How Does One Respond To A Buddhist?

[Tridenteen]

JMJ
Well, then, as my third official topic, I have a question. The lady I babysit for is married to a guy that used to be Bristian, but now is Buddhist. What is the best way to engage in religious discussion with a Buddhist. This is mainly for Tridenteenmama, who was talking to him. He's a very nice FORMER CATHOLIC (and has observant Catholic parents, not cafeteria Catholics), and therefore probably knows most of the "in's and out's" so to speak. He's very big on that there are no religious wars in Buddhism. So, we know that Buddhism is a very inward religion, focusing on the one's self, instead of society (vs Christianity, which focuses one society, when you think of it, ie helping the poor, sick, and lame, and so on). Tridenteenmama pointed out that all wars including "religious" wars are really about money, land, and so on....so even buddhists have been in wars.


Tridenteen

[Saint Therese]

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Edited January 17, 2010 by Saint Therese

[CatherineM]

Christians who think they can also be Buddhists are probably just confused. Try to do both at the same time, and you're probably not going to do either well.

[KeenanParkerII]

A comparison may be useful. There have been many many cases of Buddhists involved in political conflicts, not least of which was with Buddhist interests in mind. These do not represent the Buddhist ideal, but neither did most of the religious wars pertaining to the Catholic Church, especially the confessional wars, which were particularly political.

Likewise, (as pointed out above) Buddhism is an egocentric faith with neither personal moral responsibility, nor practical application to the "outside" world. Christians, on the other hand, have an inherent responsibility to be charitable. Likewise, we provide the greatest amount of charity in the world, full stop. So then, which has done more for the greater good of the world?

He may respond with the proposition that Christianity has also lead to a lot of conflict and suffering, but then he confuses political cause with Christian cause. We must always separate the personal interpretation of faith, small 'c' christianity, with Christianity, the essence of our teachings. I ask anyone to compare the teachings of Jesus with the collective works of Buddhism and tell me which is more concise, applicable to our world, and accomplished.

Now for a more general proof of the primacy of Jesus in comparison to other faiths, let's bring this comparison to Jesus himself. Jesus is acknowledged in every major faith and every country on Earth, including Buddhist culture, as either the Messiah of man, a prophet, or one of the wisest teachers on Earth (even amongst scholarly atheists). No other figure or faith, including Buddhism, is so universally recognized. It does not go both ways.

Those a few things that come to mind. I hope they help!

[eagle_eye222001]

http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0505fea1.asp

[Veridicus]

[quote name='CatherineM' date='16 January 2010 - 07:42 PM' timestamp='1263692554' post='2038843']
Christians who think they can also be Buddhists are probably just confused. Try to do both at the same time, and you're probably not going to do either well.
[/quote]

Didn't some of Thomas Merton's followers end up going down that road? or is that just a rumor I heard somewhere?

[Luigi]

I believe the proper response to a Buddhist is "Yes, Grasshopper."

[Jesus_lol]

i read through the teachings of Buddha, and didnt see anything that directly conflicted with christianity. with a little picking and choosing on the buddhist end, i dont see why they couldnt coexist in a person.my impression of Budhism was that of a lifestyle rather than a belief system.

Edited January 17, 2010 by Jesus_lol

[tinytherese]

I remember my world religions class where we learned about eastern religions to be confusing for me. They are known for picking and choosing what they do and don't believe and mix their beliefs with those of other religions.

[AccountDeleted]

Before trying to convert this Buddhist Christian to your way of thinking, perhaps it would be good to listen to what he thinks about his faith. Knowing what he believes and what is important to him, will help you to understand how to approach him. Buddhism is a spirituality of extreme compassion, and some of the things said about it here have been erroneous if not outright incorrect, so instead of running in like some kind of expert on Buddhism and saying how inferior it is to Christianity, establish a common ground where you both agree - things that are important to both of you. Sometimes people think conversion is like an instant soup product. True conversion take place over time, in the heart and doesn't only involve the intellect, although this is also important.

Personally I would be focussing on how these two belief systems are the same (at first), how Christ was a man of compassion and wisdom and prayer, just as Buddha was. Buddhists do a lot of meditation and we do a lot of prayer.

For me, the main difference between Buddhism and Christianity, although there are quite a few, is that Buddhism does not see God as a personal being who can interact with mankind. Buddha was not God but he pointed men towards God in an impersonal form.

The Incarnation changed everything for us, God made man in Jesus. Although Buddhism has much to make it attractive to others, it does not have the Incarnation, this is its greatest loss. But I wouldn't necessarily start there, unless the Holy Spirit prompts you in this direction.

Finally, don't treat this as an adverserial thing. Jesus won over hearts through love, not through debate and arguments. In most cases, it isn't what you say that will convert someone, but how you act. Be a smiling example of Christian love and charity and let Jesus shine through.

Edited January 17, 2010 by nunsense

[KeenanParkerII]

(It might be useful to point out the Buddhist "lack of morality" was specifically referring to their interaction with "the world" so to speak, not personal discipline. Just in case it seemed as if I was miss-construing the factoids.)

[AccountDeleted]

[quote name='KeenanParkerII' date='17 January 2010 - 06:23 PM' timestamp='1263713001' post='2039016']
(It might be useful to point out the Buddhist "lack of morality" was specifically referring to their interaction with "the world" so to speak, not personal discipline. Just in case it seemed as if I was miss-construing the factoids.)
[/quote]


I didn't mean to single anyone out with this comment. It is just very easy to judge another's religion without knowing anything about it. I was a Buddhist for awhile before I became a Catholic, so I might see things a little differently than many cradle Catholics. Buddhists do have a very strong morality but it is not like Christian morality and is not referred to as morality so much as right thinking and right living. Compassion is their overwhelming ideology. That is why it is good to find out what this person believes before trying to convert him. He may only be a "little bit" Buddhist or he may be very Buddhist. Some people like to adopt some of the thinking of Buddhism without really understanding it in depth. Sort of like cafeteria Catholics - they are cafeteria Buddhist perhaps. If this guy was a Christian before, he would probably have an understanding of the Incarnation, and that might be a good starting point. In teaching, we always do a thing called "assessment of prior learning" before starting to teach - because we need to know what the person already knows, or thinks they know so we know where to start or what to correct. And besides, it is friendly to get to know someone as a person before trying to change him!

[brightsadness]

I hesitate to suggest this and don't really remember the names of the books, but Fr. Robert Kennedy, SJ, has a couple books out on Christians doing Zen meditation in which states clearly that a Christian is not a Buddhist and vice-versa. However, he does teach Zen as a "meditation technique" and is a Catholic priest?

[AccountDeleted]

[quote name='brightsadness' date='18 January 2010 - 09:23 AM' timestamp='1263766981' post='2039291']
I hesitate to suggest this and don't really remember the names of the books, but Fr. Robert Kennedy, SJ, has a couple books out on Christians doing Zen meditation in which states clearly that a Christian is not a Buddhist and vice-versa. However, he does teach Zen as a "meditation technique" and is a Catholic priest?
[/quote]


Catholic priests can be confused just like anyone else - that's why they need our prayers so much. One of the first priests I met when converting used to tell me about his yoga meditation. I was already doing a non-Christian meditation at the time, and I don't think what he told me was particularly helpful during a time of conversion when I needed to be learning more about the Incarnation and how my meditation was different from Christian prayer, not how they were similar!

Although Zen meditation is very calming and stilling and there are techniques that help one learn how to sit still and to release the mind, it is NOT a good practice for Christians because it leaves out the ESSENTIAL part of Christian meditation, Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Our Savior, Our Redeemer. Without Him, we are not Christians. The other thing I might add is that by teaching too many techniques, we are focusing on our own efforts, when contemplation is a gift from God, not a result of our efforts.

Zen meditation, although beautiful for those who have never heard of Jesus, has much more in common with the heresy of Quietism and their view of prayer and meditation. My advice, if you are already a Christian - leave Zen alone and turn instead to the saints who can teach you much more about Christian prayer. All that is needed by our souls to obtain the Kingdom will be found in Jesus and His Church. Christian prayer beats Zen hands down!

[Tridenteen]

JMJ
Thank you to all the people who have repsponded. I just wanted to say that I have always practiced charity in talking to this man, and seeing as he has been in Iraq for 6 months, I really haven't had time to convert him to my way of thinking. This is a rather odd thing, since he is close to twenty years older than me. He broached the topic with mother, who feels like he did it for the "shock" and as a "rebellious" attitude.. Most people, I am inclined to think, enjoy debating. Why is this? Simply because it is an interesting way to find out theological points of other's religions, and help spread the faith, without ramming one's personal thoughts down others throats. This man clearly understands my point of view, and myself and Tridenteenmama often engage in views of religions with him, and has not expressed that he feels that we are attacking him. I don't hink he really appreciated the beauty and magnitutde of Catholicism, but maybe he will some day.
KeenanParkerII, thank you so much for your help! I found your suggestions very informative, and hopely, they will help . [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/clap.gif[/img]

Tridenteen