Posted on 04/21/2010 7:43:38 PM PDT by West Texas Chuck
OK, a lot of y'all will freak on this, but I am not a Christian. Not that I have any problem at all with His teachings, but I decided a long time ago I didn't want Jesus to die on that cross to expunge my sins. I'll take the hit to my own Karma. Laugh if you want, but this is what I believe: Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism.
I was raised Southern Baptist. My grandfather was a deacon in the church in Shawnee, Oklahoma. I remember unlocking the church with him before the sun came up, and going to Sunday School. Ortho Orville Oliver would probably spin in his grave to hear this but at his funeral I decided his religion was not what made sense to me. I think I was 12 at the time. I was a hippie for years, and then I was pretty much Godless for a long time, like those are different things. Then I met a girl who is what they call a "fortune baby" meaning she was born into this philosophy. Her old 75+ year old Japanese momma made her what she is, and she made me what I am, in a quasi-religious sense. It's a Japanese thing. I've been fascinated with Japanese culture since my first karate class, and before. Ni Gojuryu karate really started me down this path, several decades ago.
I don't worship Buddha, Soka Gakkai International is not about that in any way, we just believe in personal responsibility for the Karma we create for ourselves. There is no such thing as good Karma, all Karma is pretty much bad (sin?). It is a debt you create and carry. I believe in reincarnation and a lot of things that will probably make your skin crawl if you are Christian.
I have no problem with Christians. I'll stand and fight and die with you because you believe in a righteous God. Please don't hate me because I am a Buddhist.
Hate me because I am good looking ;)
We chant Daimoku, NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO. It basically means I take refuge in the beauty of the cosmic mystery of the power that is greater than a man. In my opinion there is destiny, and we all live it every day of our lives. The we die and go to our next destiny, until we reach the ultimate spiritual achievement. Because I believe in life after death I do not fear the death of my earthly body.
Flame away if you want. I only throw this out there to see who among you shares my beliefs. Plus, I'm bored and thought I would see if I could start an interesting conversation on faith.
Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:
Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of general interest.
Tiger Woods and Steven Seagal approve of this message...
...and with sleeping around like man whores and treating women like dirt.
This thread is worthless without pictures.
Love ya!
TSgt
If your willing to die defending the Constitution of the United States you can be from Mars.
F-Me!
I thought your name was West Texas Chick as in female.
DISREGARD
I don't share the same beliefs, but I do respect your choice.
Hey TSgt,
Don’t post to threads when you are tired or you might make yourself appear to be a homo.
Thanks TSgt for the advice!
Anytime FRiend!
I don’t think you are evil and I don’t hate you.
Let’s do lunch.
Richard Gere
Is that you Ray Wylie ...?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnqMLWT_jUE
conversation with the devil
This sounds like a statement out of rehab. Light up the bong.
Just because I as a Christian might think your personal beliefs are wrong, doesn’t mean I hate you. If you understand Christians, we are supposed to do our best not to hate anyone.
But merely disagreeing with another, or saying “I think you are wrong”, that is not what hate is.
I don’t care that you aren’t Christian. That is and always will be between you and God. I just care if you are conservative on this site. Don’t need liberal trolls, you know?
I hope Freepers go easy on you though, LOL!
First, you assume people will hate you because you are not a Christian. Christians do not have that luxury.
Second, your problem with Christianity is not that You didn’t want Christ to die for your sins. Christ died for the sins of those who will believe. You do not, so He will not force His atonement on You. If you die, you die in your own sins and you pay your own price. Your real problem with Christianity is that You want to be the god of your own destiny. Such was the lie Satan told to Adam and Eve. You reject the faith you were brought up in and embrace another because of reasons only known to yourself. But in its place you put a religion that makes you comfortable, that you chose for yourself, that has, as do all man-made religions, works as its foundation. Whether it be works through self-improvement/enlightenment or works through good deeds to attain heaven, all man-made religions make man into something he can never be. His own savior. Such is your choice though. But, since you’re bored and wanted a conversation on faith, thought I’d give you my put on the subject.
Your religious leanings are of no import to, if not everybody, most people. I am among those people. If you are looking for somebody to convince you otherwise, as I suspect, you might want to go to a church and argue with a preacher.
I do not hate you, nor do I hate your beliefs. I save that revulsion for the demonically inspired, such as Islam.
I have however decided on Christianity because, in contrast to Buddhism, it satisfies my need to discover ~somethingness~.
As far as accepting Christ as your personal savior, I am not freaked out by your lack of faith. I would, however suggest that you, yourself might be - someday.
I don’t think you are evil.
Prince Siddartha was unhappy with his sheltered life and went out to seek the truth.
All his life he wandered, giving up his earthly possessions, seeing all as a passing illusion, and upon his death, admitted that he was still seeking truth.
Those who worship him as a god do not follow in his path, but distort his message.
Jesus said, “I AM the Truth”.
However, much has been done and said in His Name that Also distorts His message, and turns people away from him.
Don’t listen to “people”. (Not even to ME! LOL!)You have a sincere and seeking heart, and the truth will find YOU, if you are open to hearing it. I can tell from your words.
May you be Blessed.
I am serious.
OK... I’ll bite..
Not Japanese, but believe that God has a plan and that plan included a Savior.
Not here to debate this, but if you truly want to discuss it I am only a freepmail away.
We don’t hate you, Chuck. We will keep you and your family in our prayers that God will continue to bless you, keep you in His mercy and that He will gently reveal Himself to you when the time is right. Thanks, for speaking up.
” .... I’ll take the hit to my own ...”
WOW dude do you know what you are saying?
Eternal damnation with no merit, no reprieve, no relief? Total destruction of body AND soul (free will) forever!
I think your pride eclipses your Heart and assessment of reality!
But I suspect there is more to the story than you are telling!
I don’t hate you.
um. Just wait until its full and the first hymn is over and walk right up to the podium and tell them they are all wrong, they're all heathens who will be squashed under the weight of Jabba Bhudda!
OK, maybe don't do it during church services.
Do you mind if I say a prayer for you?
That you might realize the error of your way and repent?
I pray in Jesus name that you return to your roots. God’s love and grace can reach you and restore you.
Amen!
well stated - I’ll add that his decision was made with wisdom - when he was 12......LOL
“Do you mind if I say a prayer for you?”
I don’t mind at all. My people have been praying for me for years.
I would say that I will chant daimoku for you but that would probably not be taken the way I mean it.
I bless you all, fight for our country. It is all about what is right, to me. I may not share your particular beliefs but I only mean well. I am not the enemy, if you listen to your heart maybe that will come through for all of us, Americans.
Why would you think we would hate you? That’s just insulting to christians; to think that we would hate you because you’re not a christian.
LOL! Nice self-correction, TSgt. Sounds like you could’ve been a new convert to Tiger’s religion...Bootyism...if West Texas Chuck was West Texas Chick. Darn funny, dude. Thanks for the belly-laugh.
http://www.pemachodrontapes.com/store/
(Aka great path books)
It’s ok as long as you help out my sister and her hubby with their Buddhist business. Buy from them! LOL
No flames yet...
KIDDING! Just kidding!
I am not the least bit freaked about anything you wrote. Evil? I think not! We’ve seen evil and you ain’t it.
I found it interesting that you had a similar story to that of Steven Seagal (LAWMAN-love his show). He also took in the Japanese culture and embraced non-Christian concepts, as noted by earlier posters to this thread.
PEACE
LOL!
I almost begged the Mods to pull it but thought I would have some fun poking fun at myself.
DO NOT FREEP WHEN FATIGUED!
TSgt
Why would you think we would hate you? That’s just insulting to christians; to think that we would hate you because you’re not a christian.
Sorry, wrong person.
Almost every sentence in your screed contains the word “I,” often multiple times.
This reveals more than you’re likely to want to face right now.
Think about it.
Thanks for my best laugh of the day, maybe the week!
LOL.
“Prince Siddartha was unhappy with his sheltered life and went out to seek the truth.”
This is a very good point. Siddartha was a prince in India, a guy who had three very nice homes it is said. When he finally saw the suffering of man he was revulsed and decided to be humble.
I mean no disparagement, honestly, but I think Jesus did much the same.
I don’t worship Buddha. A lot of Buddhists do, take Thailand or Nepal as example. Guatama was not about any of that from what I have read.
It’s about belief that there is a greater power. I have no problem saying God Bless you all, it fits in with what I feel.
God Bless America. I’m honestly not trying to start trouble, I just had a need to express my feelings.
You’re killin’ me! Too funny!
Have you run into Christians before who hated non Christians merely because the were non Christians?
“Almost every sentence in your screed contains the word “I,” often multiple times.”
Fair point. That is probably what differentiates Buddhism from Christianity, we are focused on the “I” part of being.
No insult meant, it is just a point of difference.
There IS a FReeper called Texas Chick.
That is who I thought it was before my FR Fopaux.
http://www.freerepublic.com/~texaschick/
Something tells me TSgt might enjoy that, though.
lolol. J/K TSgt!
Don’t even make me go sashaying out and vote for McCain!
LOL!
I don’t mind. I’m not exactly your grandparent’s Christian myself.
I can’t speak for God, but I can’t imagine him being too hard on a non-Christian who is devoted to righteousness, either.
“Have you run into Christians before who hated non Christians merely because the were non Christians?”
Yeah, I guess. My grandmother hated Jews and Catholics. I still can’t understand that, I guess it was how she was raised. And a finer woman never lived. Her and my grandfather would take in “people of color” back in the 60s and feed them and home them because they were true to their beliefs. My grandfather would work two jobs and then go work on houses for Oklahoma Indian peoples because that was what he was called to do. That was an admirable and honest living of his faith. God Bless you grandpa.
I have to respect that, in fact I think those are true Christian virtues.
I'd even go so far as to say that he may have even been a prophet sent to prepare the way for Jesus Christ, at least by the time he comes again. I've also known Baptists who are very decent people as well as those who would put Fred Phelps to shame the way they espouse hatred for Mormons, Catholics and anyone else who does not subscribe to their narrow little brand of Christianity.
I hope this isn't what turned you off on Christianity, but if it was, I hope you will understand that they are a narrow-minded minority who make up in venom and volume what they lack in numbers. There are hundreds of brands of Christianity out there and I think you have a good chance of finding one which will meet your needs, because Jesus Christ is the son of God and will not force anyone to accept him as their Savior. But his helping hand is there for any who make that choice despite all the noise out there.
My dogma ate your karma.
Chuck, Im not going to try to talk you out of your beliefs. If you aren’t attacking us or trying to legislate against us, I’m comfortable. I wasn’t always a Christian but I later decided as an adult that it was the right decision and was baptized.
So, no hate from me. I’m guessing if you’re in this forum because you’re conservative, you and I have more in common than we don’t. I feel sorry for people who would try ti chase you away. I hope you don’t feel like anyone is trying to chase you off.
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