I think it's mostly because Christians try to solicit other people to become Christians. Of course a lot of Muslims are the same way (or worse).

I don't have a favorable opinion of any religion.

What cracks me up is I get relly obsene "funny" emails from the same people who send me "Don't delete this if you love Jesus" emails.

Maybe it has something to do with truth. 

Obviously everyone doesn't believe Jesus is the truth, but in my life experience, the ones who are the quickest to point out mistakes, are the very ones who deep down recognize the same error in their own hearts.

Those annoy me as well.

As for pushing religion, honestly, Tex, I have found Buddhists as a whole to be some of the most pushy people there are. But people don't hold them to the same standard. And my Unitarian aunt? FAR more dogmatic than Fred Phelps. Just in different areas.

Wow. What is up with my spelling today?

Hello Gideon,

Buddhism is not a faith in the sense that Christianity is. It has no dogma, no central hierarchy, no articles of faith: even its precepts vary widely from sect to sect and are, in the end, precepts not commandments. Buddhism is a practice rather than a belief system and works from the inside out over a very long period of time, is exceptionally forgiving and tolerant of errors or misteps by its practitioners. In the final analysis, by definition, it could not have a "hypocrite" in the same sense as a theistic faith follower. We practice to be the Buddhas we are; we are not always successful. Still, in the end, we are always perfect and complete, just as we are.
Be well.

This sounds eerily like "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven"



ARRRRRGGGHHH!

This statement annoys me just as much as the statement "Christianity is not a religion". Buddhism is very DEFINITELY a faith; while it may be more loosely defined and open to interpretation, it is quite certainly a faith.

I do appreciate your perspective, even as we disagree, sodaiho.

OK, I'll bite...er, I mean answer your question...with a question.

How many people of other faiths are there in this country compared to the number of Christians?

Good question Gid. Of course I believe it's all tied in to the truth as Tova suggested.

I was just thinking about this the other day. The Christians are the ones called intolerant because they think they have the answer in believing the only way to heaven is thru Christ.

But doesn't every major religion have some sort of exclusivism attached to it? I think Ba'haism is the only group out there I can think of that is all inclusive. The rest of us seem to be exclusive. But it's only the Christians that get bashed for their belief that their's is the only way. Certainly Islam feels that way. Hinduism too. Buddhists feel their's is the right path as well.

The real problem is not that there is just one way.....because if there were 1000 ways to God, we'd want 1001 ways. It's the prideful sin nature of man.

I find it interesting that Jesus talked about truth to the doubter Thomas in Jn 14:6. "I am the way, truth and life, no man comes to the Father but by me." I find it interesting because the story goes that Thomas ended up in India and paid with his life there and today there is a monument dedicated to him in I think Madras. In India, of course, Hinduism rules. Hindus believe there way is the only path to God. Yet, it's not uncool to be a Hindu. Maybe it's because they have so many lifetimes to get it right.

Truth by definition is exclusive.

I have found Buddhists as a whole to be some of the most pushy people there are.

Wow, this really surprises me. I have had exactly the opposite experiences with Buddhists. While not a practicing Buddhist, I admire the philosophies of Buddhism and subscribe to these teachings more than I do to any Christian philosphies. As Sodaiho pointed out, "It has no dogma, no central hierarchy, no articles of faith", which, for those who have not studied Buddhists philosophies, might be a little hard to grasp. However, I do agree with you that Buddhism is a faith. Multilateral and interpretive yes, but still a faith.

Allow me to answer Abe Cubbage's question about how many other faiths beside Chrisitian are in the United States:

Religions: Protestant 52%, Roman Catholic 24%, Mormon 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other 10%, none 10% (2002 est.)

These figures are taken from the CIA's World Factbook so I'm assuming these statistics are correct. So I guess the answer is that, in the US, Christians far outweigh the other religious groups and, by sheer power of numbers, are much more likely to be seen being hypocritical. It is unforunate but I guess, when you live in a Christian country, this is one of the knocks you have to take.

We're growing! Chugga-chugga-chugga-chugga-choo-CHOO!!!!!!

[/hijack]

Gideon, All,

So sorry for your annoyance. But, upon what do you base your claim that Buddhism is a faith? It has no god, no articles of faith, no dogma. Practitioners have faith, but not in "Buddhism", rather the Buddha Way. That is to say, the practice of the Buddha's teachings. Buddhism is, then, a practice that is a religion, but it is not theistic. We worship nothing at all, as practitioners, yet hold all things sacred.

Everything in this universe is complete, just as it is, i.e., perfect, Gideon.

When everything is truly understood as one, there is nothing to forgive and no one to forgive. There is no error and there is no atonement. Just do what is in front of you to do.

KFC, Buddhism is inclusive. The "Right Path" you hint at should not be understood in the same way as "right v. wrong" in our language. We do not exclude anyone. You are very welcome to sit down and practice zazen, nothing in our religious point of view would suggest that you should ever give up your religious point of view. I would ask you to use zazen to deepen your faith and enrich your practice as a Christian.


The only truth that is exclusive is the truth of Small Mind and it is the mind of delusion. Big Mind, the Universal Mind includes everything, the so-called good, bad, right or wrong. Like God, Universal Truth encompasses the universe and resides therein.

When Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life," etc. I believe he meant his example is the way. Follow his lead. The Truth, like Dharma, is the reality of our existence without the delusion of dualism. Life lived fully and completely and when lived in balance with deep compassion and love, we manifest the Father, that is, our True Nature.


Be well.

As I understand it, the meaning of 'faith', in context of Buddhist teachings, has more to do with the question: "What is faith?" as opposed to the statement: "I have faith". Seeking to understand is the quest of all Buddhists, for it is with true understanding they are able to find their Buddha Self.

If you're concerned only Christians get accused of hypocrisy in this dark world, you can rest assured the others get it just as much. Friday Muslims are a big 'problem' in Indonesia and are on all the religious talk shows. And of course Tibetan Buddhism is facing its schism between the old, pacifist guard like the Dalai Lama and the younger folk who don't believe in pacifism and want to follow the Palestinians in what would be very unBuddhist behaviour.

Religions: Protestant 52%, Roman Catholic 24%, Mormon 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other 10%, none 10% (2002 est.)

I think Abe was leading up to the point that Christians get the most criticism, because they are the largest group by profession.  And I would say that is the answer to Gideon's question.

Good Morning LW,

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I apologize if I seem to come off as condescending. Not intentional. I hold other faiths in very high regard and do not want people to give up their faith for my practice. On the other hand, I do not want to sit by passively while being whacked on the head and stabbed in the heart by those very same faiths for my practice either. In my defense perhaps I am a bit too aggressive. Each of these are real practice opportunities. Thank you.

A bow to you.