The 3 Wisemen, religious tolerance?

[Nikia]

Last Christmas season when my husband and I, who were rather high at the time, were walking the dog and looking at the Christmas lights. We saw 3 plastic wisemen figurines and I had to comment on them. Perhaps the Christian God is actually religiously tolerant. You have 3 gentiles who were astrologers who found Jesus using astrology. They were among the first people who worshipped Jesus. An angel also spoke to them. Despite this, they did not convert to Judiasm and we don't here about them coming back as Jesus's followers. I know there are a few other non believers in the Bible that received anglic messages or were vital to God's plan in a good way. In the New Testament, this is one of the first accounts given. Later on, we have Jesus approaching Samaratians and healing gentiles. Perhaps, God as portrayed in the Bible is more tolerant than Fundies would have you believe. Perhaps, God meets people where they are even if they get the details wrong.

[Gman]

1. The religious right has sucked up to Israel for only one reason

to prepare Israel for Christ's second coming. Then, once Christ comes again, they feel they are bound to kill any Jew that does not convert to Christianity. But they don't want to talk about that.

I wonder what Christ thinks about that?

[madrchsod]

5. if i had my bible

handy i sure i could find a passage where jesus addresses this idea. maybe when he confronted the elders in the temple...

[madrchsod]

2. "god as portrayed in the bible is

more tolerant...." you are correct in your statement.man uses god to punish others but it`s god`s job to do that,if you believe god punishs mankind...

[DuctapeFatwa]

3. Cool post! Thanks!

"We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another.."

Koran 49:13

[pippin]

4. you've probably heard this hypothesis: if the three wise men had been wise

women

They would have asked for directions,
arrived on time,
helped deliver the baby,
cleaned the stable,
made a casserole,
brought practical gifts, and
there would be Peace On Earth.


peace! ;-)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. The wise men were Zoroastrians

as well, and followed that faith. The same one which introduced the concept of the devil to the Jews during the Babylonian Captivity.

I agree with you that if you look at the words of Jesus (especially if translated directly from Aramaic and other early source books), you find him teaching a religion of tolerance and love. Too bad the religious right got hold of it-if Jesus came back today, they'd hound him from their churches.

[DuctapeFatwa]

7. You mischievous one! Now they will google Mithra and demand Prozac!

:party:

[pippin]

8. Naw! they'll want

A Mazda.
:silly:

footnote:
(Ahura Mazda the god of Zoroastrians known as Lord of WIsdom)

[beyurslf]

9. Tolerant?

If I have read my Bible correctly, those good non-Christian "wise men" were sent to Hell by God when they died. They reside there still today 2000 years later and will for all eternity.

Doesn't sound too "tolerant" to me.

[blondeatlast]

10. What Bible? What chapter? What verse?

We are obviously reading different versions . . .

[Kamika]

11. I doubt you could convert back then

You were either born one or not