Comments | priam: Why I think that Buddhism can lead a person away from what is true.

priam

Why I think that Buddhism can lead a person away from what is true.

Oct 15, 2006 12:18

I was doing some thinking as I was listening to a couple of talks by Dr. Peter Kreeft, who is the theology chair at Boston College. And, it struck me that Buddha, who was definitely a wise man, got it somewhat wrong. But, this statement only can be proven true if one accepts that Jesus Christ is true God and true man ( Read more... )

Comments 14

armachd October 16 2006, 09:17:15 UTC

Don't let the current administration get a hold of this, man! They'll be all like, "We're helping the middle east suffer and grow!"

:(

priam October 16 2006, 17:13:54 UTC

Interesting...redemptive suffering at work in Iraq and Afghanistan.

armachd October 16 2006, 17:50:09 UTC

I do agree with you that suffering is the way we learn and grow, btw. We differ in the way we view Christ I think though, and it could be the difference between Catholic and Protestant views.

From what you've been telling me, the only way we can get into heaven would be to live a life perfect, like Christ. This sort of makes it sound like Christ came as a role model, to be emulated (maybe like a second Ten Commandments). All other attempts make us go to Purgatory, to learn to live Christlike there (a bootcamp of sorts, where you work off all the junk that you brought from this life). Is that about right? :)

priam October 18 2006, 19:38:21 UTC

That's correct, but it isn't me who is saying it, it's the Bible. Revelation 21:27 states that nothing impure will enter Heaven, and Hebrews 12:23 talks about the spirits of righteous men made perfect.

And, the only time anyone ever asked Jesus how to be saved, he responded:

Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

"Which ones?" the man inquired.

Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
Matthew 19:16-21
Jesus himself differentiates between salvation and perfection. If one dies in Christ's ( ... )

armachd October 18 2006, 20:36:38 UTC

Then how do you become washed clean in the blood of the lamb? If you can't earn it, and you can't achieve it on your own, there must be another answer.

I know I will never be perfect, even if I fast, confess, give everyone my money. I'm still imperfect, because it's a spiritual problem, not one that can be solved by earthly deeds.

So, I guess, is how do we achieve perfection, if it's not achievable here on earth, no matter what we do or try to do?

priam October 18 2006, 21:52:32 UTC

We should always strive for perfection, though we'll never achieve it. Why else would our Lord command us to "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect"? (Matthew 5:48)

The fact that we won't attain perfection is a blessing, because we always have something to strive for. We are continually maturing in our Christian faith.

And....I would argue that the great saints (Francis, Therese of Liseux, Agnes, and even the now Blessed Mother Theresa) have progressed so far on the path of perfection that there is little, if any, impurities that need to be burned away.

If we merely need to believe and accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, then his command to be perfect doesn't make any sense. Why struggle to strive for perfection if I'm assured Heaven?

If, on the other hand, Jesus is advising us that it is better to be perfected on this side of death, then it makes all the sense in the world.

Try this, read Luke 12:42-48 and compare the servant who will be "cut to pieces and placed with the unbelievers" juxtaposed ( ... )

armachd October 18 2006, 22:07:07 UTC

If we could achieve perfection on our own, what was the purpose of Christ in the first place?

Why do we need a Savior if we'll do it on our own in Purgatory?

(I'm really enjoying the conversation!)

Thanks,

priam October 18 2006, 23:12:13 UTC

Me too!

If I ever intimated that we did not need Christ, then I wholeheartedly apologize.

We have no hope for salvation outside the redemption of Jesus Christ. And, the perfection we hope to receive only comes from the grace that is poured into us. We cannot do it on our own or by ourselves. It is only through Christ.

But........and here's the big difference between Catholics and Protestants.......we have to work with this grace. We have to cooperate with Christ. We are "God's fellow workers," as St. Paul puts it. God takes our little efforts and blesses our work with mighty dividends. I only have to look at the person I was three years ago and who I am today and proclaim the mighty power of God at work in my life. I could not have done it on my own. Without Christ, I'd still be on Paxil, and probably would have blown through half a dozen jobs and living back home with my parents ( ... )

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