What do you know about Buddhism?

[BuddhistGuy]

This is an interesting question for the Christians on this thread. I was raised a Christian, studied Christianity extensively for twelve years of my life, and so I can talk on this forum with a certain (limited) authority on some parts of Christian doctrine.

How much do you know about other religions? Specifically, what do you know about Buddhism?

This is not meant to insult anyone's intelligence (or anything like that), just interesting to find out how much people might now about a religion other than Xtianity

 

[Orontes]

A fare amount I think. Which major sect do you subscribe to? Do you fall under Theravadan, Mahayanan or Vajrayanan Traditions?

 

[Shy21]

oops sorry im not a Christian.....

 

[BuddhistGuy]

I am mainly a Theravadin, but I blieve that mhayanists and Tantric Practicioners have much to offer as well.

 

[arunma]

I know about Gautama Buddha from a Hindu perspective. But that's highly flawed, from what I'm told.

 

[TheListener]

I know enough to say that Buddhism is not a religion but just a self-improvement club for atheists. No offence intended to anyone.

 

[Eldy]

This is an interesting question for the Christians on this thread. I was raised a Christian, studied Christianity extensively for twelve years of my life, and so I can talk on this forum with a certain (limited) authority on some parts of Christian doctrine.

How much do you know about other religions? Specifically, what do you know about Buddhism?

This is not meant to insult anyone's intelligence (or anything like that), just interesting to find out how much people might now about a religion other than Xtianity

Much too much to accept it as a valid religious alternative to Jesus Christ.

Oh, and it is lame for you to abbreviate Christianity the way you do. Go ahead and do what you want with the ianity part but to turn the Name of Christ into an X is out of line.

 

[TheListener]

...to turn the Name of Christ into an X is out of line.

No biggy mate, I've done that before without meaning any disrespect. We're all friends here

 

[BuddhistGuy]

Much too much to accept it as a valid religious alternative to Jesus Christ.

Oh, and it is lame for you to abbreviate Christianity the way you do. Go ahead and do what you want with the ianity part but to turn the Name of Christ into an X is out of line.

My apologies, my intent was not to offend. If we can do it with Christmas, why not with Christianity?

It is also very interesting that you brush my entire belief system aside with a self-praising comment about how much you know, but you take a very small, offense-less mistake of mine and blow it up huge.

"Those who are right rarely need to get angry if they are sure of themselves. People only get impatient and angry in a debate if they are unsure of their own conviction."

 

[sefroth77]

This is an interesting question for the Christians on this thread. I was raised a Christian, studied Christianity extensively for twelve years of my life, and so I can talk on this forum with a certain (limited) authority on some parts of Christian doctrine.

How much do you know about other religions? Specifically, what do you know about Buddhism?

This is not meant to insult anyone's intelligence (or anything like that), just interesting to find out how much people might now about a religion other than Xtianity

Buddism if practiced well, is a Fantastic Religion. It is well above the 3 Abrahamovic Faiths, Because Practicing Buddist are humble, Dettached from Material elements, and ofcourse Vegetarian, A Buddist is on a Higher platform then the rest, where eating of Pig,Cow,Goat,Praws,Chicken,Duck,Turkey have become a Daily routine for them, These people can never progress in Spiritual Life and most are Doom, I'm 100% sure. Mad-cow,Bird Flu,Sars so many virus and diease main cause of it are Meat-Eating, Still they don't get the picture.

People who eat meat for enjoyment are far away from God, Buddists are very much closer to reality.

Hare Krishna

 

[Eldy]

My apologies, my intent was not to offend. If we can do it with Christmas, why not with Christianity?

I do not do it for CHRISTmas either.

It is also very interesting that you brush my entire belief system aside with a self-praising comment about how much you know, but you take a very small, offense-less mistake of mine and blow it up huge.

You asked the OP question and I answered it honestly. Did you want me to answer you in a certain manner other then my honest response??

"Those who are right rarely need to get angry if they are sure of themselves. People only get impatient and angry in a debate if they are unsure of their own conviction."

Nice quote. Doesn't apply, but nice nonetheless.

 

[Eldy]

Buddism if practiced well, is a Fantastic Religion. It is well above the 3 Abrahamovic Faiths, Because Practicing Buddist are humble, Dettached from Material elements, and ofcourse Vegetarian, A Buddist is on a Higher platform then the rest, where eating of Pig,Cow,Goat,Praws,Chicken,Duck,Turkey have become a Daily routine for them, These people can never progress in Spiritual Life and most are Doom, I'm 100% sure. Mad-cow,Bird Flu,Sars so many virus and diease main cause of it are Meat-Eating, Still they don't get the picture.

People who eat meat for enjoyment are far away from God, Buddists are very much closer to reality.

Hare Krishna

Funny, I had a hamburger earlier and a medium rare steak off the bbq for dinner and I have yet to develop any diseases nor am I any further from God then when I was hungry. I guess the idea just does not hold water.

 

[arunma]

No biggy mate, I've done that before without meaning any disrespect. We're all friends here

Actually, many Jews will talk about "xianity," because they claim that their laws prohibit them from writing out the name of Christ. As hard as I try to respect all non-Christians, I still happen to find the replacement of Christ with x to be somewhat offensive for this particular reason. Now, I probably wouldn't be offended if you did it, since I know your intent. Nonetheless, I would prefer that non-Christians avoid this practice.

 

[TheListener]

Actually, many Jews will talk about "xianity," because they claim that their laws prohibit them from writing out the name of Christ. As hard as I try to respect all non-Christians, I still happen to find the replacement of Christ with x to be somewhat offensive for this particular reason. Now, I probably wouldn't be offended if you did it, since I know your intent. Nonetheless, I would prefer that non-Christians avoid this practice.

I didn't know that. I'll stop being lazy & type the 5 extra letters from now on.

 

[Orontes]

I am mainly a Theravadin, but I blieve that mhayanists and Tantric Practicioners have much to offer as well.

What attracted you to the ways of the Arhat as opposed to the Great Vehicle or the Lightning Bolt?

 

[The Gregorian]

I can't claim to know much of the religion, but from what I've read about it, I also don't see it as a 'religion' (although, I admit I know only some of the basics of buddha's teachings, but not much of the rest of the picture).

1st: I agree that the teachings tought, or said to have been tought, by buddha, are generally very wise, if nothing else. I've always respected the general morals of the belief.

However, there are some questions I have about it.

My understanding of what qualifies a religion as a 'religion' as opposed to just a way of life is it must have a general 'grand scheme'... such as explaining why we exist (by my understandings: christianity says a diety made everything, then created the earth, athiesm says 'big bang which defies all laws of physics', most ancient polytheisms say the world always existed and gods live here just like everyone else, wicca says the earth itself is a spirit etc). But I've never really heard how buddhism explains the existance of the universe? Does it say it was always here... By my understanding, buddha was just a man who achieved enlightenment... he certainly didn't create it. Did one God create the earth/life, multiple gods? Or is buddhism similar to athiesm, in the belief that the universe formed naturally?

Like I said, I'm a christian, and I'm comfortable with how things are, but I believe that it's everyone's duty to consider other religions... from a 'I want everyone to believe in God' point of view, I would want a buddhist to look at the teachings of christianity (what the bible says, not what's practiced by a lot of twisted people), therefore I'm obligated to learn the teachings of other religions. (also depending on how much of an explaination you give, you MAY want to send it to me in a private message. I'm just looking for an explaination on what Buddhism teaches, but I anticipate the answer MAY be viewed as an attempt to 'convert' someone, which the mods might not like... anywho, use your judgement.)


(also, btw, I'm also sort of offended by substituting 'christ' with an 'x'... not "you just threw a hammer at my face!" offended... but like "hey... you cut in line" offended, you know.)

 

[peepnklown]

Mahayana, Nikaya (Theravada), or Vajrayana Buddhism?

 

[kit]

I was attracted to Theravada because it seemed to me to be the school most directly linked to Sidharta Gautama (the Buddha). I really do believe the other schools developed in large part to accomodate the more Northern Cultures where they have become rooted. I certainly see all schools though as being Buddhist.

Numerous Christians have told me my religion is not a religion. I can tell you Buddhism is my religion. Buddhism has all the hallmarks of a Religion. In fact you would have a more religious experience visiting one of our temples than visiting a Protestant church. We remove our shoes, we venerate the Buddha-images and alter, we venerate our monks. We have an ethical system and our religion answers our life questions. We have a community of Monks. I can't imagine how much more religious a religion gets than that.

The Buddha teaches us the eightfold path to enlightenment. He identified the four noble truths. He was a man who found enlightenment and then set up a system to "show" others how to get to enlightenment. He is not a God. Buddhism is non-Theistic, it is NOT Atheistic. The question of a creator God as monotheism doesn't come up in Buddhism. In that aspect some would say it is agnostic. The Buddha recognized that there are divine beings. Divine beings are subject to the same nature as all compounded things. They arise, "become", degrade, and disintigrate.

Practices in Theravada are meditation, merit making, veneration, study and living. Merit Making covers a lot of territory. It includes supporting the monks, looking after one another, creating edifying karma, and growing in the teachings.

Many Western Theravadins are practicing meditation as householders. In our wealthy modern age it is not just monks who can afford the time to devote to meditation. Many Western Theravadins don't have ready access to monks either. The traditional structure of the Sangha (community) is streching to accomodate a Culture without a large Buddhist Tradition.

 

[kit]

I should mention that we are not required to be vegetarian. One of the primary training rules in Buddhism is that we will not take the life of another living being. Therefore we may be limited in access to meat. In a largely Buddhist area vegetarianism could become a necessity. In the US meat is always available that we have not killed. We are not prohibited from eating meat. In some Buddhist countries it is common for Muslims and Christians to be butchers who supply the Buddhist market.

Being closer or farther from a God doeesn't enter into it at all.

 

[sefroth77]

I should mention that we are not required to be vegetarian. One of the primary training rules in Buddhism is that we will not take the life of another living being. Therefore we may be limited in access to meat. In a largely Buddhist area vegetarianism could become a necessity. In the US meat is always available that we have not killed. We are not prohibited from eating meat. In some Buddhist countries it is common for Muslims and Christians to be butchers who supply the Buddhist market.

Being closer or farther from a God doeesn't enter into it at all.

Not Required to be Vegetarian ?? I don't think so, People are giving excuses so that they can continue Eating meat. As long as a person, Buys,sells, transport and consumption means they are indirectly killing an animal. When you eat meat you are actually supporting the Killing. From what i know A Buddist is a person who follows Buddha's Teachings of Non-Violence, which includes all living beings. A Person cannot eat meat and hope to make spiritual progress in Life, that is impossible.

Buddist don't believe in an external God, i know that. what i'm trying to say is Vegetarianism means closer to Reality.