inter-religions? -buddhist christians-?

Question

I feel like Im interfaith, to me it seems that Buddhism and Christianity can be used together.
Buddha never preached that he was a god, and some sects never talk of god, heven, hell, and so on...so I use his teachings as a moral way of life, but rather, Jesus Christ is the son of god to me.
Heven is Nirvana
Hell is reincarnation
what do u think? Any other Buddhist Christians? I'd like to kno more about your thoughts on this.

Answer 1

I agree, except for reincarnation.. for I do not believe in inherent immortality, but resurrection (and Jesus' overcoming of the grave) - [God is Perfect, but endowed thinking ability to man and angel, and thus ability to choose - but to choose other than God does / in anything / is to move away from Perfection, thus Life, for who/what else is Life, but God? Therefore the Son was sent to check that journey (away from Life) - Because of 'free-will' we all suffer some, but God, being Life itself, suffers and experiences it all! why would he put himself through all this? cause he's not creating robots, but a family..]
- - - I believe all true religions will find their fullness and consummation in Jesus.. as they are looking for the Light.. I also believe there are dark spirits who work all angles of all things and have their fingers in every pie..

Answer 2

I can only talk about a (not "the") Buddhist viewpoint, since I am not a Christian. The teachings of the Buddha can be used and are beneficial to all. There is no reason a Christian cannot follow the teachings of the Buddha. I don't see why there should be anything in either religion that conflicts. The Buddha urged his students to examine and test all beliefs.
As far as using different definitions such as equating Heaven and Nirvana, I think it would be wiser to deepen your knowledge of each, and see the compatibility of the two rather than to try and equate the two. You may find that there are important conceptual differences that are distinct yet compatible. For a simple example, if you were to say "I'm a dog lover, but I love cats too." This would be alright, but it would not be quite correct to say that therefore cats are dogs.
In the case of Hell and reincarnation, the same applies. It's best to learn the concepts and not to try to equate them exactly. The Buddhist concept is more correctly called rebirth and is more nuanced than the concept of Hell. This can be seen because it involves your current life, and I hope that you would not equate that with Hell.
I hope this helps.

Answer 3

Yes, I am the same, Buddhists are very wise and Jesus and God exist. However I feel that heaven is the higher astral realm and hell is the lower astral realm.

Both realms can be likened to our Christian concepts of heaven and hell, however neither is eternal, you can get out of both, and Nirvana or enlightenment is the state of perfection that stops the cycle of rebirth and returning to the source which is God, that is not an egotistical ideal, it makes sense. I personally have vowed to myself if I achieve enlightenment in this life then I will stick around and help others by being a guide in the next life. I don't think reincarnation is hell, because sometimes you can have a good life, and it could be described as a heaven on earth, if we remembered all our past lives that would be sort of a hell, but luckily most of us do not remember and the veil of forgetfulness is stronger enough to allow us to work on our Karma.

Maybe the idea of reincarnation is a trick of the devil, as are all the mediums etc but if you live with a Christian perspective at the same time, which is very possible then that's fine. I cannot see God sending Buddha to hell though. A good book to read is: How To Know God, Yoga Aphorisms of...

Answer 4

Well..... while I personally feel that it's your right to be educated and to make sure that you truly believe in your religion - not to just follow what your really parent told you to believe works for you... Christianity teaches to only follow the teaches of Jesus.
Also.... if you want to know how to live a moral way of life, study the teaching os Jesus! That's what He was all about!
Not only that, but if you mess up and sin He forgives you because He loves you so much! Read Acts 2:38. It'll tell you how to be saved. Then study the teachings of Jesus and trust me - you won't feel any emptiness inside that would cause you to look elsewhere to Buddah or anyone else for comfort or information.

Answer 5

I'm with you on that one. In fact, I'd go further! I find Buddhism more real than Christianity for a huge number of reasons. But then, I started looking at Wicca (yes, quite right, that is Shamanism and/or witchcraft), and what I find is that it has a lot in common with Buddhism, and in fact, there is a lot to like in Wicca as well.
For a very good intro to Wicca, check out "Wicca and Witchcraft for Dummies" on Amazon.com. You may be VERY pleasantly surprised by what you find there!
You don't need to be a Catholic, or a Buddhist, or a Muslim or even a witch! I think you should keep an open mind, and choose that from each religion that fits with YOUR personal view of "God"/"Goddess"/"Force"/"Whatever you want", and apply that in the way that suits you.
If you feel you need an organised religion, then go to a church, mosque, synagogue or whatever you want. But if not, then do what YOU want. If that means climbing to the top of a hill and sitting down to watch the sun rise, or sitting quietly by a stream, or dancing naked by a fire in a Wood, then do it. It is YOUR God, so you worship him/her how YOU want.

Answer 6

I'm sorry. I don't mean to make you think that I find anything wrong with what you are saying. Buddhism is not a religion in the same way that other people think of religions. It is a spiritual practice. Christians will get really upset if you tell them that you want to mix anything with their faith. Well, except for Catholics.
Anyway, let your heart guide you. The main ideas of Buddhism are not incompatible with the main ideas of Christianity, but the beliefs about the afterlife are completely incompatible.
In other words, the stuff you can really use and really apply to your real life don't have any contradictions, but the stuff you can never prove is completely out of phase.
And the Christians who believe very strongly in the stuff that can't be proved have a really bad name that they call people who mix in other stuff that can't be proved.
So I can't tell you how I know.
Blessings to you.

Answer 7

I'm not really anything right now, but I have a feeling I may end up being a mixture!

Oh boy. The loonies are out! lol

You might want to re-ask this under Mythology. The more level-headed people tend to be there, and it doesn't pull in as many of the fundies.

I don't see any reason that christians couldn't also be buddhist, or adopt some of the buddhist principles. I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

The representatives of some religions may feel differently, however.

Ultimately, it's up to YOU to decide whether or not you are in conflict. Sad to say, many religions are not amenable to thinking outside the box. Or more accurately, their representatives here on YA are not!

Answer 8

sorry i dont get it...as buddha never was a god (only enlightened to the right path) how then can you see Jesus as the son of god? Wars have never been fought in the name of the Buddhist following but they have in christianity. Buddhists are tolerant peaceful people, the majority of christians are not. Buddhists believe in reincarnation christians do not..
Buddhist monks constantly question their faith, christian vicars are deluded enough to think they are right... so you see my problem? why give yourself a title, or do you feel guilty as you have more leanings towards a faith that isnt christianity as you have been programmed by family to believe in Jesus?

Answer 9

I think they work. The 8 fold path and the 10 commandments are almost the same. The 4 Noble truths work with Christianity. Depends on the Path of Buddhism you take.

Answer 10

It's nice to know that there are others that think as I do.

Buddha has qualities that I would consider 'Christ-like'. JC preached compassion and tolerance, exactly what Buddha stood for.

I disagree with the 'Hell is reincarnation' part. I would tend to think more in terms of:
Heaven and Hell is the same thing, but it is interpretted differently.
Nirvana is freedom from reincarnation, and is actually oblivion (for better or for worse is a matter of opinion).
Reincarnation is the realm of the bodhisattva, who (it can be said) is someone who strives to be Christ-like.

Take Care.

Answer 11

I admire your argument and way of thinking.
In fact, there are many people, such as the African nations, which combine traditional spiritual belief with Christian morality. There are also Japanese Buhhdist Shintoists.
But I must point outn that the deification and idolising of another may incur a penalty according to the Ten Commandments- You shall not put idols/other gods before Me" But as you say that Buddha never set himself as a god, so it may be difference.
Better not to risk it and stick with Christianity...