KFC is never going to understand Buddhism, she doesn't want to. You're exactly right though, it is not incogruous as so many think to be Buddhist and Christian. Heck, I'm Buddhist and Mormon.

I understand this more than you know SC...also Mormonism as well. I have yet to meet a Christian Buddhist. You cannot go in two diff directions now can you? Or do you just pick the parts you like and mesh together? As a Christian I have to really take into account the words of Paul when he wrote to the Colossians who were bringing all sorts of teachings into the church that were considered heresy:

"So then just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy which depends on human traditions and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."

Do you know in Cambodia we were told recently they don't even call themselves Christians anymore? The reason being is the word has been so watered down to mean anything goes. So to strongly define themselves now they say they are "followers of Christ."

There is NO eyewitness accounts of Buddha that we can take up and read.

It's just as accurate as the "eyewitness" accounts of Jesus. There is no, I repeat, NO historical evidence that points to the actual existence of Jesus Christ. Only our faith lets us know that he is real - empirical evidence concerning his life does not exist. One little line in Josephus (that was probably added later) does not count as empirical evidence.

The fact remains, you do not understand the very simple basics of Buddhism. Nothing that Siddhartha Gautama taught is contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is those who have come after that have made it what it is today.

But the same can be said of Christianity. The Christianity you practice is not the Christianity that the Apostles did.

Neither is Satan.

That, in my opinion, begs to be discussed. Now, I don't believe that there is a literal being with a a pitchfork, etc... I feel that 'satan' is just another (in a long line) of symbols for utter evil, as defined by the bible. I mean, think about it, for nearly everything, there is an opposite. Why would that be any different with the bible?

I hate to break this to you, kids, but Santa Claus IS NOT REAL.

He isn't!

Anywho.

The way I see it, Santa Claus and his gang is just...another way, a secular and albeit commercialized version of what originally was (and still is) a religiously oriented holiday. I mean, think about it...

Merry Christmas -versus- Happy Holidays (Secular versus non secular greetings)

If you only believe. Believe in what? So, believing and hoping you're right is all there is? Well what if we are wrong? Then aren't we wrong for all eternity? We can't all be right.

How do you know that we're all not right?  How do you know that there aren't many paths to the same God?  How do you know that the bible was even written by "God" or even by Christians?  You don't, you "believe" that it is all what you think.  You can't 100% know anything.  Nobody can.

 

I have yet to meet a Christian Buddhist.

Really?  I have...

There wasn't just one Buddha.  Buddha is not a deity, and it's only the US government that has classified Buddhism as a religion.

You say that people pray to Buddha, but I have never met any Buddhist that thinks of Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) as a deity.  He was an example of an enlightened man, and he was only one of many Buddhas (which is one of the reasons that Buddha statues look different from each other).

I've never gotten a clear answer on this and I have to think that's because most Buddhists cannot agree on this state of nirvana.

It's as definitive as the answer to "what is heaven".  You won't know until you get there.

If I am not mistaken Buddha isn't even a person. It's a state you can attain. Didn't the "Buddha" we know of say that there were many before him and there will be many after?

I don't see how you can pray to a state of being. It would be like praying to "smart" or "constipated"...

Technically Buddhism isn't a religion. Buddhism, in it's purest form, doesn't address a deity or the lack thereof at all. Buddhism is more of a philosophy for life (and a quite good one) than an actual religion. And Buddhism itself doesn't go off in any different directions than the teachings of Christ in any way (except for those who have never actually studied Buddhism).

Buddhism, in it's purest form, doesn't address a deity or the lack thereof at all. Buddhism is more of a philosophy for life

Yep, exactly.

I don't see how you can pray to a state of being. It would be like praying to "smart" or "constipated"...

LOL!  I'm going to have to remember that one!   That was great!

If I am not mistaken Buddha isn't even a person.

All the literally hundreds of forms of Buddhism are traced back to the essential teachings of a man named Siddhartha Gautama----the Buddha as Karma also mentioned. Although "The Buddha" is a title meaning "enlightened" it can be applied to others but is particularly applied to Gautama the founder of Buddhism.

I think you will find that Buddhism is considered a World Religion as well as a philosophy.

How do you know that we're all not right?

How can we possibly be ALL right? We die once only. No we die and come back thru reincarnation. Jesus is God. Jesus is NOT God. Jesus was born of virgin birth. No Jesus was NOT born via the miracle of a virgin birth. There is only one way to heaven. No there are many ways to heaven. There is a hell. No there is no such thing as hell. Everyone goes to heaven. No only certain people go to heaven. We can work our way to heaven. There is no work we can do to gain entrance into heaven. Jesus said "I am the way, truth and life." There is not other way he said repeatedly. Like I said, was he lying? We can be ALL wrong but not ALL right.

There are way too many contradictions to make this ALL work. The foundational doctrine of Buddhism--reincarnation is clearly contradicted by scripture.

To the Buddha, gods were inhabiters of the cosmos who, like all other living things, were temporal. They also must escape the cycle of rebirths. According to the bible, however there is only one personal, infinite eternal unchanging God. How can we reconcile all this? We can't. Two different paths, two diff directions.

You say that people pray to Buddha, but I have never met any Buddhist that thinks of Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) as a deity. He was an example of an enlightened man, and he was only one of many Buddhas (which is one of the reasons that Buddha statues look different from each other).

yes, agree but some do pray. There are three main schools of Buddhist doctrine which have developed over the centuries. Theravada (monastic and conversative) Mahayana (liberal and lay oriented) and Vajrayana or Tibetan (the most esoteric).

From what I understand the Theravada form (most traditional) holds to a strict interpretation of the Buddha's teachings. Usually called the "fundamentalist branch" of Buddhism because it has preserved what is probably the original form of Buddhism.

In the Theravada tradition Siddhartha is not worshiped. But in the Mahayana tradition he is often worshiped and prayed to.

But regardless both traditions look to the Buddha as their primary source of truth. Mahayanists unlike Theravadins recognize numerous other Buddhas.

And Buddhism itself doesn't go off in any different directions than the teachings of Christ in any way

are you saying the Buddhist teachings bring us closer to Christ because the teachings are the same? While there are some teachings as I stated above that are in harmony with the Christian scriptures there is much more that take us away from them and away from what we would say "the light of the world."

So Karma, you're telling me as a Buddhist, you cannot explain nirvana? Isn't that like going into an airport and asking for a ticket but not having a destination? No description or idea exactly what or where it is? When you get there you'll know where it is? I'm quite sure you don't do that now. You don't go into an airport and just ask for a ticket to somewhere. No one in his right mind would do such a thing when it comes to a destination in this life. Should our destination for eternity be even more sure because...well, because it's eternity we're talking about.

hey this was about Santa, how'd we get into Buddha?

Now, I don't believe that there is a literal being with a a pitchfork, etc... I feel that 'satan' is just another (in a long line) of symbols for utter evil, as defined by the bible. I mean, think about it, for nearly everything, there is an opposite. Why would that be any different with the bible?

hahahah me neither. While I believe Satan is very real, the pitchfork idea is just a symbol picked up somewhere along the way. Many would be surprised to know that it's the angels that will be God's agents of harvest in the end times. In their hands will be the tools of the harvest as they will reap the harvest in the end. Satan is never mentioned in scripture with a pitchfolk.

I wonder where that did come from.......

 

The foundational doctrine of Buddhism--reincarnation is clearly contradicted by scripture.

Not exactly.  Many believe that "rebirth cycle" is the life changes that you go through, and "reincarnation" is only of your soul.  So, at a very base level, being reincarnated simply could mean your life after death.

So Karma, you're telling me as a Buddhist, you cannot explain nirvana? Isn't that like going into an airport and asking for a ticket but not having a destination? No description or idea exactly what or where it is? When you get there you'll know where it is?

Nirvana is on Earth, not at death.  Can you give me a full description of Heaven?  Can you tell me exactly what it is and where it is?  Can you tell me that you know exactly what heaven is before you get there?  No, all you can do is give vague answers, answers that would be a personal belief just as a Buddhist would have their own personal Nirvana.  why is that?  Because there is nobody that can give you a real answer.  Nobody can tell you what Nirvana is anymore then somebody call tell you what heaven is.

 

hey this was about Santa, how'd we get into Buddha?

Not sure.  You should ask yourself that as you were the first one to bring it in:

You have your belief in Buddha. I have mine in Christ.

BTW, please do yourself a favor and do more than pull your Buddism info off the net.  It's really silly to read people talk about how they "know" about something when all they have done is pull up a few buzz words and not learn the real spirituality behind it.  I have tried to learn from every religion that is out there.  Anyone who actually knows me can tell you all the varied religious information that I have ranging from Native American religions to Asian religions to the various flavors of Christianity.  I have spent a lot of time learning about all the religions to find out what connects them all (and there really is a connection, but there is no way you would see it).  But, it becomes obvious when you read a "debate" from somebody who is just regurgitating what they read on the net or in Christian propaganda.

KARMAGIRL WRITES: I have to ask the Christians on here: Why do you celebrate Christmas?
KARMAGIRL WRITES: Just because he was a real person does not mean that he was God. That is what Christians BELIEVE.

As a Catholic, I believe that God created humankind for Himself; that He wills for us to be with Him in eternal life. Our eternal supernatural souls are made in His Image. Life is sometimes compared to a journey in which we are headed toward a destination and we must go forward to arrive at this destination. Our supernatural destination is the Vision of God, but that is utterly impossible for us to accomplish on our own puny, sinful human nature. God didn’t just create us and leave us floundering around with no guidance. God the Father Almighty designed the plan of man’s salvation. From the fullness of His Infinite Love and Wisdom, God gives us the means necessary to be raised up with Him on the Last Day. He revealed Himself to us in the Lord, Jesus Christ. On Christmas, He humbled Himself and came to earth as the Christ Child, a human, in all but sin.

God, present as Jesus....”Without me, you can do nothing.” St.John 15:5..”I am the Way, the truth and the Life, no man cometh to the Father, but by me. 14:6. It is only through Jesus that we shall enter everlasting life. He is the Good Shepherd and the “door” through which all must pass to get there. He and His Father are one. Amen, Amen, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep...by me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved. I am the good shepherd....giveth his life for the sheep, and I know mine and mine know me...as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep...I and the Father are one.” 10:1-30.

Christ’s miracles prove His claim that He is God. He was put to death by the Sanhedrin for making this claim. He died on the Cross rather than reject it and He rose from the grave to prove that He, who was really man, was also really God.
Christians celebrate Christmas because it is the liturgical time designated as the Nativity of Our Lord. Christ is the center of Christmas. And so, at Christmastime we set out, like the Three Magi (kings) to know, love and serve Christ in this world to be with Him in the next. How do we do find Christ?

Year in, year out, Catholics celebrate the whole mystery of Christ...starting with the liturgical season (4 weeks of Advent (means Coming) and ending on Candlemas. We prepare for His Coming at Christmas by opening our hearts to Him and letting Him “in”. We find Him through love and sharing our human condition in loving care of others ..in our family, our schools, our workplace. Acts of genuine love for one another whether through gift giving, opening a door for another, being patient or kind, forgiving one another, visiting, baking, a kind word, and so on and so forth are all intimate ways of finding, knowing, loving and serving God.
Catholics celebrate Christmas by going to Holy Mass, held at Midnight, at dawn, or on the day itself.
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KARMAGIRL WRITES: And, why celebrate it using pagan symbols?

What pagan symbols do you suggest Catholics use to celebrate Christmas?
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KARMAGIRL WRITES: Why do you celebrate Christ's birth on a day that he was not born? Why not celebrate it on his real birthday?

Because inexplicable though it seems, the exact date of Christ’s birth is not known although St. Luke sets the nativity in a historical perspective and we have the Gospels which refer to the reign of Pontius Pilate, Herod and others.
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KARMAGIRL WRITES: NOBODY *knows* what happens after death.

True. No one knows where he will go or what happens after death. Catholics believe in the four last things: death, judgment, hell and heaven. The supernatural virtue of Faith brings us to this conclusion.
With God revealing Himself in the Lord Jesus, we believe the Apostle’s Creed that there is life everlasting. Christ overcame death..and those who have died in Christ ...will rise again.

Life is not an absurdity. Death is not a transition into nothingness. Life has meaning---- on earth and in eternity. Death isn’t just an end, it is also a part of our intended everlasting supernatural destiny from the One who created us for Himself. From what I understand of Buddhism, one of the biggest differences between Buddhism and Catholicism is how we view our ultimate end. The ultimate end of man for Christians is union with God, everlasting life----while for Buddhists, it's Nirvana, a complete detachment or a state of nothingness.

Our hope of union with God in everlasting life is also why we celebrate Christmast when Jesus comes and our hearts are filled with wonder and praise. By preparing for Our Lord’s First Coming at Christmas, we prepare and watch for His Second Coming which will be decisive for ALL of us.

KARMAGIRL WRITES: And, why celebrate it using pagan symbols? What pagan symbols do you suggest Catholics use to celebrate Christmas?

First off, lula . . . did you happen to have a tree?


Hmm . . . origin of the Christmas tree . . . pagan.

How about mistletoe or holly? Used two hundred years BC to celebrate the coming of winter.
Did you know the Catholic church banned the use of holly and mistletoe in the early days because of its pagan background? And now, I see it gracing the buttresses of my local Catholic parish.

Would you like more?

Remember, we are celebrating the yuletide and all . . . oh wait, that's pagan.

so, it's not really a war on christmas at all...it's a war on Saturnalia, lol. a nice peaceful pagan holiday "invaded and occupied" by a christian holiday. goin to show, once again, that religion does indeed start more wars than anything else, lol.

a nice peaceful pagan holiday "invaded and occupied" by a christian holiday. goin to show, once again, that religion does indeed start more wars than anything else, lol.

It starts every war, man, every war.

BTW, please do yourself a favor and do more than pull your Buddism info off the net.

I've already done myself a favor...I didn't. I very rarely use the net for research and when I do, it's usually mostly to furnish a link. In fact, nothing I gave you here on Buddhism came from the net. I've not only been in alot of diff religions, I've also studied many of them at length. So it's not just christianity I know about, it's most of the world religions as well. One link I do like alot is www.carm.org and I did go check out Buddhism...after our discussion here, but he has nothing on that....yet.

and there really is a connection, but there is no way you would see it). But, it becomes obvious when you read a "debate" from somebody who is just regurgitating what they read on the net or in Christian propaganda.

oh yes, you're right about this. There really is a connection but I'm not "seeing" what you are seeing. You're quite right. When I was in many of these what I call false religions I saw many things that were very similar and realized they were missing something very important....Christ, which is another word for "Annointed One" or "Messiah."

But I do see it. Please do not insult my intelligence.

Buddhism in the USA is much diff than in many other countries. In fact Buddhism didn't real start to take a hold here until the 1960's. From what I remember a former Episcopalian priest had made Zen a household word by then. American Buddhists are diff than their Asian counterparts because the Americans are mosty drawn to the philosophical aspects of Buddhism while the Asians are bound together by not only religious beliefs but by culture, language, ritual and tradition.