Unhappiness w/Xianity led me to Buddhism. I've never been more peaceful. So r Xians my enemies or my friends?

Question

I'm not asking this because I don't know the answer. I have my own answer. It's just something to be aware of in your own debates.

I said that my personal unhappiness with Christianity led ME to Buddhism, not that unhappiness w/Christianity led to Buddhism in general. The X was only used to save space b/c characters are limited in questions. My apologies.

This was supposed to be an enlightening question which some have (somehow) managed to interpret into something negative. I'm starting to question posting here.

Answer 1

Buddhists don't view any living being as their enemy, but view everyone as their friends. We try to develop love and compassion for all beings and to be tolerant and considerate of everyone and their beliefs, therefore I don't believe that you should regard Christians as your enemies.

Answer 2

Unhappiness will come regardless of what religion one may ascribe to. If you have peace now, then more power to you, but if there's this underlying thought that others are enemies because they don't ascribe or believe in the same thing as you do then there's a high chance that unhappiness will soon set-in and takeover again---churning in samsara.

I've observed that people who are highly spiritual do not need others to believe or root for the same religion they ascribe to. I have friends who are Christians (and other faiths) but instead of lecturing me or telling me I'll burn in hell, they offer me their hand in time of need, they share their happiness, sadness, trials and tribulations, etc. When they talk happily about God or Jesus Christ---be happy with them---don't feel threatened. One doesn't need to be defensive or tell them off if one is also well rooted in their own tradition. By being peaceful with yourself and others, that in itself is a representation of what you have learned and have experienced through practice.

Part of Buddhist practice is applying the Four Brahmavihara or the Four Sublime states, they are: compassion, loving-kindness, sympathetic joy and equanimity. A person first applies these states to oneself, then to love ones/friends, then to people one meets but have no emotional connections to, like the clerk at the post office, a teacher, a person in line in front of you, etc. and last, to people considered 'enemies' or have strong dislike or aversion to.

Answer 3

Sinner & Saint,
Here's the thing. For one, I don't count you as my enemy. But neither do I believe that you have the truth in you. You do with that what you want.

Secondly, being Christian means that I am not the most important thing in the universe. The Lord is my peace. And He's there if I can get out of myself enough to realize it. Otherwise I'll 'feel' all kinds of ways until I do. But MY peace, and MY self are not really relevant in Christianity. His will, and how I reach to Him in my life is. I am a servant, without any rights within the relationship between me and Him that is. And I am Christian because I trust Him and believe Him.

It's not my 'reason for being' to make myself feel anything. It's to do His will.

Answer 4

All true religions that teach of peace, compassion and understanding - to which both Buddhism and Christianity belong - are brotherly religions and their followers should be friends with one another.

Personally, I don't oppose one religion to the other. I try to take the best from both of them.

Answer 5

Live and let live is my motto. I like some folk who are Christan (I study divinity so I meet a lot of them) and I like some folk who are buddhist. Likewise, some folk, I just cant stand but this is regardless of thier respective faiths. Why must you divide your world into polar opposites? As a buddhist you must realise that such questons are part of samsara and so irrelevant.

Answer 6

I am Offended by your use of the X !! That isn't how you spell Christ. Do you want respect for your Faith? Then Respect MINE !


Also, your mistaken about Buddhism. It came about in response to Hinduism's Cast System, NOT Christianity.

Answer 7

whenever you subscribe to ANY organized religion, you are forcing yourself to accept an entire belief structure that you surely do not completely agree with 100% and you will create enemies. Its better to be an atheist

Answer 8

Christians will hate the fact that you rejected their system of theology for a non-theistic system of philosophy. Few of them will admit it but they will resent you for being an enemy of their faith. As you are a Buddhist however the sentiments will not be mutual.

Answer 9

Why must we be enemies? I do not consider you my enemy.