Today is Good Friday and I got the opportunity to altar serve today. A few thoughts that occurred to me during the service inspired me to write this post. First of all, Good Friday draws the largest crowd of the year. How true it is when Jesus said, when I am lifted up I will draw all men to myself ! Secondly, my own experience serving at the altar made me realize how rich in meaning and central to our faith is the interplay of one’s one will and the will of God. ...

Truth: Simple, yet so difficult at times. As a believer in God, I have a simple picture about truth. And that is, the Truth. But, I realize that it’s not the case with all, especially, those who don’t necessarily believe in God. In that point of view, truth is not absolute and hence more complex and nuanced. Given this backdrop of differing opinions about truth, one philosophy that emerges is that of personal faith; where we agree to disagree. ...

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Hi, I am Jobin and this my home on the web.

Historicity of Resurrection

Gandhi greatly admired Jesus and many teachings of Christianity, but did not accept the exclusive claims of Christianity or the divinity of Christ in the traditional Christian sense[1][2][3]. He is well known for the remark: “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ,” expressing his disappointment at the contrast between Jesus’ teachings and the conduct of many Christians he observed[4][5][6][7]. Gandhi’s View of God and Religion Gandhi gave primacy to Truth as the highest principle: “I reject any religious doctrine that does not appeal to reason and is in conflict with morality”[2][1]. He described his position as “equal respect for all religions” (sarvadharma samabhav) and considered all religions as valid paths to the Divine[2][1]. Gandhi often said: “For me, different religions are beautiful flowers from the same garden or branches of the same majestic tree”[2][1]. On the nature of God, Gandhi wrote, “God is Life, Truth, Light. He is Love. He is the Supreme Good. There is no evil in Him”[8]. Gandhi’s Relationship to Christianity and Jesus Gandhi stated: “What does Jesus mean to me? To me, he was one of the greatest teachers humanity has ever had. Jesus was the most active resister known perhaps to history. His was non-violence par excellence”[2][1][9]. He deeply respected the Sermon on the Mount: “The New Testament gave me comfort and boundless joy… if I had a copy of the Sermon on the Mount, I should derive the same joy from it as I do from the Gita”[2]. Gandhi was inspired by the life and sacrifice of Jesus: “Jesus, a man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act”[1]. Limits to Gandhi’s Acceptance Gandhi’s respect for Christ did not mean he became a Christian or accepted Jesus as the exclusive Son of God or as the only path to salvation[2][1][9]. He wrote that he was “a Christian and a Hindu and a Moslem and a Jew,” insisting on a universal, inclusive approach to religion and God[1]. Gandhi was troubled by what he saw as the intolerance, materialism, and hypocrisy among some Christians and missionaries, which contributed to his reluctance to formally convert[2][5][10]. In summary, Gandhi honored Jesus as a great teacher and found profound wisdom in his teachings, especially regarding love and nonviolence. However, Gandhi did not believe in the Christian God in an exclusive or dogmatic sense. Instead, he believed all religions reveal aspects of the same ultimate Truth, and he firmly opposed religious exclusion or superiority[2][1][8]. ...

Gandhi’s life philosophy centers on truth, nonviolence, simplicity, self-discipline, compassion, and inner transformation, all expressed consistently in his own words and actions[6][5][1]. Truth and Nonviolence Truth (“Satya”) was the bedrock of Gandhi’s thinking, summarized by his statement “Truth is God.” He believed in unwavering honesty and seeking truth in all aspects of life[6][13][8]. Nonviolence (“Ahimsa”) was Gandhi’s core principle: “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.” He insisted on resolving conflict peacefully and opposed violence in every form[6][1][10][12]. Simplicity and Self-Discipline Gandhi advocated “simple living, high thinking,” emphasizing that true happiness and progress come from mastering oneself and reducing material desires: “Live simply so others may simply live”[5][6][10]. Self-discipline and self-control were essential: “Discipline and self-control are the keys to effective living”[5]. Inner Transformation and Change Gandhi’s famous advice, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world,” expresses his belief that personal transformation precedes societal change[1][11]. He prioritized personal responsibility and self-mastery: “To lead others, first learn to lead yourself”[5]. Compassion, Forgiveness, and Love Compassion and forgiveness were hallmarks: “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong”[1][10]. Love and empathy: “Where there is love there is life”; “Action expresses priorities”; “Service without humility is selfishness and egotism”[2][7]. Humility, Service, and Contentment Gandhi promoted humility and service to others: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”[3]. Material possessions were not his measure of success: “Material possessions do not equate to success”; “There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed”[5][7]. Faith, Courage, and Persistence He stressed the importance of faith, courage, and perseverance: “Faith is not something to grasp, it is a state to grow into”; “Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment, full effort is full victory”[7]. Gandhi believed persistence and hope could overcome despair: “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won”[1]. Spirituality and Prayer Prayer and self-reflection guided his actions: “Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one’s weakness”[1][2]. He valued inner purity and spiritual growth alongside worldly action[2][6]. Gandhi summed up his outlook with the statement: “My life is my message,” indicating that his philosophy was embodied not just in his words, but most of all, in his lived example[8]. ...

St. Thomas Aquinas considers union with God the ultimate end because God is the highest good and the only source of perfect fulfillment and happiness (beatitude) for human beings—everything else is secondary and finite[4][8]. Philosophical Argument Aquinas argues that all human actions aim toward some good, but there must be a last end—a good sought for its own sake and not as a means to something else; otherwise, human life would lack any ultimate purpose[4][8]. True perfection or happiness can only be found in something perfect, limitless, and completely fulfilling—which for Aquinas is God, since only God possesses infinite goodness and the power to fully satisfy human longing and intellect[4][5][8]. Aquinas uses reason to show that created goods cannot be the final end: they are limited and cannot provide lasting fulfillment. Therefore, only knowledge and love of God—“the beatific vision”—is our final end and true happiness[4][5][8]. Theological Argument Aquinas teaches that the soul is designed to know and love its creator and that ultimate happiness is achieved in supernatural union with God (beatific vision): “Man’s last end, happiness, can consist in nothing else than the vision of the Divine”[7][8]. He insists that union with God is not just the ultimate end for humans but for all creation. God is both the first cause and the final goal of every being[2][5]. In this view, every lesser good is only a step toward that final and all-sufficient good—communion with God Himself[2][4][5]. Thus, for Aquinas, union with God is the ultimate end because God alone perfectly fulfills all human desires for truth, goodness, and happiness, and all things are ordered to God as their final purpose[4][8][5][7]. ...