A question for atheists and christians?

Question

I have been insulted for my buddhist beliefs many times, even after trying to convince people it was mean and wrong. However, I noticed that christians did it far more than atheists. How can christians claim that atheists are the instigators when a third party has been criticized and mocked far more by christians than by atheists?

Post Note: I am not saying christians are better or worse than atheists.

Answer 1

I am sorry that this has happened to you. There are far too many "lone ranger" Christians out there who are unacountable for their actions and what they say. If more Christians lived under teaching and in fellowship with one another they would get past their bad attitudes.

I apologize to you for the sake of Jesus who would not treat you this way!

Answer 2

The teachings of Buddha and the teachings of Christ have numerous similarities; a point of great frustration for some Christians, because it requires a great deal of experience and study to debate with someone with a similar yet different belief system.
As a Christian I personally would not be "mean" to anyone of other beliefs, this is not what Christ taught. However, some who claim to be Christians are not always as devote as one might think. There are far more people in the world that claim to be Christian than those that claim to be Atheist, therefore you're more apt to be criticized by the greater number.
I hope that you find some Christian friends that will be more tolerant of your beliefs so that you may have the opportunity for a safe and well thought out debate of beliefs and ideals without fear of meanness or mocking.
Peace and Love to you....... (whether Christian or Buddhist our teachers both taught that)

Answer 3

Because atheists are NOT the instigators. Christians may feel however, that any belief in something other than their religion is an instigation.

And another thing, my father is a buddhist and he thinks much more like an atheist (I suppose in the literal sense he is an atheist, as he does not believe in a god) than a christian.

Peace,

John S

Answer 4

Even though it is wrong for Christians to criticize you meanly......

to answer you question

More than 80% of Americans claim to be Christian
Of the 20% left, I have no data but I am guessing not all of those are atheists.........for the sake of arguement lets say 10%

ok 80 % Christian.......10 % atheist

if you are getting 8 Christian and 1 atheist response that would be about right.
I'm betting the ratio is FAR less than 8 to 1 which dome by percentages, you would be getting more Athiest responses.

I am curious about that, figure it up and email me

Answer 5

I want to apologize to you for the insults you have received at the hands of persons claiming to be Christians, some of whom probably are truly saved, others who are not. I sincerely apologize, because I know God was displeased. You have suffered without cause in this area.

It pains me to read what many people write and then sign the name of Christ to it by claiming to be Christians. It really pains me to read the words of someone who I believe is a Christian and see how mean spirited and evil those words are. I understand that people are simply giving into temptation when they do this, but I do not understand why they don't get it. They seem to know the Bible, but they don't follow it.

I guess, really, they are no worse than me. I also know much about what I am and am not supposed to do and still often make the wrong choices. I cannot slander them; I cannot point fingers at them. I am not innocent, so how can I throw stones?

But, what I can do is apologize, and I am trying with all my heart to do so to you, and to all who have been insulted in this way. Please accept my apologies on behalf of my brothers and sisters.

I respond in Christ's love

Answer 6

Forget about your buddhist beliefs and use the beliefs/concepts to get the same experience that the Buddha had. If you saw your beliefs as just tools and that any conflict or anger generated by others is due to their attachment to their beliefs, you would be free from the problem of being attacked because you're buddhist. We need to use these religions as means to an end and not consider them as an end in and of themselves; beliefs are ******** - as the buddha said, they're like 'rafts to get to the other shore'. I remember a zen teacher telling us that the sutras and all the things the buddha taught were NOT meant to be adopted as literal truth -- they are 'experdient means' to get to the truth (a direct experience). If we stay in the realm of belief and concepts, we're just going to be engaging in war with others who do the same.

Answer 7

As an atheist, I respect and would follow Buddhism more readily than any Christian-based religion any day.

Buddhism is more of a philosophy than a religion anyway - the Buddha never claimed to be a god. Just enlightened. Technically, Buddhism has no god.

Keep the faith.. in Buddhism.

Answer 8

All religions get criticized... it's because religion causes separation, which causes 'us against them' mentality. Everyone talks about how they are trying to 'save' or 'enlighten' others, but they're not. What they're trying to do is prove that they're right. Humanity as a whole, feels the need to be correct and part of the 'chosen ones'.

I am no religion... I have no philosophy (at least I haven't adopted someone elses as my own)...

It's funny to watch people fight over religion... because both feel so strongly that they are right and they're fighting over nothing.

That being said.. as an outside party I find more Christians insulting everyone else. They don't mean it that way.. they are trying to save people... but they don't realize that preaching the Bible to someone who doesn't believe in it is pointless and annoying.. and telling someone what they believe in is wrong, is insulting. And I have 'gone off' on Christians before and I have posted questions to them on here before. They usually get mad at me and accuse me of being mean.

Answer 9

First of all let me apologize for any discomfort that you may have felt due to any comment made to you by any Christian, as it is certainly not of God for a person to condemn you because of your religious choice. Now the flip side to the whole thing is most Christians (like myself) are very strong in our faith when it comes to Christ being the only way to salvation/eternal life. Also, most Christians like myself will not budge from that belief and stand strong to that. However this is still no reason for a person to be mean to you because being mean is surely not Christ like. I know you are probably solid with what you believe, but in love, I hope that you find Christ and make Him your Lord and Savior because honestly buddha did not die for you nor did he send a son to die for you. I personally have no problem serving a God who loved the world so much that He gave up the only Son that He had (who did absolutely nothing wrong might I add) to die for people like you and me, so that we could be presented as acceptable in the presence of God, and most importantly have an opporotunity to live forever with Him in Heaven. Once again I apologize for the discomfort that you have experienced from those who claim to be Christians. Remember salvation/eternal life is not deserved nor earned through any good work, but merely a gift that was offered to us by way of the blood of Jesus. All you have to do is accept it.

Answer 10

I'm Atheist and my mother is Buddhist. As far as I see it, Buddhism is a far more peaceful religion. Buddhism converts through the power of word. But throughout the past Christianity has said "Be Christian or die heathen scum." So I respect Buddhists far more. Most other Atheists would agree, and because of that the Christians hate us. We became the scapegoat.