..续本文上一页 of the Christian Concept of God” has mentioned, ”I see that though the notion of God contains sublime moral strands, it also has certain implications that are extremely dangerous to the humans as well as to the other beings on this planet.

　　G.达玛斯利在他的着作《佛教与基督教的比较》中说道：「通过『神』的概念，我发现了崇高的道德规范，但是，它也潜在着影响整个世界和一切众生的危险性。」

　　”One major threat to humanity is the blindfold called ”authority” imposed on the humans by the concept of God. All theistic religions consider authority as ultimate and sacred. It was this danger that the Buddha was pointing at in the Kalama Sutta. At the moment, human inpiduality and freedom are seriously threatened by various forms of authorities. Various ”authorities” have been trying to make ”you” a follower. On top of all our ”traditional” authorities, a new form of authority has emerged in the name of ”science”. And lately, the mushrooming new religions and the menace of the Gurus(as typified by Jim Jones), have become live threats to the inpidual”s human freedom and dignity. The Buddha”s eternal plea is for you to become a Buddha, and He showed, in a clearly rational way, that each and every one of us has the perfect potentiality and capacity to attain that ideal.”

　　「对人类最大的威胁，就是以神权来控制人类。所有的一神论宗教，都认为神是最权威和最崇高的。佛陀在《KalamaSutta》经典里指出了这种危险性。人类的个性和自由受到这些权威的威胁，这些权威令你追随它。在这种传统的权威，又建立了一种新的权威，那就是科学。新的宗教不断的产生，已经严重的威胁到人类的自由与自尊。佛陀指示大家以圆成佛道为人生的目标，他清楚的说明，每一个人都有潜在的能力去达到这个理想。」

　　God-religions offer no salvation without God. Thus a man might conceivably have climbed to the highest pinnacle of virtue, and he might have led a righteous way of life, and he might even have climbed to the highest level of holiness, yet he is to be condemned to eternal hell just because he did not believe in the existence of God. On the other hand, a man might have sinned deeply and yet, having made a late repentance, he can be forgiven and therefore ”saved”. From the Buddhist point of view, there is no justification in this kind of doctrine.

　　某些宗教认为：「没有『神』就无法得救。」就算他已抵达道德的顶峰，过着正道的生活，完备了神圣的本性，他一样被宣告「有罪」，要打入地狱接受炼火的煎熬，因为，他不相信「神」的存在。反过来说，一个人无论罪孽多深重，只要忏悔并相信「神」的存在，就能因此而得救。从佛教的观点来看，这种教义是不合理的。

　　Despite the apparent contradictions of the God-religions, it is not deemed advisable to preach a Godless doctrine since the belief in god has also done a tremendous service to mankind, especially in places where the god concept is desirable. This belief in god has helped mankind to control his animal nature. And much help has been granted to o, thers in the name of god. At the same time, man feels insecure without the belief in god. He finds protection and inspiration when that belief is in his mind. The reality or validity of such a belief is based on man”s understanding capacity and spiritual maturity.

　　虽然佛教与「神」的信仰有明显的矛盾和冲突，身为佛教徒也没有必要刻意的去宣扬没有「神」的存在，毕竟信仰「神」的宗教，也为人类做出巨大的贡献，特别在某些地方，对「神」的信仰还是有必要的。信仰「神」也有助于人类克制自己的「兽性」，很多社会贡献都是以「神」的名誉做出来的。同时，人类或许会觉得没有「神」的信仰是不安全的，当他们有了信仰，才发现受到保护和鼓励。信仰的存在也提升了人类的理解力和心智的成熟。

　　However, religion should also concern our practical life. It is to be used as a guide to regulate our conduct in the world. Religion tells us what to do and what not to do. If we do not follow a religion sincerely, mere religious labels or belief in god do not serve us in our daily life.

　　宗教与我们的实际生活息息相关，宗教调整了我们在世间的行为。宗教指导我们什么是应该做的，什么是不应该做的。如果我们不正确的追随正信的宗教，而只是借助宗教的外衣，或迷信于「神」，那么，对我们的生活一点帮助也没有。

　　On the other hand, if the followers of various religions are going to quarrel and to condemn other beliefs and practices

　　especially to prove or disprove the existence of God

　　and if they are going to harbor anger towards other religions because of their different religious views, then they are creating enormous disharmony amongst the various religious communities. Whatever religious difference we have, it is our duty to practise tolerance, patience and understanding. It is our duty …

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