Is it possible to practice both Buddhism and Christianity?

[Sophrosyne]

Jesus was not addressing the question of religious pluralism. IMO, He was saying basically the same thing Baha'u'llah says here, that we don't come to God by our own efforts:

"O Salmán! The door of the knowledge of the Ancient Being hath ever been, and will continue for ever to be, closed in the face of men. No man’s understanding shall ever gain access unto His holy court. As a token of His mercy, however, and as a proof of His loving-kindness, He hath manifested unto men the Day Stars of His divine guidance, the Symbols of His divine unity, and hath ordained the knowledge of these sanctified Beings to be identical with the knowledge of His own Self. Whoso recognizeth them hath recognized God. Whoso hearkeneth to their call, hath hearkened to the Voice of God, and whoso testifieth to the truth of their Revelation, hath testified to the truth of God Himself. Whoso turneth away from them, hath turned away from God, and whoso disbelieveth in them, hath disbelieved in God. Every one of them is the Way of God that connecteth this world with the realms above, and the Standard of His Truth unto every one in the kingdoms of earth and heaven. They are the Manifestations of God amidst men, the evidences of His Truth, and the signs of His glory."

Jesus made a statement of him being the ONLY way truth and life NOBODY can come to God (The Father) but through HIM. This is an exclusive statement that alienates ANY other religion.

 

[light upon light]

Jesus made a statement of him being the ONLY way truth and life NOBODY can come to God (The Father) but through HIM. This is an exclusive statement that alienates ANY other religion.

So Moses was a false prophet? What about Zoroaster?

 

[smaneck]

Jesus made a statement of him being the ONLY way truth and life NOBODY can come to God (The Father) but through HIM. This is an exclusive statement that alienates ANY other religion.

Every scriptural statement is made in a context. The context of John 14 is the disciples are asking Jesus to show them the way and the Father. It is within this context that Jesus is saying, 'if you can't see the Father in me, there is no sense in looking anywhere else.'

 

[seashale76]

Every scriptural statement is made in a context. The context of John 14 is the disciples are asking Jesus to show them the way and the Father. It is within this context that Jesus is saying, 'if you can't see the Father in me, there is no sense in looking anywhere else.'

I understand that you may believe that- but then- you're not a Christian. Nor is your interpretation a Christian one.

 

[smaneck]

I understand that you may believe that- but then- you're not a Christian. Nor is your interpretation a Christian one.

Nope, just the opinion of someone who got a PhD learning to read texts.

 

[Sophrosyne]

So Moses was a false prophet? What about Zoroaster?

Nope... God came to moses not the other way around

 

[Sophrosyne]

Every scriptural statement is made in a context. The context of John 14 is the disciples are asking Jesus to show them the way and the Father. It is within this context that Jesus is saying, 'if you can't see the Father in me, there is no sense in looking anywhere else.'

no, you misread the Bible... it specifically rules out any other gods as being in any fashion at all correct and states God is jealous he won't share with other gods at all.

 

[smaneck]

Nope... God came to moses not the other way around

God always comes to us. That was Jesus' whole point.

 

[Sophrosyne]

Nope, just the opinion of someone who got a PhD learning to read texts.

A Phd doesn't make oneself their own savior. I'm sure some of the most intelligent people on the planet have rejected Jesus making up some of the best excuses there are yet Jesus in the next life will call them fools.

 

[Sophrosyne]

God always comes to us. That was Jesus' whole point.

We aren't talking about "coming" but being with God forever by salvation. Jesus point was without him you are lost and cannot seek heaven (eternal life).

 

[smaneck]

no, you misread the Bible... it specifically rules out any other gods as being in any fashion at all correct and states God is jealous he won't share with other gods at all.

We aren't talking about other gods. We are talking about how we come to God, or rather how He comes to us. Remember?

 

[seashale76]

We aren't talking about other gods. We are talking about how we come to God, or rather how He comes to us. Remember?

He came to us via being born of a virgin.

 

[Sophrosyne]

We aren't talking about other gods. We are talking about how we come to God, or rather how He comes to us. Remember?

God send men to give us the Gospel for most of us. Paul went to people and shared who God was in the Bible.

 

[Zoness]

He came to us via being born of a virgin.

This is one [of several] concepts where Christianity loses me. Maybe there is a God out there somewhere. Though I doubt his personal aspects demonstrated in Abrahamic religions, maybe he does exist.

Though his son being born of a virgin? Eh, I don't know...

 

[seashale76]

This is the main crux of this thread. When you decide to take on beliefs that don't adhere to the religion which you claim for yourself (in this case Christianity)- then what you end up having is a faith that isn't Christian anymore- but Christian inspired. This obviously works the same for certain other religions as well. The people who take on those extraneous beliefs can add to or take away all they like and call themselves a Christian fill- in- the- blank all they like. However, it doesn't mean that this is recognized as adhering to the teachings of our faith.

In my faith, everything revolves around communion. Orthodox Christianity doesn't allow for it, as it would be impossible to be in communion with the Church and believe and do whatever you like in addition to Christianity. However, I can see some random person who doesn't care about the implications of communion and what the Church believes going out and saying that they're a Christian and also whatever else and going through whatever mental gymnastics it takes to please themselves with whatever label they come up with. To the Orthodox mind, that person is as far from Orthodox as you could get.

 

[Zoness]

More on topic I will say that many religions don't much like hybridization or compromise which is why paganism is so confusing to so many people. In my day to day life I hear a lot of people say things like "well I am Catholic but I don't agree with most of the church's doctrine" -- Chances are, you aren't really that Catholic, at least not by definition. Not that I agree with Catholicism [probably not in a million years] but if you claim a religion that has a set of rules for you to be considered that religion; it seems like you should either adhere to them or not. Just my opinion.

FWIW, I was raised Catholic and I think the church has probably long excommunicated me unofficially. Even though I was baptized Catholic and show up on the roster in the census, I am definitely not Catholic.

 

[light upon light]

Jesus made a statement of him being the ONLY way truth and life NOBODY can come to God (The Father) but through HIM. This is an exclusive statement that alienates ANY other religion.

I seem to recall Elijah, Enoch and Moses being taken into heaven without benefit of Jesus.

We also have the three wise men, who were Zoroastrian(!) priests, who came to give honor and gifts to the baby Jesus based on the scriptures of Zoroaster.

What about Noah? Job?

Perhaps "other sheep I have, also, who are not of this fold" refers to Muslims, Buddhists, Native Americans following their teachers of the "Great Spirit", and others following the same "I AM" that appeared in Jesus, to Moses, and the other Prophets of old?

 

[smaneck]

FWIW, I was raised Catholic and I think the church has probably long excommunicated me unofficially. Even though I was baptized Catholic and show up on the roster in the census, I am definitely not Catholic.

Once a Catholic, always a Catholic.

 

[Sophrosyne]

I seem to recall Elijah, Enoch and Moses being taken into heaven without benefit of Jesus.

They benefitted from Jesus, God knew that their faith in him was at such a level there was no doubt they would accept him as their savior.

We also have the three wise men, who were Zoroastrian(!) priests, who came to give honor and gifts to the baby Jesus based on the scriptures of Zoroaster.

I don't see this in the Bible sounds to me like a made up myth of someone that just happens to appear to tie into the Bible.

What about Noah? Job?

Perhaps "other sheep I have, also, who are not of this fold" refers to Muslims, Buddhists, Native Americans following their teachers of the "Great Spirit", and others following the same "I AM" that appeared in Jesus, to Moses, and the other Prophets of old?

Noah and Job waited for Jesus in Paradise along with Abraham until he died on the cross. The problem we have with other religions seemingly the same is when they are confronted with the Gospel and their ideas of God are tested and they reject Jesus proves that their "god" isn't the one who saves them. In other words.... saying you have the same God but rejecting Jesus proves you don't.

 

[smaneck]

In my faith, everything revolves around communion. Orthodox Christianity doesn't allow for it, as it would be impossible to be in communion with the Church and believe and do whatever you like in addition to Christianity.

So you think anyone who has an inclusive view of salvation isn't an Orthodox Christian?

Would that include George C. Papademetriou?

"Orthodox emphasis on the creation of the human person in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26) means that the personhood of each human being is indelibly imprinted with God's image. And it follows that, carrying God's image, each person has access to revelation and salvation.[7] God is ever present - at all times, in all places and in all things. He did not create man to abandon him but to guide him to redemption, to perfection. God's purpose is the salvation and glorification of man.
<snip>
An Orthodox scholar recently observed that there are basically three views that Christians have taken with regard to non-Christian religions. The first is that the non-Christian will be damned because there is no salvation outside the visible Body of Christ, the Church, The second is that the non-Christian may be saved in spite the religion he practices, but only through the mercy of God. The third is that the non-Christian may be saved by means of the very religion he practices, for nonChristian religions may also contain saving truths.[9] These three views parallel the three approaches identified elsewhere as exclusivism. inclusivism and cultural pluralism.

The claim of exclusivism has been rejected by many Orthodox scholars as untenable.This is not done in the interests of facilitating missionary endeavors or to foster world peace. Exclusiveness is rejected as a matter of Truth. The majority of Orthodox scholars would accept inclusivism. Some Orthodox scholars espouse the view characterized as cultural pluralism but with qualifications.
<snip>
The Orthodox view of dialogue with other religions is also rooted in the Church Fathers. Subsequent to the Apostolic age St. Justin Martyr, a second century apologist, makes the claim for Christianity that "Whatever things were rightly said among all men are the property of us Christians."Justin espouses the belief that both Gentiles and Jews will be saved on the basis of their piety and holiness. He states that "Christ is the first-born of God, and we have declared above all that He is the Word (Logos) of whom every race of men were partakers; and those who lived according to reason are Christian."[14] All peoples are able to participate in the "spermatikos logos" or seed of reason: "For each man spoke well in proportion to the share he had of the spermatic word (reason disseminated among men), seeing what was related to it," because "the seed of reason (the Logos) implanted in every race of men" makes God's revelation accessible to all [15] The pre-existence of the eternal Logos of God enables "all the races of men to participate" in God's revelation. The "seed of the Logos is innate in all the races of men and resides in all people." uniting humanity and making all "part of the Logos."
In our times. Professor John N. Karmiris, University of Athens, based on his studies of the Church Fathers, concludes that the salvation of non-Christians, non-Orthodox and heretics depends on the all-good, allwise and all-powerful God, who acts in the Church but also through other "ways." God's saving grace is also channelled outside the Church. It cannot be assumed that salvation is denied non-Christians living in true piety and according to natural law by the God who "is love" (1 John 4:8), In his justice and mercy God will judge them worthy even though they are outside the true Church.[18] This position is shared by many Orthodox who agree that God's salvation extends to all who live according to His "image" and "participate in the Logos." The Holy Spirit acted through the prophets of the Old Testament and in the nations. Salvation is also open outside the Church.

An Orthodox Christian View of Non-Christian Religions &mdash; Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America