True, but some Buddhists just leave the idea of deity alone. They don't necessarily all deny it.The big problem here is the denial of a diety. Buddism definatley makes this claim unfortunatley, a HUGE mistake. So handle with care...
Did Jesus teach all faiths should be accepted and respected?zstep14 wrote:True, but some Buddhists just leave the idea of deity alone. They don't necessarily all deny it.The big problem here is the denial of a diety. Buddism definatley makes this claim unfortunatley, a HUGE mistake. So handle with care...
I would like to point out also, that although a Buddhist might deny a deity, he accepts all faiths and gives respect to them.
I said that, because I don't think its going to hurt my faith. Buddhists are very accepting, in the sense that they don't mind what your faith is. I'm not going to stray away from my faith in Jesus Christ at all. Do I think Jesus taught that all faiths should be respected? Yes. Do I think that he taught that all faiths should be accepted? I don't know. Probably not.Did Jesus teach all faiths should be accepted and respected?
John 14:6
I've not stated you're wrong to utlilize buddhist meditation techniques.zstep14 wrote:I said that, because I don't think its going to hurt my faith. Buddhists are very accepting, in the sense that they don't mind what your faith is. I'm not going to stray away from my faith in Jesus Christ at all. Do I think Jesus taught that all faiths should be respected? Yes. Do I think that he taught that all faiths should be accepted? I don't know. Probably not.Did Jesus teach all faiths should be accepted and respected?
John 14:6
Buddhists believe in Jesus, if that says anything. But then again, so do most major religions. I just take that farther, and believe that he is the Son of God.
I don't see how combining prayer and meditation can be bad. You shouldn't think of Buddhism as just a religion, like I've said before.
Thank you for your responses. I'm still trying to figure out the things I should not do. The things I want to do, I want to benefit my faith.I've not stated you're wrong to utlilize buddhist meditation techniques.
I do think you need to be a little more discerning on this idea of universalism.
I believe Jesus taught and modelled respect of others in many ways, but it was not universal. Interestingly his most vehement words and expressions of anger seemed focused more often on Religious Hypocrisy within Judaism, and by extension I believe we could say the same to Religious Hypocrisy within Christianity.
Jesus clearly claimed exclusivity in terms of salvation and approaching God. Look at the verse I linked in the prior post. How do you reconcile Christ's words, ie "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except by me" John 14:6 with the idea that Christ would accept other faiths?
Christ loves people of other faiths. Christ provided no other means to approach God than through Himself personally. Highly "intolerant" of him, don't you think?
A method of meditation is not necessarily wrong. I'm simply appealing to you to consider as a Christian, which you claim to be, that there may be baggage attached to some of this that you need to be very alert to identifying and not accepting it without examining the truth of it against what Christ said.
Don't mistake love for the sinner with tolerance for the sin.
"Strange spirits"? The purpose of meditation can be for concentration, inner peace, compassion, etc. Putting Buddhism aside, I don't see how yoga yields my body to "strange spirits". I think meditation can worship God.I need to caution you against practices like Yoga and Transindental Meditation, where a person yeilds their body and minds to strange Spirits, chanting mantras, etc. Meditation in the Bible is not TM, but meditating on the Word and in Prayer.
God takes His worship very seriously. Consider that God killed Aaron's two sons for offering up a "strange fire".
I don't even know how to respond to that.Consider that God killed Aaron's two sons for offering up a "strange fire".
What do you meditate on? Yoga, Buddhism all use different Spirits for Calmness and to tell you the truth are more Self Centred/Oriented Meditation then on God. So what does God want you to do? Read the Bible and meditate on his Word. The Psalmist did not need Buddhism or Yoga for him to Meditate. The War is not for your Body but for your Soul.zstep14 wrote:"Strange spirits"? The purpose of meditation can be for concentration, inner peace, compassion, etc. Putting Buddhism aside, I don't see how yoga yields my body to "strange spirits". I think meditation can worship God.I need to caution you against practices like Yoga and Transindental Meditation, where a person yeilds their body and minds to strange Spirits, chanting mantras, etc. Meditation in the Bible is not TM, but meditating on the Word and in Prayer.
God takes His worship very seriously. Consider that God killed Aaron's two sons for offering up a "strange fire".
I don't even know how to respond to that.Consider that God killed Aaron's two sons for offering up a "strange fire".
True, but some Buddhists just leave the idea of deity alone. They don't necessarily all deny it.
I would like to point out also, that although a Buddhist might deny a deity, he accepts all faiths and gives respect to them.
I need to caution you against practices like Yoga and Transindental Meditation, where a person yeilds their body and minds to strange Spirits, chanting mantras, etc. Meditation in the Bible is not TM, but meditating on the Word and in Prayer.
zstep14, God wants to be your all in all. I think your interest in meditation is harmless but consider this. It is Jesus that offers you His peace God offers you peace that passes all understanding. Biblical Compassion is already yours as you walk in the fruit of the Spirit."Strange spirits"? The purpose of meditation can be for concentration, inner peace, compassion, etc. Putting Buddhism aside, I don't see how yoga yields my body to "strange spirits". I think meditation can worship God.