Jesus Meets Muhammad (Appendix One)

Article Title: Jesus Meets Muhammad (Appendix One)

Key words (tags): Islam, Christianity, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Muhammed, faiths, unity of religions, spiritual growth, peace, pursuit of peace

Web sites: http://jesusmeetsmuhammad.wordpress.com/　and buildbridgesofunity.wordpress.com

The submitter’s blog (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) is at www.wordpress.com/ and http://craiglock.wordpress.com

Publishing Guidelines:

These writings (as with all my articles) may be freely published

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JESUS MEETS MUHAMMAD

APPENDIX ONE

These thoughts just came to the writer…

AFTERTHOUGHT

The “writer” of this manuscript is no “great” student of religion or involved in theology. He regards himself as a “free-thinking”* follower of the teachings of Jesus Christ, who does not attend “formal church”.

* ie. he doesn’t take everything written down in the Bible literally.

The thoughts written down just came into the writers spirit. Because we all interpret words (and the context in which they are written) differently, I expect intense debate on these writings and thank goodness everyone has a right to hold and cherish their own beliefs.

No doubt there will be many differences, shades of opinion on what the names of Jesus and Muhammad mean to you, the reader personally.

However, from the reactions from “religious zealots“, “fundamentalists” and “extremists” on both sides of the “religious divide”, sometimes I despair that any form of “bridge-head” between these two great religions can ever be found. Then built between Islam and Christianity (and the cultures they represent)…between east and west. Yet I live in hope and will carry on writing… in hope, in faith… in a Spirit of Truth and most of all in a spirit of LOVE. Because I sincerely believe that is my “calling”… striving in some small way to attempt to build bridges between people.

And though I may fail in my “little mission”, I will at least give it my “very best shot” and this short ‘manuscript’ is the seed of my “little endeavours”.

1-30 am Christmas Day in the year 2011

“There is neither east nor west, tribe nor ethnicity, male or female, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist. Christian nor Jew. There is only a God-filled humanity.”

“What we believe is not nearly as important as how we relate, interact with each other… and how we live. Only when we can say, ‘I am first and foremost a human being, and second a Jew, Muslim, Shi’ite, a Sunni, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu ,or a Sikh…’ will we progress and break down barriers between peoples, nations and cultures, both east and west. Let not our beliefs , but our shared humanity (ALL of us) define who we really are.”

With passion and purpose in our individual lives we can touch others and in so doing illuminate the hearts and minds of humanity to make a better worldrn(through helping raise the ‘collective consciousness’). Let us encourage our leaders towards an alte
ate vision for the world to embrace: one that banishes
the fanatical ideology of intolerance and hatred to the darkness from which it emerged. Each one of us in our own little ways can offer (and most importantly,
LIVE) this compelling new horizon: a bright future of justness and justice, tolerance, respect for other traditions and values. Especially a vision of hope and thoughts of peace fuelled by the ete
al flame of love, which can light the darkest night… always “

“Let each one of us build bridges rather than barriers, openness rather than walls. Let us look at distant horizons together in a spirit of acceptance, helpfulness, co-operation and peace. Let our leaders look at the future with a vision – to see things not as they are, but what they could one day become.”

“When people’s hearts are filled with love, the world is full of hope.”

Shared by “don’t quite know who is’ writing’ these words”

When you forgive (another person or country), you empty your mind of negative thoughts (perhaps even thoughts as strong as hate). Then the infinite Spirit of God makes a fresh space in our hearts to allow new positive feelings to take their place.. to pour into our hearts. The ‘freed’ person then moves forward with a new spirit…which takes root in people’s minds, hearts, spirits and even in the deepest recesses of their souls.”

“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it’s an on-going state of mind. A long and arduous jou
ey that starts with a single large step – in spite of immense pain, the decision to forgive, a commitment to the ideal… and one that gives freedom… to the forgiven, yet also to the forgiver.”

What we believe is not nearly as important as how we relate, interact with each other… and how we live. Only when we can say, ‘I am first and foremost a human being, and second a Jew, Muslim, Shi’ite, a Sunni, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu ,or a Sikh…’ will we progress and break down barriers between peoples, nations and cultures, both east and west. Let not our beliefs , but our shared humanity (ALL of us) define who we really are. “

Together, one mind, one heart, one life at a time, let’s plant the seeds, the hope of a better and brighter future.

These writings may be freely published

PPS

From the depth of the valleys, in the deserts of despair, there is hope… as there is the unquenchable oasis, the immense breadth and depth of the human spirit… always.”

“Lord

Give us forgiveness for the past, strength for today and hope for the future.”