The fact that you've grabbed bit's and pieces actually means you've created a new faith, rather than incorperating anything.
I noticed in an earlier post you said:
The eventual goal of a buddist is not self-annihalation, but self actualization, true individuality
Yet as you can read in my cuts, that the goal is the death of individuality. Death of the ego. Oneness with the universe.
BTW. When we die,
our bodies become one with the earth don't they? Ashes to ash, dust to dust?
This is the spiritual equivialent.
Anyhow, your statement, while declaring what you believe, is at odds with what Buddha taught.
Similarly you say you've incorporated Christs teachings into your belief system.
Christians do not follow Christ because of what he taught, but becasue of what he DID. His death and ressurection are the cause of our love and devotion, not his teachings. Yes they help us, and guide us, but we believe we have an ongoing relationship with Christ.
Thus, merely incorperating his teachings, is not the same thing as accepting him into your life.
Can you not see this?
I'm not attacking you for holding those beliefs. It's great you do. I'm glad it works for you.
What I'm attacking is the notion that you are somehow practicing all these faiths by merging them.
I believe, as I've pointed out, that you've made up your own faith. [img]smile.gif[/img] so let's call a spade a spade.
Quote:
Originally posted by Chewbacca:
Yorrick,I am assuming that you only claim christianity for your religion and thats the only one you practice. It is dangerous and unwise to try to be authorative of a religion or belief system and make generalizations if you do not practice it yourself.
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I strongly disagree with this statement Chewbacca. It disregards the search an individual can undertake. Yes I have a relationship with Christ. But when I was investigating Buddhism, I was doing so with an open mind, in an effort to find truth.
Why, because I've rejected it does this exclude me from understanding it? I had to understand it to reject it! Yes an individuals belief is a personal issue, but when we are talking about Buddhism, we are talking about the teachings of Siddartha, which have manifested in the collective practice of the various strands of Buddhism in the world.
I read Buddhas teachings. I observed how he changed his philosophies as he went, what words of wisdom he gave his followers.
I rejected it because I understood it. By disregarding my right to an opinion, you disregard my own spiritual search.
I was born the son of a Christian minister. As an adolescant, I was plagued by doubts that my faith was inherited, and not my own.
I intentionally set out to disregard my upbringing, and honestly look at all the worlds major religions, to discover truth.
I had major problems with Christianity. My
imperfect father was a Preacher! Even now, I find it difficult listening to Preachers. Every bone in my body is set to "reject" mode. Critical mode. "Pull apart every inconsistency" mode. I find it hard to respect ministers.
It is precisely the honesty of my search that gives me such certainty NOW. I know, there is no other path I'd want to be walking. I KNOW this is the path for me, the one that allows me to relate to God. The path that gives me joy and happiness. Peace and comfort. None of the others did that!
Am I a bastard for believing this? For checking these out and drawing such conclusions? Why is this such a bad thing? Why is it impossible?
Because you disagree????
[ 05-26-2002, 01:13 AM: Message edited by: Yorick ]