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Buddhists & Easter
Okay so a few months ago prime was able to provide a very clear explanation as to why, as a buddhist, christmas is still a time to celebrate (based on who jesus was, what he did, etc). This coming weekend is Easter. Since I was raised catholic, my mother has asked that I come home this weekend for easter dinner with family and relatives. This is no problem to me, I would love to have some home cooked dinner, see aunts/uncles/cousins, do some laundry...
But anyways, I am wondering where, religiously, buddhist stand on this catholic holiday. The issues I see here are that, once again, we are talking about a day celebrating jesus, who we all know did many great things in the world, regardless of who he may or may not have been. However, unlike christmas, this day is specifically aimed at celebrating his reincarnation after his crucifixion. On one hand, that sounds remarkable in line with rebirth and the like. On the other hand, this also has the implication that he was reborn due to the fact that he was the god made human.
I guess I am just curious for an explanation on this one. Prime? help?
But anyways, I am wondering where, religiously, buddhist stand on this catholic holiday. The issues I see here are that, once again, we are talking about a day celebrating jesus, who we all know did many great things in the world, regardless of who he may or may not have been. However, unlike christmas, this day is specifically aimed at celebrating his reincarnation after his crucifixion. On one hand, that sounds remarkable in line with rebirth and the like. On the other hand, this also has the implication that he was reborn due to the fact that he was the god made human.
I guess I am just curious for an explanation on this one. Prime? help?
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Comments
In a strictly religious sense, easter is a holiday celebrating the christ's resurrection, and many christians consider it the most important christian holiday.
However, in a cultural sense, Easter sort of predates christianity, and some scholars speculate that the easter celebration was sort of "tacked on" to pagan fertility celebrations and other springtime rituals. The whole easter egg deal is a remnant of some of these pagan rites.
In a religious sense, Buddhists of course have no reason to celebrate the resurrection of christ because most buddhists don't believe that christ was divine. Many don't even believe that he died on the cross. In a sense, we could say that christ was reborn as all beings are reborn, but there is no reason to celebrate it, being as it is just part of the natural cycle of things.
However, to maintain peace in the family and to walk the middle path, american buddhists should take every opportunity to celebrate any holiday with their family. If it makes grandma and mom happy then there is no reason not to go through all the motions. Only you will know that the motions don't have as much meaning to you.
Although I get the sense that many christians also "merely go through the motions" as well :P
I guess I have taken to "going through the motions" for my family's sake when it comes to catholic religious holidays. I just use the time as an oppurtunity to see family and the like. I still haven't sprung my buddhism on my family because I frankly don't think that they are mature or openminded enough to handle it, so I just go with the flow and don't participate in religious activities (church, prayer, etc). Seeing as how I am used to this, easter should be no problem.
My parents are generally as opened minded as Republicans can be
How can I present Buddhism to them in a way that will help them see I haven't become some cultist who worships figurines? (Or, more importantly, a way that won't cause them to stop talking to me on religious holidays).
I guess I can rule out going to church with them tomorrow... :unsure:
Look, my grandma was pretty much the same way. Add to your situation the fact that she is very old and "set in her ways", and believe me, I understand what you're going through.
I hope it helps you to know that you're not alone...
Take the middle path - tell them that buddhism is not a religion. Tell them that you still believe in Jesus (that helps a LOT) - you don't need to tell them that you don't believe Jesus was a deity (or maybe you do, I'm not sure.. I personally don't) - but most importantly, let them know that Buddhism does not preclude or invalidate christianity. Tell them that Buddha is not worshipped or prayed to, and that the statues are ultimately meaningless and that you do not worship them. These things are important bits of information to Christians.
I'll have more advice later, but I have to go celebrate Easter with my family now...
My main issue is that they expected me to go to church and take communion and the whole nine yards. I've been playing this game for a long time now and I'm finally at a place where I have enough self-confidence that I don't want to pretend anymore. I shouldn't have to pretend to make my parents happy when it's screwing me up.
I did explain that Buddhism does not involve worship and does not preclude Christianity. I did tell them, though, that I have problems with the deification of Jesus and the model of God as a moralizer who would send us to hell and yet is said to have unconditional love for us. I told them I still believe in a loving god, just not in the same terms as Christianity likes to put it.
The main issue is my mom sees it as a personal failure and the end of traditions and that sort of stuff... I explained how neither of those things is true, but she just needs time I guess. My dad doesn't have much invested in it and just went with it it seems. :unsure:
Today at Easter dinner, the whole family just started eating, no "grace".... My dad (of all people) said "Jeez we don't even say grace anymore" and everyone just gave a nervous giggle.
I think the deep down truth is that none of them really believes, because there are just too many hypocrisies and contradictions within Catholicism... I think that none of them has the courage to admit it.
Even my grandmother one time told me that deep down inside, she doubts that the catholic church is a "good" organization ... She still gives them her money, but deep down, she wonders what they are doing with it.
It's too bad. The Catholic church ruined christianity for a good many people.
Matt: Oh man, I applaud you for having the strength to tell them. I'm impressed. I have still not told anything to my parents, although I never go to mass and I put up a HUGE fight whenever they (my mom) tries to make me go. Once my step-dad interrupted me meditating after we had had a fight about something, so I think maybe he has some clue. Luckily for me, Easter was quite enjoyable this year. My mom didn't even make an attempt to get us all to mass, so that potential sore spot was avoided. I dunno when I will tell them, but I can imagine that it will probably go about as well as it went for you. Mostly I have put it off because I don't think that they are open-minded enough to handle it, and why bother rocking their world when I will be moved out for good in a matter of months. I think that the main problem faced with telling parents is exactly what you ran into: Their belief in "god" and the alternate stance that you and me and any other buddhist may take.
Brian: Exactly, the church certainly did ruin christianity for a lot of people. I would like to suggest, if you guys haven't already read it, The Da Vinci Code. Excellent book! Firmly cemented my long-held belief that the church as an organization is a bad thing. I was posed with the question while talking about the book with someone, "Would you take down the church if you had that oppurtunity?" After a little thought, however, I said no for the simple reason that while the church has done a number of bad things along the way and is certainly an organization with many problems, on the whole having a world full of people believe in something and using that as direction for a good life is a very good thing. Now, granted, thats not my religion, but I do feel that it is better to have some religion than no religion (unless your religion encourages you to kill other people
"Matt's just going through a silly phase right now. Soon he'll come to his senses" :P
Two years now, and my grandmother is still in that phase :blink:
(that probably sounds worse than i mean it to, but i don't know how else to say it)
Oh and prime, thanks for the congrats message on my grad school thing... I never got a chance to get back to you
As with all things, the best path is the middle path.
Ester's avatar was the rabbit... or bunny... I.E., Ester's Bunny or Easter Bunny.
my choice to practice the middle path.my mom tries to relate to me by buying
me different Buddha statues(which she refers to as a girl)
and by printing off buddha pics from her computer and giving them to me.
she even bought a meditation kit! this was for herself though. it contained cards
with different topics to meditate on and the box even turned into a little altar-
with a glossy pic of the buddha. needless to say she never used it .she's really not
interested in learning about Buddhism,i've tried to share the basics with her.only because
i want to see her happy.but it's too abstract to her. she apprectiates the images,the asian motiff and other products but not the teachings.(like most westerners)
Easter is just about as on shaky a ground as any festival could be... A brief 'nutshell' diatribe....
The word Easter is derived from the greek OEstros meaning fertile. This is where we get our word Oestrogen from.... so the Christians did hyjack this festival from the pagans. hence Easter EGGS....symbols of fertility, abundance and heavy waistlines... Furthermore, the Christian Easter weekend is calculated according to the phases of the moon (the second full moon after the vernal equinox, I think....!) Very Holy!
The word Pasqua (Italian) and Paques (French) are derived from the Jewish word for 'Passover' when the Angel of Death spared the Jews from the Heavenly wrath and cull of firstborns. They ate mutton to celebrate. that's why traditionally, Easter lunch should be roast lamb.
So if anyone feels entitled to comment on your Buddhist faith, tell them that at least it's less confusing.....!
I'd just like to take this opportunity to wish everyone who celebrates Easter to have a really happy one, and to enjoy and revel in whatever ways you choose to celebrate. It's a time to be reborn, leave the 'old things' behind and to start anew. This is taken by many to be the real beginning of the Christian year, so hope you have a wonderul one. Any resolutions? remember what they say about chocolate: a minute in the mouth, an hour in the belly and two years on the hips.....
To my kids, christmas and easter are simply cultural holidays instead of religious ones. My family, even though they are catholics, all but ignores the religious aspects of the holidays anyway. We haven't said a prayer or grace or even mentioned jesus at either holiday in a very, very long time. I choose not to participate in the hypocrisy, so I do not pretend to my children that we are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus at easter. I tell them easter is a celebration of spring and the rebirth of all life. Christmas is a celebration of family and the spirit of giving.
It's fun seeing how kids try to imitate mom and dad with meditation and chanting. I don't pretend that my kids are ready to understand meditation yet (they are 7 and 5), but at least they are becoming familiar with the motions
My personal angle would be to educate the children roundly on what the festivals are about, mention also the Pagan origins if appropriate, but give them the whole picture, in as complete a way as they can absorb, age-wise, and give them the credit for being curious, and making up their own minds? As a Buddhist, it goes without question as to where my loyalties lie. But I would never take it upon myself to just give my side of the argument to impressionable minds.....
Because my kids know that I do not believe that jesus rose from the dead. My seven year old especially has asked many pointed questions about jesus and god. We teach them to respect other people's beliefs, but also let them know that mom and dad do not share those beliefs. When they are of age, they will be allowed to choose whatever path suits them. One thing I respect a lot about my parents is that they allowed ME to choose my path when I was a teenager. They did not force me into christianity, and I will not force my children into buddhism, especially since that would be antithetical to the very core purpose of the buddhist path.
She is a fully qualified Aromatherapist and Reflexologist, and is an avid student of Yoga. These different disciplines have brought her into close contact with other streams of thought & beliefs, many of which she has adopted and taken on board, as complimentary to her own personal angle on her Faith. She and I have had many long and fruitful discussions on all things spiritual, and while at times we have agreed to differ, she has never voiced objections or opposed my personal stance.
As for Catholicism, she fully recognises the man-made flaws perpetuated by those in authority; she helps at church by reading and serving during mass, but joked with the priest, who asked her for assistance, that she would only do it if she could celebrate mass as the priest himself does. It left him chuckling with embarassment.....
Still and all, she goes to Church because it comforts her to connect with her God. But she is under no illusions as to what is Religious and Spiritual, and what is terrestrial and manufactured.... and that's the difference between a Religious person, and a person who practises a religion.....
Now I can't even eat chocolate Easter eggs. I still believed in the Easter Bunny!
And by golly, it tastes good!
Why do healthy things taste awful? Why do they not inspire us, like chocolate biscuits, or peanut butter and jello sandwiches?
I've never ever heard anyone say,
"My, I'm so hungry! I could murder a carrot!" Or...." Mmmmm, feeling a bit nibbly.... got a case of the munchies... I know! There's that wonderful limp lettuce in the fridge! I'll have that!!"
Oh and Easter is just a time when my kids look for eggs and I steal their candy. No religeous significance.
None of my children is a Catholic nor so they believe in flying bells but they love the story. Their lives are richer for the legend, imho.
Chocolate biscuits are yummy crumbly, oaty, deliciously fattening, highly addictive and in my opinion distinctly immoral objects, thickly covered with a layer of chocolate. They come in plain or milk chocolate varieties, and the hot British favourites are either 'Chocolate HobNobs', or McVities. Neither of which are available in France, or if they are they are outrageously expensive and you need a bank loan to afford them. Which sucks, because while the French give a passing nod to the cuisine of other cultures, designating a special section of the supermarket to foreign produce, (a token supply, and not usually all that representative!) English Supermarkets are positively bulging with all mannner of exotic and foreign products, not to mention more Brie and Camembert than you can shake a baguette at - !!
But I'm not bitter.....
Hey, I know that it's pronounced "hûrb"! I know because it has an 'h' in it!
Jason
"Lord Lov yer, sir!" (*touches forelock!*)
:rockon:
At the moment though people still have to translate for me when I go to a greasy spoon diner, and the waitress' (generally female) just stare at me when I try and talk. It's funny, but doesn't do a lot for me when I'm hungry and I'll be damned if I'm going to start using sign language and pointing at pictures on the menu. Let alone when I start muttering about the Baby Eating Bishop of Bath and Wells...
Now, what about those peanut butter and jello sanwiches.!!!
We americans are addicted to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I grew up on peanut butter and sweet pickle sandwiches. Yummy!!
It is interesting to know that Buddhists partake in junk food. One would think ya'll would eat healthy and exercise. I just may fit right in!!
.and they have the gall to suggest that is we Brits who have an accent! Can they not hear themselves?
P.S. I sent that Blackadder episode to George Carey when he moved from Bath and Wells to Canterbury. Got a form 'thank you'!
Jason
Hurrah!!!
Blah, blah, blah.
Where exactly is Edinbourah?
What is computer dater?
How does one go to the lavatry?
But, I do have to admit that there is no American comedy quite like the BlackAdder...
As Blackadder once said to Ploppy the Slopper...
"Sir, I'd shake your hand, but I fear it would fall off."
-bf
Actually, I'm from Houston -- where the British Consular staff received Tropical Hazardous Duty pay for being posted there and several shops kept HobNobs in ready stock. (In USA, you can still order them online from The English Tea Store) The occasional bottle of Whitebread Ale actually made its way to town also. At the time that I disceovered HobNobs, my Friends from Paris were constantly bringing in delicious little cigars marked in French all over the paper wrapping. The unwrapped wooden box said "Producto to Habana de Cuba" on the inside of the lid.
As to the relative aphrodisial quality of chocolate (to which I m somewhat physically allergic), there is an old hipster adage from the 1940s that might be applicable -- Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker.
Such are the allures of the form world -- and what a lovely little world it is.
gassho
-fd- :hiding: