John Smulo who blogs at 'smulo space' http://johnsmulo.typepad.com/ has just published a two part interview with me. John was someone I met at a recent gathering in Hong Kong, a group of us under the auspices of the Lausanne committee for World Evangelization looking at new spiritualities. A fascinating group of people from Australia, the US, UK and Denmark, but also meeting with those connecting with the Taoist and Buddhist faiths in the east. We have a lot to learn from each other! Check out john's blog, there's some good stuff!
we met at Tao Fong Shan (above) a Christian monastery built on the lines of a Buddhist one, using Feng Shui! Worship in 'the Christ temple' was in Chinese style fused with western tradition. The surroundings themselves asking us the kind of questions we grappled with. Can a Christian use feng shui, or for that matter Tarot. To communicate the Christina message? Is this potentially to compromise ones faith, or at the other end is it a con trick on those who follow such practices? alternatively can we see the spirit of God at work in 'unlikely places'?
personally i think God speaks through many things and Christian have no monopoly on this! for me this doesn't compromise my belief that Jesus Christ has a place in the spiritul search of all people, but i hope it should keep us a bit more humble and open than we sometimes can be. i'll post some more on this but for know what do you think?
5 comments:
Hello Steve,
It is surprising who you meet in the Blog world!
Come on over to my place(s)
www.blogsprogress.blogspot.com
www.scogs-tale.blogspot.com
Shane and the kiddies are doing fine!
Sharon
Quoting your post:
"personally i think God speaks through many things and Christian have no monopoly on this! for me this doesn't compromise my belief that Jesus Christ has a place in the spiritul search of all people, but i hope it should keep us a bit more humble and open than we sometimes can be. "
I couldn't have put it better- we must make efforts to hear and to form constructive dialogue with people following different spiritual paths, whilst not compromising faith & belief in Jeus Christ... this involves living with a creative tension and a willingness to inhabit the "gaps", been thinking a lot about this recently... btw good interview with John
Steve
Sounds like some exciting outcomes came out of Hong Kong from what Philip Johnson tells me, despite the rocky start. Good to have you over there Steve.
Matt Stone
eclectic itchings
Hi Steve, just popped over from your comment on scog's blog, (I'd recognise your spelling anywhere...)
We're at www.onceinablueblog.blogspot.com if you are ever looking for some light relief;)
Lovely to 'make contact', love to you both xx
I have found that in all things my understanding and love of God grows. Confidence in my faith is deepened in all things.
I am glad that we can be sure that nothing separates us from the love that God has for us. Whether on a hill top practising a buddhist or Hindu tradition or meditation (I am careful though I have to admit)
I read a quote today from buddhistmahavihara.com
'consulting mediums is not a Buddhist practice, it is a traditional belief bringing psychological relief.'
Ven Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda
I thought it an amusing relief
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