Approximately two thousand years ago, in certain parts of the world, the life and teachings of Jesus Christ marked the beginning of a new era of humankind’s religious quest for its origin, sense and purpose ("religion", from the Latin for "reconnection", is here understood as a reconnection with God – that is, with the source of all that exists).
In today’s world, people of different cultures and religions are coming together and conducting an interreligious dialogue. In the course of this dialogue, the first thing that stands out are the similarities, particularly in the area of ethical behaviour, and a common language needs to be found for discussing these similarities. Furthermore, it is necessary to determine how the diverse experiences of these people relate to each other. After all, we can learn from one another. And it does not have to be linked with the objective of convincing others to follow one’s own path. In any case, our project does not proselytise – that is, it does not attempt to win members for a particular church or religious community. Real religion is not simply a rational belief that something is true; it is a conviction resulting from an inner development and cannot be imposed by external influences.
The search for God or for a
higher reality that underlies all life is something inherent in all humankind.
This search has, to the extent possible, yielded certain ideas
and findings ...
... in external nature and its relationship to mankind (shamanism, natural
religions);
... in the cosmos, or in a "heaven" overlying the visible world, with
experiences ranging from a heavenly deity with subordinate beings, to the God of
the religions that trace back to Abraham (namely, Judaism – which
served as the foundation for the ideas presented by Jesus Christ which have
significance independently of Jewish teachings – and Islam);
... in each human being as the image of God, in which God can take form in an
individual way (e.g. in profound convictions and mysticism within
Christianity and other religions; a unification with this human core of
divine origin is also sought in certain Indian yoga paths, for
instance, albeit in a different and less individual way);
... in the pursuit of a return to the source, in which a person gradually comes
to the point of no longer identifying with any earthly ... characteristic (Buddhism).
(In an atheistic and materialistic worldview, a person’s considerations of
life first seem restricted to physical conditions; but then the latest findings
in the natural sciences and marginal sciences – if viewed
without bias – unexpectedly manage to transcend such previously accepted
limitations. And finally, agnosticism leaves the question open as to whether or
not there is anything like a god.)
In all of the various lines
of Christianity, the specific focus is on Jesus Christ himself as the way to
God.
Despite his extraordinary gifts, Jesus had to go through the phases of physical
and intellectual growth as a man, before beginning his ministry of teaching and
healing around the age of 30. Based on the extensive biblical accounts, this
work led him through many events that were significant for himself and for
others.
Since people lacked a
profound experience in their faith, even in the Christian context, they often
did not fully understand what Jesus meant when he said things such as, "I
am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die,
will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die." (John
11:25-26). Here, Jesus is not speaking from the perspective of his human
understanding, but out of his close connection to God, which he is urging people
to imitate.
This path is not about imitating external details of events that took place at
that time – such as being nailed to a cross. Rather, it is about the inner
substance – what can be learned from all such steps that Jesus took in his
life, in order for people to ultimately "master" their life on earth
and to find redemption. This website aims to examine that inner substance. And
for those who are seeking, Jesus offers divine help along their path:
"... whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to
you.(John 15:16)
.
There is more historical documentation of Jesus’ existence than what modern literature sometimes claims. Even historical writers from the first century AD, such as Josephus and Tacitus, confirm his actual existence. ... Thus, the biblical account is not to be considered a collection of mythological tales. Indeed, the "effectiveness" subjectively felt by many who follow such a path is indicative of a powerful reality behind it.
Over the centuries, the
Christian churches have developed diverse theological declarations, service
formats and ministries to people. But everything must also be measured by the
extent to which it helps people and their societies to become more complete,
more "perfect", than they are (Matthew 5:48: "You are to
be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect").
It is also possible for individuals to find their way to God without the
intermediary of a church. Abraham, the patriarch mentioned in both the Bible and
the Koran, managed to find a path to God, to the extent that it was possible at
the time – before the existence of Jews, Christians or Muslims. Because of the
events that have transpired since then, individuals who are seeking God today
have more possibilities for an inner leading than they did at that time
Reference to a complete version for print, and to the Copyright, Project Ways of Christ™