Lee - Why aren't you a Buddhist?

[Rod]

So why isn't Lee a Buddhist?

This isn't personal Lee, more of a scholarly inquisitiveness. Knowing what I do about Christianity and Buddhism: It seems to me Buddhism would welcome your thoughts and longings with open-arms. Almost every Liberal Christian author I have read (From Rob Bell to Harvey cox to Deepak Chopra) is already sleeping in the Buddhist Brothel.

We both agree that you disagree with about 90% of Christianity (and Biblical writings as factual/historical truth)... you probably only disagree with about 20% of Buddhism (probably some of the same stuff: supernatural shenanigans and factual history).
And lately the Dalai Lama is all about Peace, Homosexuality, and blending of the religions - and not hurting bugs.

Have you looked into this? Am i out to lunch and being more of a jerk than usual? OR am I on to something? I do hate to see Christianity and ITS GOD disappoint you so.

And best of all: there's no Young Earth Creationist, Fundi - Apologetic Conservative Predestinationists...and apparently there's no Heaven or Hell in Buddhism (not that they will admit anyway. But hungry-ghosts are an ongoing problem.)

What are your liberal thoughts Lee? Feel free to join in everyone. Lets cut up and cook this sacred Cow. (not you Lee, but the differences between Buddhism and Liberal Christianity.)

[Lee]

I was born in America, and I admire Jesus more than Buddha. That's all.

[Rod]

Thanks Lee.
But why admire Jesus more?

(As for me - I probably should have become a Rastafarian back in my teens).

[Rod]

Isn't Buddha a nicer liberal humanist? At least people don't claim he is THE god.

[John]

I'mma just leave this here.

cackles maniacally

[Robert]

Rod - on the continuum between good and evil, my natural inclination would fall slightly to the evil side of the bell-shaped curve. If I were Buddhist, in addition to the fact of questionable deification with limited moral authority, the insistence on innumerable good works would prove nauseating. Jesus merely requires that I believe in His sacrifice and subsequent rebirth along with a repentance of my sins, some of which were deleterious to my health anyway. A clear winner here!

[Lee]

Rod, I'm probably showing my ignorance because I'm not very knowledgeable about Buddhism, but it seems more self-involved, as if the quest is for nirvana rather than a better world. Jesus's dream appeals to me even though I'm not very religious.

[Rod]

John cackling mentions:
Living Buddha, Living Christ
by Thích Nhất Hạnh

It appears Monk-Man sprinkled some Jesus salt on his Buddhism. Which is kind of like trying to flavor a caterpillar by dropping a Nicely Cooked Cow onto it.
(does that sound like something a Buddhist would say? I'll keep trying...)

[Rod]

Lee comment:
" Buddhism, but it seems more self-involved, as if the quest is for nirvana rather than a better world."

Good point. Depends on which Buddhist you chat with. Although they claim Buddhism affects everything and everyone - endless peace and a lack of suffering from the Conscious universal SOMETHING. Far less judgmental than Jesus though...at least some Buddhists claim that. I think, at the core of Buddhism, there are MANY demands.

But The Christianity we have before us is NOT a humanistic offering. It's a Kingly one. In Buddhism - everyone gets to be king, like an empire of peasants.

[Xdyj]

I'm pretty ignorant about both Buddhism and Christianity, but it appears to me that Buddhism, or at least a "minimal" form of Buddhism as it is usually practiced in the west, is a very flexible religion and can easily be made compatible with all kinds of cultural norms and political ideals, both liberal and illiberal. Is it true that at least certain kinds of liberal theology in Christianity also have similar flexibility, and require people to base some of their ethical judgments on their secular beliefs?

[Lee]

Xdyj, in general, being a Christian is not about morality, it's about believing. Then we pretty much take our beliefs and overlay them atop Jesus, to make him like us. In America, there are politicians who want to carpet bomb Muslims until the desert sand glows, and in the next breath talk about their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They get roaring crowds of fanatical followers. Then there are churches who open their doors to fleeing Muslim refugees. The range of morals among Christians is exceedingly wide.

[Cay]

Great comment Lee that it is about belief.

Sometimes you can even know more about the opposite of what you belief and in some respect it is easier to belief with less knowledge (the reason so many theologians lose their belief IMO)

From belief to politics, morality and religion there is a big step. Just look at the sanctity of life. Some think that terminating the unborn life is a sin, but terminating the life of a convicted criminal is not, while another group with the same belief see it the other way.