I'm thinking about going back to christianity, but I have a problem.

[bostonterrier]

My parents are orthodox christian but they are not very religious,and I've been studying buddhism for a long time and I have a Dharmacakra tatoo on my arm, can I still be a christian and buddhist at the same tim? I know that buddhism is just a philosophy, but I will not give up buddha's teaching If I convert to christianity.

[TaraMaiden]

There is nothing in Buddhism that contradicts or goes against Christian teachings.

There is everything in Buddhism which supports and strengthens Christian teaching.

 

Give me one example of Buddhist philosophy that you believe might contradict what I have said.

 

You will never find it.

[Grumpybutfun]

Check out the book Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian by Paul Knitter. By interlacing both tenets of these religions, experimental theologians call this the double belonging. The idea is that people can be enlightened and supported by more than one religion and thought process. There are many correlating concepts between the two. When dealing with spiritual matters many think their faith and religions have to be absolutes. However, many people aren't finding the support and nourishment they need in just one spiritual experience these days.

Best,

Grumps

[bostonterrier]

Well, there are some violent verses on the old testment, one of the reasons I left christianity,while buddhism is all about peace.

[TaraMaiden]

In the long run, after considerable practice, I found this for myself:

 

I can be Buddhist and practise Catholicism to the full.

I cannot be Catholic and practise Buddhism to the full.

 

Buddhism supports theistic religions.

Theistic religions cannot support Buddhism.

 

At one point or another, i found myself faced with having to make a choice: Buddhism or catholicism?

 

I chose Buddhism.

I have never regretted it, nor looked back.

 

Just me.

[TheFinalWord]

My parents are orthodox christian but they are not very religious,and I've been studying buddhism for a long time and I have a Dharmacakra tatoo on my arm, can I still be a christian and buddhist at the same tim? I know that buddhism is just a philosophy, but I will not give up buddha's teaching If I convert to christianity.

 

Please try not to worry much about that.

 

Christianity is not you cleaning yourself up and then coming to God. God will meet you right where you are. Believe me there are many questions about God I have, which will probably never be resolved. But I trust God enough (that takes time to build that trust) to be okay with that

 

If you feel ready, the main thing I would recommend is to surrender you life to Jesus Christ and ask the Holy Spirit to come into your heart. He will take it from there

 

Keep wresting with the deep questions.

[happydate]

My parents are orthodox christian but they are not very religious,and I've been studying buddhism for a long time and I have a Dharmacakra tatoo on my arm, can I still be a christian and buddhist at the same tim? I know that buddhism is just a philosophy, but I will not give up buddha's teaching If I convert to christianity.

 

Buddhism teaches principles and meditation, whereas Christianity teaches the values of God and his higher realm beings and the power of praying.

 

Early Buddhism teachings is founded some 2500 years ago whereas Jesus's version of Christianity was found some 2000 years ago, so there is a span of 500 years. The Orient is more spiritually advanced than the West at the time. Jesus went and studied Buddhism during his lost years btw.

 

The power of praying should not be neglected, especially when done everyday for 365 days a year. The issue with most people is that if whether the prayers are even heard. Most Christians' prayers would probably never be heard by God because of their victimized mindset. They only pray when they are in trouble, NOT when it is a daily diet necessity like meditation in buddhism. But then not all practising buddhist meditate everyday either. They only meditate when they are in crisis or are in despair etc.. But when the 2 are combined as a daily diet for spiritual growth, the effect can become so profound it's almost speechless! Embrace them both.

 

Blessings.

Edited February 2, 2014 by happydate

[happydate]

Check out the book Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian by Paul Knitter. By interlacing both tenets of these religions, experimental theologians call this the double belonging. The idea is that people can be enlightened and supported by more than one religion and thought process. There are many correlating concepts between the two. When dealing with spiritual matters many think their faith and religions have to be absolutes. However, many people aren't finding the support and nourishment they need in just one spiritual experience these days.

Best,

Grumps

 

Pure spiritual teachings always come from within, once you developed a normal communion with God. This require an unconditional loving heart devoid of hate, anger and other negative emotions. You don't really need an external spiritual master or scriptures to guide you along for most teachings will eventually make you BE who you want to be. If you are Buddhist, then you will eventually BEcome a Buddha or if you are Christian, then you will eventually BEcome Christ and attain Christhood. You don't really need a tatoo of the cross or some Buddha symbol to let others know you are who you are. If you walk the path of Buddha or Christ, do you really need a symbol of the Cross or Buddha to let others know you do? If you walk the walk and you talk the talk; why then do you need a symbol on your skin?

 

Unfortunately though, the problem we are facing today with many forms of spiritual teachings is that, they are contaminated by man's personal bias, EGO and PRIDE. Basically, they are changed and modified to serve the purpose's of man's power and domination away from the original teachings. So each subsequent master or guru would change the meanings to suit him or herself to allow them to stay seated in power when challenged. That's why it's not enough to rely on just 1 spiritual teachings, because another would fill in the holes so to speak on the one you walk because the path wasn't pure in the first place.

Edited February 2, 2014 by happydate

[TheyCallMeOx]

What it means to be a "Christian" is very skewed. No one can tell you who you are and who you aren't because that would be considered "being judgmental." In a Christian perspective, I think (correct me if I'm wrong) judging others is putting yourself before God and is therefore a sin. If someone claims to be a "Christian" and yet sins without knowing, then they are no different than a Christian who practices Buddhist beliefs as well. What it all comes down to is that almost every Christian "pick-and-chooses" what Christian beliefs to follow and not follow, and therefore being a "Christian" is not easily defined. When you practice Buddhist beliefs, you are encompassing those beliefs into the beliefs of Christianity. You are picking and choosing what Christian beliefs to follow based on Buddha's teachings. For instance, The Buddha probably wouldn't encourage stoning women, so stoning women would probably not be a good idea even if that's what the Bible says. You are no more or less a Christian just because of what moral things that you believe or don't believe. However, if you don't believe in God and yet claim to be a Christian...then that is questionable.

[TaraMaiden]

Buddhism teaches principles and meditation, whereas Christianity teaches the values of God and his higher realm beings and the power of praying.

Buddhism teaches far more than that, but I'll let this slide....

 

Early Buddhism teachings is founded some 2500 years ago whereas Jesus's version of Christianity was found some 2000 years ago, so there is a span of 500 years. The Orient is more spiritually advanced than the West at the time. Jesus went and studied Buddhism during his lost years btw.

While it's nice to consider he did, there is no empirical authoritative evidence that he actually did anything of the kind, although it's perfectly feasible that he might have heard of it...

 

The power of praying should not be neglected, .....The issue with most people is that if whether the prayers are even heard. .....They only pray when they are in trouble, NOT when it is a daily diet necessity like meditation in buddhism. But then not all practising buddhist meditate everyday either. They only meditate when they are in crisis or are in despair etc..

 

The first bolded statement is inaccurate.

The second bolded statement is so far wide off the mark it doesn't even warrant serious attention.

 

If a person really doesn't know a great deal about a specific topic, it really would be best that they don't make such definitive statements about it.

[TaraMaiden]

My parents are orthodox christian but they are not very religious,and I've been studying buddhism for a long time and I have a Dharmacakra tatoo on my arm, can I still be a christian and buddhist at the same tim? I know that buddhism is just a philosophy, but I will not give up buddha's teaching If I convert to christianity.

 

Just out of total curiosity, what makes you consider 'going back' to Christianity....?

 

And why do you feel Buddhism would interfere?

 

I take issue with your statement that Buddhism is 'just a philosophy' by the way.... but maybe you meant in the sense that it has no God....

[happydate]

Buddhism teaches far more than that, but I'll let this slide....

 

 

While it's nice to consider he did, there is no empirical authoritative evidence that he actually did anything of the kind, although it's perfectly feasible that he might have heard of it...

 

 

 

The first bolded statement is inaccurate.

The second bolded statement is so far wide off the mark it doesn't even warrant serious attention.

 

If a person really doesn't know a great deal about a specific topic, it really would be best that they don't make such definitive statements about it.

 

The authoritative information comes from God himself as I commune with him daily. People walks the spiritual path to BEcome spiritually enlightened and care and assist others in their paths, be it different or otherwise and not belittle, argue and insist physical perfection of your understanding and teachings upon others as though only a elite few human beings are privileged with the authority in this matter. Which is why it is ok to peruse other teachings with an open mind. The reason most people don't accept other teachings is because of their inflated ego and pride and the elitism the spiritual student possess that he or she is superior against others in his or her knowledge. This is a dualistic approach (right/wrong good/evil); dualism is not what spirituality is about. Growth in spirituality comes from being humble and being acceptance of new ideas. That's how we evolve and grow.

 

Blessings.

Edited February 2, 2014 by happydate

[happydate]

What it means to be a "Christian" is very skewed. No one can tell you who you are and who you aren't because that would be considered "being judgmental." In a Christian perspective, I think (correct me if I'm wrong) judging others is putting yourself before God and is therefore a sin. If someone claims to be a "Christian" and yet sins without knowing, then they are no different than a Christian who practices Buddhist beliefs as well. What it all comes down to is that almost every Christian "pick-and-chooses" what Christian beliefs to follow and not follow, and therefore being a "Christian" is not easily defined. When you practice Buddhist beliefs, you are encompassing those beliefs into the beliefs of Christianity. You are picking and choosing what Christian beliefs to follow based on Buddha's teachings. For instance, The Buddha probably wouldn't encourage stoning women, so stoning women would probably not be a good idea even if that's what the Bible says. You are no more or less a Christian just because of what moral things that you believe or don't believe. However, if you don't believe in God and yet claim to be a Christian...then that is questionable.

 

One of the gifts instilled upon all of us is our ability to commune with the higher realm beings. This is our right, but seeing here few use them as they currently depend solely on physical bible, scriptures and or teachings from an external physical human master. We all have "gut feelings" correct? Where do you think this feeling comes from? Certainly this is a valid question, because this is the basic form communication with the divine. It's called our intuition. This intuition works to guide us to continually seek new knowledge and challenge your own current beliefs.

 

The bible and anything else written by man are influenced by man's personal bias, ego and pride so they are only good for stimulating your curiosity to know more about the teachings. But what many religion will not tell you is that afterwards, all your teachings will be coming from within either through communing with higher beings or through intuition which choices your should choose. You don't really need to label yourself a this or a that at all. Don't even need to wear or tattoo yourself to walk the spiritual path. If you need to identify yourself of something, then you are idol worshipping a man made deity. And which is why so many people are against religion, because they see the lies coming from that. The honest truth is that everyone has the right to be who they are and accept who they are and walk the path they best choose.

 

During Jesus Christ's tenure, why do you think he continually challenged the Scribes and Pharisees of their teachings and ultimately got him killed on the cross? Because he was following his father's wishes and they did not. It's the same as then as today. Sadly, Jesus' original teachings have now been turned into the very teachings that Jesus himself fought against those humans then.

Edited February 2, 2014 by happydate

[M30USA]

Well, there are some violent verses on the old testment, one of the reasons I left christianity,while buddhism is all about peace.

 

Like what verses? The ones where God destroyed nations who were sacrificing infants to Baal and raping women as a routine lifestyle? Would you have preferred He allow it go on?

Edited February 3, 2014 by M30USA

[pie2]

What it means to be a "Christian" is very skewed. No one can tell you who you are and who you aren't because that would be considered "being judgmental." In a Christian perspective, I think (correct me if I'm wrong) judging others is putting yourself before God and is therefore a sin.

 

 

 

"Judgment" has gotten such a bad rap these days! Judging isn't necessarily a sin, though there are countless verses that explain how dangerous it is to judge and how it usually shouldn't be done. But there are time when we're called to "judge righteously", and "judge to defend those who are in need".

 

 

What Does the Bible Say About Judging Others?

 

 

 

 

If someone claims to be a "Christian" and yet sins without knowing, then they are no different than a Christian who practices Buddhist beliefs as well. What it all comes down to is that almost every Christian "pick-and-chooses" what Christian beliefs to follow and not follow, and therefore being a "Christian" is not easily defined. When you practice Buddhist beliefs, you are encompassing those beliefs into the beliefs of Christianity. You are picking and choosing what Christian beliefs to follow based on Buddha's teachings. For instance, The Buddha probably wouldn't encourage stoning women, so stoning women would probably not be a good idea even if that's what the Bible says. You are no more or less a Christian just because of what moral things that you believe or don't believe.

 

 

Being a Christian is easily defined: someone who has accepted Christ as God.

 

 

However, if you don't believe in God and yet claim to be a Christian...then that is questionable.

 

 

lol, yeah, I'd have to agree with that!

[M30USA]

The verse about judging is one of the most obfuscated and twisted passages in the entire Bible. Put very simply, it's not prohibiting judgement of others. It's saying that if you are guilty of the very same sin which you are judging, then you cannot judge correctly and you are in no position to judge. In other words, being a hypocrite blinds your judgement. But if you remove the "log" from your own eye (or stop a particular sin) then you ARE able to judge correctly.

 

Please read:

 

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye." (Matthew 7:1-5 ESV)

[pureinheart]

The verse about judging is one of the most obfuscated and twisted passages in the entire Bible. Put very simply, it's not prohibiting judgement of others. It's saying that if you are guilty of the very same sin which you are judging, then you cannot judge correctly and you are in no position to judge. In other words, being a hypocrite blinds your judgement. But if you remove the "log" from your own eye (or stop a particular sin) then you ARE able to judge correctly.

 

Please read:

 

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye." (Matthew 7:1-5 ESV)

 

M30, you have a real gift for explaining the Word. Thank you.

[pureinheart]

"Judgment" has gotten such a bad rap these days! Judging isn't necessarily a sin, though there are countless verses that explain how dangerous it is to judge and how it usually shouldn't be done. But there are time when we're called to "judge righteously", and "judge to defend those who are in need".

 

 

What Does the Bible Say About Judging Others?

 

((((((((Pie)))))))) long time no see- missed you, and love your reply!

[pie2]

((((((((Pie)))))))) long time no see- missed you, and love your reply!

 

 

 

Missed you too, sister! (I don't know why my smiley face icon buttons aren't working???, but smileyface loveface smileyface!)

[TaraMaiden]

The authoritative information comes from God himself as I commune with him daily. People walks the spiritual path to BEcome spiritually enlightened and care and assist others in their paths, be it different or otherwise and not belittle, argue and insist physical perfection of your understanding and teachings upon others as though only a elite few human beings are privileged with the authority in this matter. Which is why it is ok to peruse other teachings with an open mind. The reason most people don't accept other teachings is because of their inflated ego and pride and the elitism the spiritual student possess that he or she is superior against others in his or her knowledge. This is a dualistic approach (right/wrong good/evil); dualism is not what spirituality is about. Growth in spirituality comes from being humble and being acceptance of new ideas. That's how we evolve and grow.

 

Blessings.

 

THis is gobbledygook, and frankly doesn't address my post to you at all;.

Which just tells me you don't know how to answer, because you know nothing about Buddhism.

 

That's not 'growth in spirituality', that's just ignorance. (small 'i').

[mukkrakker]

There is nothing in Buddhism that contradicts or goes against Christian teachings.

 

Umm, I don't think they are ranked in order of importance but:

 

#1: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

 

I could be wrong.

[TaraMaiden]

Buddhism doesn't have a God.

And that's a Christian quotation from the OT.

 

Thanks for the post, but could you explain your point?

 

[mukkrakker]

but could you explain your point?

 

You're asking the wrong guy here, but I always thought the god of the christians was a jealous and vengeful god and that you were not allowed to have any other beliefs other than in him; he wasn't a pluralist.

[M30USA]

M30, you have a real gift for explaining the Word. Thank you.

 

Can't take credit for that explanation. Most of my ideas are just gathered from old books with dust on them.

 

Regarding judging, this is also why Jesus can be the only TRUE judge--because he is the only one without sin. All of us, to varying degrees, have sin clouding our judgment of others. But not Jesus.

 

"Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son [Jesus]..." (John 5:22 NIV)

 

This is why it's SOOOOO important to follow the words of Jesus like our lives depend on it! NOBODY ELSE'S OPINION MATTERS EXCEPT JESUS. Even if we disagree with him, it doesn't matter. His words will stand, ours won't.

Edited February 3, 2014 by M30USA

[TaraMaiden]

mukkrakker,As I said;

 

I can be Buddhist and practise Catholicism to the full.

I cannot be Catholic and practise Buddhism to the full.

 

Buddhism supports theistic religions.

Theistic religions cannot support Buddhism.

 

Because Buddhism is both a Religion AND a philosophy, there is nothing within Buddhism that either contradicts, or goes against any type of Theistic practice.

 

If a person follows a Theistic calling, and seeks to implement Buddhist teachings, there isn't anything that would be just cause or impediment for them to do so.

 

There is no 'God' in Buddhism, so there wouldn't be a case of 'putting other Gods before me'.

 

However: There comes a time when Buddhism puts so much personal responsibility onto your plate, that you begin to question everything, form every side. (I use the term 'you' generically here....)

 

In Theistic Religion, you 'put it all "out there", give it up to God, surrender all, rely on the 'Big Guy in the Sky to help carry the load'.

 

In Buddhism, responsibility - and the buck - stops 'in here'.

 

There's nowhere else to place the crap but between your own ears, to sort it out.

 

This is one of the most popularly-read and frequently-quoted 'Suttas' or teachings of he Buddha.

And it is his teaching that enables us to evaluate and stop things in their tracks for us to really analyse and scrutinise under our own personal psycho-microscopes.

 

I hope you find it interesting.

 

(The reason such suttas were so repetitive, BtW, is that they were memorised.

Therefore repetition helps to retain the word to memory. Some monks know the entire Tripitaka by heart.

 

And that's a lot of suttas....)