Don't Blaspheme!!!

[Slytovhand]

It is seen as a religion, but most people don't make the connection. Wiccan =/= magical hag, in other words.

Really?? hmmm.. dunno - either way.

You should have elaborated further and the Xians should have shut up and let you. In my experience, it usually takes half an hour before an innocent, well-intentioned slight can be resolved. One person starts out saying what they meant, the other says what they heard, the first person clarifies, the second person says why s/he found this hurtful, the first person reassures the second that s/he would never want to be hurtful, and then they dance around for another ten minutes reassuring each other that they're still friends. Or maybe that's just my friends. But it works, I assure you.

Yeah - we danced I sort of gave up, cos it appeared they didn't want to listen. Funny thing was, there was another almost fundy christian working with us ('fundy' in the sense of very very religious, rather than just a believer), and she and I could have some really good serious debates, and questionings. That sort of connection she would see where I was coming from (although, as you said below) not quite the same.. but that was fair. I was only looking at significances - not equating.

(Excepting Mohammad in Islamic traditions, AFAIK).

Please explain......

[Slytovhand]

That could be, too.

I tend to be very open and accepting of other people, so I guess I just draw in other people who share the same attitudes.

And, I do try not to hurt the feelings of others. If a person brings something to my attention in a non-confrontational manner, I certainly try to avoid causing them distress. Usually, we can come to a compromise.

If some fanatic gets all in my face with the "I'm so persecuted" "you can't do this because of ____" line, I roll my eyes at them.

I like to understand as much as I can about other people, but I would expect that same courtesy from the other side of the fence.

It's like I said about people being overly sensitive, which Sylvia elaborated upon (and that is what I was intending to say...)

We need to communicate and understand each other, rather than getting up in arms right away. (and, IMO, a lot of what people get up in arms about- religiously speaking- is stupid shit).

Well - true... but 'stupid shit' is relative. It's all that 'stupid shit' that has caused and continued wars... but that's just humans for you...if they learnt to obey me in the first place, all that crap wouldn't have happened

[Sylvia727]

I sort of gave up, cos it appeared they didn't want to listen.

Now that's just sad. How are we supposed to acheive interreligious harmony if people won't listen? I've been listening to the viewpoints of everyone on here, even if I disagree, trying to understand where they're coming from and what they mean. People that won't listen to other religious viewpoints reek of intolerance, even if they're only being disrespectful.

Please explain......

As Far As I Know, and I Am Not A Muslim:

The first pillar of Islam is that there is no god but Allah, and Mohammad is the last and greatest prophet. So equating Mohammad with Elisha or Moses wouldn't fly. Even equating Mohammad with Jesus wouldn't fly, because to the Muslims Mohammad is a greater prophet, and to the Christians Jesus is on a whole 'nother level, as an incarnation of God himself outanks a mere prophet.

[Slytovhand]

As Far As I Know, and I Am Not A Muslim:

The first pillar of Islam is that there is no god but Allah, and Mohammad is the last and greatest prophet. So equating Mohammad with Elisha or Moses wouldn't fly. Even equating Mohammad with Jesus wouldn't fly, because to the Muslims Mohammad is a greater prophet, and to the Christians Jesus is on a whole 'nother level, as an incarnation of God himself outanks a mere prophet.

oh - okies...

But... what if I was merely trying to get someone (such as a Xtian) to understand just how important someone was to another's religion...such as saying that Mohammad is to Islam as Jesus is to Christianity? No - certainly not trying to [I]equate/I] the two... but if a Xtian didn't understand just why Mohammad is so damn important to them?? I usually try to put things into the perspective of the person I'm talking to.. to give them some reality on the subject... and hopefully more appreciation.

If it was the other way (talking to a Buddhist), would there be a real issue saying that the Xtian's JC is to them as Buddha is to you (given the obvious religious significances and differences)?

[Boozy]

I know you want some easy analogies, but there aren't any. If you're speaking to a Christian and want them to understand Islam, you just need to teach them about Islam. Its apples and oranges. Mohammad is to Islam as...Mohammad is to Islam.

FYI, there are many buddhas in Buddhism. The Buddha the west is familiar with (Siddhartha Gautama) is not as important in Japan as Amitabha Buddha, another awakened one. Buddhism is also not a religion, it is a school of philosophy.

[Sylvia727]

I second what she said. There is nobody else just like Christ, Mohommad, Moses, a Buddha, or any other world religion leader. Even saying that they're equally significant is misleading, because they're significant in different ways. If you want to teach a Buddhist about the importance of Christ to Christians, you need to explain what his impact was, what his message was, and why he was so important. You can't just say, "Well, he was kinda like a Buddha." It's a completely different vibe.