I describe myself as a Christian for a decade because I was a Christian for a decade. I have read many books discussing the subject. I guess my words were crass in describing Christianity, but to describe why I don't like Christianity specifically will take many, many pages with posts similar to Macbeths, and I didn't want to get into that. I said "dogmatic and simple-minded" as terms that in general describe Christianity, obviously IMO. Is all of Christianity dogmatic and simple-minded? No. But I didn't want to get into all the technicalities and start a debate. (i guess, too late?). And yes, a religion is a search for the truth. Christianity seems to me to be a little hypocritical in asking people to search for the 'truth' themselves, when they really mean to say, "convince yourself that Christianity is true." If the 'truth' you find is that Christianity is false, then they just keep trying to convince you otherwise. I mean, really, how can you find Christianity to be false and be a Christian. Obviously an impossibility. So the search for truth in a Christian is just a search to find the Christian God, to convice yourself the Christian God is the right God. Anyways, I feel that I have started a firestorm. Oh no....
Well I wouldn't say I'm further along any path. I just read a few things. A path takes practice. Have I disagreed with anything the Budha taught? Not that I can think of. But I really don't know that much. There are tons. His rules on being a monk are pretty harsh. I don't disagree with anything Jesus taught either. You can find plenty of Buddhist info on the net. http://www.buddhanet.net/ http://www.shakumasu.com/quotes/ (cool quotes) http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/ http://www.vipassana.com/ http://www.plumvillage.org/MindfulnessTrainings/MTTrainingInfo.htm For books maybe get Thich Nhat Hanh's commentaries on the Heart & Diamond Sutras
I just want to state that Buddhism along with Hinduism and Taoism are the only three major religions(I know of) that don't have a "history of violence."
That is an awesome quote: About Buddhism The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend a personal God and avoid dogmas and theology. Covering both the natural and the spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual as a meaningful unity. If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism. Albert Einstein
there's an interesting book by the buddhist scholar d.t. suzuki called "mysticism, christian and buddhist". it is a collection of studies in which the author compares the "closeness" of zen to christian mysticism (as practiced by meister eckhardt particularly). could be an interesting read for both the christians and buddhists.
basically he compares sermons and writings by eckhardt to similar zen teachings. for example: "People should not worry as much about what they do but rather about what they are. If they and their ways are good, then their deeds are radiant. If you are righteous, then what you do will also be righteous. We should not think that holiness is based on what we do but rather on what we are, for it is not our works which sanctify us but we who sanctify our works." is this christian or buddhist?
Using a discussion about religious awakening to continue the MacBeth pile-on is very unChristian, and probably doesn't jive with any other positively spun dogma out there.
MartianMan, Do you mind explaining to me how you knew that Christianity was "false"? Are you basing that on a personal event that happened to you in which you felt that God let you down or is it something else?
uhh..you might want to check these out: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/Display...nent_January355.xml§ion=subcontinent&col= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4089001.stm http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=1100 http://gangresearch.net/Globalization/regions/asia/sikh.htm no religious group has EVER been kept pure from violence and the other crap that rages through the hearts of men.
I just found a lot of things hard to believe. First, you'd have to believe in God, and as we seen in the last thread, the argument is quite circular to prove the existance of God. Even if we were to believe in a God, why would God care what happens to us? Why can't we just do what we want? Yes, yes, I already know the Christian answer to this so you need not repeat it. Then wtf is up with dinosaurs? . Then, add in the fact that Christianity only existed 2000 years while man has existed for 2 millions years... Well, let's just say I haven't even begun to scratch the surface.
Seeing as Buddhism is now my favorite religion (though I'm not a Buddhist), I feel compelled to defend it. These actions are taken by individuals and done by their own choice. They were not following the teachings of Buddha. Plus, Buddhism is different to each person, so you can't attack the whole of Buddhism by portraying a few bad Buddhists. On the other hand, for example, Islam has many people attacking others while following the dogma of Islam. Obviously, they are extremists, but their actions are, in their eyes, in accordance with the teachings of the Koran. Similarily, Christians had the Crusades, Catholics had the witch hunts and the Inquisitions which were violence in accordance with their beliefs. I doubt even the Buddhists involved in the attacks would claim their attack was made in accordance with Buddhists' beliefs.
IMHO, what we want out of Buddhism is a way for us to understand why we are going through undeserved difficulties, bad luck, hatred, sorrows etc. and be able to extract ourselves from these endless cycles. Of course, many are going beyond liberating themselves to selflessly help others to do so. I suggest starting with the Heart Sutra. It is concise (Xuanzang's transalation has 260 chinese characters), widely distributed, and maybe summarize the core of buddhist teachings. I started reading quite a few sutras when I was 13. Probably not a good idea. The voluminous readings can become quite difficult, confusing, and unreal. Besides the Internet, now there are classes available for beginners and even for kids. Maybe this is a good place to consider too.
Please support the assertion that the Crusades, withc hunts, and Inquisitions were in accordance with Christian beliefes. And even if you can, it's sill people committing, not the religion. You can't attack a religion based on the acts of a minority of people.
Well, what I am going to say to you may surprise you since I am a Christian. I don't believe like most Christians that Christianity is the only religion. I really don't think there is an answer because if there was then why are there so many different religions? How am I to say that Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. is all wrong because it is not what I believe in? Yet it is Christianity that I identify, mainly because I have experienced things through people who were vessels of Christianity - they made me want to know more about it. So, no don't get the idea that God has personally talked to me; however, I do believe that certain things do happen for a reason and that He has a big part in it. But your post that I am responding to asks many things that will never be fully explained - only in the afterlife, right? So, that is where faith comes in. My father is what he calls himself a deist and he is always telling me that Christianity is black magic and that he doesn't believe in the virgin birth (he better not ever meet MacBoast ). I consider my father a good man and a smart man. But I also consider him one that is incapable of having faith in something that he feels requires tangible proof for existence. And to me that is a shame and a pity - no way that man has all the answers - there is something far greater than us out there and that entity is God. I just don't think you can use your bad experience in one religion to say that it was revealed to you to be "false", MartianMan. So, Christianity wasn't for you - no shame in that. I am just happy to know that you have regained your spiritual life again, regardless of what religion it is. And maybe you know some Christians that automatically denounce other religions like Islam or Buddhism as "false" but please realize that I don't feel like that and I am pretty sure other Christians don't feel like that either. In other words, don't let a couple of bad apples color your perception of a religion as a whole.
it is what it is. defend however you want. people are people. the hearts of men are corrupt. no matter what they commit themselves to. but the post i responded to made the insinuation that no one has take the religion and used it for violence...ain't so. we don't have to look far back in history to find it...ask Christian missionaries how they're treated by Hindus in India...it ain't pretty. i can assure you that nothing that Jesus Christ spoke of would advocate violence. that doesn't mean that people haven't hijacked Christianity for that purpose. because they have.
I'm saying these people used their religion to attack others. I'm not saying the religion advocates violence specifically, though some verses may be construed in that way. Religion was and is being used as a weapon. Even right now, the Republicans use Christianity for support for the war and their ideology. Terrorists use specific Koran scriptures to promote their agenda. It is not nearly as easy to use Buddhism to promote such goals because each Buddhist thinks for himself and does not follow scripture. How can you use Buddhism to promote anti-abortion? Maybe you can argue some ideas, but the pro-choice side can equally argue their position. There is no scripture that says point blank, "life begins at conception and you can't kill anyone after that point." (obviously that's not a real verse from the bible). It's very cerebral.
I agree with everything you say. I'm just saying Christianity has been hijacked more and with a worse effect than most religions. Of course, all religions are susceptible since all religions are held by man and man is imperfect. But of all religions, it seems Buddhism has the most immunity though it is not immune.
