How can I resolve my conflict of Christianity and Buddhist beliefs? Can both be used simultaneosly?

Question

I grew up a Christian and was always tought that if I did not accept Christ as my savior that I would be doomed to hell after my passing. After speaking with a close Buddhist friend of mine (who thinks very highly of Jesus Christ) she insisted that if I were to embrace differering beliefs, as long as my heart was pure and focused on good deeds that I would enter a "different" heaven than that of Christianity. Can anyone (a practicing Buddhist or Christian) please help shed some light on how to live as a good person, following my heart to bring good deeds to the world without the fear of going to an eternal place of suffering because I did not embrace the teachings of Christ? Shouldn't my good deeds, delivered with pure intent from my heart dictate how and where I end up after this life? Any input from practicing Buddhists and/or Christians would be greatly appreciated!!

Answer 1

First off, I will agree with the Christian presumption that Christianity and Buddhism are not the same - not even similar. That being said, I believe it is completely compatible for a Christian to adhere to Buddhist principles such as the Eightfold Path, to practice meditation (both Christian and mindfulness).

I don't see how anyone living as a good person, following their heart to bring good deeds to the world has to fear anything about not embracing the teachings of Jesus.

Outside of particular church/denomination dogma and ritual, aren't the teachings of Jesus to love your neighbor (and your enemy? To practice charity and acts of kindness? and to treat all people with respect, dignity and genuine compassion?

One does not have to be a Buddhist to understand Buddhism, or to live a life of loving kindness, charitable works, promotion of peace, etc.

Peace and blessings upon all beings.

Answer 2

I commend you for asking the question since too many don't take the after life seriously. Although not an expert on Buddhism, I can tell you that Christianity is NOT an inclusive religion. Jesus Christ made claims that you cannot be on the fence about. Either accept or reject. The whole point of Jesus's sacrifice was that no amount of good deeds can get you to heaven. Without shooting off in too many directions, I will also say that this isn't a license to sin because there are clear consequences. But we all sin none the less, in one manner or another, and this seperates us from God. And how can one seperated from God go to heaven? According to the Bible, it is not your "good deeds" but only Christ who can intercede for you. Your friend may think very highly of Christ, but in every word that Christ spoke, he contradicts your friend. Many like to think of Christ only as the meek guy holding a lamb. But Christ proclaimed things that made many angry, but still he did not stop proclaiming them.
Christ clearly claimed to be God. This was what sent the pharisees into a frenzy and the basis of the charge against him, which he never denied and for which he went to the cross. Others called him God and he did not shy away from it. Your friend may think that Jesus was a good man, but how can He be, if he is not who he claimed to be. If He says that he is God and knows that he is not, then he is an evil LIAR. If he thought himself to be God and is not, then he is a lunatic. The bible is very clear about the way to heaven, and it has every thing to do with who you believe Christ is. For Christ only intercedes for you if you believe in the identity that he claimed for himself. He doesn't give you a pass for rejecting his deity because you think very highly of him. If you do not believe that you need his intercession then why do you care about him at all? I do not mean to be cruel, but the Bible is an accept it or reject it book. It leaves no wiggle room. If you do not believe the words of Christ, then you reject Christ. If you do not believe his teachings, then why are you even afraid of Hell? If you want to be a Buddhist, then be a Buddhist. If you want to make your own religion, then make it. Just know, that as much as you may want to make Christ a part of it, he cannot be, whether He speaks the truth or not. And if not, then why would you even want Him to be a part of it?

Answer 3

I was a born again Christian who became Buddhist for 8 years...now my beliefs have morphed into something unique to me, but heavily influenced by both Christianity and Buddhism...I don't know that I believe in Heaven at all but I do believe death is not the end for us...I don't know that good deeds will 'save' anyone...but do good because it is just the right thing to do...sorry if I can't reassure you...my time as a Buddhist has had it's effect on me in realizing we know nothing of what lies beyond death...but we will find out some day...

Answer 4

As some have mentioned on here, if you have accepted Christ, He has made you a NEW creature which is evident by the Holy Spirit living in you. What that means is you ALREADY have a place waiting for you in heaven. It was purchased with Christ's BLOOD! Looking into philosophies is harmless however if it necessitates "worship" Then you have a problem because the Bible says, you can't serve two masters because you will eventually grow to hate one or the other. Keep in mind that Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived and even his marvelous mind could not stem the corruption of the demons when he joined his wives in worship of their idols.

Answer 5

Buddhism is a vast and diverse religion, with different traditions and schools of thought. Some come with relatively few mystical/metaphysical statements to get in the way with other beliefs.

For instance, I (an atheist) might find some of the teachings of the Zen school useful, though I could never reconcile my materialism with something like Therevada or Vajrayana. (Zen, in particular, is easy to match with other things because its tradition grew out of temples where the master and students all had to do day to day work. As a result, the religion had to be compatible with a relatively normal life, as opposed to some sort of extreme asceticism or whatever.)

Answer 6

Life is short, you shall decide what is the best for you.

I think before making all those decision you should give yourself plenty of time to understand what is Buddhism all about. then you can decide.

maybe next time when there is Buddhist studying (08/18)

you can come along and ask the Monk this question yourself.

*SMILE*

Be kind, be compassion and be wise.

Answer 7

Christ told us we were on a narrow path (Matt. 7:14) and that he was the only way. So I'm afraid the two cannot be reconciled, thought the Buddhists apparently think they can. If we could have done enough good deeds to be pure in the sight of a holy God, Jesus wouldn't have had to die for us.

Answer 8

See this is my trouble with Christianity. Can you believe a good or loving God would put you in a place like hell for adopting aspects of a philosophy that brought peace and made you a better person? I can't. I am no longer Christian so maybe I shouldn't answer but from studying when I was it seems to me that human people with agendas have added a lot of junk onto the basic teachings of Jesus. You have to decide for yourself what you are comfortable with though. I hope you find the right answer for yourself and peace and happiness.

Answer 9

Many find 'similarities' between Buddhism and Christianity, but they are not the same.

In your question, you appear to want to get away from the idea of hell and suffering in Christianity - but that is also in Buddhism. Buddhism believes that we do good to get good karma and hope to escape the cycle of reincarnation through the various levels of suffering ie attain enlightenment. However, this requires effort, as you can imagine, and really, one cannot be sure if one's good deeds are enough at the end of one's life to escape the cycle altogether or get reincarnated to another round of suffering as a human being. You simply don't know, and await the result as you pass from life into death. Even then, there is a 'moment' in that passing when you must grasp the moment and try and 'escape'.

In other words, your idea in your question of escaping a 'Christian hell' by going through Buddhism is not quite valid.

Otoh, your idea of abandoning Christianity will lead you to hell gives you a dilemma - it will lead you to hell according to Christianity's beliefs. Well, after reading the above on Buddhism, now look at what Christianity says - gain salvation by believing. Try and look at this flipside of Christianity rather than have an objective of escaping hell.

Christianity says if you believe in Jesus, you will gain salvation and be with God - isn't that wonderful? In addition, you are assured of salvation.

Btw, believing in Christ will lead to the fruits of beliefs naturally - doing good deeds and so on.

Isn't that a better way to go - an assured way, or a try by effort way, which you won't be sure of even at the end of your life?

Note: The Christian 'salvation' isn't the same as the 'enlightenment' in Buddhism.

Answer 10

Just the fact that you are thinking of embracing Buddhism after having the grace of God in Christ speaks volumes. Wasn't the forgiveness of your sins enough? Wasn't the imparting of God's Holy Spirit to you enough? Wasn't partaking of the Divine Nature of God enough? OR, was your Christianity a cultural and mind trip and you possessed none of the above?

I have to believe that you lack a real experience and understanding of Christ and your Christian Faith for you to even consider joining the Buddhist religion. Christ and his Christian Church possesses all that is needed for forgiveness of sins, for the infilling of the Holy Spirit, for partaking of the Divine Nature of God and for living life to the fullest.