GeoFee
I am who I am becoming...
Agreement without reservation. One way of silencing others is to refuse to hear what they are saying because you do not understand it or you do not agree with it. Your dismissal of the Koran, and the people who make use of it to nurture their experience in this world, because it employs a metaphor to communicate insight supportive of well being in the world being an example. Surely you remember the time in which snake bites were a problem for the people of God? What was the remedy? Looking up to a snake. Such narratives present metaphors sufficient to the human heart's desire for healing of the division between themselves and God. Metaphor serving to communicate what cannot be expressed literally. The difference between fact and truth.
Have you noticed that we do have common ground? Do you take this as opportunity for the reconciliation of our different perspectives on the one truth, one way, and one life that is in us all. For some it remains hidden, as treasure in a field. For others, the treasure has been noticed and everything formally possessed sold to obtain that treasure. The parables of Jesus make present what cannot be expressed literally. To make God present as an object is to reduce God to an idol. The God I follow and serve is not objective but subjective. God does not dominate me. God invited me to a conversation in which I found opportunity to learn and grow in the way of truth expressed as love, in and through all of my relations. This includes my relations with Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and all other persons met along the way.
There is a faction of Christianity in play just know that reminds me of the story of Haman, Esther and Mordecai. Preachers insisting that I must bow down before their interpretation of scripture. If I refuse, they consign me to hell. Little realizing that my trust in God has cast out all fear of hell and opened the way to service in the hope of reconciling the differences which divide and exploit human being. The basic concept in play being me and mine are right, you and yours are wrong. This rooted in the temptation to partake of the knowledge of good and evil by which human being exited the all good creation of God to follow the way of power. Cain's murder of Abel being the first example, The history of human conflict telling the whole story.
Guests coming for lunch and I had better get started on frying up some crepes. Look forward to your response, trusting that your insights and convictions may help me learn how better to be who it is that I am in the sight of God.
George