open ended question
I know most of you are not Christians and that decision was made with much thought and you have strong reasons for this. This question is, mostly, for you (if you are willing to answer it) but also for everyone else. Mostly, I've been looking in the mirror and seeing a lot of -well, bitchiness there. I want to be rid of that but it also got me ( Read more... )
I admit that when I hear the word "Christian" I have a very negative image come to mind. I grew up in a mean spirited small town in the Bible Belt. There are many "Christians" in this part of the country--they're very vocal in condemning anyone who does not believe as they do. Many of the Protestant churches out here don't consider the Catholics Christians, so my understanding of the world "Christian" is for the most part tainted when I hear it. I grew up in a very religiously liberal "cafeteria Catholic" family (my parents never forced any believe system on us--my father is agnostic, my mother Catholic). Growing up, I heard from my little Christian friends on a pretty regular basis that I was going to go to hell if I didn't start reading the Bible and find a personal relationship with Jesus. Needless to say, I've had a very negative experience with many folks calling themselves "Christians".
I guess Gandhi said it most appropriately, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
I'm speaking here in generalizations, because there are many kind, compassionate and remarkable Christians out there, it's just the bad examples are the loudest--I guess that's always the case with extremists.
I don't know what it takes to be a good Christian. I have no intention of being a good Christian, because I am a Buddhist (if we must wear the labels of our belief systems). Regards of my personal belief system, I try my best to be a good person. I believe very strongly in karma--negative energy attracts negative energy and positive energy attracts positive energy. There are always consequences and you bring them on yourself with your actions. If you do bad things, bad things will happen to you either now or in the next life you live. We must learn to free ourselves from desire and then we will be free from the cycles of rebirth and find ultimate Enlightenment. I believe that you are in control of your destiny, not by faith, but by your actions.
Buddhist philosophies aside, just be a good person. Don't narrow your definition by saying what does it take to be a good Christian, don't worry about that; instead focus on being a good person. There is one strain that binds all of the major belief systems together and that is the "golden rule": treat others as you would like to be treated. I also have another of Gandhi's quotes that I live by: Be the change that you wish to see in others. I think if everyone were more conscientious of these two ideas, then the world would be a far better place. It helps us see the bigger picture. We start thinking of ourselves as a part of the whole, not an egocentric entity. Be kind. Be compassionate. Be tolerant. Don't cause suffering to others.
So, how do you be a better Christian? Be a better person.
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