Ask Johnny
Posted on 10/18/2004 10:26:03 PM PDT by Cronos
Hi, I've been engaging a few friends who have lapsed from Christianity and seem enamoured by Buddhism. Now, while I respect many of the teachings of Buddhism, I'm inclined to think of it more as a philosophy rather than as a religion. However, I do see many people in the West converting to Buddhim and what my friend told me giving an explanation -- a non-religious one, made sense historically.
She said that when Gautama was teaching, India was in a pretty well-to-do state -- people had enough to eat and life was good but people had a sense of ennui -- you were born, died and were reborn, in a seemingly never ending cycle. Buddhism gave a way out.
The modern, Western world is like that -- we have enough to eat and a good life to live and everyone is jaded. So, Christianity with its austere ways (and even Judaism -- many Jews in the West are practically agnostic) is losing out to something that offers escape.
What do you think? Are we fighting a losing battle?
Not to put too fine a point on it, but Christians know we "win" in the end.
ping
Thank you for your words. Quite relevant -- my friend did say that in her opinion the reason is that the church is not changing, while my counter-point was that it should not change.
Buddha, however, fell asleep and a vine grew up over him, and this in some manner assisted him in attaining enlightenment.
There are some other "common" tales ~ but the question is, was Buddha enlightened by some manifestation from outside the here and now world, or was it that he heard about Jonah, ordered up his 187 best sermons delivered in Ninevah (a city with which Buddha's empire traded, and exchanged brides), and became an early convert to the sort of Judaism extant in Jonah's day?
Jonah can be dated fairly precisely based on his mention in
II Kings Chapter 14 in the time of King Amaziah or Azariah, about the 9th century BCE. Buddha didn't show up until several hundred years later.
BTW, American pop Buddhism has already replaced Christianity almost universally among America's "elites".
It depends on what use of the term "Christian" is. If you mean the liberal mainline denominations or Roman Catholic, then then answer could well be yes. But if you mean those non-denominational or conservative new denominations like Christian and Missionary Alliance or even goold old Baptist churches, the answer could well be a no.
It also depends on where you are asking this quetion. If you ask this at New York City, Britain and continental Europe it could be a yes. But if you look at East Asia - places like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, mainline China and South Korea the answer is definitely a big "No!". I have met many people whose parents were traditional Chinese Buddhists, and they have become born again in Christ. (I must say they would be considered evangelicals from the Western sense - traditional "mainline" denoms and Roman Catholics aren't of a big scene among the younger generation in East Asia)
For the type of Christianity that is increasingly displacing Buddhism in East Asia, have a look at sites like this:
http://www.ccmusa.org/
The "cowinkiedink" is that the FReeper who sends that Baptist Freeper all those passages from the Bible IS A BUDDHIST rotfl.
Jesus is Lord; Buddha a good man.
I'm sorry, I hesitate to call most Protestant churchs as true Christian churchs at all and would consider most in the same light as Buddhism
No, I don't dislike Buddhist philosophy, I consider it philosophy, not a religion.
Well we have to part company here. I, being an evangelical Christian, take the other stand, and from what I can see, the Holy Spirit is at work in East Asia and many people have become saved. Praise the Lord!
Sounds like a winner, but was I the one you wanted to reply to?
I think you ought to read the book of Revelation.
"These made war with the Lamb, and with his followers, but they did not overcome. For he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and they that are with him are called, and faithful, and chosen."
Bump!
ROTFL!!!!!!! You had me for a second!!
The difference between Buddhism/Islam/fill-in-the-blank and Christianity is that their god is DEAD, Ours is alive and master of creation.
Not sayin' you're wrong amigo, and you'll find plenty of fine folks to stand behind that statement---however....Mr. Buddha ain't worshipped, just studied.
The Buddha isn't considered a God. Buddhism is inherently atheistic.
Ask Johnny
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