想问佛教和基督教的朋友一些问题，多谢帮助！

[米奇老鼠]

I have a Christian friend who asked me "If you don't believe in God (atheists and Buddhists), you do what you think is right subjectively,for example, you think killing is bad, then, why do you believe that killing is bad? What makes you think something is right or wrong and how do you know that your judgment is the correct answer?

And if you go by your own subjectiveness, then, later, a person could think differently and now say that killing is right. And since he only goes by his judgment, no one can argue to him that killing is wrong.

And even if you do, what motivation do you have to not do wrong if there's no God watching you? Is it to avoid bad karma?"

Anyone have thoughts on this?

 

[focus on today]

http://www.livingwater4u.com/reader/b_youziyin/youziyin2_2.htm

《圣经》不止一次入木三分地鞭笞人的罪性和罪行，严厉地指出，“世人都犯了罪，亏 缺了神的荣耀。”（罗三23）《圣经》在描写以色列人的祖先时，对他们的过失、污点直言不讳，毫不掩饰，与一般的传记、历史文学形成鲜明的对比。《圣经》 指出，即使象被誉为“信心之父”的以色列人祖先亚伯拉罕、被称为“合神心意的人”的以色列国王大卫等伟大的先贤人物，都不过是亟待神的救恩的罪人。对人的 这样鞭策入里的描绘，实非人手所为。美国德州达拉斯神学院创始人查非（Lewis Chafer）精辟地说过，“《圣经》不是人想写便写得出来的，也不是人愿意写便能写得成的。” 神爱世人，为在罪中痛苦挣扎的世人预备了救 恩。而《圣经》的救恩观是非常独特的。世界一切别的宗教都劝人行善、赚取功德，靠人的好行为讨神喜悦以便得救。《圣经》却指出，活在罪中、被罪所捆绑的世 人是无力始终行善、无法达到神的道德标准的。因此，神差派他的独生子耶稣降世为人，作人的替罪羊，用他在十字架流出的血遮盖世人的罪，使一切相信他的不再 被定罪，成为神家的儿女，进入永生。所以，《圣经》的救恩观是“因信得救”。“你若口里认耶稣为主，心里信神叫他从死里复活，就必得救；因为人心里相信， 就可以称义；口里承认，就可以得救。”（罗十9-10）
这种救恩观丝毫不迎合人的普遍存有的“行善积 德”的心态，与一切别的宗教划出明确的界限。“你们得救是本乎恩，也因着信，这并不是出于自己，乃是神所赐的；也不是出于行为，免得有人自夸。”（弗二 8-9）《圣经》中神的这种救恩并不是神话或空话，而是真实可靠的，因为它是植根于耶稣基督从死里复活的历史事实之中的。

《游子吟》>>>第二章 《圣经》是神默示的>>>本节​

 

[focus on today]

http://www.livingwater4u.com/reader/b_youziyin/youziyin1_3.htm

三、人类的道德律和崇拜神的自然倾向​

人类崇拜神的自然倾向
有人称人类是宗教性的受造物。《圣经》说，人是按神的形象造的。 神造人时，把他的生命之气吹入人的鼻孔里，使人成为“有灵的活人”。我们常说“人类是万物之灵”大概就是这个意思。虽然人类始祖对神的叛逆使人类与神的交 通受阻，但人心中的灵使人类不能从物质世界得到真正的满足，要去寻找那位超自然的遗物主，并具有与神交通的能力。无论过去还是现在，从最原始的部落到最发 达的国家，凡有人的地方，就有对神的敬拜。按照我前面的认识论的观点，不少学者曾推断，人类最初是多神崇拜，逐渐演化为现在的一神崇拜。可是，近年的研究 结果与此推论恰恰相反：人类最初是单一神崇拜，然后才产生多神敬崇。这个发现与《圣经》的记述相符，很有启迪意义。
且不论别的国家，我们中国从远古开始就敬拜单一真神。我国常称神为天（“－”加“大”），我想意即一位至高至大者。《书经》和《诗经》对“天”都有详尽说明。《书经》曰：“惟神不常，作善降之百祥，作不善降之百殃。”
儒家创始人孔子也是虔诚敬神的。据记载，孔子的父亲叔梁纥为朱国 的大夫，娶颜氏小女征在为妻，久未生子，夫妻遂往尼丘山（现山东省曲阜县东南）求告真神，因而怀孕生孔子。为念神恩，为孔子取名曰丘，字仲尼。孔子虽说 过，“敬鬼神而远之”，这并不表明他不信神。他是诚实忠于知识的人，“知之为知之，不知为不知，是知也。”他觉得自己无力洞察上天之事，于是不求天道退而 求人伦道德。但在日常生活中他很虔诚。如，“子疾病，子路请祷。子曰，丘之祷久矣。”当人告诉他说桓魋要谋杀他时，孔子说，“天生德于予，桓魋其如予 何！”颜渊死时，孔子则说，“天丧予。”孔子认为人的命运是掌握在神手中的。“生死有命，富贵在天”，“知我者，其天乎”，“朝闻道，夕死可矣”，他一生 都顺天安命。
人类良心、道德律的一致
由于社会制度、文化背景的差异和两国人民的长期隔离，赴美前我曾 担心能否与美国人相处好。到美国后我立即发现自己的担心是多余的。我与美国老帅、同学、朋友，邻居相当融洽。他们的热情、率直和真诚给我留厂深刻印象。出 人意料的是，美国人的道德观念与我们的十分相似，都崇尚勇敢、勤奋、谦逊、诚实、乐于助人等美德。地理和制度的隔绝为什么产生如此的相近的道德标准呢？我 找不到答案，而归之于人的“本性”。
我们常提到“良心”，也确实感到良心的存在。可“良心”又是什么呢？人们生气时会质问：“良心卖多少钱一斤？！”使人无言以对。后来，我在《圣经》找到了 答案。神悦：“我要将我的律法放在他们里面，写在他们心上。”（耶卅一33）“律法的功用刻在他们心里，他们是非之心同作见证，并且他们的思念互相较量， 或以为是，或以为非。”（罗二15）神放在人心中的律法，使人能明善恶，成为人类共同道德标准和良心基础。
有人会问，在那些杀人成性、无恶不作的强盗、惯犯身上，如何体现这种道德共性呢？我的看法是，第一，这种人或迟或早、或多或少也会受到自己良心的遣责。第 二，看一个人的道德标准，不仅要看他如何欣赏发生在别人身上的事，更要看同样的事情发生在他自己身上时他的反应。如果这些强盗、惯犯自己或亲友被杀、被 辱、被抢时，他们的切齿痛恨、怒不可遏才是他们内心深处的道德律的真实反映。
唐崇荣牧师在《智慧的人生》中讲到一个事例。一对住在澳大利亚墨尔本的年轻夫妇，一次口角后，丈夫一气之下把妻子杀死，并碎尸灭迹，远逃到西海岸，下决心 重新开始，并与当地一漂亮女子结了婚。数年后，事业有成，妻贤子孝，被推崇为模范家庭。不想一天男方突然失踪，妻子十分焦虑。后来女方被叫到警察局，告之 她的丈夫在那里，她大为惊讶。见到丈夫后，男人告诉妻子关于杀前妻的事，并说他主动自首：“二十五年来，我天天受到良心严厉的遣责。如果我被处死，也心甘 情愿：如果我不自首，我的神经会完全崩溃的。”
德国思想家康德说过：“有两件事使我愈来愈感到害怕：第一是闪着星光的天空，第二是在我心里说话的良心。”神正是借着他创造的大自然，他安放在人心里的灵启示着人们。

《游子吟》>>>第一章 神存在的真实性>>>本节​

 

[Consciousness]

I have a Christian friend who asked me "If you don't believe in God (atheists and Buddhists), you do what you think is right subjectively,for example, you think killing is bad, then, why do you believe that killing is bad? What makes you think something is right or wrong and how do you know that your judgment is the correct answer?

And if you go by your own subjectiveness, then, later, a person could think differently and now say that killing is right. And since he only goes by his judgment, no one can argue to him that killing is wrong.

And even if you do, what motivation do you have to not do wrong if there's no God watching you? Is it to avoid bad karma?"

Anyone have thoughts on this?

1.you think killing is bad, then, why do you believe that killing is bad? -
-Because being killed hurt and nobody wants to die! There's something called "common sense".

2.if you go by your own subjectiveness, then, later, a person could think differently and now say that killing is right. And since he only goes by his judgment, no one can argue to him that killing is wrong.
-I think this question is completely irrelevant. If a second person says killing is right. He can't change the mind of the person who think killing is bad.

人人都执着一个”我“,执着我见,除了成就者。

金刚经一句佷精辟的话, 以无我无人无众生无寿者行一切善法就可以得到解脱。(paraphased).
还有一句：法尚应舍，何况非法。
比喻乘船过岸了，如果还拉着船是上不了岸的。

说到动力，天生的行为就是以往遗留下来的习惯，后天的改变就是因缘成熟。
动力其实就是为了离苦吧。体会过苦的人才会想到离苦。以苦当乐的人怎么会想到离苦呢？

如果只为自己离苦，这就是所谓的”自了汉".
再上一个高度，就是为了让其他众生也离苦。
Is it to avoid bad karma
ANS:YES。

 

[米奇老鼠]

Thank you focus on today and Consciousness

 

[joe_xj]

这个问题很有意思.

我相信远古的时候也会有人思考到如此的问题, 而那时的思想及社会科学是不能提供给满意的答案的. 宗教也许就在那些情况下产生了.

现代的很多人我觉得获得诸如此类的基本"常识"是来源于教育的结果, 各种渠道. 更深一步的HOW OR WHY也应当有很专业的研究成果的, 哲学方面, 社会学方面...

人类要进步, 社会要进步, 我假定都是一种向"善"的驱动力在起作用. 人之初, 性是否本"善"也许还有人在深究; 但其他众多领域肯定一直都已经在为"善"服务很久了

I have a Christian friend who asked me "If you don't believe in God (atheists and Buddhists), you do what you think is right subjectively,for example, you think killing is bad, then, why do you believe that killing is bad? What makes you think something is right or wrong and how do you know that your judgment is the correct answer?

And if you go by your own subjectiveness, then, later, a person could think differently and now say that killing is right. And since he only goes by his judgment, no one can argue to him that killing is wrong.

And even if you do, what motivation do you have to not do wrong if there's no God watching you? Is it to avoid bad karma?"

Anyone have thoughts on this?

 

[米奇老鼠]

Want to ask:

Which one are most Chinese Christians in the major 4 branches: Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican?

And why? Is it because it's easier to integrate because one is closer to our culture than the others? I think most Chinese Christians are Evangelists under the Protestant branch...Why? Not that many are Catholics...

Welcome any Chinese friends here who are Christian or who know people who are Christians to post... What makes you choose one branch over another and why are Chinese people mostly Protestants? And do other branches disagree with some Chinese cultural/traditional values?

 

[米奇老鼠]

To my understanding...

Catholicism and Orthodoxy are the 2 most similar branches, with only certain traditions/dates that differ.

Catholic/Orthodox:
-believe in Saints and pray to saints
-believe in Purgatory (place after death to cleanse the soul before entering heaven, kind of like a temporary hell)
-most traditional branch