How do you avoid syncretism?

Doctor Strangelove said:

I don't think you can be a Buddhist Christian - that would be heterodox. I have read Buddhist, Confucianist and Daoist books in part because they raise some interesting philosophical and historical issues and in part because I am interested in Chinese and Japanese culture. One can get a lot of ethical advice in particular from the Confucianist books (I know you specifically mentioned Buddhism - I want to expand this to discuss the danger of syncretism) ...

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(from the thread also in Mature Singles: 'Is there a prohibition against Christians learning about Buddhism?')


I too was warned of the dangers of syncretism and tried to avoid it for years and in the end failed completely.


Happy successful Christians at church read the newspaper on Sunday before church and discussed the things in it after the 10 AM family communion service.

To me that was syncretism - they were combining Worldly wisdom with Biblical, and the mixture was about 95% World to 5% Biblical on the basis of both time spent and discussion of it - and I read just the Bible before Church as well as at other times - I was a Bible-only person - I also wasn't happy or successful.

And then I asked myself how the Bible canon itself could be justified without using extra Biblical sources.

It can't which is why a number of different churches have a number of different canons. They may be reaching an agreement on using Calvin's 66 book canon, but then settling on the lowest common denominator - the smallest canon - is itself actually contrary to the existing scriptures.

Are you stating that mixing Worldliness with Christianity is not syncretism? If so then I've been doing it all wrong.


If it is OK to mix Worldliness then it is certainly OK to mix Buddhism with Christianity because Buddhism is not a religion according to the Oxford English Dictionary:

Religion

• the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods:

Buddhism does not affirm or deny the existence of a supernatural God.

Doctor Strangelove said:

...

I would say "Christ only" - you can add Buddhism to that and then you end up with Christ plus these extra laws I have to follow.

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The incorrect understanding of Romans and Galatians as the dichotomy of Law and Grace is foreign to most people and to Buddhism.

And to King David as well it would seem:

Psalm 1:2
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psalm 19:7
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

Psalm 37:31
The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

Psalm 40:8
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Psalm 78:1
Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

Psalm 78:5
For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

Psalm 78:10
They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;

Psalm 81:4
For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

Psalm 89:30
If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;

Psalm 94:12
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law;

Psalm 94:20
Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?

Psalm 105:10
And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:

Psalm 119:1
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.

Psalm 119:18
Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

Psalm 119:29
Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.

Psalm 119:34
Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

Psalm 119:44
So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.

Psalm 119:51
The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.

Psalm 119:53
Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.

Psalm 119:55
I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept thy law.

Psalm 119:61
The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

Psalm 119:70
Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.

Psalm 119:72
The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

Psalm 119:77
Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

Psalm 119:85
The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.

Psalm 119:92
Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

Psalm 119:97
O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 119:109
My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

Psalm 119:113
I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.

Psalm 119:126
It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law.

Psalm 119:136
Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

Psalm 119:142
Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

Psalm 119:150
They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.

Psalm 119:153
Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.

Psalm 119:163
I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.

Psalm 119:165
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Psalm 119:174
I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight.




I'll be back sometime tomorrow - I have a 12 hour shift coming up.

Doctor Strangelove said:

The Law brings you judgement, not justification. If you were to meet Christ face to face, would you say, "Be mercifu to me, a sinner" or would you say, "Here are my good things - I hope my good outweighs my bad."

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My long-time favourite is:

The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

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Where is the connection between this and judgement or justification?