Missionaries. Why?

Question

I am a Buddhist living in a country where 95% of the population put their faith in Buddhism. Our culture goes back thousands of years, long before the birth of Christianity. Today we are being swamped by Christrian missionaries who tell us that the teachings our ancestors respected and that our parents raised us on are wrong. They tell us we are sinners and that if we do not accept their god into our lives we will go to hell when we die. They try to fill us with fear and guilt. They try to bribe us into accepting their faith by offering free schooling or hospital care if we convert. Why do they look down on us like this? Why do they look down on our parents and ancestors? We are a peace loving people and do not want to argue with them or cause ill feeling. Why can't they just go away and practise their religion and let us live our lives and practise our beliefs in peace?

Earl D: We do have Buddhist schools and hospitals. They tell us we are teaching wrongly and that their schools and hospitals are better.

The Phan: No, I am not a Buddhist monk.

Answer 1

I am not a Buddhist but I too have gone through much of what you speak of only it was not in the name of Jesus. I found through my own questioning and confronting my own belief that I had lived many years without a teachable spirit. I was confronted too, when I had lived a life of peace, I too was assaulted and violated beyond my own belief system. I was traumatized and then I got angry, which frightened me because I became very aware of that power to choose to do unto another what had been done to me. and I chose not to take vengeance upon my brother instead I chose to hold on to the only peace I knew and that peace was in knowing God loves me more than I could imagine, and I was ready to embrace that love instead, that love now embraces my life.

Answer 2

Maybe some of those people you mention who put their faith in Buddhism will change their minds and accept Jesus Christ as their lord and savior. You keep saying "us" - "they try to bribe us", "they look down on us", etc. It's not about an "us". Everyone has to look into their own heart and soul and decide what is right for *them* individually. If they decide that Jesus Christ is their way to salvation, that's their choice, and you really have no right to deny them of that.

You also misrepresent the Christian faith. Is that by design?? Be honest now - are you a Buddhist monk, who has a vested interest in seeing that people don't change? I follow the news, and am aware of what's happening there. (I'm guessing Sri Lanka, you don't say exactly) I am aware of the violence that's been committed against churches there. I have travelled extensively to Asia also, and know many people there.....

Christian missionaries are a good thing....

Answer 3

"Why can't they just go away and practise their religion and let us live our lives and practise our beliefs in peace?"

There are many active and determined Buddhist proselytizers here in the US, especially on the West Coast, who focus on converting those with Jewish or Christian backgrounds.

Do they offer the non-Buddhists here free schooling or hospital care?

What creative or leadership contributions are converts of African or European heritage allowed to give within Buddhist sects and organizations?

Answer 4

I was raised in America (in an evil evangelical Christian cult) and now live in Buddhist Thailand. I have seen the xian missionaries here too and have on a few occasions given them a piece of my mind. This is a true story: one guy stood up in the middle of an elevated train car in Bangkok and started berated Buddhism (specifically the Buddha). He happened to be wearing a shirt with an American flag on it. The Thais are shy and hate confrontation - most probably didn't understand him, but of the ones who did, my guess is they didn't want to challenge him. I let it go for awhile, but finally stood up and told this guy to take himself and his rant back to the U.S. He said: "Go to Hell, it's a free country." To which I replied: "This isn't your country and I'd appreciate it if you didn't make a bad name for Americans who live here." He got off at the next stop and I never saw him again.

Appalling behavior!

Answer 5

People, who thinks their religion is right and others are wrong, is sinner themselves. By disrespecting others belief, insulting others divine beings, bad wording the thousands year culture and think only about their view while ignoring the feeling of people and manipulating the truth, they drives people hatred toward them. Please ignore those sinners and believe in your faith. A true priest or monk will take care people in need without asking for return. But since Buddha loves everyone and doesn't require your faith, when your family need of those priests, missionaries for help - please go to them since Buddha only wants you to live a happy life, not die for him

Answer 6

Keep with Buddhism.

Missionaries are just there to ram Christianity or Islam down your thaots - to enslave you in their myths and legends. I never buy religion at the door, the garanties aren't worth the paper its written on.

The Buddha was more relivent to today 2500 years ago than the Jewish religions (Christianity, Islam, Judism, Mormans- etc.) will ever be

Answer 7

Why aren't Buddhists doing Schooling and setting up Hosptials.

I mean if you were, you wouldn't need THEM.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that if a Catholic School educates one of your kids to the point where they can go to Harvard or MIT or Oxford and become a computer specilaist and make $$$ they'd be PRAISING the CHRISTIAN GOD

So what is Buddah doing for it's own people!

Compete head to head or fall by the wayside.

Darwinism. Evolution. NATURAL SELECTION.

People will NATURALLY SELECT the best situation for their needs.

Compete or become extinct!

Answer 8

Missionaries, of however persuasion, are basically spies or scouts. however all professed to bringing enlightenment, i can not think of of one million that did no longer deliver melancholy. Q2 i think of it is the main intimate.

Answer 9

The Lord Jesus commissioned His followers:

Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel.

Answer 10

They think that their way is the only way. They are doing what they think their god wants them to do. It is horrible that they are trying to bribe people into conversion by offering health care and schooling. Also it makes them feel good about themselves. They are arrogant self rightous pricks.