BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Bible Basics Comments Please....

I am an ex-Catholic and a practising Buddhist, so I wondered if you would be good to glance at ths...I have also posted this in the Catholicism forum, for a comprehensive response.
Although I now follow a Buddhist Path, I still have ties with the Catholic religion (through relatives) and feel a 'connection' of sorts, having been so greatly influenced in my formative years....
Would you all be so kind as to read it, and give me a considered opinion of how you feel reading it?

I didn't write this, by the way....and I really am just trying to gain an objective and constructive POV....

What's your gut reaction....?

By the way: I will at least letyou know there's more to follow....

"Share the Dharma with Christians

The Christian worldview is so vastly different from the Buddhist path that even a basic concept like dependent origination is foreign to Christians. But it�s possible to reach out to Christians with the Buddha's valuable teachings if you do so in ways they�ll understand and appreciate.

Here is how you can share your faith with Christians:

* Build meaningful friendships.
Invest the time and energy necessary to develop genuine friendships with Christians you know. Get to know them well. Let go of the time-pressured, task-oriented Western culture�s philosophy and seek to enjoy your time with Christians without hurrying or feeling as if you have to accomplish something while you�re together. Become a person who your Christian friends trust.

* Help with practical needs.
Work either as an individual or with others in your sangha to help meet the needs of people in your local Christian community. Ask those in the community what they need and try to meet those needs, rather than simply offering something without first checking to see if it�s what they truly have no attachment to. Consider starting or supporting programs to help with childcare, job training, English language skills, or anything else that�s needed. Allow your Christian friends to help you, too, and express your appreciation to them.

* Invite them to celebrate a holiday with you.
Include your Christian friends when you celebrate Hanamatsuri, Ho-On-Ko or another holiday. Use that experience to explain why the holiday is important to you and how it relates to the Dharma.

* Learn as much as you can about Christianity before sharing Buddhism.
Educate yourself on at least the basics of what Christians believe � and why � before attempting to engage them in discussions of spiritual issues. Know that it�s crucial to understand where they�re coming from before explaining your own views. Be humble. Remember that we are all only trying to end suffering in our own ways and that you are fortunate to have found the Buddha's teachings before them.

* Tell stories.
Realize that Christians don�t relate to logical discussions of principles nearly as well as they do to stories that illustrate those concepts. Instead of simply explaining spiritual laws, let your conversations about each other�s lives naturally lead you to discuss spiritual issues. Understand that Christians tend to value religion primarily for what it can do for them rather than whether or not it�s true. Don�t debate truths; instead, talk about how the Dharma has helped you and how it can do the same for them. But be careful not to make Buddha seem like a shaman who must be obeyed blindly; discuss the importance of putting the teachings to practice for yourself and how doing so naturally leads to a better life. Share stories from your own life that convey how your experience of the Dharma has benefited you. Listen as your Christian friends share stories from their lives and help them understand how experiencing Dharma at work in their lives can transform them. Rather than trying to prove to them that the Dharma is true, try to demonstrate who Buddha is as you talk with them.

* Don�t assume any prior knowledge of the Sutras.
Understand that you may likely have to start from scratch when discussing Buddhist ideas, since Christians often have a very different perspective on the same issues. (For example, Buddhists see prayer as a useful tool for mindfulness, but Christians view prayer as repeating mystic phrases handed down from time immemorial.) Be sure to clearly explain what you mean when you talk about Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Listen carefully to what your Christian friends have to say and try to learn as much as you can about their spiritual views. Avoid using Buddhist jargon or clich�s. When you sense an interest in a particular topic, ask your Christian friends if they would like to see what the Sutras have to say about it. If you earn the right to study the Sutras with any of your Christian friends, consider covering topics such as: suffering, compassion, and karma and Impermanence. Introduce scriptural passages that Christians can relate best to first, such as the Heart Sutra, The Diamond Sutra, The Lotus Sutra and the Dhammapadda. Avoid passages that can disturb and confuse Christians (such as accounts of compassion from the Sigalovada Sutra) until they have a basic understanding of the Sutras and genuinely want to read more. Since Christians are used to memorizing lists (such as the ten plagues of egypt, the offerings of Leviticus, the seven seals, or the ten commandments), introduce them to the Four Noble truths, the eightfold path, and the six paramitas.

* Understand objections.
Be prepared to discuss common objections that Christians have to Buddhism. If your Christian friends think that Buddhism and Christianity are just different paths to the same goal, explain that all the world�s religions represent people�s best efforts to reach happiness by different paths, but there is only one religion that begins with the underlying nature of suffering - Impermanence - and explains how to live with it and die with it � Buddhism, the religion of the Awakened One, the Tathagata, Sakyamuni Buddha. Understand that Christians are seriously offended by the idea of compassion, which occurs in some sutras. As you discuss this issue, be sure to show them scriptural passages that mention Buddha�s explanation of this and explain that selfishness is so seriously evil that in Old times it required some serious prostrations. If your Christian friends think it�s too easy to achieve happiness for free as a gift and people should earn their salvation instead, let them know that if faith and practice is genuine, it will reveal itself in acts of compassion toward others. Explain that following the dharma involves an inward change that is just as challenging as making enough merit to get into heaven. Help them understand that believing in the dharma means: recognizing that they aren�t leading a morally perfect life and are ensnared by self, giving up living their own way and starting to live according to mindfulness through attention, and practicing the dharma, which leads to transformed lives. If your Christian friends object that Buddhism is a foreign religion for caucasians, explain that Buddha taught for the good of everyone, the sutras were written mainly by caucasians, and many of the cultural practices of Buddhism are current in places like New England today.

* Be culturally sensitive.
Know that, to truly reach Christian people, you need to present the Buddha's message in ways to which they can relate. Show respect for their cultural values, such as a simple lifestyle and the importance of community. Use worship styles that resonate with Christians, such as representing scriptural truths in artistic form (as they do in Stained Glass windows). Avoid proselytizing through entertainment, since doing so could lead Christians to believe that Buddhism is superficial. Use personal means of proselytizing through relationships, instead of impersonal means. Use symbols to convey dharma concepts. Know that Christians respond best to formal worship styles that include rituals. Involve all ages in sitting rather than just catering to youth, and foster intergenerational friendships. Show reverence for the Dharma in all you do.

* Be patient.
Give your Christian friends all the time they need to come to grips with unfamiliar concepts before they can fully understand the Dharma. Just meet them at their points of need and work with them without rushing the process. Show compassion to them often and trust the Dharma to work, drawing them to enlightenment at the right time and in the right ways."


Thanks for persevering! I await your comments with interest! \:\)

Hi Alexandra!

I found the concept amusing - not because the topic was funny, but because I could probably find an article about how Christians should talk to Buddhists about our faith!

Samten (the Buddhist editor here at BellaOnline) and I speak frequently about all sorts of matters. I have come to view her as a friend - albeit one I've never met face to face!

I have been slowly learning about some aspects of Buddhism through her, and it is true that most of us Christians are very unfamiliar with the aspects of Buddhism. But as I've heard some of the teachings, I have come to believe that there are many aspects of your religion that we would do well to emulate, such as compassion and peace. But I believe that those are traits that we should have as Christians anyway, it's just that many of us get bogged down in theology anmd forget about actually applying our faith.



Now this one I did have a bit of a problem with. My prayers (other than the one we say at dinner and bedtime with th 4 yr old) are anything but repeating "mystic phrases". I consider my prayers to be conversations with my God. And just like I would have a conversation with a person, they are not always pleasant! I have raged at God about things I felt to be "unfair" and I have whined at times, and then there are times when I am so amazed by something that happens that I'm just thankful and praising. There's no "rote" to my prayers.



Many people accuse us of saying it's too easy to get into heaven, that accepting Christ and professing faith is not enough. I'm not sure where your article came from, but in the protestant Christian faith we do not believe that you can get to heaven through works - because we can never do enough good works to make up for our sins. And where is the line drawn? "This many people you help will make up for that lie you told in 3rd grade" - that just doesn't work. But because of Christ in our lives we should want to help our fellow man, that's the best way to give example of our faith.

Whew, there's more I can respond to, but my kids are just getting ready for bed - so I'll come back when I have some more time. (If you still want me to, that is!)

Bella, I could hug you!

I think in light of your very first comment, I should really come clean, right now.

The above text I published, also carried this foreword:

Editor's Note: The following is a 'reversal' phrasing of an article written by Whitney Hopler on the practical applications of M. Tsering's new book, Jesus in a New Age, Dalai Lama World (Defending and Sharing Christ with Buddhists), (Interserve USA, 2007).

Because this - in full - is the original, unadulterated article:


Share Your Faith with Buddhists

Whitney Hopler
Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer

Editor's Note: The following is a report on the practical applications of M. Tsering's new book, Jesus in a New Age, Dalai Lama World (Defending and Sharing Christ with Buddhists), (Interserve USA, 2007).

The Buddhist worldview is so vastly different from the Christian faith that even a basic concept like a loving God who interacts with people is foreign to Buddhists. But it�s possible to reach out to Buddhists with Christ�s good news if you do so in ways they�ll understand and appreciate.

Here�s how you can share your faith with Buddhists:

* Build meaningful friendships. Invest the time and energy necessary to develop genuine friendships with Buddhists you know. Get to know them well. Let go of the time-pressured, task-oriented Western culture�s philosophy and seek to enjoy your time with Buddhists without hurrying or feeling as if you have to accomplish something while you�re together. Become a person who your Buddhist friends trust.

* Help with practical needs. Work either as an individual or with others in your church to help meet the needs of people in your local Buddhist community. Ask those in the community what they need and try to meet those needs, rather than simply offering something without first checking to see if it�s what they truly desire. Consider starting or supporting programs to help with childcare, job training, English language skills, or anything else that�s needed. Allow your Buddhist friends to help you, too, and express your appreciation to them.

* Invite them to celebrate a holiday with you. Include your Buddhist friends when you celebrate Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or another holiday with a meal, party, or other special event. Use that experience to explain why the holiday is important to you and how it relates to your faith.

* Learn as much as you can about Buddhism before sharing Christianity. Educate yourself on at least the basics of what Buddhists believe � and why � before attempting to engage them in discussions of spiritual issues. Know that it�s crucial to understand where they�re coming from before explaining your own views. Be humble. Remember that God loves them as much as He does you and that it�s only His grace that has enabled you to come to faith before them.

* Tell stories. Realize that Buddhists don�t relate to logical discussions of principles as they do to stories that illustrate those concepts.Instead of simply explaining spiritual laws, let your conversations about each other�s lives naturally lead you to discuss spiritual issues. Understand that Buddhists tend to value religion primarily for what it can do for them rather than whether or not it�s true. Don�t debate truths; instead, talk about how Christ has helped you and how He can do the same for them. But be careful not to make Christ seem like a shaman who can be manipulated; discuss the importance of obeying Him and how doing so naturally leads to a better life. Share stories from your own life that convey how your experience of faith has benefited you. Listen as your Buddhist friends share stories from their lives and help them understand how experiencing Christ at work in their lives can transform them. Rather than trying to prove to them that the Gospel is true, try to demonstrate who Christ is as you talk with them.

* Don�t assume any prior knowledge of biblical concepts. Understand that you may likely have to start from scratch when discussing Christian ideas, since Buddhists often have a very different perspective on the same issues. (For example, Christians see prayer as communication between God the Father and His children, but Buddhists view prayer as repeating mystic phrases handed down from time immemorial.) Be sure to clearly explain what you mean when you talk about God, prayer, the Trinity, salvation, heaven, and sin. Listen carefully to what your Buddhist friends have to say and try to learn as much as you can about their spiritual views. Avoid using Christian jargon or clich�s. When you sense an interest in a particular topic, ask your Buddhist friends if they would like to see what the Bible has to say about it. If you earn the right to study the Bible with any of your Buddhist friends, consider covering topics such as: suffering, forgiveness, and karma and Christ�s death. Introduce biblical passages that Buddhists can relate best to first, such as the stories of creation in Genesis, Christ�s parables in the New Testament, or the mystical elements in the Gospel of John. Avoid passages that can disturb and confuse Buddhists (such as accounts of animal sacrifices from the Old Testament) until they have a basic understanding of the Bible and genuinely want to read more. Since Buddhists are used to memorizing lists (such as the four relations of speech, the eight acts of low-born persons, and the ten faults), introduce them to the Ten Commandments, the nine beatitudes, or the nine fruits of the Spirit.

* Understand objections. Be prepared to discuss common objections that Buddhists have to Christianity. If your Buddhist friends think that Buddhism and Christianity are just different paths to the same goal, explain that all the world�s religions represent people�s best efforts to reach heaven by different paths, but there is only one religion that begins in heaven and comes down to people � Christianity, the religion of the One who came down from heaven, Jesus Christ. Understand that Buddhists are seriously offended by the idea of killing animals, which occurs in some Bible stories. As you discuss this issue, be sure to show them biblical passages that mention God�s care for His creatures (such as the story of Noah�s Ark) and explain that sin is so seriously evil that in Old Testament times it required a serious sacrifice. Mention the passage in Isaiah that shows that animals won�t harm each other in Christ�s new kingdom. Know that Buddhists can be alienated by how openly displays His emotions in the Bible, since they�re uncomfortable with strong displays of emotion. Explain the difference between God�s emotions and human emotions, such as the difference between people�s sinful anger and God�s righteous condemnation of sin, or the difference between people�s petty jealousy and God�s concern for the honor of His name. If your Buddhist friends think it�s too easy to receive salvation for free as a gift and people should earn their salvation instead, let them know that if faith is genuine, it will reveal itself in acts of love toward others. Explain that following Christ involves an inward change that is just as challenging as making enough merit to have a better rebirth the next time around. Help them count the cost of faith and understand that believing in Christ means: recognizing that they haven�t led a morally perfect life and are ensnared by sin, giving up living their own way and starting to live according to God�s way through repentance, and trusting Christ for salvation, which leads to transformed lives. If your Buddhist friends object that Christianity is a foreign religion for Asians, explain that Christ came to Earth for everyone, the Bible was written mainly by Asians, and many of the cultural practices of New Testament times are still current in places like Inner Asia today.

* Be culturally sensitive. Know that, to truly reach Buddhist people, you need to present the Gospel message in ways to which they can relate. Show respect for their cultural values, such as a simple lifestyle and the importance of community. Use worship styles that resonate with Buddhists, such as representing biblical truths in artistic form (as they do in thangkas). Avoid evangelizing through entertainment, since doing so could lead Buddhists to believe that Christianity is superficial. Use personal means of evangelizing through relationships, instead of impersonal means (like distributing tracts). In worship, use symbols to convey faith concepts. Know that Buddhists respond best to formal worship styles that include rituals. Involve all ages in worship rather than just catering to youth, and foster intergenerational friendships. Show reverence for God in all you do.

* Be patient. Give your Buddhist friends all the time they need to come to grips with unfamiliar concepts before they can fully understand the Gospel message. Just meet them at their points of need and work with them without rushing the process. Pray for them often and trust the Holy Spirit to work, drawing them to God at the right time and in the right ways.

This is where you can find the original article....

BellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!

MY comment is this:

I have no qualms with the Buddist path. It just goes to show that even though many buddist people I have spoken with claim that they are not ever trying to convert others to their way of thinking, some are.

I personally am not interested in following another path spiritually. I have found comfort in my beliefs as a Christian. I do know others who have changed their minds. It is amusing to hear about the views that other religions take concerning Christianity, but then again I believe most Christians take a narrow view of other religions.

Sometimes it seems to be alot like mob mentality. Especially in churches where you can find goups of people lumped together trying to follow one message. Which is why I love Christianity the best. For me, it's all about a personal relationship with Jesus, not following what some guy (or girl) says. If I want the answer to something I am pondering in my heart, some question I have about life or relationships, I take it to Jesus and find the answer.

But interesting none the less, Alexandra.

Sorry Alexandra! It looks like I ruined your experiment.

I do wonder, however...

It has been pointed out that Christianity is the only religion that tries to convert people in other religions.

Why is that?

If people of other religions feel that their religion is the "true way" - shouldn't they attempt to convert and enlighten as well? Or is it that other religions feel that people who do not belong to their religion already are not worth it?

I admit that some people take spreading the Word too far and wind up insulting and ostracizing people - but as a Christian, we are supposed to at least inform people. If I don't give people the chance to make an informed decision, then it is partially my fault if they wind up in Hell. I don't earn brownie points with God for how many people I save, as a matter of fact I can't save anyone - only Jesus can. I'm just the mouthpiece to spread the Word.

Anyway, I've babbled on here. Sorry!

No religion should try and convert. That invites backlash. the need is to talk good points of your religion and let the matter rest.

Not at all, I'm glad you responded



Buddhists are actually discouraged from proselytising in the sense of attempting to convert. But because Buddhism is also largely viwed as a philosophy, Buddhists are very enthusiastic about open discussion and frank exchange on merits and aspects of Buddhism, on the whole. But Buddhists have it in their precepts that they should not actively seek to divert somebody's current path to a Buddhist one. In fact, the Dalai Lama openly entreats those interested in Buddhism to not abandon their 'Birth Religion' if they can help it. Not in its entirety. This is why though I may dispute much of what the Bible promotes as veracity,there is no question in my mind as to the depth, sincerity, wisdom and clarity of Christ's Message.
And personally, although I have had a few frank exchanges with some Christians on this forum, I have never told them their personal faith is wrong or worthless,and that they should look to MY path, more. I shudder to think....



as far as Buddhism is concerned, doubtless the is the Ego issue of 'I have found a way and it leads to enlightenment, you poor thing you!' Unquestionably, I'm sure I have been guilty of that train of thought myself, for which I apologise.... But again, we are instructed that we should remain mindful, 'walk the talk' and show more by example, than theough any other means, just what our adherence to Buddhism does for us. (Many a hurdle attempted and tripped over, personally....!)



Babbling - as in brook....and there is nothing more pleasant than sitting by a stream and watching the world go by! Thank you!!

No....I think you misunderstand....The original post was deliberately changed around as if a Buddhist was doing the converting....In faxt, no such thing took place. The actual exhortation on how to convert somebody to another faith, is the second one, written by a Christian with reference to Buddhists. My point was to establish how christians would feel if a Buddhist was attempting to convert them to Buddhism.



And indeed, many Buddhists feel this way about Buddhism. In fact, most western Buddhists DO hail from another religion, as you point out below....



How refreshingly frank of you to say that! Bless you for that!



Lovely piece. Good one, and thank YOU.

I wonder how such an article would be received if it were about convertng wiccans to Christ and it were posted on the wiccan forum?