I was raised Christian, but once I was old enough to examine it, I read the bible, and found nothing but hate, hypocrisies, and things I could not bring myself to believe. Going to church was awful. No matter how hard I tried to believe (because I thought I had to), Christianity always felt wrong.
Now, I am studying Buddhism. I am attending seminars at the Zen center downtown, reading anything I can get my hands on, and have started practicing zazen. Everything feels like it's falling into place. I read something and think "Hey, that's what I've always thought!" Doing zazen, I feel whole.
If Christianity is the right religion for everyone, as some people claim, why does it feel so wrong to me, while Buddhism feels so right?
2007-09-02 06:24:14 · 45 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Just so we're clear, I accept that Christianity may be the right religion for you, but I know it isn't for me. I'm addressing this to people who think that everyone needs to be Christian.
2007-09-02 06:25:37 · update #1
Luau Macao, those are rather common misconceptions, but thanks anyway. :)
2007-09-02 06:30:13 · update #2
byHisgrace, Buddhists don't follow any god. Buddha was never a god. He was just as human as anyone else.
2007-09-02 06:42:24 · update #3
Maybe because you are not really asked to take much on faith.
2007-09-02 06:29:59 · answer #1 · answered by skeptic 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Well I will definitely respect your opinion, but I disagree. Being "raised" Christian has the potential to offer no lasting value. You may be taught the core foundations of the faith, but being a "Christian" is ultimately a personal choice which one needs to make. I would, however, like you to maybe clarify where you find this hate, hypocrisy, and unbelievable claims...as those are rather vague terms most non-believers make to the Christian doctrine. Also, take into consideration any presuppositions you had regarding Christianity. In other words can you HONESTLY....this is important....say that you read the Bible to gain understanding, or was it to prove it wrong. From your question it seems that you held a presupposition like ....this can't be true because I don't really want it to be true...True Christianity requires many adjustments one would need to make in life, and most people do not like that. Now I could try and explain to you why buddhism feels so right to you, but it would be Biblically based and probably would not interest you much. Now in regard to your statement of accepting Christianity may be right for me...well I don't understand how people can make this objection. Both Christianity and buddhism contradict on every level of their doctrine. How could both possibly be right? It would seem to me it would be one or the other...Either Jesus is Lord or He isn't...He cannot be Lord of me, and not of you...catch my drift? It's amazing how different people are though. I mean I read the Bible and studied it, and found nothing but love, peace, and joy...Please post again with where you find hate and hypocrisy because I would love to try and clarify it for you.
Take Care!
2007-09-02 06:55:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
well from what i learned, i feel that Christianity is wrong and buddhism is the better. I dont know much about hinduism but its a mixture of buddhism an another religion. Buddhism is the most peaceful religion.
well you know what... if the rome empire never forced christianity on the other emipires they captured christianity would have never spreaded so fast. Lets just say if christianity never was forced on the people it would probably have died out or like a low % of the world population would follow it...
really, when you learn about the history of the world and religion you can see that most of it (especially the monotheistic ones) is just a bunch of crap.
thanks for your time.
2007-09-02 06:54:26 · answer #3 · answered by ~I wish you could smile~ 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I read the bible and get something totally different from it. Being a Christian to me feels only right. I also grew up with "Christianity" and wanted nothing to do with it. Maybe because my family went to church but never practiced living a christian life. That is hypocrisy. Later in life, I became a Christian when I felt God's presence and now there is nothing truer to me. Yes, the bible talks about hate, but it doesn't teach hate. It reflects life with all the good and bad and gives a message of hope for those who want to accept the gift of Christ. Buddhism has wonderful teachings, no doubt about it, but it does not give me eternal life and forgiveness of my sins. If Buddhism is the only way for you, then why do you wonder about Christianity?
2007-09-02 06:38:57 · answer #4 · answered by VW 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
maybe because it's one of the very few religions that doesn't convert? But if you look at the teachings all religions are very similar. It's just that buddhists doesn't have dogma there for there are nearly no zealots in buddhism. But in truth buddhism is not really consider religion, plz don't be offended by this buddhists but it's just that they are more philosophy because since they have no God they don't recieve answers from God so they answer their questions logicly. Which I think that attracts most people.
2007-09-02 06:38:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, if in your eyes, God is an absolute ruler of all creations, Christianity is right. But if you think religion is to teach you how to live a good and better life according to any moral codes - Buddhism fits you well! As you can see, these two fundamental concepts are opposite to each other - that is why you feel contradicted!
2007-09-05 03:23:05 · answer #6 · answered by holyfire 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buddhism can't be a religion because a god cannot be born into this world. Buddhists believe in Siddhartha Gautama, he was a wise man after his death some people started to worship him. When people worship a human being it looks like people are still not educated. NO OFFENSE!
2016-04-02 23:43:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wasnt raised on Christianity. I was raised to be a Catholic but my family isnt that religious at all. We only went to church for a baptism or marriage. I found Christ on my own without people pushing it on me. People never pushed religion on me so I like the fact that I have a good moral respect for what I believe in (Christianity). Though, I dont like how people push their religion on some people because it can go to far and lead the person in the wrong direction.
2007-09-02 06:32:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You go, whirlingmerc! Girl Wonder, I don't believe in forcing things on people, but I really think that you should go back to being a Christian. You were probably taking what the Bible says in the wrong way, without praying about what you read. Christianity may feel wrong, but it you keep reading the New Testament and looking at the good it's sure to do in your life, it will get a lot easier.
2007-09-02 06:40:53 · answer #9 · answered by 12Seychelle 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
God, girl..I so hear ya.
The bottom line in Christianity seems to have morphed into who gets to play the harp, who gets to fry, and in the meantime, we suggest you vote for Bush and aren't those homosexuals awful?
Buddhism is practical advice for living an awakened and more serene life, and if you choose to believe in God, good for you.
I like the idea that the Buddha was just the first guy to wise up, and not part of some cosmic soap opera involving dubious prophecies that blame the world's Ills on a "fallen angel".
I get better, the world gets better, I have compassion for myself, I have more compassion for you...simple.
2007-09-02 06:36:57 · answer #10 · answered by Divadarya: trans n' proud 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
When it comes to a human derived philosophy of life, Buddhism is pretty good.
But there is no salvation in being Buddhist. It is a "religion" where you try to achieve self-improvement, etc. through your own efforts, whereas true Christianity (which I doubt you were ever exposed to) is of such a nature that a person realizes that they can, by their own effort, never make themselves what they should be, any more than a gorilla can make himself a man. He can dress like a man, and try to emulate a man, but in the end, he is still a gorilla.
Christianity is where one surrenders to the God who created him or her, and God makes the Christian over into what God wants; a Son of God.
To many however, they want to achieve "perfection" on their own, hence so many religions like Buddhism.
.
2007-09-02 06:54:27 · answer #11 · answered by Hogie 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋