02-25-2005, 05:54 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-Sunder+Feb 25 2005, 05:32 AM-->QUOTE(Sunder @ Feb 25 2005, 05:32 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin--> From what ? (I know xtians would say 'hellfire'). But we know that hellfire and heaven-mist are as mythical as rabbit's horns. This itself would warrant a debate - "Criticism on Christianity" - and it's evaluation according to Vedanta. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Hell fire and heavenly-mist are very real for Christians. I once saw a TV program where a South Korean Christian talked of his fear of hell after reading Biblical references about nashing of teeth in hell. Christians have every thing nicely sown up. They have to believe in Jesus and repent and Jesus will at once cancel all their sins and this is called new birth. Of course since the temptations are always there, the Christian may again commit sin but then again there is the option of repentance and being saved by Jesus. So it is a story of being born again and again.
It is this that gives Christianity its appeal. Repeated repentence and repeated saves by Jesus is the requirement. Of course, Jesus said, "Be ye perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect". The Christians view this saying as an impossible task. A Hindu convert to Christianity told me once that because it is impossible to be as perfect as God, it is absolutely necessary to believe in Jesus.
Hell fire and heavenly-mist are very real for Christians. I once saw a TV program where a South Korean Christian talked of his fear of hell after reading Biblical references about nashing of teeth in hell. Christians have every thing nicely sown up. They have to believe in Jesus and repent and Jesus will at once cancel all their sins and this is called new birth. Of course since the temptations are always there, the Christian may again commit sin but then again there is the option of repentance and being saved by Jesus. So it is a story of being born again and again.
It is this that gives Christianity its appeal. Repeated repentence and repeated saves by Jesus is the requirement. Of course, Jesus said, "Be ye perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect". The Christians view this saying as an impossible task. A Hindu convert to Christianity told me once that because it is impossible to be as perfect as God, it is absolutely necessary to believe in Jesus.