer your question with a question? How good is good enough?

Hey Doc, just what was the topic here anyway?

Hey Doc, just what was the topic here anyway?

Well, it was Annulment.  Now, I dont know.  But it is not annulment!

KFC, thanks for your reply and lengthy analysis. I personally believe we can afford some breathing space from extreme scriptural fundamentalism. Fine tooth combing our Holy Books in such a way inevitably leads to clashes in opinion and contradictions. We may as well get the Qur’an out and fine tooth comb that, as I think all our Holy Books are valid and hold a wealth of wisdom. (I admit I started the close-analysis of verses in the previous post, but I can't carry it on.)

I’m more interested in the underlying messages and common ground in our world religions, to be honest. I’ve learned that they’re like jigsaw pieces, which fit together to form a harmonious whole. Fundamentalism doesn’t strike much of a chord for me personally, although I admire your faith immensely. I'm a big fan of the Bible, but all that fine-tooth combing goes a bit over my head. People can argue about different interpretations for ever and a day, so we may as well get some peace now.

KFC, thanks for your reply

You're quite welcome!! My pleasure. I've been studying this book for more than 30 years and have compared it to many other writings along the way and as you probably know......I'm convinced there's nothing like this. I haven't even begun to make a dent in this.

I’m more interested in the underlying messages and common ground in our world religions, to be honest. I’ve learned that they’re like jigsaw pieces, which fit together to form a harmonious whole

Ya, we'd have to disagree here cuz I don't believe that there is any common ground in all the world religions. Yes there are very nice people in all of them. I've not only met them....I was them as I have been involved in many different groups out there.

Remember Jesus said he did not come to bring peace, but a sword.....sounds harsh I know but what that means to me is he's the dividing line and we are on one side or the other.

We may as well get the Qur’an out and fine tooth comb that

I can do this...........

I'm a big fan of the Bible, but all that fine-tooth combing goes a bit over my head

Well I'm always here to help....if you have questions.......it's not as hard as you think.......one piece at a time.

we may as well find some peace now

Grace and Peace to you......(peace always follows grace)

KFC

Hey Doc, just what was the topic here anyway

Sorry,,,,sure it's my fault..........guess I got us off track somewhere way back.....this is taking on a life of it's own.

Did I say I don't believe in annulments except in rare circumstances? My friend Mary has been trying to get an annulment hru the CC even tho she and her husband have been faithful goers for over 20 years. It's turning out to be an eye opener for her.

Sorry,,,,sure it's my fault....

No, it was not you.  And I dont mind either.  This was a good one.

Did I say I don't believe in annulments except in rare circumstances? My friend Mary has been trying to get an annulment hru the CC even tho she and her husband have been faithful goers for over 20 years. It's turning out to be an eye opener for her.

Tell her to move to Virginia.  it is a lot nicer procedure, altho it does open up some old wounds.  I may blog about that one day.  I loved the one question:

Q: Did you think that was normal?
A: Are you asking me as a 21 year old man?  Or a 45 year old man?  at 21, I did not know what was normal.  Today, I clearly know it was not.

That is pretty much how the whole interview went.

p.s. Check out my latest on Infallibility. Definitely not as controverisal.

I guess not sure about the "that" in the question?

I also got married at 21!!! But still married to the same guy!! Get this! He was an altar boy and thought hard about being a priest!! But he too left the CC.

I did check out your site on infallibility....but didn't want to offend you!! But since you asked........I don't believe anybody Pope or not is infallible even if he's sitting on the special chair. Where are you getting this from? What source?

I'm not sure if I ever did know this or not so I'm not being smart here....I know alot about the RCC (having been one) but I'm not sure where this first started. I know alot of the doctrines didn't come into being until late in the last couple of centuries like you said about the assumption of Mary and her sinlessness being a couple of them. I also know that priests were allowed to be married up until I think the 12th century. I've done tons of HW in this area.

Do you want me to start something on the other site? I'm sure I can think of somethin...........

Ya, we'd have to disagree here cuz I don't believe that there is any common ground in all the world religions. Yes there are very nice people in all of them. I've not only met them....I was them as I have been involved in many different groups out there.

Sure there is common ground. Starting with the basics, with a broad brush stroke:

(1) There is purpose to our existence on earth
(2) God, or a Higher Reality, exists
(3) Death is not the end
(4) The ultimate dimension of reality is Spirit
(5) The force of good, or love, transcends the universe, and will prevail, and "good" is the ultimate nature of reality

All our religions declare these truths, and even though they cannot be proved by science, they can be proved for oneself by inner-intuition. (I believe that human consciousness is a deep and powerful reality. There's more to life than meets the eye, and these higher truths can be found by more than faith.)

Christianity and Islam also hold great common ground, and the tale of Adam and Eve is shared in the beginning of both Holy Books. Islam, however, discloses a profound twist to the story, which provides a fuller picture, and makes greater sense in the face of the theory of evolution. (I've talked about the Qur'an's version of the Garden of Eden too many times on JU, however, and people have already said that I can sound a bit like a record-player, so I won't labour it all again.) I’ll mention again, though, that Islam is our latest world religion in the evolutionary line, and as evolution denotes growth, we can expect some fruitful insights to be contained in it. Also, (cue record player), our world faiths are really harmonious allies, which together expand human understanding beyond the scope of an individual faith system alone.

Grace and Peace to you......(peace always follows grace)

Amen, brother.

And to you too KFC and Little Whip!

here's another 5. Speaking generally:

(6) love one another as yourself etc. promotes spiritual growth.
(7) you reap what you sow
(8) "fate" plays a large part in life, in one form or another
(9) there's a bigger picture
(10) We can attain inner peace, regardless of external conditions, by finding refuge in "God"

Some of these can be learned and proved for oneself by practical means, like cosmic laws, regardless of one's religion.

however, people have already said that I can sound a bit like a record-player

(does that sound like a dig at people? It wasn't a dig, and I completely agree that I sound like a record player!)

Where are you getting this from? What source?

Adult religious Ed.  And you would not insult me.  As I said, I dont expect most people to believe, for they are not Catholic.  But understanding how and why we believe is all I am after.  Many (even Catholics) think that The Pope is INfallible period.  And that is the misconception I wanted to clear up.  He is human after all.

(1) There is purpose to our existence on earth (2) God, or a Higher Reality, exists (3) Death is not the end (4) The ultimate dimension of reality is Spirit (5) The force of good, or love, transcends the universe, and will prevail, and "good" is the ultimate nature of reality

here's another 5. Speaking generally: (6) love one another as yourself etc. promotes spiritual growth. (7) you reap what you sow (8) "fate" plays a large part in life, in one form or another (9) there's a bigger picture (10) We can attain inner peace, regardless of external conditions, by finding refuge in "God"

Very good basis!

Well when I was young and just starting out I worked in an office and overheard the women speaking about the nuns and priests. One of them said that she believed they were so holy they didn't even use the bathroom!!!! She was devestated when she saw one in there. It totally blew her mind.

That's the old school and I know tons has changed since then. I would agree with you then that the Pope is human and therefore falible. I do look at the difference tho between the funeral of the Pope and the funeral of Jesus. Big contrast. Look at the death of Mother Teresa and that of Princess Diana....same thing. God says he chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.

Even Peter after converting the first Gentile, Cornelius...said to him...."Get up I'm just a man." when this newly saved man recognized Christ thru Peter and bowed down low at his feet. That's one reason I have problems with the Catholics as you said that believe the Pope is infalible......even Peter, the great Apostle didn't fit that category. The only infalible person ever to walk this earth as you know is Christ....the God-man......none before or since then........*sigh* not even Mary.....

Man has an inate desire to worship something. It's a piece missing inside us that only God can fill. The problem is we try to fill that God shaped piece with everything but God. When we find the right peice (God) then it's euphoric and nothing else like it.

Andy..

this one's for you. Ok don't have a real problem with what you said.....tho to me #5 is kinda new agey. But yes most I would agree with here. The only one I'd have a problem with might be the last one. That would be cuz I believe the Prince of Peace is Jesus and not all the world religions view him as God. Before Jesus went to the cross he said in the upper room to His own. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, not as the world gives, I give to you. His peace surpasses all understanding.

Christianity and Islam also hold great common ground

Ok this one I couldn't agree with you on. First off you have to look at the evidence. Look at real Christianity and Real Islam. Do you know in Nigeria the Muslims are killing the Christians? Of course this is not the only place but this is what I've been hearing about lately. In Feb 04 a whole church was killed with machetes and killed. Their offense? Worshiping Jesus instead of Allah. Pregnant women were ripped open and all inside that little church were killed. The Christians are underground. To be seen carrying a bible means instant death. I heard an interview with a man named Daniel. He dresses up in the Muslim clothing and hides bibles under his robe. If caught he knows his fate. But he says..."to live is Christ and to die is gain."

Bernard Lewis, in an essay "The Revolt of Islam" in the Nov 19, 2001 New Yorker wrote that "It is surely significant that the Koranic and other inscriptions on the Dome of the Rock, one of the earliest Muslim religious structures outside Arabia, built in Jerusalem between 691-692 AD include a number of directly anti-Christian polemics: "praise be to God who begets no son, and has no partner," and He is God, one eternal. He does not beget nor is he begotten, and he has no peer."

Chuck Colson has said and warned that Islam is growing here in this country. And you know where? In the prisons. He estimates one out of every 6 U.S. prisoners is an adherent to Islam. Two thirds are non white. Many feel oppressed by the whilte power structure......

Have you read the Koran? It contains several passages that incite followers to violence. Robert Spencer, who wrote Islam Unveiled, says: "When the Koran says, 'Slay the unbelievers wherever you find them. Arrest them, besiege them and lie in ambush everywhere for them,' the extremists can point to that and say....Look this is what the religion teaches."

I could go on....but I'm thinking you're buying into multiculturalism....and you should think more about this by studying first what it really means. Especially since you do believe in Jesus. The two religions have nothing in common but Abraham....one son went one way and the other went the other way. As Christians we follow Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You can't be on two roads at the same time unless you are standing in the fork of the road and sooner or later you have to choose a direction to go in.

P.S. You don't sound like a record player ..cuz it's a new tune here for me so I haven't read what you said in the past.

That's one reason I have problems with the Catholics as you said that believe the Pope is infalible......even Peter, the great Apostle didn't fit that category

As do I.  Ignorance is not limited to the Catholic Faith.  Perhaps being the largest denomination, the catholics are just more visible.

Hi KFC, thanks for your reply. It’s nice to hear your views, and I think this is an interesting topic.

Christianity and Islam also hold great common ground

Ok this one I couldn't agree with you on. First off you have to look at the evidence. Look at real Christianity and Real Islam. Do you know in Nigeria the Muslims are killing the Christians? Of course this is not the only place but this is what I've been hearing about lately. In Feb 04 a whole church was killed with machetes and killed. Their offense? Worshiping Jesus instead of Allah. Pregnant women were ripped open and all inside that little church were killed

Many Christians have behaved in the same way throughout the centuries, though. Consider the Christian Crusades, for example, or the Spanish Inquisition, where thousands of people died at the hands of Christians. The “sins” of Christianity have been great throughout history, and many people understandably claim that Christianity has been a black spot on Western Culture.

I think that such violent behaviour stems more from the weaknesses and misguided attitudes of human beings, rather than from one’s religion. Why do people act with such violence and negativity? It could be said that such people are immature in the spirit and don’t know any better. These people might then be influenced by their religion’s Holy Scriptures, the Bible included.

Have you read the Koran? It contains several passages that incite followers to violence.

Yes, there are several passages which encourage violence. That’s also true of the Bible. Talking of common ground, consider the following Biblical verses. (Your reference to ripping open pregnant women could have been quoted from this first one) . . .

God says to the prophet Hosea: “I will have no compassion … They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open.” (Hosea 13.14-16)

In Exodus 32:27-29, we read: “The Lord God of Israel commands every one of you to put on his sword and go through the camp from this gate to the other and kill his brothers, his friends, and his neighbours. The Levites obeyed, and killed about three thousand people that day. Moses said to the Levites, ‘Today you have consecrated yourselves as priests in the service of the Lord by killing your sons and brothers, so the Lord has given you his blessing.”

People often claim that verses such as Deuteronomy 21.18 intend to encourage family values: “Suppose someone has a son who is stubborn and rebellious, a son who will not obey his parents, even though they punish him. His parents are to take him before the leaders of the town where he lives and make him stand trial. They are to say to them, ‘Our son is stubborn and rebellious and refuses to obey us; he wastes money and is a drunkard.’ Then the men of the city are to stone him to death, and so you will get rid of this evil.”

There are loads of similar verses in the Bible. (The plight of that bloke in Numbers 15.32-36 is surely undeserved, for example.) But again, I think that violence and negative behaviour stems primarily from people’s bitterness and misguided attitudes, rather than being prompted by Holy Scripture.

In my opinion, we can afford some healthy breathing space from extreme scriptural fundamentalism. I believe that the Bible is the ‘map’, rather than the territory. Even though parts of the Bible might seem to portray an inaccurate map, its substantial body contains a wealth of wisdom, insight and meaningful literature, all of which formulate a stark revelation of the truth. Verses which describe God as a vengeful tyrant are inaccurate parts of the map, coloured by man, rather than by God.

The only one I'd have a problem with might be the last one. That would be cuz I believe the Prince of Peace is Jesus and not all the world religions view him as God.

Many non-Christians have found genuine inner peace and strength through their religious belief and practice, regardless of religion or culture. If you haven’t met any such people yet, then if you’re interested, books like ‘The Wings of Joy’ by Indian spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy, or ‘Living Buddha, Living Christ’ by Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh, will prove the point. Their words and views truly ooze wisdom, compassion and peace, and one would have to be misguided to claim that such people are in touch with false gods.

I'm sure all such religious folk have found the spiritual riches and goodness of Jesus, the Living Christ, only from a different perspective and cultural context, i.e. whether they recognise Him as Jesus or not. What are your views regarding the issue I described about being born into a loving Muslim household, which I mentioned in post #184? (There’s as much chance of converting a Muslim to Christianity as there is of converting a Christian to Islam, incidentally.)

Before Jesus went to the cross he said in the upper room to His own. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, not as the world gives, I give to you. His peace surpasses all understanding.

All our religions claim that true inner peace does not come from this world, (i.e. from material possessions, good looks, a romantic partner etc.), but that true inner peace and inner wealth is attained by getting in touch with the good Spiritual Source and Heavenly riches. I'm sure that all religionists whose hearts are in the right place are in touch with the same Heavenly Source as Christians. Even Buddhists, who claim that inner peace comes from within, are not out of sync with Christian teachings. Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God does not come visibly. No one will say 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!'; because the Kingdom of God is within you.” - Luke 17.21.

(Both principles are right, in my opinion. It doesn’t have to be just one principle or the other. Christianity teaches that God’s Spirit not only exists ‘up there and out there’, but is also the Ground of Being, and that the Kingdom of God is within us.)

I could go on....but I'm thinking you're buying into multiculturalism....and you should think more about this by studying first what it really means. Especially since you do believe in Jesus. The two religions have nothing in common but Abraham....one son went one way and the other went the other way. As Christians we follow Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You can't be on two roads at the same time unless you are standing in the fork of the road and sooner or later you have to choose a direction to go in.

I believe that Islam and Christianity, and all world religions for that matter, are streams which lead to the same Ocean. Christ is the Water which flows in the streams and in the Ocean, (speaking metaphorically, of course.) The “straight and narrow path”, to which Jesus referred, is straight and narrow in relation to the world’s wide and winding paths, most of which offer peace, prosperity and increased self-esteem, but which really lead to disillusionment, spiritual bankruptcy, and disappointment. These paths of the world, and the “idols” which can be found there, are the real “false gods” to which our religions refer.

I believe that the one true road is the Living Christ – the One God - the truth, the way and the life. I'm sure God love His children, regardless of which culture or religious backdrop they're born into.

Many Christians have behaved in the same way throughout the centuries, though. Consider the Christian Crusades, for example, or the Spanish Inquisition, where thousands of people died at the hands of Christians

When religions gain power, the tendency for corruption becomes too great.  That is the problem with Islam today, and Christianity 500-1000 years ago