christian buddist

[zorgblar]

Is it possible to be a chistian buddist?

[Killa Rican]

Of course, if you think for yourself you can be anything you want.

[mindflood]

sure, joseph cambell said that jesus and buddha had the same message.

[M4RT1N]

 

[Volgerle]

In Germany, we have a monastery founded on Christian mysticism and Zen Buddhism.

http://willigisjaeger-foundation.com/willigis-jaeger.html

So yes, you can.

[Steel Hawk]

What does it mean to be Christian?

Do you have to join a religion that calls itself Christian? For many of these religions share very little with Christ. To be Christian is to try to follow what Christ taught, nothing more. The gospels of Christ were written years after Jesus had died. Jesus never taught that he was born of a virgin on December 25th. These were all old myths that were integrated into the story of Christ. Jesus was a man much like we are men, he realized his divinity as part of God, and tried to teach others the way to this divinity. It's fairly simple.

[Stillwater]

To me, it would hinge on whether you could qualify as the much simpler of the two (Buddhist) while already being Christian.

So take a person who is already Christian... what would they need to be additionally in order to be Buddhist?

Well Buddhism is said to be primarily a "philosophy", and mainly what a Buddhist accepts are the 4 Noble truths and the Eightfold path.

So could a Christian also accept the 4 Noble truths...

1) The first is that the world is a place of suffering by nature (this is similar to the Christian view that the world is an imperfect place which lacks the full completeness of God).

2) The second is that a main cause of this suffering is attachment  (this can parallel the Christian view that focusing and lusting after things other than God will lead to negative outcomes)

3) The third is that liberation from the material plane in nirvana will free oneself from this suffering and attachment (This one aligns a bit less well with Christianity, but if you equate nirvana and fulfillment in God then maybe they are similar)

4) The fourth Noble truth is that Nirvana can be achieved through the application of the 8-fold path ( I suppose some Christians would take this either way, depending on whether they felt that good works and self-discipline were enough to realize union with God, or whether it requires special grace which is attained any number of ways)

The Eightfold path itself equates to mindfulness- mindfulness of one's own mental states and attitudes, and an overriding desire not to cause harm or suffering through speach, action or occupation; in otherwords, it is a pledge to be conscientious of one's own actions so as never to cause harm unecessarily, and to be mindful of one's own pysche in order to root out the beginning of anger, attachment, or weakness.

So my own meta-analysis is that the crux is Buddhism is similar to much of what is already in Christianity, and that some Chrisitians may or may not feel the two are fully compatible, because Christianity is not one viewpoint, but a family of beliefs.

Even if a Christian didn't feel comfortable calling themself a Buddhist, there is no reason why they couldn't adopt some of the practices or views of Buddhism if they resonated with the person.

Beyond this, I would also point out that "Christian" and "Buddhist" are merely labels which attempt to represent to others what a person thinks of themself. I would be less concerned with whether I could apply a label to myself or my beliefs, and more concerned with figuring out what precisely I agree with, regardless of what others call it.

Hope that helps!

[Szaxx]

An interesting hymn starts,
Onward Christian soldiers...
Does this sound applicabe in any way to Buddhism?
Not to me, unless a more learned person knows different.

[Bedeekin]

Christianity at its fundamental basic structure is the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is monotheistic (one god and creator of all)

Buddhism is a polytheistic religion and doesn't believe in a supreme Creator/Being.

Buddhism is an offshoot of Hinduism and is a Dharmic religion. Christianity is an offshoot of Judaism and is an Abrahamic religion.

But I'm sure if you want to... you can invent a new religion... it didn't stop christianity.

[Steel Hawk]

An interesting hymn starts,
Onward Christian soldiers...
Does this sound applicabe in any way to Buddhism?
Not to me, unless a more learned person knows different.

I don't see why a song written in 1865 has anything to do with Christ.

Christianity at its fundamental basic structure is the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is monotheistic (one god and creator of all)

Buddhism is a polytheistic religion and doesn't believe in a supreme Creator/Being.

Buddhism is an offshoot of Hinduism and is a Dharmic religion. Christianity is an offshoot of Judaism and is an Abrahamic religion.

But I'm sure if you want to... you can invent a new religion... it didn't stop christianity.

Again the gospels written years after Jesus Christ's death. Certain parts such as being resurrected from the grave, a virgin birth (in one of three gospels), born on December 25th (not even in the bible), Sunday as the holy day (not even in the bible), resurrecting Lazarus, etc were added in later and come from other myths.

Jesus was a man who had an enlightened view of spirituality. Same goes for the Buddha.

If you look at what each man said and nothing more then certain truths appear in both works. In truth only their words and message matter, the rest means nothing except to those who need it.

[Steel Hawk]

But I suppose we're talking about religions rather than the original words of what each adept said. In which case no they're not compatible. Why anyone would follow such nonsense is something I don't know. Just read each adepts words and don't pay attention to the rest is my advice.

[Bedeekin]

Regardless of how it's put to fit the same template... they aren't the same. You could say that Islam is as christianity is as Buddhism is...  

christianity... not a deviation or subtle description... but THE basic principle of christianity believes in an omnipresent super galactic being who judges the actions of humanity and acts accordingly.. punishing them if they sin or allowing them to enter heaven if they don't. Basics!!!

Buddhism is a path of practice and spiritual development leading to Insight into the true nature of reality. There is no anthropomorphic god.

Buddhism didn't wipe out entire cultures nor does it promote war.

[Lionheart]

 Before everyone gets too deep into this post, I would like to say that the OP Zorgblar made this post because he knew it would cause strife and arguments. Please, take a look at his profile and his latest posts and you will see what I mean. He has been dealt with and will no longer be a problem to anyone here again.
Thank you!

[Stookie_]

You got Zorgblared!!!

[Bedeekin]

DOH!!!!! 

[Xanth]

You got Zorgblared!!!

I'm sure that saying is something that will never go away though. 

This time Zorgblar got Zorgblared!

[majour ka]

why not, be what ever you want.