Buddhism books: throw, recycle, donate, pass on, burn?

section9+1 said:

The bible shows no support at all for the virtue of allowing opposing belief systems to co-exist with Christianity. And loving one another has no application in this. Those passages in John and 1 John referred only to the followers of Jesus loving each other. They do not include Buddhists.

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Nor do they include, golfers, mechanics, vegetarians, crossfitters, orchestra conductors, etc...

We are supposed to love all people, but promoting their agendas is a poor way to show love. God always expects his followers to oppose alternative righteousness.

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That's exactly why I oppose Golf and Golfers, vegetarians, Crossfitters and most auto mechanics...

section9+1 said:

And as for Christianity being viewed unfavorably by the world, it is supposed to be so. We are salt not sugar. Christianity tries to be everyone's sugar and it cannot do that and retain its identity. If Buddhists don't approve then we are doing what's expected of us.

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No. Not like that. If Buddhism is more favored due to being more docile and mature than christians, then we failed because we gave the world an actual reason to think low of our beliefs. This isn't a dislike based on pride or refusal to change but a dislike due to behavior.

How seriously crazy must someone be to go out and burn a book that is different from his beliefs? It's not like Buddhism teaches people to cut other peoples heads of or rage war to convert others. Buddhists have committed far less atrocities and crimes to humanity than christians, and they don't overreact unintelligently over differences unlike what you see here. This is why Christians have little respect towards the eyes of many, and this isn't something to be proud about or excuse with reasoning that you just put here.

crossnote said:

You are speaking in terms of our physical earthy life, I was referencing eternal life.

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Really?
You brought up "silencing the mind as a goal for personal peace"...
What does that have to do with eternal life?
That Sure sounds earthly to me.

Like Golf, everything about Buddhism is earthly.
Like Golf, Buddhism is meditative and ritualistic.
Like Golfers, Buddhists follow their bliss.

Come to think of it, don't see much difference between the two besides the fact that Buddhists don't wear cleats and swing clubs... unless they are ALSO golfers...

Which means Christianity and Golf, like Christianity and Buddhism, appear to be incompatible with one another, for Golf, if followed, lands someone in Hell, Period.

Cis.jd said:

How seriously crazy must someone be to go out and burn a book that is different from his beliefs? It's not like Buddhism teaches people to cut other peoples heads of or rage war to convert others. Buddhists have committed far less atrocities and crimes to humanity than christians, and they don't overreact unintelligently over differences unlike what you see here. This is why Christians have little respect towards the eyes of many, and this isn't something to be proud about or excuse with reasoning that you just put here.

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This is so true. Buddhism tends to have a good reputation in the eyes of the West (in general) largely because most forms of Buddhism place a huge emphasis on compassion and tolerance towards others, even when one doesn't agree with someone. I have known people to be turned off Christianity and attracted to Buddhism precisely because they found compassion in Buddhism and no compassion in Christianity (or in what they saw of Christianity, rather).

Hearing all these Christians calling for Buddhist books to be burned would only reinforce that impression. Plenty of Buddhist writers have expressed appreciation for Christ and his teachings, despite his professed followers not always exactly living up to them. To quote Gandhi (who was Hindu, but the point still stands): "I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

section9+1 said:

And as for Christianity being viewed unfavorably by the world, it is supposed to be so. We are salt not sugar. Christianity tries to be everyone's sugar and it cannot do that and retain its identity.

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I appreciate your point, but I would suggest Jesus' metaphor of us being "the salt of the earth" might refer to salt's function of bringing out the good flavours of food and preserving it from spoiling — not of making it completely unpalatable.

parousia70 said:

Really?
You brought up "silencing the mind as a goal for personal peace"...
What does that have to do with eternal life?
That Sure sounds earthly to me.

Like Golf, everything about Buddhism is earthly.
Like Golf, Buddhism is meditative and ritualistic.
Like Golfers, Buddhists follow their bliss.

Come to think of it, don't see much difference between the two besides the fact that Buddhists don't wear cleats and swing clubs... unless they are ALSO golfers...

Which means Christianity and Golf, like Christianity and Buddhism, appear to be incompatible with one another, for Golf, if followed, lands someone in Hell, Period.

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It sounds earthy to you because you have no connection with Him who is eternal.
I was speaking of the Eastern practice of meditation for peace of mind.
The Christian finds his peace through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, cleansing our conscience from the terror of judgment which will come on all those who have rejected God's provision through His Son.

As I said, Jesus is sufficient as is His Word. Why look elsewhere?

Kerensa said:

To quote Gandhi (who was Hindu, but the point still stands): "I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

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To quote the apostle John...
1 John 4:20 NASBS
[20] If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

Same thing I did with my Microsoft DOS manuals.

What people are missing here, is that it is not 'compassion and tolerance' that is the issue of Life but Truth.
A person can gush all over you with 'love' and 'tolerance' but their lies can send you to hell.
Becarefulof wolves in sheep's clothing.

crossnote said:

To quote the apostle John...
1 John 4:20 NASBS
[20] If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

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Yes, and burning books from another faith — especially one based on compassion and non-violence — is inherently an act of hatred and contempt (and indeed self-righteousness). And as for the "but 'love one another' refers only to fellow Christians" excuse... Jesus taught us to love our neighbours as ourselves. Including our enemies. That means everyone. Not just the people whose beliefs match ours. EVERYONE.

Kerensa said:

Yes, and burning books from another faith — especially one based on compassion and non-violence — is inherently an act of hatred and contempt (and indeed self-righteousness). And as for the "but 'love one another' refers only to fellow Christians" excuse... Jesus taught us to love our neighbours as ourselves. Including our enemies. That means everyone. Not just the people whose beliefs match ours. EVERYONE.

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I love others by telling them the truth not by telling them lies which contradict God's Word.
Why would you support a system that detracts from God's truth?
Do you think it's 'love' to tell people untruths capable of damning their soul?
Do you realize sweet baby Jesus is returning as King and Judge destroying His enemies?
Burning books? No I am not that insecure in my faith. In the Book of Acts, the ones that burned books were those who had been converted...they burned their own books, not those of others.

crossnote said:

I love others by telling them the truth not by telling them lies which contradict God's Word.
Why would you support a system that detracts from God's truth?
Do you think it's 'love' to tell people untruths capable of damning their soul?
Do you realize sweet baby Jesus is returning as King and Judge destroying His enemies?

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Yes. Have you ever read the Gospel of Matthew? The part where he warns of those who call him "Lord, Lord" and yet he never knew them — and the part where the ones whom he welcomes into heaven are the ones who showed compassion for those who were needy and suffering, whether or not they knew Who they were really doing it for? Gosh, it makes an absolute mockery of this assumption that you're saved solely because you believe in Jesus and that everyone who doesn't believe in him will automatically go to hell, regardless of what good or bad things they've done in life. (A teaching that, by the way, is yet another thing that puts a whole lot of thinking, caring, heartfelt seekers right OFF Christianity. But we're getting off topic again here.)

Kerensa said:

Yes. Have you ever read the Gospel of Matthew? The part where he warns of those who call him "Lord, Lord" and yet he never knew them — and the part where the ones whom he welcomes into heaven are the ones who showed compassion for those who were needy and suffering, whether or not they knew Who they were really doing it for? Gosh, it makes an absolute mockery of this assumption that you're saved solely because you believe in Jesus and that everyone who doesn't believe in him will automatically go to hell, regardless of what good or bad things they've done in life. (A teaching that, by the way, is yet another thing that puts a whole lot of thinking, caring, heartfelt seekers right OFF Christianity. But we're getting off topic again here.)

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OK, let's look at that passage in Matthew...

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Mat 7:21)
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Mat 7:22)
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Mat 7:23)

Notice, these people were relying on their works (in bold). What was Jesus response? "I never knew you". These were not known of God i.e. they were not born again, nor were they trusting in the redemptive work of Christ, but appealed to their own works and righteousness.

Those that don't understand the Gospel don't understand Paul when he says...
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. (Rom 4:2)
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (Rom 4:3)
Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. (Rom 4:4)
And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, (Rom 4:5)

I realize there is a false social gospel spreading through Christendom, denying human depravity, sin, hell, the coming Judgment, etc pushed by the socialist left, 'Red Letter Christians', Emergent Church types and is infiltrating the Churches, but they know little about the true Gospel and how one is saved, such as...

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, (1Co 15:1)
and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (1Co 15:2)
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, (1Co 15:3)
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (1Co 15:4)

Notice it says 'by which you are saved v.2. You can continue in your 'Galatianist works salvation' and pat yourself on the back when you find yourself in Mt 7:22.

Burn them! Burn them all!

Jk but really just get rid of them without donating because if you give it to someone, they can get deceived by the teachings in the book. So just destroy it.

RaymondG said:

The message is, love one another as Christ has loved you. destroying the literature of those who God has not found yet, cannot be derived from this.

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I'm confused, wouldn't destroying deceptive literature be loving your neighbours? We love our neighbours and we don't want them to perish by deceptions that reject the gospel.

crossnote said:

I was speaking of the Eastern practice of meditation for peace of mind.

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Which is qualitatively different from western practices of meditation through activities such as golf and classical music... how?

The Christian finds his peace through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, cleansing our conscience from the terror of judgment which will come on all those who have rejected God's provision through His Son.

As I said, Jesus is sufficient as is His Word. Why look elsewhere?

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So you would agree golf is incompatible with Christianity then?

crossnote said:

I realize there is a false social gospel spreading through Christendom, denying human depravity, sin, hell, the coming Judgment, etc pushed by the socialist left, 'Red Letter Christians', Emergent Church types and is infiltrating the Churches...

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Funnily enough, I'm not any of those types. And there's still no way around Matt. 25:30-46. But each to his own.

Let's get back on topic, not that there's much more to say. It's just very sad that so many here are terrified of what a few books on Buddhism might possibly do to lead someone away from Christ, unable to see that their exclusivist brand of Christianity is one of the main things that DOES turn earnest seekers off any desire to be a Christian (again, been there myself). Good thing God's love and saving grace for ALL are far more powerful than human misconceptions of Christianity — let alone more powerful than Buddhism's shortcomings. But there's not much point in arguing any further here.

I agree with this.
This is also a matter of economy. If you are alone and there is no ill will in your heart toward Buddhists and recycling is not an option then burning is just another way people get rid of things. It should be no big deal. As a group we seem to want it both ways. One the one hand we cite the burning of Notre Dame (which held the Eucharist/worshippers) or Bibles (the written Word of God) making both Sacramental and on the other hand we cite Buddhist liturature that is claimed to be safe and helpful (because we say, it is, nonreligious and therefore not opposed to Christianity) even being compared to math texts . And yet I, myself, threw out a bunch of so-called safe and helpful literature (even Christian stuff), manuals and the like, because of water damage. Just ripped them to shreds and tossed them. I don't believe I sinned by doing so and I'm someone with a particularly sensitive conscience. Because it wasn't done out of hate for the authors or for the readers (me and thousands of other people) and most importantly, they weren't Sacramental Liturature!!!

DM25 said:

I'm confused, wouldn't destroying deceptive literature be loving your neighbours? We love our neighbours and we don't want them to perish by deceptions that reject the gospel.

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parousia70 said:

That's exactly why I oppose Golf and Golfers, vegetarians, Crossfitters and most auto mechanics...

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Your point makes no sense.

Cis.jd said:

No. Not like that. If Buddhism is more favored due to being more docile and mature than christians, then we failed because we gave the world an actual reason to think low of our beliefs. This isn't a dislike based on pride or refusal to change but a dislike due to behavior.

How seriously crazy must someone be to go out and burn a book that is different from his beliefs? It's not like Buddhism teaches people to cut other peoples heads of or rage war to convert others. Buddhists have committed far less atrocities and crimes to humanity than christians, and they don't overreact unintelligently over differences unlike what you see here. This is why Christians have little respect towards the eyes of many, and this isn't something to be proud about or excuse with reasoning that you just put here.

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Too bad the bible contradicts what you are saying.

It's not the Buddhists themselves. I have no grudge against any Buddhist. This is about burning Buddhist books, not burning Buddhists. There is no grace or salvation in Buddhism. It is a false religion and anyone who defends its message shares in its wickedness. Maybe people should think about who God doesn't know. You buck against too much bible when you defend other faiths.