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Hatred for Christianity Increases
Omar067
Veteran
Well my hatred for Christianity continues to increase. I guess you could see that from the title of this discussion. I live in America, a nation ruled by Christians. That is a true fact. I was once a Christian ,but I left it once I found out what it really does for people. Well, the reason for the hatred increase that I'm having is that Christians advertise Christianity extremely. This too is a proven fact. They can't mind their own business. My way to respect another persons religion is to not talk about it around people you don't trust, but Christians obviously don't do this. I believe Christians have a goal. That goal is to Convert. If this isn't true then why is, "In God we trust" is on a dollar. Why do we say "God bless America." Why is there some laws that do not tolerate other religious beliefs. Why do Christians always try to convert people. The goal is to make Christianity superior to every thing. Maybe I'm just imagining these things. I'm trying to become a buddhist, but if I harbor these kind of feelings, I don't think I can be a true one. Maybe I just wrote this stuff because I'm giving up to my lowest instincts. It is hard trying become a buddhist surrounded by Christians. Well I just want to get you great buddhist people opinions on this. I hope this does not violate any policies on this site.
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Comments
If anything, though, Christianity will be seen more as a myth, and then through this view it may be used in a more beneficial way, leading people into a life of more loving kindness. I was raised Christian, but now see Jesus as a myth and legend, as I do the Buddha, but I'm able to use their teachings to benefit my spiritual life, lifting me into a higher realization of my Pure Nature.
There are hateful people who call themselves Christians, and hateful people who call themselves Buddhists. Are either of these people truly followers of Jesus Christ and the Buddha? No.
Look at all people with the same Loving-Kindness and point them into the same Loving-Kindness. Use Christianity and Buddhism where they can lift you from ignorance and hate, into love. If you feel these people are deceived and deluded, then love them as if they were yourself sick with some disease and suffering.
First, hatred is -- in my view -- a very non-Buddhist attitude.
I happen to live in a very Christian community -- Colorado Springs. It has a number of very high profile "right" churches. Yet, in the 18 months I have lived here, other than a couple of notes on my door when I first bought my townhouse, not a single person has inquired about my religious beliefs. The last time I was in Salt Lake City, as a tourist, and was wandering around the Mormon sector, not a single Mormon asked about my beliefs or tried to preach to me. I was simply welcomed and asked if I needed directions.
Yes, it is a Christian practice to attempt to convert people, and I disapprove of it. But, I don't see what that has to do with "God Bless America" or "In God We Trust". When I lived in Thailand for 2 years, everything with focused on Buddhism, yet no one attempted to convert me.
Now, one can choose to "believe" they existed, but that's based more on faith that reasonable evidence in light of the historical method. I could go on and on about this, but I don't want to drag this off topic. To each his own belief in relation to the probablities of the historical method.
Here's a good outline of the historical method used on the New Testament. This same method can be applied to Buddha and the Sutras, etc..
http://hermeneutics.kulikovskyonline.net/hermeneutics/critmeth.htm
@Omar067
Depends on what you take as "proof." Some lean towards Jesus and Buddha existing in true history, others believe they were introduced as Legends and Myths, as archetypes of the embodiment of collective wisdom.
The cup. Part empty, part full. Take your pick.
Buddha's teachings cannot be conquered. People will always return to the teachings that lead them into peace.
And remember, Jesus didn't teach dogma, he taught spirituality, and some have misunderstood him. He taught there is an inner kingdom of heaven, within you, and you can enter into this by abiding in union with the Way of the Pure Nature, and that's by becoming as a child, loving your enemies, serving, etc...
Just realize those lost in dogma are in delusion and ignorance, and by love show them the way into knowledge, so they can be free of dogma and enter into Spirit. Don't let the ignorance of another infect you with the disease of hate, or you will perish also, in ignorance.
edit: "There are some religious acts that are deemed ... not good by the US." I'll take your word for it. _/\_
Buddha was also called the Way. Buddha also taught to avoid all other doctrines. One could take that as arrogant too.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." What did he mean? He meant that there is a Way of Union with the Pure Nature, which he called Father, and He is the living embodiment of that Way. Buddha was also that same Way lived out in every breath. There's no way to union with the Father or Nirvana, apart from living the way Jesus and Buddha did.
Jesus didn't say, "Buddha is NOT the way!" He only showed his Way of Life, which he was in action, is the only Way into the Pure Union of the True Nature. Buddha and Jesus were, in essence, the same being. The were men who found their true nature by losing their egoic lives, and selflessly showed the way into that union. You too will become that "only way" when you become it in every breath.
You might find this book of interest: "Saving the Savior", by Abubakr Ben Ishmael Salahuddin.
Buddha taught hell too, in the Dhammapada and Udanavarga, etc., etc... If you reject the "Way" which the Buddha taught and was, then you ran the risk of Hell. Remember, the Buddha was called "The Way."
And what did Jesus mean by Hell? Jesus taught the Kingdom is Within and eternal life was "Now." He said, "Those that commit to Me (the living embodiment of the Way) have eternal life." Notice they have it Now. Hell was the state of being outside of the Way, where you fall into suffering after suffering, in the eternity of Now.
Again, Jesus is grossly misunderstood. The Gospel of Thomas and other works can shed light on what Jesus was really teaching. Jesus said his words were Spirit, but people made them literal, making heaven and hell something outside of us, when Jesus made it clear, "The Kingdom of Heaven with WITHIN YOU."
It appears *you* are dogmatic. You are insisting your interpretation of Jesus is correct. I just showed you several ways of interepreting Jesus where he was not all about fear, but simple law; what goes up must come down. He said, "I came to establish law." The law of nature. You stick your hand in the fire it hurts, if you abide in virtue, you find peace.
Also, you may not be interpreting Jesus rightly if you think he was violent. For example, he said, "Bring them before me who would not have me rule over them and slay them before me." What he meant was, "The attributes I show are the true king within the inner kingdom of heaven. These attributes are inherent in the Pure Nature and are as the King of Heaven. The ego refuses to submit into Union with this nature; therefore, in the end, when the light of enlightment shines, the ego, which refuses to submit, will be cut to pieces before reality." But after the ego is cut to pieces the pure nature (Buddha nature) remains.
If you choose to interpret Jesus as the modern Christian Church does that's your choice, but you may be misunderstanding the Spiritual teachings of an enlightened being.
@B5C don't hate anything... :screwy: hate only comes back to you, it is a very afflictive emotion, that is easy to see when one has a degree of calrity. And as the Dalai Lama said, all major leading religions are heading in the same direction but use different modes of transport. They provide a way to create happiness, purity and compassion in a human being, people taint religons.
Happy indeed we live, friendly amist the hostile.
Amidst hostile men we dwell free from hatred.
-Dhammapada 197
The hostile multitudes are vast as space
What chance is there that all should be subdued?
Let but this angry mind be overthrown
And every foe is then and there destroyed
-Shantideva
Where would I possibly find enough leather
With which to cover the surface of the earth?
But (just) leather on the soles of my shoes
Is equivalent to covering the earth with it
Likewise it is not possible for me
To restrain the external course of things
But should I restrain this mind of mine
What would be the need to restrain all else?
-Shantideva
I suggest that before you permit your entire mind to be engulfed by this prejudicial hatred, you study world religions a little further, and learn that your mind is clouded by a veil of blindness.
I grew up 100% Roman catholic, and turned to buddhism around 20 years ago.
i certainly harbour no hatred, animosity or resentment in either my mind or heart for the religion i grew up in.
please, take your vitriol elsewhere. this kind of ignorance really isn't welcome here.
Am closing this thread, as frankly, I see no good in it.