How can a person identify themselves as a Christian Buddhist?

Question

The two outlooks don't seem compatible to me. I have been Christian and Buddhist. Could someone explain?

Answer 1

A Buddhist isn't an adherent to a set of religious doctrines it is someone who adopts a set of moral values and a code of practice as a guide to living their life. It doesn't encourage belief in deities or divine revelations but it doesn't actively discourage belief in other faiths as long as the practical philosophy of Buddhism is adhered to. Buddha himself said keep the meaning forget the words so keep the meaningful aspects of Christianity and forget the irrelevant doctrines yet still adhere to Buddhist practice.

Answer 2

Buddhism is not considered to be a religion by many Buddhists--it's a philosophy. So if a person was born into a family that is Christian, they may consider themselves Christian, although they practice Buddhist philosophy.

Answer 3

Both can be philosophies. Buddhism is the largest religion in the world.

"Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future: it transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology; it covers both the natural & spiritual, and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity" A widely cited, but spurious quotation attributed to Albert Einstein.

If you are to be Christian, you have to adhere to all the rules. Buddhism is a great side-philosophy, but doesn't totally go with Christian values. Buddhism is selfless, and Christianity is about the self. A personal God, a personal accountability, and readying oneself for the afterlife.

Good luck!

Answer 4

You are correct. That is an impossible state of existence.

To be a CHRISTian (Root word being CHRIST) is to be a believer in everything Christ taught, no more and no less. To be a CHRISTian is to follow Christ's example and His example did not include following some Buddha fellow and or his teachings.

Everyone has been given the gift of free will to choose or deny Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Christ never forced anyone to choose Him. He shared and then left everyone to choose.

As a follower of Jesus Christ I am called to do the same, which means I must respect everyone's God given free will to deny Christ. I may be sorrowful over that choice, but I must respect that God has allowed them to choose.

My point is this. One has to choose Christ ALL OR NOTHING, they can't treat Christ like a buffet table and pick and choose what aspects about Him they like and or dislike.

Jesus said he was the "THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE and that NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT BY HIM."

Answer 5

Where do you people get your concept of Christianity?

Buddhists tell you to rise above suffering, christians wallow in suffering
- Christians are victorious over suffering - read about healing in the Gospels

Buddhism teaches you to get rid of ego, christians constantly stroke thiers
- Jesus washed his disciples feet and told them that they must do the same.

some christians see martial arts as evil because it teaches you to defend yourself
- I am a Christian martial artist - Karate, Kickboxing, Pancrase.

Buddhism is about thinking for yourself, something christianity doesnt allow.
- That's not a generalization, so I can see that you're thinking for yourself *sigh*

If you are to be Christian, you have to adhere to all the rules.
- Christianity is relationship based,not rule based.

Christianity is about the self
- Jesus said deny youself and take up the cross - as he did.

Answer 6

People in general lack the critical capacity to analyze their religious ideas. They cherry-pick what they like from religion - even from different religions - and simply ignore the rest. Nor are they generally aware of the incompatibility of their various religious notions with each other, or with their own lives.

Answer 7

They cannot be, simply by definition.
A Christian believes that Jesus is the only God (this is exclusionary)
A Buddhist believes that there are multiple gods.
This is contradictory.

Therefore someone who claims to be a Christian Buddhist is actually a Buddhist of some kind, but not Christian.

Answer 8

Buddhism is a way of life -- they don't worship a god. Do you identify yourself as a Christian Republican, or a Christian American, or a Christian anything else? What's the problem?

.

Answer 9

I agree with you they are not compatable, ive met a few in my time and they make fruitcakes seem low in the nut department.

Buddhists dont have a high ego and they usually dont put down other religions like the arrogant christians do. Well most of them anyways ^_^ there are many reasons why buddhism is not compatable with christianity:

1 Buddhists tell you to rise above suffering, christians wallow in suffering

2 Buddhism teaches you to get rid of ego, christians constantly stroke thiers.

3 Buddhism deals with chakra opening something christians dont understand

4 some christians see martial arts as evil because it teaches you to defend yourself

5 Buddhism is about thinking for yourself, something christianity doesnt allow.

6 Budda never claimed to be God, but the teachings of Budda sometimes conflict with the teachings of Jesus. Sometimes.

Answer 10

Interfaith is dangerous.
Very common but dangerous.
It's an old form of religion too.
The Romans would worship their friends god if the friend would worship their god.

Make no mistake---------God requires exclusive devotion, and does not share with other gods.