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Joined: Mar 2006
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Zebra
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Zebra
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I am an ex-Catholic and a practising Buddhist, which is why I picked this forum upon which to post this article...
Although I now flloow 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 amm just trying to gain an objective and constructive POV....

What's your gut reaction....?

"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! smile

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Jellyfish
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Jellyfish
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This is an interesting set of suggestions to "share your faith." Like many such tomes (of any faith), it contains a bit of religious superiority which will most likely not get you very far with someone who does not fit into the narrow mold that the suggestions have put Christians in. One example would be the notation on prayer, while another denies the Christian ability for logical discourse. While there are undoubtedly those who fall into those categories, there are just as undoubtedly those who do not. A one size fits all approach, IMHO, will not work.

In Christianity we have a verse that admonishes the believer to "watch your life and doctrine closely, and if you persevere in them, you will save both yourself and your hearers." There appears to be a lot of truth in setting an example.

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Zebra
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Zebra
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Thank you so much, Sylvia, I appreciate your input. I shall wait a whil longer, to see if others respond, before coming back with a more comprehensive response.... Bless you for your thoughts though.

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Chipmunk
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I like it but it reads kind of like a "What to do when you are in an intervention with a christian"

I have the same Catholic background and it's caused A LOT of strife with my family, almost daily. I was told by my mother than I shouldnt have more children because none of us are going to heaven. With people like that no amount of sharing helps and in my experience is more detrimental.

Meg


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Zebra
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Zebra
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Well, in actual fact, I think I should come clean:

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)."

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Zebra
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Zebra
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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....

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Last edited by Alexandra; 02/01/07 01:17 PM.
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Jellyfish
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It is not surprising that you can easily find literature that teaches how to spread Christianity, after all, that is one of the major tenets of the faith and anyone who claims to be a Christian must obey the command given by Christ before he ascended to take his place with the Father. While I am not sure who the "fundamental extremists" are you reference, anyone who shares any faith from a position of religious superiority with anything but humility is not sharing a faith, but instead propagating a man-made god who most likely was shaped in the sharer's own image.

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Zebra
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Zebra
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How eloquent you are...! There have been a couple of "exti-fundies" on this forum,(not many, I'm happy to say) but - with all credit to them - pertinent moderators have dealt with them appropriately. I tend to get a bit defensive at times, with the proselytising and 'We're right, you're wrong' attitude they insist on adopting - but it occasionally has the negative effect of getting my dander up!

And I'm inclined to agree with you wholeheartedly, on your last point.

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T
Shark
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I am a Christian fundamentalist.

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Zebra
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Zebra
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Welcome. care to share?

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