In Shambhala , warriorship is not optional, nor is hospitality.
Posted on 04/05/2007 5:05:09 AM PDT by Daffynition
If you're a Tibetan Buddhist or you're leaning that way, you may not know it, but you need Jesus.
That's the thinking behind a series of Christian evangelical workshops -- including one later this month in Wheaton -- that will coincide with the Dalai Lama's trip to Chicago and other American cities this spring.
Interserve USA is putting on the workshops to teach Christians how to talk to Buddhists and, perhaps, to win converts.
"We welcome the Dalai Lama here, but we also want to have a chance to reach Tibetan Buddhists with the gospel," said Doug Van Bronkhorst, executive director of Interserve, an international missionary group based just outside of Philadelphia.
The online announcement for the upcoming workshop offers this enticing hook: "Tibetan Buddhism. It's ancient. It's complex. It's trendy. And its leader, the Dalai Lama, is visiting your city this spring."
But Van Bronkhorst said in a telephone interview Tuesday, "We are interested in people, not notches on a belt."
That's not quite how it sounds to the head of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, which includes bishops and leaders from most of the largest Christian, Jewish and Muslim groups in the area.
"I'm speaking without knowing anything about this group," said the Rev. Stan Davis, acting director of the council. "But my sense is that their goal is to try to convert to Christianity. Our goal would be to enter into a dialogue with them, to find out about their faith in a two-way conversation."
'He's a very thoughtful man' So does Van Bronkhorst think Christians can learn something from the Dalai Lama and his teachings?
"Oh, sure," Van Bronkhorst said. "He's a very thoughtful man. He has a lot of good things to say about peace in the world, and he's quite knowledgeable about other faiths, including the Christian faith."
Van Bronkhorst says his organization has no plans to send Christian evangelicals to greet the Dalai Lama during his American tour. "Of course that's up to [individuals] if they want to do that," Van Bronkhorst said.
The Rev. Patti Nakai, a part-time minister at Buddhist Temple of Chicago in Uptown, says Buddhists in general may not disagree with the Bible, just the evangelical spin.
"Most Buddhists would not have a problem with what is written in the gospel," said Nakai, who does not follow the particular practices of the Dalai Lama's sect. "It's what evangelical Christians say -- the idea that you have to be saved in a certain way or you're doomed to eternal damnation, that's what we have a problem with."
The Dalai Lama is due to travel to Chicago in early May, making his first public appearance in the city since 1999.
The spiritual leader is expected to stay on the 24th floor of the Palmer House Hilton in the presidential suite, where amenities include three bathrooms.
Actually, if you study the history of Christianity, the period where the inquisition, etc occurred was the exception. There is nothing 'ideologically' in Christianity that calls for the killing of those who will not convert. As you know, if you are honest, the opposite is true of Islam. The periods of peace with others have been the exception.
And this could be not because of but in spite of what it teaches.
Well, yes, in spite of, because mankind has a pretty strong sinful nature.
I dont claim I do.
Okay, so you are, by implication, saying that your statement about 'them' not having any real understanding of God is just your feeling on the issue and not any real statement about the character of God.
And you too would be in for a surprise if you claim you do.
How do you know since you have admitted you don't have any real understanding of God?
“And they believe you have no real understanding of God.”
I hope you are not saying that on behalf of all Christians. Christians come in many different shades and I dont think you represent all of them.
I find it quite distasteful....especially when they go door to door....I have absolutley no patients...
Why, did one of your patients file suit for malpractice? :)
I find it quite distasteful....especially when they go door to door....I have absolutley no patients...
Why, did one of your patients file suit for malpractice? :)
Exactly right. But don't expect to convince the Old Testament Retributionists who make up the majority of the FR Religion Forum's membership.
I'm always surprised to see the Inquisition dismissed as Christianity's sole act of violence against non-believers. The sixty thousand women burned as witches in fifteenth century Germany might beg to differ.
That's a remarkable statement. I've a few questions:
1) How many gods are there?
2) Can one know God (or the gods) personally?
3) Is there a heaven, and if so, how does one get there?
You, sir, have absolutely no clue whatsoever what you are talking about when it comes to Christianity. None. You have no business spouting off in such a public forum on something that you are so demonstrably ignorant about.
I also cannot sit idly as you attempt to paint Christianity as, in effect, yet another mildly-tamed death cult or “quasi-political organization”. That is so ludicrous and inane .
Lots of folks go there from the Eastern US and Canada as well as Europe, especially Germany. Many are not "buddhists", but people who want to train in sitting practise and other arts, such as Archery.
http://www.zenco.org
http://sports.webshots.com/album/379997652VPijyU
There is a lot happening there over the next few months,let me know if you are ever up this way, and we can meet for a few cups of sake.
2. yes. I personally invoke many gods from different pantheons and have had quite a few memorable experiences.
3.Most religions taught reincarnation secretly(like Christianity) or publicly. To get there you complete the great work.
does that make sense (grin). understandable it sounds foreign to most people. But, if you begin by looking at all of the similarities of the religions, The mythologies and and the rites etc one begins to find a lot that is shared. When you then find out that the ancients hid there secrets and did not give them out where they could be misused. You had to earn the right to receive by illumination (mysticism). Then and only then can you understand the real nature of religion(at least from my perspective. Pagan Christs by Carpenter and 12 crucified saviors by Kersey Graves are beginnings but by no means the end of a path that can be very revealing to the right mind. They did "not give holy things to the dogs. They will rend them (in argument) and turn on you. It is like throwing Pearls to the Swine."
Every time I bring this objection up with an evangelical, I get that same allegory about the fact that I'm drowning and Christ is trying to throw me a life preserver.
Anyone out there remember how it goes?
I humbly disagree, and I think any one who has studied the Bible would also disagree
I saw quite a few different “ways” in multivariate calculus, and each had believers who wholeheartedly believed their “way” was correct.
That does not mean that there isn’t a correct way or that they shouldn’t be corrected.
The line fed to me was a metaphor for the beliefs of those who believe that anyone who does not believe in Christ went to Hell.
This person said that they were not condemning all of non-Christian humanity to Hell, but they were in fact throwing a life preserver to those who didn't believe in Christ, because they were drowning......or something.
I don't remember how the exact example goes, but my response was that hopefully those who believe this way will find peace in the fact that heaven must be so special, and so wonderful, that it will make you forget the fact that some of your loved ones who did not accept Christ and lived righteous lives will be in hell for all eternity.
I don't find this unreasonable, just a strange and less than perfect way to manage the afterlife.
I have nothing against the “philosphy” of Buddhism. I know a little about it so I dont think I am ignorant of it. But the Christain religion, with the Bible, Gods’ Word to us, is clear in His will for us, and that the only way to Him is through His Son. Jesus was not another prophet. He is God in Man on earth. He rules not by law or by philosophy, but by His Love and His Grace. No other religious figure promises salvation, only laws to live by, with each of us kowing full well we are too flawed to live up to those laws. Without his Grace to save us, we are nothing but dust.
This is the message we are called to share, by words, by deeds.
Inquisition and killing of Jews and Pagan worshipers are not exceptions but were pretty much widespread in space and time. It pales in frequency and magnitude when compared to Islamic genocides but does not mean they can be simply dismissed as exceptions.
“Okay, so you are, by implication, saying that your statement about ‘them’ not having any real understanding of God is just your feeling on the issue and not any real statement about the character of God.”
About the character of God, its all about “feeling on the issue” and your feeling is as good as mine. In other words its all personal belief, faith, opinion, reasoning, best guess etc. I dont claim to have first hand knowledge about the character of God. And I am pretty certain not many have either.
However this is has hardy anything to do with character of God. Its all about religio-politics, more to do with understanding of human character. You can easily tell when someone is using God and religion to forward their religio-political agenda, and you know they are wrong.
“How do you know since you have admitted you don’t have any real understanding of God?”
How do I know? As I said, “belief, faith, opinion, reasoning, best guess etc”..... at least I dont claim I have 100% knowledge, but basic human judgment allows me to distinguish the right from wrong. Thats how you can tell when someone is totally wrong.
In Shambhala , warriorship is not optional, nor is hospitality.
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