Buddhist Is Buddhism Really a Religion.

[FireDragon76]

Easy. He derived His human nature from Mary and His divine nature through the Holy Spirit.

That doesn't explain how it's possible to be human with only 23 chromosomes.

 

[FireDragon76]

It's not my voice. It's very simple. It's not fantasy either. If I was forming my own religion, sure you would have cause to judge me. I'm not. It's God's word, not mine.

If it isn't your religion, whose is it?

 

[Aussie Pete]

That doesn't explain how it's possible to be human with only 23 chromosomes.

Take it up with God. I don't understand either. And it does not matter to me. It is what it is.

 

[FireDragon76]

Take it up with God. I don't understand either. And it does not matter to me. It is what it is.

And some Christians criticize Buddhism for being "absurd" or difficult...

 

[Aussie Pete]

If it isn't your religion, whose is it?

I am not religious. I have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Religion is man-made, man centred and expects man to save himself. Christianity is God's way, Christ centred, and relies entirely on Christ to save.

 

[FireDragon76]

I am not religious. I have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

That response is nothing but sophistry and weasel words. Worship of a God, gods, spirits, Buddhas, holy men, etc. is the very stuff of religion.

Religion is man-made, man centred and expects man to save himself. Christianity is God's way, Christ centred, and relies entirely on Christ to save.

Rhetoric and propaganda. Every religion believes they are special and not like the others.

 

[FireDragon76]

The root of the word religion means "return to bondage." According to Christianity, Cults & Religions (7th Edition), Buddhism teaches that the "Eightfold Path recommends right knowledge, intentions, speech, conduct, livelihood, right effort, mindfulness, and meditation. Some Buddhist groups talk about an 'eternal Buddha' (life-force). Through the 'Doctrine of Assimilation,' the belief systems of other religions are blended into their form of Buddhism." Given this definition of Buddhism and its prescription on how to bind its adherents through controlling every aspect of their lives, I would say it qualifies as a religion.

A celestial Buddha is not a life force, but an emanation of the mind embodying some quality of awakened consciousness.

Buddhism prefers direct experience to speculation, in that way it prefers apophaticism over kataphatic descriptions of ultimate reality.

 

[Aussie Pete]

That response is nothing but sophistry and weasel words. Worship of a God, gods, spirits, Buddhas, holy men, etc. is the very stuff of religion.



Rhetoric and propaganda. Every religion believes they are special and not like the others.

All religions have the same common characteristics: a dead founder and a book of rules. Christianity is unique. Our Lord and Saviour is alive. Sorry about yours.

 

[mindlight]

As Socrates pointed out in the discourse with Euthyphro, God/gods doesn't give us those sort of assurances.

Socrates was reacting against the Athenian City idols not God Almighty. He is a rare example of an honest atheist.

Not true. The Buddha gives criterion for evaluating truth claims in his discourse with the Kalamas.

Kesamutti Sutta - Wikipedia

And a more detailed explanation in this video:

In Buddhism, knowing truth is grounded in ethical living.

Buddhist texts written centuries after his life mention things like the conversion of Asoka 100 years after Buddhas Nirvana( a very convenient round number). People generalise from these sorts of references to speculate on historical Buddha dates. But that is not really evidence. The earliest Buddhist shrines date from 3rd Century BC, before that requires immense speculation based on flimsy evidence. The contrast with the more immediate evidences relating to Jesus could not be more extreme.

Regarding truth claims the video could be summarized on the lines of ignoring authority figures but rather rest your understanding on direct human experience of when actions and thoughts lead to harm or suffering versus the opposite and then live that out in an ethical lifestyle that reflects these insights. He concludes with the quote

To look after oneself with ease in this life is a good ideal

The problem with this is the reduction of our humanity to the bubble of our immediate, mortal and flawed existence and experience. The failure here is to acknowledge the Divine that made the universe we inhabit and to who we are accountable. It falsely defines sin rather than suffering as the major problem. It is indeed completely nonobjective leading to a localized and morally relativistic conception of truth based in individually defined ethical actions and thoughts.

 

[mindlight]

Well, of course Jews and moslems who follow the old testament teachings and also worship God, think your view that God inseminated a virgin in order to give birth to a son that was in fact himself... They find such a thing ludicrous and sacreligious

Mary consented to that child, it was not a violation of any sort. A God who created the Universe is by definition capable of this miracle. It would be impossible to understand the Trinity without a Living faith in a God of Love whose love exists from eternity in that Tri-Unity. The zeal of Muslims and Jews for God blinds them to the deeper revelation that comes with Christ.

 

[FireDragon76]

The definition of sin rather than suffering as the major problem. It is indeed completely nonobjective leading to a localized and morally relativistic conception of truth based in individually defined ethical actions and thoughts.

God giving us morality makes such morality no more "objective" than any other, as the Euthyphro dilema points out.

Your focus on alleged objectivity is ultimately a shell game of illusions and does nothing to expound the true nature of good or virtuous conduct. It is a naked appeal to authority.

 

[FireDragon76]

All religions have the same common characteristics: a dead founder and a book of rules. Christianity is unique. Our Lord and Saviour is alive. Sorry about yours.

First off, I never said I'm a Buddhist. I do, however, practice mindfulness meditation and pranayana, and I have studied Buddhism in the past.

Secondly, the Buddha having passed away does nothing to discredit Buddhism. Westerners are quite wrong to attack Buddhists on historicist grounds in the manner you are doing, it shows a misunderstanding of the Dharma.

I would argue the "Jesus" Christians claim to know in a "personal relationship", a living presence, more often than not is an illusion or projection of their own minds (minds often polluted with greed, hatred, fear, and other vices). At least Buddhists are being honest about the nature of their religious beliefs.

 

[Aussie Pete]

First off, I never said I'm a Buddhist. I do, however, practice mindfulness meditation and pranayana, and I have studied Buddhism in the past.

Secondly, the Buddha having passed away does nothing to discredit Buddhism. Westerners are quite wrong to attack Buddhists on historicist grounds in the manner you are doing, it shows a misunderstanding of the Dharma.

I would argue the "Jesus" Christians claim to know in a "personal relationship", a living presence, more often than not is an illusion or projection of their own minds (minds often polluted with greed, hatred, fear, and other vices). At least Buddhists are being honest about the nature of their religious beliefs.

You can argue all you like. Buddha is dead. Jesus is alive. I know Him. He is as real to me as any physical person on this earth and He is actively involved in every aspect of my life. If you've had bad experiences with other Christians, that is a great shame. You do not know what you are missing.

 

[Zoii]

You are wrong about Islam. They hold Mary in the highest esteem and believe in the virgin birth. That's about 1.6 billion people. Jews have rejected God since the days of Moses. Nothing has changed since then.

Well no, they don't believe in a virgin giving birth to God who became a man... That's silly Pete. They think quite the contrary. Still, they and Jews do not reject God as you claim. Since Jesus was a jew, I'm sure even he would rebuke your ignorance

 

[Zoii]

You can argue all you like. Buddha is dead. Jesus is alive. I know Him. He is as real to me as any physical person on this earth and He is actively involved in every aspect of my life. If you've had bad experiences with other Christians, that is a great shame. You do not know what you are missing.

My understanding is that Buddha is reincarnated. The dalai lama is an example of it. A truly alive individual. But Pete rather than trying to trash everyone's beliefs, accept that each has their own. You seem to take great joy in belittling the beliefs of others. It's great you enjoy your own religion, but respect goes a long way when it comes to the beliefs and culture of others

 

[FireDragon76]

My understanding is that Buddha is reincarnated.

The historical Buddha Shakyamuni (Gauthama) attained enlightened and passed beyond transmigration.

The dalai lama is an example of it. A truly alive individual.

Tibetan Buddhists believe he's an emanation of a bodhisattva, not a Buddha. At any rate, it's hardly a universal belief among Buddhists. The Dalai Lama is a political position within the old Tibetan feudal order. His Holiness perfers to just think of himself as primarily a simple Gelug monk, which he is by training.

But Pete rather than trying to trash everyone's beliefs, accept that each has their own. You seem to take great joy in belittling the beliefs of others. It's great you enjoy your own religion, but respect goes a long way when it comes to the beliefs and culture of others

Some Christians seem to feel the need to attack other peoples religions to justify their own. I don't see that as a virtue or something that commends the religion in general.

 

[Zoii]

The historical Buddha Shakyamuni (Gauthama) attained enlightened and passed beyond transmigration.



Tibetan Buddhists believe he's an emanation of a bodhisattva, not a Buddha. At any rate, it's hardly a universal belief among Buddhists. The Dalai Lama is a political position within the old Tibetan feudal order. His Holiness perfers to just think of himself as primarily a simple Gelug monk, which he is by training.



Some Christians seem to feel the need to attack other peoples religions to justify their own. I don't see that as a virtue or something that commends the religion in general.

Oh that was enlightening... No pun intended. Thanks for the corrections and.... Actually how blissful to reach enlightenment... I'm afraid I'm a few lifetimes away from that mark

 

[Aussie Pete]

Well no, they don't believe in a virgin giving birth to God who became a man... That's silly Pete. They think quite the contrary. Still, they and Jews do not reject God as you claim. Since Jesus was a jew, I'm sure even he would rebuke your ignorance

Silly? Lord Jesus was crucified at the behest of the Jews. Perhaps you should learn a little before commenting. John 1:9-13 "The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.

Lord Jesus foretold the destruction of Jerusalem because they rejected Him. That happened as history attests. Herod's temple was utterly destroyed with only a foundation wall standing. No, the Jews rejected Jesus then and most still do today. When they rejected Jesus, they were rejecting God.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

How can it not be objective truth? God's Word is Truth. Lord Jesus is the Truth. He sure is concrete, real, and did exactly what the Bible says He did. Otherwise faith is baseless.

It may or may not be objective truth. But everything you just said is a statement of faith. Bravo!
There is nothing wrong or lesser about that.

 

[Aussie Pete]

It may or may not be objective truth. But everything you just said is a statement of faith. Bravo!
There is nothing wrong or lesser about that.

You don't know what faith is.