Amos 3:7

Can mysticism lead to God?  Author: by Richard Bennett (former Catholic priest)  Mysticism is an attempt to gain ultimate knowledge of God by a direct experience that bypasses the mind. The strong influence of Catholic mysticism has helped immensely to transform the New Age Movement from being merely a counter-culture sub-culture to becoming a new source of spiritual vision for the world. Catholic mysticism has very effectively and subtly invaded many facets of life without being recognized or critically examined. (continue reading…)

Last of 3 short articles by Contender Ministries on a short synopsis of Buddhism.  The Buddha was part 1 & The Dharma was part 2.  After the Buddha’s first sermon he continued to preach only to his followers, a group of wandering beggars, rather than to the masses.  These followers became the first monastic order.  This order of Buddhist believers is known as the Sangha.  In order to learn the Dharma and become part of the Sangha, people were required to become one of these beggar-monks. (continue reading…)

Dharma is an Indian term that is understood to mean simply the law of life.  Within Buddhism, the Dharma means more specifically the teachings of Buddha. Following Buddha’s death his followers convened to create a system of doctrines that they could all agree on.  These teachings were then handed down orally over future generations through Buddhist monks.  In 80 B.C., Buddhist scribes finally compiled the teachings of the Buddha on paper, which became the Pali Canon, also called the Tripitaka.  The teachings contained rules for conduct, methods for spiritual attainment, and the ethics taught by the Buddha. (continue reading…)

In the sixth century B.C., Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama.  A biography of Siddhartha Gautama was not written during his lifetime and the earliest accounts of life were not recorded until some three hundred years after his death.  Because there has been much debate by historians on where to draw the line between history and legend, the history probably contains much myth.  However, this is the history is accepted by most Buddhists and forms a model for all Buddhists to live by. (continue reading…)

Dr. Ron Carlson in a recent broadcast before he went home to be with the Lord on Lamb & Lion ministries with Dr. David Reagan on the distinctiveness of what seperates Christianity and makes it unique among so many world religions.  In a word, Love!  1 John 4:8 (continue reading…)

Another Look at Buddhism

Jesus and Buddha cannot both be right. The lotus is the symbol of Buddhism; the cross, the symbol of the Christian faith. Behind the two symbols stand two diametrically opposed beliefs. I ask you, the reader, to examine the message of each, using both your heart and your mind. It is worth the exercise because it will determine your destiny.  (excerpt from below) (continue reading…)

Buddha or Jesus?

So many Americans are in a numbed condition, without confidence, empty, despondent, and hopeless. Zen offers a frustrating dead-end, just like the lives that make no sense. Life is just one big koan! How different from Christianity! Christ gives hope! The Bible explains the paradoxes of life and mysteries that only God could know. Christians have a loving God!  (excerpt from below)

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