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RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism

 
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RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/18/2008 3:44:45 PM   
xc279

 

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I am not claiming that Jesus is Horus. Rather that Jesus is a combination of previous gods. I'm not really sure what you mean by wanting to justify my decision. I do think that many Christians are grasping at straws trying to prove that Christianity is valid. And then when there is evidence to the contrary they delete the links to it calling it "false teaching". Kind of makes it hard to have a debate, doesn't it. I will ask these final questions:

If God is all knowing and all loving then how could he create someone knowing they will go to hell?

If God created hell then why should I be grateful that he decided not to send me there?

Why did God need to send his son (who was also himself) as a sacrifice to himself in order to convince himself to forgive people for breaking his rules?

How come the only extra biblical record of Jesus was proven fraud? Wouldn't a guy who raised the dead and healed everyone be recorded in all the records from the time? Plus if when he died the dead came out of the grave, then wouldn't that be recorded?

What all happened at the Council of Nicea?

How is it that so many gods that lived before Jesus had so much in common with him? As in Horus, Krishna, Hercules etc.

Why would you want to spend eternity with a god that would create hell so that he could torture everyone who did not love him?
Post #: 101
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/19/2008 6:18:12 AM   
facedown


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xc279
".....and then when there is evidence to the contrary they delete the links to it, calling it "false teaching". Kind of makes it hard to have a debate, doesn't it......"

what makes it even harder; actually, is responding to your posts, never to get a response back - makes it a (1) way conversation
interestingly, this thread was to discuss "buddhism", but it hasn't really, it kind of switched gears - i believe your questions are valid, just maybe not in a "buddhism" thread.
lastly, you suggest "evidence", but has any really been presented? when folks are merely quote a list, and the reference is another conspiracy site with the same list, but no source documentation, is that evidence fit for a "debate"?

i eagerly await for this thread to get back on track, and who knows, maybe for others to sprout from it to discuss your other questions. and hopefully, they will all be responded in a critical way that you hope for - one without a "knee-jerk" reaction.

pax

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Post #: 102
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/19/2008 8:41:52 AM   
earthless


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I thought you were done here?

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Post #: 103
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/20/2008 9:57:09 AM   
Sammy_S


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xc279

quote:

I am not claiming that Jesus is Horus. Rather that Jesus is a combination of previous gods. I'm not really sure what you mean by wanting to justify my decision. I do think that many Christians are grasping at straws trying to prove that Christianity is valid. And then when there is evidence to the contrary they delete the links to it calling it "false teaching". Kind of makes it hard to have a debate, doesn't it. I will ask these final questions:


And you say you were christian?That's like saying I use to be my mother's son..Just because you went to church,"prayed" and read your bible didnt make you a christian.

quote:

If God is all knowing and all loving then how could he create someone knowing they will go to hell?


Simply because he desires to create men for fellowship but man is his wickedness denies God.But why all of this?For his Glory...

quote:

If God created hell then why should I be grateful that he decided not to send me there?


Really?What makes you think God has decided not to send you there?If you continue to deny Chris,God will be very well pleased in sending you there,just like he was pleased to crush his son when he became sin.

quote:

Why did God need to send his son (who was also himself) as a sacrifice to himself in order to convince himself to forgive people for breaking his rules?


God did not need to send his son,God would be perfectly pleased without the sacrifice of Christ and all being sentenced to hell.He sent his son because he desired to do so hor his people.Because he desired to save a wretched people a Holy sacrifice had to be made.A man had to die because man sinned.God had to die because salvation is of the Lord and who but God owns his own life?Who but God can die for all peoples?Who ut God can withstand the wrath of God and live to tell about it?If salvation was to come forth,God had to become a man and take our place in order for men to be saved.

Christ did not die to convince God to forgive people,he died so God would remain just in forgiving people..if God forgave people without a punishment being sent then he would not be judged.That is why Jesus is the only way.All men are sinners and justice demands that we be punished by a Holy God,only way man an be forgiven is if God satisfies justice by dieing in our place.


quote:

How come the only extra biblical record of Jesus was proven fraud? Wouldn't a guy who raised the dead and healed everyone be recorded in all the records from the time? Plus if when he died the dead came out of the grave, then wouldn't that be recorded?


This is why salvation is God's will and not mine.Hey,can you prove that Buddha exists?

quote:

What all happened at the Council of Nicea?


I don't know,whats going to happen to you when you meet the God you hate?

quote:

How is it that so many gods that lived before Jesus had so much in common with him? As in Horus, Krishna, Hercules etc.


Did they really?They were stories and Christ is God.

quote:

Why would you want to spend eternity with a god that would create hell so that he could torture everyone who did not love him?


Because He is God.

_____________________________

Christ saved you from the wrath of an almighty God. Hell is just a revelation of that. I always tell people this. God saved you from Himself, God saved you for Himself and God saved you by Himself."

Paul Washer
Post #: 104
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/20/2008 10:00:43 AM   
Sammy_S


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My PC is giving me trouble soI cannot edit but when i said
quote:

if God forgave people without a punishment being sent then he would not be judged.


I meant:if God forgave people without a punishment being sent then he would not be just.

_____________________________

Christ saved you from the wrath of an almighty God. Hell is just a revelation of that. I always tell people this. God saved you from Himself, God saved you for Himself and God saved you by Himself."

Paul Washer
Post #: 105
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/20/2008 2:15:01 PM   
xc279

 

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quote:

And you say you were christian?That's like saying I use to be my mother's son..Just because you went to church,"prayed" and read your bible didnt make you a christian.


No that does not make you a Christian. I know that you won't believe me but I did actually used to be a Christian.

quote:

Simply because he desires to create men for fellowship but man is his wickedness denies God.But why all of this?For his Glory...


So a perfect God created humans to be his friends? And if you choose not to be his friend or follow his rules you will burn in hell? Many non-christians are better people than many christians. So who is more wicked?

quote:

Really?What makes you think God has decided not to send you there?If you continue to deny Chris,God will be very well pleased in sending you there,just like he was pleased to crush his son when he became sin.


So how does that make him a loving god?

quote:

God did not need to send his son,God would be perfectly pleased without the sacrifice of Christ and all being sentenced to hell.He sent his son because he desired to do so hor his people.Because he desired to save a wretched people a Holy sacrifice had to be made.A man had to die because man sinned.God had to die because salvation is of the Lord and who but God owns his own life?Who but God can die for all peoples?Who ut God can withstand the wrath of God and live to tell about it?If salvation was to come forth,God had to become a man and take our place in order for men to be saved.

Christ did not die to convince God to forgive people,he died so God would remain just in forgiving people..if God forgave people without a punishment being sent then he would not be judged.That is why Jesus is the only way.All men are sinners and justice demands that we be punished by a Holy God,only way man an be forgiven is if God satisfies justice by dieing in our place.


So how does that make him a loving god if he would perfectly pleased sending everyone to hell? How is it just for someone to be a serial killer and then go to heaven because he became a christian while Gandhi burns in hell?

quote:

This is why salvation is God's will and not mine.Hey,can you prove that Buddha exists?


That doesn't make any sense. If someone like that existed then there would be numerous records of it. And why do I care if Buddha existed? It is his teachings that are important. With Christianity however, if Jesus never existed then the whole thing is pointless.

quote:

I don't know,whats going to happen to you when you meet the God you hate?


Since you don't know the Council of Nicea was where a group of men got together and decided which bboks where from God and which ones weren't. In other words which ones said Jesus was God and which ones said he was just a good human. And if the "once saved always saved" thing is correct then I'll go to heaven. If not I'll go to hell along with Gandhi.

quote:

Did they really?They were stories and Christ is God.


Yes they really did. And yes they were stories. Stories that were around 3,000 BC and yet almost identical to the story of Jesus.

quote:

Because He is God.


So the fact that he will willingly send everyone to hell for not loving him doesn't bother you in the slightest as long as you get to be in paradise?

And if God had never created hell then there would be nothing to be saved from.
Post #: 106
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/20/2008 4:22:48 PM   
JimboFletch


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quote:

ORIGINAL: xc279
I know that you won't believe me but I did actually used to be a Christian.

I bet cha had the decoder ring and knew the secret handshake. An all external religionist with none of the internal...
Post #: 107
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/20/2008 6:18:22 PM   
xc279

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: JimboFletch

quote:

ORIGINAL: xc279
I know that you won't believe me but I did actually used to be a Christian.

I bet cha had the decoder ring and knew the secret handshake. An all external religionist with none of the internal...



Uh no, I must not have been high up enough for those...? I know that there is no way to convince you that I did indeed used to be a Christian so I'm not going to try.

facedown. sorry for getting sidetracked. What i like about Buddhism is that it simply gives you the tools to become a better person. What I don't like about Christianity is that there is no prrof as to the valididy of the Bible which is essential if you are to believe any of it. If I did not answer your question then please tell me. I'm going to try and get back on track.
Post #: 108
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/20/2008 7:00:41 PM   
earthless


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quote:

ORIGINAL: xc279
What I don't like about Christianity is that there is no prrof as to the valididy of the Bible which is essential if you are to believe any of it.


As a former atheist, I utterly balk at that comment. It is so incorrect that it baffles the average reader.

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Post #: 109
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/20/2008 9:57:23 PM   
xc279

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: earthless

quote:

ORIGINAL: xc279
What I don't like about Christianity is that there is no prrof as to the valididy of the Bible which is essential if you are to believe any of it.


As a former atheist, I utterly balk at that comment. It is so incorrect that it baffles the average reader.


Could you elaborate?
Post #: 110
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/21/2008 8:38:26 AM   
JimboFletch


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quote:

ORIGINAL: xc279
Uh no, I must not have been high up enough for those...? I know that there is no way to convince you that I did indeed used to be a Christian so I'm not going to try.

Oh, I'll buy that you were once a Religionist and even played church, but you cannot convince me that you were ever a blood-bought, born again, redeemed child of God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ and indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God.
Post #: 111
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/21/2008 9:19:31 AM   
earthless


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quote:

ORIGINAL: xc279

quote:

ORIGINAL: earthless

quote:

ORIGINAL: xc279
What I don't like about Christianity is that there is no prrof as to the valididy of the Bible which is essential if you are to believe any of it.


As a former atheist, I utterly balk at that comment. It is so incorrect that it baffles the average reader.


Could you elaborate?


Sure thing - it is patently false to make the statement that there is no evidence for the Bible being God's Word. It is the plethora of evidence (manuscript, historical, archaeological, statistical probability, predictive prophecy) that lead me from being a rabid hater of Christianity to a follower of Jesus.

During my adult studies at college - it got to a point where I no longer had enough blind faith to remain an atheist.

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Post #: 112
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/21/2008 4:05:55 PM   
JimboFletch


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quote:

ORIGINAL: earthless
During my adult studies at college - it got to a point where I no longer had enough blind faith to remain an atheist.

That also sometimes happens when a skeptic actually reads through the Bible rather than reading ABOUT it or uses snippets supplied by others.
Post #: 113
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/22/2008 6:44:06 AM   
facedown


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xc
quote:

facedown. sorry for getting sidetracked. What i like about Buddhism is that it simply gives you the tools to become a better person. What I don't like about Christianity is that there is no prrof as to the valididy of the Bible which is essential if you are to believe any of it. If I did not answer your question then please tell me. I'm going to try and get back on track.

what you like about buddhism, is that it seems as though it's a path, a way. what you don't like about christianity, is that you believe there is no historicity.
interesting. i'll ask a question before i repost my ealier posts: what do you mean by "no proof", and are you suggesting that if (1) statement seems to lack historical "proof", then the whole shebang is gone? why or how can you allow the fluidity in your embrace of buddhism (doesn't matter if there exists no historical proof for all of it) but not so with christianity?

from post 45
quote:

greetings. it seems, from my reading, that possibly your main concern with christianity/the bible/jesus/christians/etc is along the lines of not being able to trust that which was written, and maybe even more to the point, not trusting that which is written, about that which is written. and that you're seeking something beyond yourself, you're looking for a path that seems authentic.

i ask this with all sincerity, when was the last time you read the gospels? is it possible, that much of what's written about the gospels, and the bible as a whole, is junk? when i read the gospels, i see a way of service, humility, a path that embraces life even in suffering, and a path of hope. i don't read about a "to-do" list that is rather extensive (if it exists at all, it is simply: love) as folks within christendom often create. i don't see the modernistic faith of logic, scientific reason, or self-sustainment often purported.

what does buddism mean to you? is it a guide to live rightly and do justly? is it a 'religion' to you? does it do or say anything to you about that which is unseen? does it represent historic facts? i ask this, again in all sincerity, as buddhism means so much to so many


from post 54
quote:

so, it seems the core of your question is in seeking the "existence of god" looking for "factual" evidence, is that accurate?

let me approach this in a couple ways:
~ first, in thinking of my ealier post to, as quoted above, i'd remind you, and i need to remind myself, that all that is written about something, isn't a pure reflection of the scriptures. all that we think about the scriptures too, does not necessarily reverberate with them either. you also see this in buddhism, where mahayanna and therevada have serious differences about the teachings of buddha.
it seems rational; however, that if we allow some variance and elongation from one school, that maybe we should allow it from another?
my conviction is the teachings of the christ are authentic. and i have my days, weeks, and sometimes months, where i struggle on a variety of core-issues. my conviction is that there is something greater than myself, i am not the center; and i'm called to participate in that which is greater, and yet - this is not without struggle, hypocrisy, and the like.
~second, if you're seeking "factual evidence", then what are you looking for from buddhism? mahayana doctrine is centered around the liberation of suffering and the existence of buddha's and bodhisattva's that embody the transcendent buddha-nature....the eternal buddha essence is present, but hidden and unrecognized in all things.
. are you doubting this, are you seeking factual evidence of this?

interestingly, when dr suzuki translated the scriptures into chinese some time ago, he had to find a word for "logos". it's often translated into english as "word"; however it's a very complicated word, a difficult word, and the only viable option in chinese that conveyed the same connotation from the original, was dao. dao of course is another complicated word, and we can simplify it as simple "the way". thus the opening of john 1 would read as follows "...the beginning was the way..."

christianity isn't a western culture. it it isn't a western religion. at it's root it is near-eastern. this is why it's often difficult to read and understand the scriptures from a western point of view. even further, there are entire schools from the west that seem so far away from the message of jesus, it's saddening.
~
~
if you're seeking some insights on the teachings of jesus, i'd recommend further readings from a trappist monk, thomas merton.
if you're looking for insights into the historicty of the movement of those who followed in the path of jesus, i'd recommend bart erhman and tom wright (to give you a good balance).


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Post #: 114
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/22/2008 12:38:09 PM   
xc279

 

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What I mean by no proof is that there is no evidence for Jesus having done what the Bible said he did. If he did indeed do everything the Bible said he did then it would have been widely recorded. Expecially since in Matthew, when he dies, corpses come out of the grave. That would have been recorded. And a three hour eclipse would not have gone unnoticed (or three hours of darkness during the middle of the day, whichever you prefer). People record normal eclipses wich last like ten minutes so there should be some mention of a three hour eclipse and the earthquake that followed.
Also some of the prophecy's that were fulfilled in the New Testament were not in the Old Testament as they said they were. And some of the prophecy's went unfulfilled. Plus there are many scientific errors. For a book that is supposed to be the infalliable word of God it has many errors, which casts doubt on all of it.

< Message edited by xc279 -- 5/22/2008 12:49:22 PM >
Post #: 115
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/22/2008 12:51:16 PM   
xc279

 

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Here are the flase scientific facts:


Lev 11:21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth

upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the

earth;



Lev 11:22 Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and

the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the

grasshopper after his kind.



Lev 11:23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet,

shall be an abomination unto you.


Insects have six legs. Nothing that can fly has four legs (unless pigs finally did start to fly).


Psalms 104:5 The Earth is firmly fixed; it shall not be moved.



1 Chronicles 16:30 Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

The Earth does move. It is always moving around the sun.


Psalm 58:8 As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like

the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.


Snails do not melt, they go inside their shells yes, but they do not melt.


Lev 11:13 These are the birds you are to detest and not eat because they are

detestable: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture,



Lev 11:19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.



Deu 14:11 You may eat any clean bird.



Deu 14:12 But these you may not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture,



Deu 14:18 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.


Bats are not birds.

EDIT: Sorry about the flase/false mix up. I was trying to type to fast. It happens.

< Message edited by xc279 -- 5/22/2008 1:11:06 PM >
Post #: 116
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/22/2008 12:55:12 PM   
JimboFletch


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quote:

ORIGINAL: xc279

Here are the flase scientific facts:


I really hate flase facts and those who flasely interpret actual facts.
Post #: 117
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/22/2008 1:04:33 PM   
xc279

 

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Imaginary Prophecies

"And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, 'They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.'" Matthew 27:35

This references Psalm 22:18 which was not a prophecy but rather a song written by David who was crying out about the injustices to him.


“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15

How is that a prophecy? If you get bit by a snake you kill it, it is not referencing a messiah.


Nonexistent Prophecies



"Thus it is written and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day." Luke 24:46

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." John 7:38

"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:3-4


Those prophecies are not located anywhere in scripture.


"Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was priced, whom certain of the children of Israel did price; and they gave them for the potter's field as the Lord appointed me." Matthew 27:9-10

Jeremiah never prophesied that.




Unfulfilled Prophecy's


"Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." (Matthew 16:28)



"But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:27)

Unless I am mistaken the second coming did not come during their lifetime.


"So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done." (Mark 13:29-30)



"So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled." (Luke 21:31-32)



"So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." (Matthew 24:33-34)


Same as before, not all things have been fulfilled and that generation has long since passed.

< Message edited by xc279 -- 5/22/2008 1:12:00 PM >
Post #: 118
RE: Responding to a TROLL - 5/22/2008 2:24:22 PM   
JimboFletch


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quote:

ORIGINAL: xc279

Imaginary Prophecies

"And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, 'They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.'" Matthew 27:35

This references Psalm 22:18 which was not a prophecy but rather a song written by David who was crying out about the injustices to him.

Come on man, you are making yourself look more ignorant than before. I suppose you were once a Bible scholar but lost that too.


< Message edited by JimboFletch -- 5/22/2008 2:30:26 PM >
Post #: 119
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/22/2008 2:37:01 PM   
ylikyote

 

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quote:

What i like about Buddhism is that it simply gives you the tools to become a better person. What I don't like about Christianity is that there is no prrof as to the valididy of the Bible which is essential if you are to believe any of it.


It sounds like you have already made up your mind, so I really don't see the sense of going on, Christ never went chasing after someone who rejected Him begging Him to change their minds. I feel bad for you, though.

I just don't understand how if all you want it to be a better person, why do you reject Christianity? It teaches love for everyone, even your enemies, to treat others as yourself. Self-sacrifice, what greater motive is their than love towards others?

There is plenty of proof to the bible if you would care to look at it, instead you choose to believe in some movie that had more holes in it than the examples you gave about the bible. There are plenty of prophecies that came true, There are the disciples that lived with Jesus that became martyrs because they claimed that Jesus came, healed the sick, raised the dead, died for your sins and rose on the third day.

The Apostles are the biggest witness to the truthfulness of Christ to me. Who dies for a lie? Of the 12 only John wasn't martyred but that is because he survived. So all gave their lives and not one recanted what they preached. How likely is it that would happen if it was all a lie.

There were apologists and historians that were alive shortly after the life of Christ.

And even prophecies that hadnt come true yet, while it would have been impossible to understand how something can happen then, it is foreseeable now, ie.mark of the beast, poisoning of the water etc etc

So I guess my point is you have the free will to do what you want. You chose to see something a certain way and I do feel bad for you. I hope you one day see the "Truth" and, I hope you learn there "IS" a loving God, who wants you to spend eternity with Him, whether or not you understand His ways.
Post #: 120
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/22/2008 9:09:31 PM   
facedown


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xc279
do you look at buddhism with the same critical vantage, or is it simply limited to christianity?
what scholars (not popular writers) have you sought out in seeking to find clarification or insight?


step back from your details - who is jesus to you? a mythical figure? someone who walked the earth, and maybe did somethings as written, but not "everything"?

your final sentence inpost 115 tells me that your ear has been bent towards one very recent stream in the interpretation of the scriptures and the life of the church (both on defense, and critical nature). any thoughts on 114?

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Post #: 121
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/23/2008 1:52:32 AM   
lightshineon


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Why? not a good idea, I will not debate, just know you have a choice ( free will) to go to heaven or hell. Hey, go for it, if you are sure. It is sad, but, like I said your choice.

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F.T., 2007

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Post #: 122
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/23/2008 3:18:14 AM   
xc279

 

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Facedown
In Buddhism there are no supernatural acts or an afterlife. Some believe in reincarnation but I don't. I believe strictly in the basic teachings and the practices. Nothing else. Any claims to Buddha having been divine go against his teachings.

I have spent more time researching Christianity than other religions because I was raised Christian. I am critical of all religions.

Christianity brings forth historical events and supernatural claims as part of it. If they can be disproven then yes, the whole shebang is gone. I have no problem with many of the teachings of Christianity and I actually practice them for the most part.

If it is proven that Buddha never existed then the moral teachings will still hold up. If it is proven that Jesus never existed then his moral teachings will still hold up (ignoring claims to divinity or other supernatural acts). I just don't believe in the historical events and as a result I don't believe in the dying on the cross for the sins of the world or heaven and hell.

Basically if you take out all the supernatural aspects of Christianity, you end up with Buddhism.
Post #: 123
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/23/2008 4:31:43 AM   
lightshineon


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Like I said free will. Do what you think best, it is your soul, fake it at your own risk.
quote:

ORIGINAL: xc279

Facedown
In Buddhism there are no supernatural acts or an afterlife. Some believe in reincarnation but I don't. I believe strictly in the basic teachings and the practices. Nothing else. Any claims to Buddha having been divine go against his teachings.

I have spent more time researching Christianity than other religions because I was raised Christian. I am critical of all religions.

Christianity brings forth historical events and supernatural claims as part of it. If they can be disproven then yes, the whole shebang is gone. I have no problem with many of the teachings of Christianity and I actually practice them for the most part.

If it is proven that Buddha never existed then the moral teachings will still hold up. If it is proven that Jesus never existed then his moral teachings will still hold up (ignoring claims to divinity or other supernatural acts). I just don't believe in the historical events and as a result I don't believe in the dying on the cross for the sins of the world or heaven and hell.

Basically if you take out all the supernatural aspects of Christianity, you end up with Buddhism.


_____________________________

Remember, whenever you have pearls, there are always plenty of pigs nearby who would be glad to step on them.
F.T., 2007

Be sure you vote for those, whose views you want your children to emulate.
Post #: 124
RE: Thinking of converting to Buddhism - 5/23/2008 6:57:16 AM   
facedown


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xc
so, what school of buddhism - or is it really none in particular, just a quasi-social thing?
i'm just not certain one can "convert" to buddhism and not embrace the mystical teachings.
and, it seems a more authentic buddhist response to christianity would be: great, but why do you spend so much time talking - and so little time being?

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Post #: 125
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