Religion/Theology

[valkyrie]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Link

The link is to an essay by Dorthy Figan of the Buddhist Publication Society that pretty much sums up what I've been told by religion and philosophy teachers about Buddhism. She also tends to agree that you can be Christian and not Buddhist. Since you're the expert, what about Buddhism prevents someone from being a Christian too??

You're linking me to an essay that says you can be Christian and not Buddhist? I think most, if not all, Christians (and well, people) in the world already knew that, but thanks.

I never said I was an expert, nor do I claim to speak for all Buddhists. All I've been saying is: (1) you're wrong; (2) your statements have no validity to me.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

You're linking me to an essay that says you can be Christian and not Buddhist? I think most, if not all, Christians (and well, people) in the world already knew that, but thanks.

I never said I was an expert, nor do I claim to speak for all Buddhists. All I've been saying is: (1) you're wrong; (2) your statements have no validity to me.

I typed it backwards, she says that you can be Christian and Buddhist. (1) You have yet to say anything to prove I'm wrong; (2) You may say that, but yet you keep replying.

[valkyrie]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I typed it backwards, she says that you can be Christian and Buddhist. (1) You have yet to say anything to prove I'm wrong; (2) You may say that, but yet you keep replying.

I'm not sure why you either don't understand what I'm saying or refuse to understand what I'm saying. It is not an issue of who is "right" or who is "wrong," and your attempt at an argument (where it's my job to "prove" you wrong) doesn't make sense. Also, the fact that I reply to you does not give your statements any validity.

The essay to which you linked does not resolve your question of whether Buddhism is a religion. It really says that it is and it isn't, depending on how "religion" is defined, which is very different from your assertion that it is not a religion, period. It also does not state that you can be Christian and Buddhist. It says that you can be Christian or Jewish and "embrace Buddhism," which is not the same thing as being Christian or Jewish and "being Buddhist."

I believe that Buddhism is incompatible with many of what I understand to be the core beliefs of Christianity; I do not believe that one can be Buddhist and believe any of the following:

-that Jesus died for anyone's sins
-that Jesus is a "savior"
-that there is any such thing as sin
-that there is any such thing as "salvation"
-that there is any such thing as heaven or hell
-that there is no such thing as karma and rebirth.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

The essay to which you linked does not resolve your question of whether Buddhism is a religion. It really says that it is and it isn't, depending on how "religion" is defined, which is very different from your assertion that it is not a religion, period. It also does not state that you can be Christian and Buddhist. It says that you can be Christian or Jewish and "embrace Buddhism," which is not the same thing as being Christian or Jewish and "being Buddhist."

I believe that Buddhism is incompatible with many of what I understand to be the core beliefs of Christianity; I do not believe that one can be Buddhist and believe any of the following:

-that Jesus died for anyone's sins
-that Jesus is a "savior"
-that there is any such thing as sin
-that there is any such thing as "salvation"
-that there is any such thing as heaven or hell
-that there is no such thing as karma and rebirth.

:clap: :clap: (cause i can't find a emoticon that does the clapping).

As Valkyrie said, you can NOT be a Buddhist Christian or a Buddhist Muslim. From what i learned in my world religions class--Buddhism really doesn't have a "god." Although (again from my understanding) Pure Land Buddhists believe that grace and salvation come from the Amida Buddha. But other than that Christianity and Buddhism differ too much. The basis of Christianity is the belief in God...while in Buddhism there isn't a god. That right there would stop you from being a Buddhist Christian----HOWEVER---you can embrace Buddhism ideals like the yogas, (imo) the 8 fold path...etc.


But just an aside to mulattogyrl: I was just wondering....I learned in my W. Religions class that "back in the day" if a mother was Jewish then the children would be jewish....so how does that work? Do people still follow that? I know that you said you were raised Muslim, but do you also identify as Jewish as well? Just curious---trying to open my eyes and widen my horizons (lmfao that sounds kinda corny, but I am! lol)

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by epchick

But just an aside to mulattogyrl: I was just wondering....I learned in my W. Religions class that "back in the day" if a mother was Jewish then the children would be jewish....so how does that work? Do people still follow that? I know that you said you were raised Muslim, but do you also identify as Jewish as well? Just curious---trying to open my eyes and widen my horizons (lmfao that sounds kinda corny, but I am! lol)

In Orthodox and Conservative Judaism, that's still the case. You are considered Jewish if either (a) your mother is Jewish or (b) you converted. In Reform Judaism, you are considered Jewish if either parent is Jewish and you were raised in the Jewish faith... or, of course, if you converted.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

In Orthodox and Conservative Judaism, that's still the case. You are considered Jewish if either (a) your mother is Jewish or (b) you converted. In Reform Judaism, you are considered Jewish if either parent is Jewish and you were raised in the Jewish faith... or, of course, if you converted.

Ahhhhhh ok. Thanks for clearing it up I had a really bad world religions teacher and so all the religions we learned were totally screwed up.