Thanks
abek and
ex-I,
Sorry for the delay in responding but very busy with a new job and family at the moment. To answer your questions
ex-I:
1. I don't feel any need to square BK practice with my Christian "stance". This visit was a test for me and how I'd feel about going back into a BK environment but it doens't mean that I am going back to being a BK student - perhap just a friend of and occasional visitor to specific BK centres and/or people. As I've shared elsewhere, I have been and still am integrating the best elements of eastern and Western faith and philosophy which I've personally experienced. In fact, I've set myself the target of writing and publishing my own book on the subject
2. The reason that Christianity has been so successful numerically is, in my view, largely due to its inherent inclusivity. In the early days, this came from spreading the Jewish traditions and teachings to Gentiles or non-Jews, and this process has continued with sometimes greater and sometimes less success. In modern times, the term which is used to describe this is "the broad church".
3. So I think that the church has always done what you describe and it's an ongoing process. In particular, Anglicanism is a relatively open strand of Christianity and Franciscans, in particular, seem especially open. You may not be aware of this but the (Anglican) Society of St Francis (SSF) has some of its roots in a Christian ashram or community in India of the 1920's and 1930's called the Christa (Prema) Seva Sangha. The basic rule which we adopt as Tertiaries of the SSF is largely based on The Rule of the Christa Prema Seva Sangha 1934!
4. I wouldn't pretend that a lot of damage hasn't been done in the name of Christ and Christianity over the last two millennia, including e.g. the Crusades and witch hunting. However, as a Quality Manager I am afraid that I always use Spanish Inquisition to refer to the Monty Python version especially Cardinal Ximinez (Michael Palin): "NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise ... surprise and fear ... fear and surprise ... Our two weapons are fear and surprise ... and ruthless efficiency ... Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency ... and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope. ... Our *four*...no ... *Amongst* our weapons ... Amongst our weaponry ... are such elements as fear, surprise ... "
Lots of love and best wishes - JSK,