Is it possible for a chirstian to follow Buddhist teachings. As there are many buddhist values and doctrine many christians could do with...but then there is the whole "god is either none existent or irrelivent" beliefe...would that put many off?
how do u find the balance?
2007-09-18 10:19:13 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Not and be Christian
You can't straddle the fence
2007-09-18 10:23:24 · answer #1 · answered by kenny p 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Yes and no. i'm used to be a Christian but am now a Buddhist. Buddhists have no problem with other Buddhists that incorporate Christian teachings. in fact, we believe that Jesus was a living Buddha.
Buddha - “Believe nothing merely because you have been told it.... Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. But whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be kind, conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings — that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide.”
what ever makes you the best person you can be no matter what path you take is what the Buddha taught. don't choose a path, become the path.
so to answer your question, Christians will have a problem with Christians adding Buddhist teachings whereas Buddhists have no problem with Buddhists adding christian teachings.
Namaste.
2007-09-18 10:34:48 · answer #2 · answered by WreckinShop 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christians can believe whatever they want. Each and every Christian ultimately accepts personal responsibility for their own sources of authority. Some relay on the teachings of a particular denomination, some rely exclusively on the Bible, some rely on the teachings of the Church Fathers, and some rely on the teachings of a particular theologian. The only common characteristic is that all Christians try to understand who Jesus was, and strive to adhere to his teachings.
With that in mind, there is plenty of room in Christianity for studying and applying Buddhist principles. Some conservative Christian mystics apply Buddhist morality and meditation methods. Some Christians maintain that Buddha was himself a pre-Christian saint, and that Christianity should be understood from within a Buddhist framework. Many Christians cite the doctrines of early Church Fathers like Origen to justify a belief in reincarnation (or transmigration of souls).
2007-09-18 10:33:06 · answer #3 · answered by NONAME 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Buddha was born 500 years before Jesus. The Roman Empire, during Jesus time, had contact with Buddhist countries through the silk trade. There are many books comparing the two. I believe was teaching Buddhist thought.
If anyone should strike you with his hand, with a stick or a knife, abandon any desires and utter no evil words.
Majjhima Nakiaya 21:6
Words of Buddha
500 YEARS LATER...
If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also.
Luke 6:29
Words of Jesus
Jesus also taught reincarnation, "Unless a man be born again..."
2007-09-18 10:28:54 · answer #4 · answered by Honest Opinion 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, so long as you're not believing in things like reincarnation. Christians, like Buddhists, meditate, for example and do lots of other similar things. If you are doing those things and getting Buddhist teachings to help you with it, it's fine. It's when you leave the core beliefs and teachings of Christianity for those of Buddhism that it would become a problem.
2007-09-18 10:26:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The "God is either." quote, is that a standard Buddhist belief? I don't think so.
A lot of historians think Jesus studied with a group of Jewish philosphers called the Essenes, who were strongly influence by Buddhist beliefs. Some even think Jesus went to India and studied Buddhism there before he was baptised by John the Baptist.
So I think there is room for Buddhist principals (if not religious belief) in Christianity.
2007-09-18 10:26:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Sure it is. But that is not the problem. No Buddhist would care if you are a Buddhist and also claim to be a Christian, or to have Christian beliefs. But Christians will never accept anyone that claims to be a Christian, and has Buddhist beliefs, or claims to also be a Buddhist.
2007-09-21 15:11:33 · answer #7 · answered by Marvin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't see why not, Buddism has many good teachings as does the Bible. As a Christian I find a lot of worthwhile teachings in many religions, but I am Christian, I believe Christ is the Son of God and died on the Cross for my sins so that I may see God without sin when I die. Gods gift to all of us if we accept it.
Having said that I don't know all of the ways of God so would never tell anyone accepting Christ is the only way to Heaven.
2007-09-18 10:39:52 · answer #8 · answered by knowitall 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The first three answers are exactly what you would expect....yes, no and maybe. You know your heart, and God does too. If Jesus resides there all is well. When the debate comes up on eastern thinking, I always like to point out the years of Jesus's life that are "missing" from the Bible. There are historical writing in some Indian towns that Jesus visited them. Could one assume that he studied their religion and left His influence? I believe that He traveled and studied many things.
2007-09-18 10:32:33 · answer #9 · answered by Al a voter 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Buddhism is more philosophy and practice than religion. Buddhism want evidence and experience, not so much belief. So Agnostic is the natural standpoint - but there are no hard and fast rules in Buddhism...nothing says you can not believe in God.
There are Christian Buddhist groups.
~ Eric Putkonen
2007-09-18 10:41:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well one of the main ideas in Buddhism is the focus on the here and now. The past is an illusion, and so is the future. As Christians are constantly looking towards the future they believe they will have in heaven, I don't see how it could work.
2007-09-18 10:24:51 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋