Posted by journeylady Because we want everyone to be there. I'd personally love to see everyone I've ever met in my entire life come to know Jesus as their lord and saviour and live with him for eternity in his heavenly kingdom. Having spent the majority of my life on the bottom of the popularity game I can tell you that proselytising and evangelizing has nothing to do with being in the in crowd. It's an information thing more than anything else. We want everyone to know about God and Jesus and his love for us.

Jesus is dead. He has passed on. He's curled up his toes and left this mortal coil. He's fucking snuffed it.

The Dali Lama is the living incarnation of the Buddha.

I'd rather work with the guy who still has a heart beat.

Posted by honorabright So, my question for Easter is... Why do Christians believe that someone like, oh, the man in Oklahoma who recently killed a 10 year old girl to rape and eat her corpse is potentially fit for eternal paradise, while someone like the Dali Lama is singled out for damnation? The mind boggles.

The simple answer is because Christ teaches us through pardoning the criminal on the cross next to him that no man is beyond God's saving grace, even up to his very last breath.

The Dalai Lama, who has no doubt been directly exposed to and has probably even studied the teachings of Christ, has apparently rejected His salvation. It is due to this rejection that some Christians assume the Dalai Lama will be damned should he die without repenting.

Posted by KublaKhan Jesus is dead. He has passed on. He's curled up his toes and left this mortal coil. He's fucking snuffed it. The Dali Lama is the living incarnation of the Buddha. I'd rather work with the guy who still has a heart beat.

Yep. Jesus died. he did. I celebrated that fact on Friday.

And then on Sunday I celebrated the fact that he came back to life.

Jesus still has a heart beat.

I don't know anything about the Dali Lama or Buddha and perhaps I shall do some research but I'm still gonna stick with the guy who kicked death's ass.

Posted by Trixi The simple answer is because Christ teaches us through pardoning the criminal on the cross next to him that no man is beyond God's saving grace, even up to his very last breath.

The more complex answer might be that Christ was aware that mortal life is an illusion, that The Kingdom of my Father is the realm beyond this imagined reality. Buddha was the One who woke up. I guess he was Christ's alarm clock, cuz I'm pretty sure Christ understood the basic tenents of Buddhism. Buddhism taught Christ to see beyond this mortal coil.

The Dalai Lama, who has no doubt been directly exposed to and has probably even studied the teachings of Christ, has apparently rejected His salvation. It is due to this rejection that some Christians assume the Dalai Lama will be damned should he die without repenting.

Have you ever noticed how similar Christ's message is to that of the Buddha? Like...soooo close they might have been written by the same person?

Didja ever wonder what Christ was doing for the 30 or so years he was wandering around the dessert? Maybe he was in Egypt studying sacred death rites, maybe he was in the Far East studying Buddhism...cuz, you do know...Buddhism has been around a wee bit longer than Christianity.

Maybe Christ's message was adopted from Buddhist scripture. Maybe Christ thought 'Holy Moses, this is some seriously hevy shit. I gotta find a way to bring it to my people. Too bad they're all caught up in all this political horseshit.'

Posted by journeylady Yep. Jesus died. he did. I celebrated that fact on Friday. And then on Sunday I celebrated the fact that he came back to life. Jesus still has a heart beat. I don't know anything about the Dali Lama or Buddha and perhaps I shall do some research but I'm still gonna stick with the guy who kicked death's ass.

And here we go again comparing apples to oranges. Jesus vs. whoever.

Posted by KublaKhan And here we go again comparing apples to oranges. Jesus vs. whoever.

I'm not trying to do that. A question was asked and I answered it. then you said my savior was dead and I corrected you with my beliefs.

As I said, I don't know anything about Buddha. After reading your last post I'll look it up though. sounds interesting.

Posted by Trixi Christians assume the Dalai Lama will be damned should he die without repenting.

I'm not going to bother explaining the Buddhist tenets regarding 'hell', but rest assured, you're in it right now.

Have you ever noticed how similar Christ's message is to that of the Buddha?

Yes, and I would invite any Christian who has a basic grasp on the principles of other faiths to read Ecclesiastes, particularly 1:2 "all is vanity."
And yes, I think the most prominent figure of a world 'religion' with over 500,000,000 adherents is familiar with the teachings of Christ. Sad that it rarely works both ways.

Buddhists have an immense respect for Christ, but they doesn't mean we deny the reality of his death, nor do we deny the reality of the Buddha's death, nor our own deaths.

Posted by honorabright I'm not going to bother explaining the Buddhist tenets regarding 'hell', but rest assured, you're in it right now.

No no...go ahead. I'm sure your explaination will be illuminating.

Yes, and I would invite any Christian who has a basic grasp on the principles of other faiths to read Ecclesiastes, particularly 1:2 "all is vanity."

Well played. I wonder if any of our Christian friends can locate a similar idea from Buddhist scripture.

And yes, I think the most prominent figure of a world 'religion' with over 500,000,000 adherents is familiar with the teachings of Christ. Sad that it rarely works both ways.

Reminds me of that Simpson's episode where Rev. What's-his-name looks out at the crowd and names off a couple of the obvious adherants of other faiths "Jews, Baptists, etc. etc." and then he gets to Apu and says 'Other.'

Apu responds 'HINDU. I AM HINDU...there are nine hundred million of us.

"That's super," says Rev.

Buddhists have an immense respect for Christ, but they doesn't mean we deny the reality of his death, nor do we deny the reality of the Buddha's death, nor our own deaths.

As I'm sure many Christians have an immense respect for Buddhists. But as The Buddha ISN'T The Son of Man/God/Word Made Flesh/Risen Saviour, and the practitioners of his beliefs DO NOT subscribe to the Christ as Saviour thing, they ain't gonna accept either the Buddha or Buddhists into their after (life) party unless they buy the membership before they die.

Posted by KublaKhan No no...go ahead. I'm sure your explaination will be illuminating.

Hell is a state of mind. Although it's described extensively in some branches of Buddhism (especially Tibetan, I think), those descriptions are primarily metaphorical reminders of the different sorts of torments we face. And, of course, failure to realise the reality of things they are is a source of great torment. Which is why, to a certain extent, we're all experience some form of hell.

And no, I doubt our Christian friends can come up with something similar from the Buddhist scriptures. I don't think they were previously aware we actually have scriptures, let alone know their content and context.

And, like Marx said, I'd never belong to a club that would have me as a member.

Posted by KublaKhan Have you ever noticed how similar Christ's message is to that of the Buddha? Like...soooo close they might have been written by the same person? Didja ever wonder what Christ was doing for the 30 or so years he was wandering around the dessert? Maybe he was in Egypt studying sacred death rites, maybe he was in the Far East studying Buddhism...cuz, you do know...Buddhism has been around a wee bit longer than Christianity. Maybe Christ's message was adopted from Buddhist scripture. Maybe Christ thought 'Holy Moses, this is some seriously hevy shit. I gotta find a way to bring it to my people. Too bad they're all caught up in all this political horseshit.'

Truth is truth, regardless of the messenger. Every religious tradition contains truths which transcend time and can be tested and proven by its passage. We can speculate on what Jesus did during the times in in his life that are unaccounted for scripturally, but regardless of where he was or what he may have studied, the truth and power of His message remain timeless.

No one is going to change anyone else's mind on this issue. In fact, the subject has come up in almost every thread lately.

It is interesting, as I read these two pages, to observe the attitude and tone of one "side" (note quotation marks) versus the other.

Posted by katwoman No one is going to change anyone else's mind on this issue. In fact, the subject has come up in almost every thread lately. It is interesting, as I read these two pages, to observe the attitude and tone of one "side" (note quotation marks) versus the other.

It is indeed interesting. More so that both Christianity and Buddhism share many of the same basic principles. Whereas Christianity instructs followers to prepare for an afterlife in Paradise, Buddhism attempts to awaken that paradise within us at the time we are alive. Each seeks transcendence, and spiritual enlightenment. The main difference, as I see it, is that one threatens eternal damnation after death for not seeking Truth in life, while the other offers eternal (internal?) enlightenment by illustrating damnation in Life.

Something like that.

Posted by KublaKhan Something like that.

Buddhists strive for the enlightenment of all sentient creatures. We believe in humanity. In fact, we hold the condition that many Christians call paradise to be one step BELOW humanity. Christianity, in the end, is very much an every man for himself religion. I understand that many, many good works are done in the name of Christ or because/through his teachings, but Christians, with their philosophies of divine retribution, judgment, and damnation turn their backs to humanity. That, more than anything, more than the supposed fate of my eternal soul or the reality of death, is a cause for grief.

No one is going to change anyone else's mind on this issue. In fact, the subject has come up in almost every thread lately.

Well, it is an awfully big topic. I was quite happy to banter back and forth with KK about cosmic philosophy, but others have weighed in, and the more the merrier.

You could always create a Cosmic Philosophy Board.

Posted by katwoman You could always create a Cosmic Philosophy Board.

...and how do I do that?

Posted by KublaKhan ...and how do I do that?

On the main page, scroll all the way down to the bottom, and click on the "create your own private board."

you should, it would be interesting.

Posted by IrishLady On the main page, scroll all the way down to the bottom, and click on the "create your own private board." you should, it would be interesting.

Done. It's called 'Cosmic Metaphilosophy.'

Feel free to join in on the discussion...which is really just me now, kinda one sided, kinda dull. Let's see what happens.

Posted by honorabright We believe in humanity.

That is the last thing I would put my trust in.

Posted by Curious_George That is the last thing I would put my trust in.

While I completely disagree with the war in Iraq, the last thing I would put my trust in is lunatics in the name of Christ harassing those attempting to grieve their loved ones killed as pawns in Dubbya's game.

http://www.cnn.com...unerals/index.html

Does God exist? In one's mind. If you want him to, he does.

Posted by Father Maurice Lester Does God exist? In one's mind. If you want him to, he does.

Cool! Whatever I believe is true! Wow, my life will ROCK from now on!