Buddhist Is Buddhism Really a Religion.

[Akita Suggagaki]

Buddhists are not supposed to be violent or kill people. That is compatible with Christianity. Buddhists are vegetarian. In Romans 14 Paul wrote it is better not to eat meat or drink wine if that would cause someone else to stumble. If you study advanced nutrition you might find an advantage in eating more vegetables. Wine has alcohol; that is a neurotoxin and is a carcinogen. A diet high in meat/cholesterol brought heart disease.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Merely by being honest one might become closer to Christ, even though some do not think honesty is a religion. Buddhism might be better with knowledge of the Gospels.

As a vegetarian/almost vegan you get no arguments from me.

I also think Buddhism, or maybe I should now say any mindfulness with an aim to improve self and habits can support our Christian spirituality.

 

[muichimotsu]

Buddhism is not theocentric and its premises are lies. Two good reasons that it cannot be regarded as a religion.

Not sure why being theocentric precludes a worldview from being religious, because the supernatural is broader than mere theism. Or is animism or similar notions that are impersonal in nature somehow not religious merely because they don't fit a creator archetype?

 

[muichimotsu]

As a vegetarian/almost vegan you get no arguments from me.

I also think Buddhism, or maybe I should now say any mindfulness with an aim to improve self and habits can support our Christian spirituality.

There are plenty of parallel sayings from Gautama Buddha and Jesus, check out the book by Marcus Borg and Jack Kornfield, if you haven't already. Though checking on Amazon, my go to for such purchases, I'm lucky I got mine for class (or did I?), the version I have now goes for as much as $50

 

[muichimotsu]

Buddhists are not supposed to be violent or kill people. That is compatible with Christianity. Buddhists are vegetarian. In Romans 14 Paul wrote it is better not to eat meat or drink wine if that would cause someone else to stumble. If you study advanced nutrition you might find an advantage in eating more vegetables. Wine has alcohol; that is a neurotoxin and is a carcinogen. A diet high in meat/cholesterol brought heart disease.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Merely by being honest one might become closer to Christ, even though some do not think honesty is a religion. Buddhism might be better with knowledge of the Gospels.

Of course, comparatively speaking there are many parallels to be found, you won't get an argument from me on that, religious studies is one of my major interests and my college major to boot

There are, however, conflicts that are also fundamentally at odds with Christianity and Buddhism, same as you could find parallels in Christianity and Islam, but also antinomy

 

[dqhall]

Of course, comparatively speaking there are many parallels to be found, you won't get an argument from me on that, religious studies is one of my major interests and my college major to boot

There are, however, conflicts that are also fundamentally at odds with Christianity and Buddhism, same as you could find parallels in Christianity and Islam, but also antinomy

I found a saying attributed to Buddha, “If we fail to look after others when they need help, who will look after us?”

Jesus said, “Treat others the way you would like to be treated” An alternate translation is, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

 

[muichimotsu]

I found a saying attributed to Buddha, “If we fail to look after others when they need help, who will look after us?”

Jesus said, “Treat others the way you would like to be treated” An alternate translation is, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Reciprocity as a principle is fairly old, I think the golden rule exists in even the Vedas somewhere

 

[Taodeching]

Zen and the Brain
file:///C:/Users/pmayo/Downloads/Zen%20and%20the%20Brain%20(%20PDFDrive%20).pdf

Link didn't work

 

[mindlight]

Not sure why being theocentric precludes a worldview from being religious, because the supernatural is broader than mere theism. Or is animism or similar notions that are impersonal in nature somehow not religious merely because they don't fit a creator archetype?

Yes that is a good example of deceit, suggesting that the supernatural is bigger than God. Buddhism prides itself on its right thinking but does not see the world as it is.

 

[mindlight]

Its premises are lies? How so?

Sin not pain is the primary factor in a broken world. God is the centre of reality and right thinking begins with that. The stories about the Buddha have no historical credibility.

 

[Zoii]

Sin not pain is the primary factor in a broken world. God is the centre of reality and right thinking begins with that. The stories about the Buddha have no historical credibility.

Oh heck - I realise this is a Christian site, but I'd have thought Christians would be the last ones to talk about historical credibility when you talk about how God got mad and wiped the entire human race out - or when you mention the reason we all speak different languages is because of a tower built in Babalon, or when you talk about a guy walking on water than dividing a single loaf to feed thousands....or...I'd appeal to you not to be so hypocritical. You believe what you believe not based on evidence but a belief - other religions are no different.

 

[mindlight]

Oh heck - I realise this is a Christian site, but I'd have thought Christians would be the last ones to talk about historical credibility when you talk about how God got mad and wiped the entire human race out - or when you mention the reason we all speak different languages is because of a tower built in Babalon, or when you talk about a guy walking on water than dividing a single loaf to feed thousands....or...I'd appeal to you not to be so hypocritical. You believe what you believe not based on evidence but a belief - other religions are no different.

It is more credible to believe an Almighty God can save, than subscribe to a path laid out by a man, who may have never existed, sitting under a tree, and meditating his way to nirvana.

 

[Zoii]

It is more credible to believe an Almighty God can save, than subscribe to a path laid out by a man, who may have never existed, sitting under a tree, and meditating his way to nirvana.

Well of course you should believe that - you are a Christian. But you made a statement about historical facts - I think you can appreciate the hypocritical tone of that statement (or perhaps you can't) when of course Christianity, like Abrahamic and Hindu religions, is a matter of faith and cannot be proven in fact. The fact that you don't believe Buddha existed, yet believe God inseminated a virgin to give birth to himself in the form of a man is, to a non-christian, equally incredulous you'd believe such a preposterous story.

 

[mindlight]

Well of course you should believe that - you are a Christian. But you made a statement about historical facts - I think you can appreciate the hypocritical tone of that statement (or perhaps you can't) when of course Christianity, like Abrahamic and Hindu religions, is a matter of faith and cannot be proven in fact. The fact that you don't believe Buddha existed, yet believe God inseminated a virgin to give birth to himself in the form of a man is, to a non-christian, equally incredulous you'd believe such a preposterous story.

Historical evidence can confirm scriptural references, circumstances and context to a considerable extent. That is not possible with Buddhism. When I argued this with a Buddhist ,here, some time ago , he said it did not matter, as the Buddhas insights could be reached and affirmed by all who would grasp them. If you want to argue evidence then a Jew or Christian can take you half way a Buddhist cannot even do that

 

[Zoii]

Historical evidence can confirm scriptural references, circumstances and context to a considerable extent. That is not possible with Buddhism. When I argued this with a Buddhist ,here, some time ago , he said it did not matter, as the Buddhas insights could be reached and affirmed by all who would grasp them. If you want to argue evidence then a Jew or Christian can take you half way a Buddhist cannot even do that

Heck you find it impossible to admit there is no more historical evidence for Christianity then any other religion. You truly believe you have evidence the slaying of Cain by Abel - or that Jesus walked on water, or that God made the world in 7 days or that languages evolve because of a tower that was built, or that God impregnated himself into a virgin.

How disingenuous of you to argue in this way.
Well you may choose to throw disrespect upon other religions, but from my perspective, Buddhism is the only religion I know that does not sanction violence. While the bible and Quran and Torah is littered with events where God commands the slaughter of men women and children, the murder of the entire human race in a flood, and the summary death of women for a range of minor offences - Buddhism honours peace and refutes any form of violence.

But it seems you are bent on being disrespectful to another religion even knowing full well you are being hypocritical - but that's your poor form to deal with. I just shake my head, as this lack of integrity. was the reason I shifted from calling myself Christian, to now being seeker.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Sin not pain is the primary factor in a broken world. God is the centre of reality and right thinking begins with that. The stories about the Buddha have no historical credibility.

Different metaphysics. Yes. We know that. But I think it offers practical methods that do not require the metaphysics.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Link didn't work

I am very sorry. Maybe it would be best if you search Zen and the Brain PDF.

This one has pdf for each chapter:

Zen and the Brain | MIT CogNet


But now I am reading a follow up, Zen Brain Reflections. There is also a pdf of that. So far it seems less technical.
https://terebess.hu/zen/mesterek/Zen-Brain-Reflections.pdf

I just find it interesting but also beyond me. I am now reading about the brain structures correlated with our sense of self.

With both books I recommend looking at the table of contents or index for subjects you might want to go deeper into.

 

[ananda]

Sin not pain is the primary factor in a broken world. God is the centre of reality and right thinking begins with that. The stories about the Buddha have no historical credibility.

False equivalence ... the stories about the Buddha are ultimately irrelevant for Theravadan Buddhists. We don't need to have faith in those stories (unlike Christians and the stories about Christ, etc.), because it isn't faith in Him which "saves" us, but rather practice of the Teachings (Dhamma).

Even in those stories about the Buddha, He reiterated the fact that the Dhamma was more important than Himself. The Dhamma can be seen in the here-and-now and are described as "timeless, invites verification, pertinent, and to be experienced by the observant for themselves", so we find no need for "historical evidence" like Christians often feel they need to seek out to validate their faith (in my experience).

 

[zoidar]

Sin not pain is the primary factor in a broken world. God is the centre of reality and right thinking begins with that.

This is true! The end of "suffering" won't give us paradise. The end of sin will!

 

[dzheremi]

Well you may choose to throw disrespect upon other religions, but from my perspective, Buddhism is the only religion I know that does not sanction violence. While the bible and Quran and Torah is littered with events where God commands the slaughter of men women and children, the murder of the entire human race in a flood, and the summary death of women for a range of minor offences - Buddhism honours peace and refutes any form of violence.

Apparently somebody forgot to inform Buddhist extremists in Myanmar and Sri Lanka of this fact. Oops.

 

[ananda]

This is true! The end of "suffering" won't give us paradise. The end of sin will!

Isn't the Christian desire for paradise really & ultimately about ending suffering & establishing unending happiness?

In other words, paradise isn't the real end goal ... the end of suffering and the establishment of unending happiness is the real end goal, and "paradise" is seen as the way towards that real end goal.