Obama and Foreign gods

Lampshade · Nov 21, 2012

good brother said:
You do grasp that Christians don't do "cute little cultural activities"? Our religion is far deeper than cute little activities.

I wouldn't even bend over to tie my shoe if I was in a pagan temple because I wouldn't want someone to mistakenly think I might be bowing before anyone other than Jesus Christ.

In Christ alone, GB

So, you're concerned with what others think of you. Do you think God doesn't understand your intentions, let alone your heart?

I wouldn't even bend over to tie my shoe if I was in a pagan temple because I wouldn't want someone to mistakenly think I might be bowing before anyone other than Jesus Christ.

Christianity has been so successful in part because of its ability to adapt and conform to the belief systems already present in a culture. Look at the already mentioned "traditions" of Easter and Christmas.

I wouldn't want someone to mistakenly think I might be bowing before anyone other than Jesus Christ

Maybe you should worry less about what people Think you believe, and worry more about how your actions and words make your beliefs look.

Back on topic, Obama might not be as conservative in his christianity as others would like, but I find it dubious to claim he is anything other than what he says he is, as far as his faith goes. Believe it or not, most Democrats are Christians too

LionofJudahDK · Nov 22, 2012

Trogool said:
You do grasp that Obama wasnt worshiping it, right? That he was doing a cute little cultural activity for photos? Like a tourist?

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

It was a part of a pagan religious ritual, no matter how you try and bend it.
This isn't a quirky little cultural thing, such as taking off one's shoes before going into a house, or eating with chopsticks.

LionofJudahDK · Nov 22, 2012

Lampshade said:
So, you're concerned with what others think of you. Do you think God doesn't understand your intentions, let alone your heart?

That excuse is as old as time itself. It was the one the gnostics used, so they could offer sacrifices to the pagan gods, and to Caesar, in order to "fit in", while still claiming to be Christians. The Christians, though, saw their BS for what it was.

Lampshade said:
Back on topic, Obama might not be as conservative in his christianity as others would like, but I find it dubious to claim he is anything other than what he says he is, as far as his faith goes. Believe it or not, most Democrats are Christians too

So, whatever someone claims, is true. If someone claims to be Napoleon, does that mean that they are?

grasping the after wind · Nov 22, 2012

Illuminaughty said:
Buddha isn't a god. The gods come to Buddha for guidance.

That seems to be the most reasonable explanation given . The President went to seek guidance from the little buddha and shared some tea. May have considered that the worship part should have been the other way around so obviously Mr. President was not in any way worshiping a god before him.

CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN · Nov 22, 2012

Illuminaughty said:
The Pagoda wasn't dedicated to a god it was dedicated to the historical Buddha. There is supposed to be one of his hairs there. Looks like a beautiful place I would like to visit it.

I believe in the bible, that would be consider worshiping a idol or God, would be a no no. But I'm not surprised, that Hillary or Obama would do this, since their more worldy than Godly.

Trogool · Nov 22, 2012

I wonder how many people here who are acting all up in arms by acussing Obama of worshiping another god (when Buddha isn't even a deity) were equally outraged when President Bush bowed to some actual gods during his visit to the Meiji Shrine in Japan.

Somehow I doubt people were quite as condemnatory towards Bush as they are towards Obama.

Illuminaughty · Nov 22, 2012

That's different Bush isn't a secret Muslim.

Illuminaughty · Nov 22, 2012

LionofJudahDK said:
It was a part of a pagan religious ritual, no matter how you try and bend it.
This isn't a quirky little cultural thing, such as taking off one's shoes before going into a house, or eating with chopsticks.

Buddhism isn't a pagan religion.

CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN · Nov 22, 2012

Trogool said:
I wonder how many people here who are acting all up in arms by acussing Obama of worshiping another god (when Buddha isn't even a deity) were equally outraged when President Bush bowed to some actual gods during his visit to the Meiji Shrine in Japan.

Somehow I doubt people were quite as condemnatory towards Bush as they are towards Obama.

If Bush did it, it was wrong to. I'm not up in arms about it. But according to the bible it would be wrong. Also I don't remember anyone said that Bush did it.

CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN · Nov 22, 2012

Illuminaughty said:
That's different Bush isn't a secret Muslim.

If he did the same thing, I find it hard to believe he even read the bible. Also I don't believe Obama is Muslim or Christian. I just think he's comfused like most people.

Trogool · Nov 22, 2012

CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN said:
If he did the same thing, I find it hard to believe he even read the bible. Also I don't believe Obama is Muslim or Christian. I just think he's comfused like most people.

Likewise, you also don't believe Bush is Shinto or Christian?

Skaloop · Nov 22, 2012

CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN said:
I believe in the bible, that would be consider worshiping a idol or God, would be a no no. But I'm not surprised, that Hillary or Obama would do this, since their more worldy than Godly.

But he's not worshiping anything. He's going through the motions.

LionofJudahDK · Nov 22, 2012

Illuminaughty said:
Buddhism isn't a pagan religion.

From a Christian POV, anything that isn't Christian, is pagan, with mainstream Judaism as the possible exception (though that is still idolatry).

CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN · Nov 22, 2012

Skaloop said:
But he's not worshiping anything. He's going through the motions.

If he was Christian he wouldn't do that and would know better. Either way he worshipibng or testing God, A true Christian would know better.

grasping the after wind · Nov 23, 2012

Illuminaughty said:
Buddhism isn't a pagan religion.

Now your confusing me. If the gods, as you earlier stated, come to Buddha for guidance, then in Buddhism there must be a belief in the existence of multiple gods. Belief in multiple gods is a pagan belief. a religion that beliveves in multiple gods is a pagan religion. Are you purposely contradicting yourself? Is there some sort of paradox here that only the enlightened can understand?

Illuminaughty · Nov 23, 2012

Now your confusing me. If the gods, as you earlier stated, come to Buddha for guidance, then in Buddhism there must be a belief in the existence of multiple gods

Correct. Some modern Buddhist term themselves atheist Buddhists and usually take the gods to be metaphors for human states or they just reject them all together but traditionaly the Sutras do mention gods. They aren't central to Buddhism and the human state is actually more conducive to liberation though.

Belief in multiple gods is a pagan belief.

Pagans (Wiccans, Asatru, etc..) do often believe in multiple gods. So do many non-Pagans. I personally don't worship any of them and I consider them to be sentient beings trapped in ignorance and delusion just like non-enlightened humans (barring certain Bodhisattva's who manifest as gods to teach them) . Buddhism isn't about the worship of Gods. Certain sects allow for it and others don't (mine doesn't) but Buddhisms real purpose is the liberation of all sentient beings.

The Bible mentions gods in the plural is it pagan in your view?

LionofJudahDK · Nov 24, 2012

Illuminaughty said:
The Bible mentions gods in the plural is it pagan in your view?

Not the same thing, and if you knew anything else than what you pick up at "TheBibleSucks.com", or something like that, you'd know this.

The Bible mentions the fact that the nations other than Israel have "gods", meaning that they believe in and worship these gods. It is referencing paganism, and referencing isn't = supporting/endorsing.

Skaloop · Nov 24, 2012

LionofJudahDK said:
Not the same thing, and if you knew anything else than what you pick up at "TheBibleSucks.com", or something like that, you'd know this.

The Bible mentions the fact that the nations other than Israel have "gods", meaning that they believe in and worship these gods. It is referencing paganism, and referencing isn't = supporting/endorsing.

I find the bolded part interesting in light of your comments over on this thread: http://www.christianforums.com/t7702854/

When the Bible references something you don't like, that's OK because it's just referencing, but when schools reference something you don't like, that becomes promotion.

grasping the after wind · Nov 25, 2012

Illuminaughty said:
Correct. Some modern Buddhist term themselves atheist Buddhists and usually take the gods to be metaphors for human states or they just reject them all together but traditionaly the Sutras do mention gods. They aren't central to Buddhism and the human state is actually more conducive to liberation though.

Pagans (Wiccans, Asatru, etc..) do often believe in multiple gods. So do many non-Pagans. I personally don't worship any of them and I consider them to be sentient beings trapped in ignorance and delusion just like non-enlightened humans (barring certain Bodhisattva's who manifest as gods to teach them) . Buddhism isn't about the worship of Gods. Certain sects allow for it and others don't (mine doesn't) but Buddhisms real purpose is the liberation of all sentient beings.

The Bible mentions gods in the plural is it pagan in your view?

The Bible mentions many specific foreign gods but mentioning something does not mean one believes that that something actually exist in reality and is not simply the creation of the imagination . I may reference Tom Sawyer but still know that he is a fictional character. Belief in the real existence of multiple gods, whether one worships those gods or merely gives them advice is a pagan belief from the viewpoint of the Christian. Therefore as far as Christianity is concerned Buddhism is a pagan religion. If Buddhists have a different take on what it means to be pagan I suppose you might define what pagan means to Buddhists for us and we can compare understandings even if we may decide those understandings are too different to reach agreement.

wing2000 · Nov 25, 2012

good brother said:
You do grasp that Christians don't do "cute little cultural activities"? Our religion is far deeper than cute little activities.

I wouldn't even bend over to tie my shoe if I was in a pagan temple because I wouldn't want someone to mistakenly think I might be bowing before anyone other than Jesus Christ.

In Christ alone, GB

These "cute little activities" are expected when a Head of State visit's a foreign country. Your statement clearly implies a Christian cannot be President of the United States.

Obama and Foreign gods

Lampshade

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That's grasping after the wind

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Drift and Doubt

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My dad died 1/12/2023. I'm still devastated.

My dad died 1/12/2023. I'm still devastated.

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My dad died 1/12/2023. I'm still devastated.

That's grasping after the wind

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That's grasping after the wind

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