I am concerned because Budda gets too much credit. Jesus taught harmony between humans and nature. Budda was not the first person to teach his ideas
And, Budda is a God (little g) put on the same level, if not higher than God (big G). His first commandment: don't have any god's (little g) before Me. ANY!!! None. Not even money. A "god" can be anything you value above your relationship with God.

No...I believe Buddism is a religion. You are worshiping a man and his teachings. You cannot serve 2 masters at the same time. You must chose one.

Just my opinion.

Matthew 6:24 King James Version (KJV)
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.


Luke 16:13 King James Version (KJV)
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Buddha's first commandment is: One’s most valuable asset is good health. Neither does any other commandment speak of a god. So I don't agree haha. I also don't believe the buddhists worship him as a god, since there are many buddhists that believe in (a) god(s); they just accept Buddha's teachings as the right ones. They are also not taught to worship him as a god, or at least that's what this woman at the temple told us plus that's what I have so far only found on the internet. Also in the Buddhist books, he is not adressed as a god.

Buddha himself believed in the god Brahma and his servant-gods.

This goes against commandment #1:

Exodus 20

2 I am the Lord thy God, ....

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God,....

To me, this means ANYONE OR ANYTHING!!!

Sure, it's great to incorporate teachings by others. But, putting that person, or their teachings above Jesus...I don't care if they say they are "Not God"....well, it just puts them before God. Jesus was the first to say these things. The things Buddhist claims he said.

Study, think about other theories and beliefs. But....put No One above God. Or, even on the same level.

1 John 4:1-3King James Version (KJV)

1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Again, just my opinion!

I'm 100% with you Mary on this subject. There is a term for the younger generation when it comes to religion called "The Mosaic Generation" in that they take the bits and pieces they like or believe in from many religions and form their own belief. But is not complete, just fragments from many religions - Christianity isn't like that at all - you believe and accept all the Word and not just the bits that suit you. I feel that the more you start to add to Christianity from other religions you actually water down Christianity until it grows so weak Jesus is no longer "the way, the truth and the life".

Being a Buddhist and a Christian at the same time is called syncreticism.

"Syncretism, in this case, is the mixing of Christianity with something else such that they become a different gospel. Syncretism can take place with a postive-thinking gospel, a nationalist emphasis, or emerging culture. Syncretism happens more than we might know.

When anything is added to the message of the gospel, the uniqueness and sufficiency of Christ is compromised and another gospel can be created that is, well, actually not the gospel. In this, obscurantism and syncretism are closely related, each leading to the creation of a false gospel.
Syncretism can be most easily seen when two or more starkly contrasting religions are mixed.

World Religions
Syncretism can be most easily seen when two or more starkly contrasting religions are mixed. Around the world, examples are readily available where Christ has been preached in places with long and various religious traditions. In many cases, pieces and parts of the traditional religion will remain while Christ is added to the mix."

http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2014/june/avoiding-pitfall-of-syncretism.html

I have studied Buddhism and I have a friend who has been a Buddhist for over 40 years. He is gradually moving towards Christianity, as he has found that Buddhism doesn't work. He cannot forgive his step father, who beat him regularly in the late 1940's. Yes, that long ago, and he has found no peace. Compassion is one of the fundamental tenets of Buddhism yet he can find no compassion in his heart. There is simply no power to transform in Buddhism. It is a religion which is all about self! And that means people give alms to the monks for example, in the hopes that they will decrease their time on the wheel of karma. Sort of like rubbing heads with the "holy" but not being able to be made holy or righteous - because they know they do not deserve it.

Another thing is that Buddhist mediation's purpose is to empty the mind. This then creates (in reality) a place for 7 more demons to come in. (Matt 12:45). The Christian is to fill up their hearts and minds with Jesus Christ. We are to pray to a living and true God, who answers prayers.

Further, the conflict between what Buddhists believe about the after life and what Christians believe is far to wide to be jumped.

"And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes" Hebrews 9:27

In Buddhism, the afterlife consists of continuing reincarrnations - not just of the soul, but a soul that divides into 4 parts and goes in 4 different directions, seeking to find a body where they will continue in the upward direction. Fate, or karma somehow figures in this - which is a neutral, impersonal force. The soul sometimes rests in the "bardo" before moving on to the next reincarnation. Most people don't make it to their goal, so they offer alms in the hopes of getting some good karma to rub off on them. And this reincarnation process can continue for millions of years, in theory, until the person is good enough!

Praise God I am not good enough but I have a Saviour and Redeemer who is!

What a difference from having a living God and Saviour, who personally came to earth to pay for our sins, so that we might be reconciled once for and for all with God. No amount of pontificating about the 8 fold path comes even close to the reality of the Holy Spirit working in our hearts and lives to transform us into the image of Christ. And the confidence of knowing we are saved, and that we will be with Christ when we die! Buddhism is a hopeless, impersonal religion, that promotes the view that suffering is an illusion. Hmm! I have suffered a lot from my RA and it is real! This world is real, but not as real as the world to come!

So no, you can't be a Buddhist and a Christian at the same time. They are diametrically opposed!

Oh yes, I just thought of another friend of mine, who was a Buddhist longer than I have been a Christian - maybe 40 years too. She used to tell me I was going to go to Buddhist hell. Because some sects of Buddhism believe in hell, while others don't! Anyway, about 5 years ago she became incredibly depressed and hopeless. She was on the verge of suicide. Buddhism did nothing for her, and none of her Buddhist friends even stopped by to see if she was ok, when she stopped coming to group meditations. So much for compassion and caring, in a religion that is totally "all about me."

The hope we have in Christ can never be confused with the hopelessness of Buddhism, or any other world religions.

"But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect," 1 Peter 3:15

So what is your hope? In a man made, religion that offers millions of years of reincarnations before the entire soul is "enlightened" and hence dissolved? Or Jesus Christ who suffered and died so that we might find forgiveness and be reconciled to God?

I did not say I would devote myself to Buddhism nor did I ever say that I would take any teachings of Buddha. I just said it would be possible, which is what you call syncretism. I was simply stating that Buddhism is not based on gods but on teachings of men. I won't ever leave Jesus and no, I am not a syncretist. Jesus is the only Way.

Thanks for your very insightful post though, I've learned a lot about Buddhism. Only Christ is truly satisfying. I know, don't worry haha

We do not think you were acepting Buddhism. We were concerned about your interest in it. Yes, like I have said in other post, it is good to know (not just guess) what other belief system are. You can better "defend" your own faith.

1 Corinthians 13:10-12 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

10 But when the perfect comes,
the partial will come to an end.

11When I was a child,
I spoke like a child,
I thought like a child,
I reasoned like a child.
When I became a man,
I put aside childish things.

12 For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,
but then face to face.
Now I know in part,
but then I will know fully,
as I am fully known.

1 Corinthians 13:12 Ancient mirrors were normally made out of polished metals and were not as clear as modern ones.

Great post Marlene, very interesting!

Thanks Laminae!

And Luan, I didn't mean to target you! I do feel you are on the right track with Christ. More of a general comment that you really can't mix Buddhism and Christianity. Or Christianity and anything else, for that matter.

Haha alright that's good then. Christ is king, He's my teacher, no one else is. That post really helped me a lot really and now I also think mixing it would not be a good idea (not that I was planning on doing so). BTW, do not be afraid of my interest in anything because I am interested in nearly everything so my interest in Buddhism doesn't necessarily mean I would attend to it. I would otherwise be a Jewish Muslim Buddhist who follows Jesus. Doesn't make any sense, but still.

I tried to explain that to my husband the other day. No, I Don't always agree with everything any "religion" teaches. I am Christian. I believe in Jesus. That is my "relationship". But, I just happen to worship Him in a Baptist church. (and here) Jesus/God can be worshiped anywhere. It's an individual thing.