For people that converted to Buddism, how has that impacted your life?

Question

I live in the bible belt of West Texas so it isnt exactly too easy to try to venture off into another religion without getting poked at. I am not anti Christian, but I am dissatisfied with what little impact it has had on my life. I have tried to be the "good" Christian and it seemed to never help me. After researching Buddism, I feel that it may have more of a positive effect on me than Christianity. For those that have converted, how has the change impacted your way of life? What does it take to convert? Thank you!!

Answer 1

Buddhist philosophy is applicable in a variety of contexts, including within some (admittedly liberal) Christian frameworks. The philosophy involves studies: investigating the ways that interdependent causality effects your view of the universe, implementing the idea that what you think creates what you are, focusing your meditation (some may say prayer) on living in the here & now and on release from longing.

I'm an atheist who studies Buddhism and attends a monthly Buddhist gathering for group meditation. Others there have variant viewpoints on theism (one attendee is a conservative Catholic), but the focus is "doing" meditation and learning from that practice in a non-judgmental way, moving to become, little by little, free of longing. The gentleness and acceptance of the approach is very different from the approaches of harder-line, theology-centered religions. And yet, you can still participate in the local customs without feeling you have to "become a Buddhist." It's enough to become a student of Buddhism, for like any avid study of a subject matter, the more you know, the more you recognize that you can never know. (And that becomes an element of study in itself.)

Answer 2

I concider myself a taoist. To me it is a freedom from group insanity.