On being asked what he thought of Jesus Christ, Gandhi replied: "I like your Christ. It is the Christians I don't like. They are so unlike their Christ".
Gandhi often used Christ's teachings in his own, and his above mentioned attitude came from his personal experiences in apartheid era South Africa where he was refused entrance to a church due to his ethnicity.
Religious hypocrisy is everywhere and in every religious teaching - from Christianity and Islam to Judaism and Buddhism. It is not the teaching itself that is corrupt; but the way the adopter of this teaching bends the truth in order to gain money and power from the fearful obedience of the masses to this rendered teaching. It is usually realized when looking at the original teaching of the great prophets, the Christ and the Buddha, how these modern dogmas differ from those original teachings. All 'divine' teachers gave the message of love and peace, not money making schemes and war mongering. Yet, the most influential religions of today - Christianity, Islam and Judaism - cause the most heartache and destruction in the world with an escalating war in the Middle East. Those attached to the Christian dogma, thus the Western countries, cause planetary destruction with their capitalist monster - destroying natural resources (especially in Third World countries) in order to make more money. On a more personal level: there are so many different branches of evangelical churches, always wanting more and more money from their obedient sheep. But it must be remembered how these 'churches' have a lot of tax benefits, thus rendering them incredible businesses. It makes me sad to see so many hopeful souls being abused for money. This happens in the so called 'New Age' movements as well, and it sickens me to see how the possible new and non-segregated belief systems are abused by a cunning few into promising hopefuls the power to manifest their desires by thought, especially that of money (but of course, you first have to put some money into their pockets).
Thus, the hypocrites - of any religion or spiritual group - are those who deviate from the original teachings of the Masters. They are those who shout the loudest, make the most promises (and money) and conceal their agendas of hate and destruction with the mask of God, Allah, Brahman and the new spiritual teachings.
The truth and 'salvation' lies not in others; it lies within.
Gandhi often used Christ's teachings in his own, and his above mentioned attitude came from his personal experiences in apartheid era South Africa where he was refused entrance to a church due to his ethnicity.
Religious hypocrisy is everywhere and in every religious teaching - from Christianity and Islam to Judaism and Buddhism. It is not the teaching itself that is corrupt; but the way the adopter of this teaching bends the truth in order to gain money and power from the fearful obedience of the masses to this rendered teaching. It is usually realized when looking at the original teaching of the great prophets, the Christ and the Buddha, how these modern dogmas differ from those original teachings. All 'divine' teachers gave the message of love and peace, not money making schemes and war mongering. Yet, the most influential religions of today - Christianity, Islam and Judaism - cause the most heartache and destruction in the world with an escalating war in the Middle East. Those attached to the Christian dogma, thus the Western countries, cause planetary destruction with their capitalist monster - destroying natural resources (especially in Third World countries) in order to make more money. On a more personal level: there are so many different branches of evangelical churches, always wanting more and more money from their obedient sheep. But it must be remembered how these 'churches' have a lot of tax benefits, thus rendering them incredible businesses. It makes me sad to see so many hopeful souls being abused for money. This happens in the so called 'New Age' movements as well, and it sickens me to see how the possible new and non-segregated belief systems are abused by a cunning few into promising hopefuls the power to manifest their desires by thought, especially that of money (but of course, you first have to put some money into their pockets).
Thus, the hypocrites - of any religion or spiritual group - are those who deviate from the original teachings of the Masters. They are those who shout the loudest, make the most promises (and money) and conceal their agendas of hate and destruction with the mask of God, Allah, Brahman and the new spiritual teachings.
The truth and 'salvation' lies not in others; it lies within.
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