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Originally Posted by Eelyn (26-02-2012)  Thread topic: Can A Christian convert to Taoism/Buddhism? Hi,I am new here.Am interested to find out if a Christian can convert to Taoism/Buddhism?I am asking this question for me and my friend. There is a Taoist and Buddhist temple near my place and sometimes I am tempted to go in to kneel down and pray. |
Hi Eelyn, I've read some of this thread and personally, I'm surprised how flippant you seem to be on this topic of religion, if not only your approach to internet discussion- e.g. your gender when registering to join this forum (you registered as male but are actually female); and also is currently "married" and studying at "Innova JC" according to your profile ('About Me') but declare "my A levels that year in 2007" [permalink]; discussing religion is not a game of charades or even choosing bubble tea - were you an over aged student? what are your priorities in life?- these ambiguities and contradictions in your introduction cast serious aspersion as to the sincerity of your intentions.
Nevertheless, I shall not criticize any further as I know nothing about your background other than what is publically viewable to all forum participants.
All that I can conclude from my observation of the conversations in this thread between persons of diverse religious backgrounds and personal experiences, can well conform to the observation by John G. Saxe, in his artful translation of an ancient Indian fable: 'The Blind Men and the Elephant' :
Synopsis: 6 Blind men decided to study an elephant but due perhaps to pride, ended up being so over-confident of each his own incidental observation that all the 6 ended up quarreling over their 6 unique observations: that an elephant was to each- a wall, a spear, a snake, a tree, a fan, a rope- depending on which part of the elephant that each had chanced upon.
For the avoidance of doubt, the specific observation by each blind-man was correct, however, the arrogance of each individual member, the self-righteousness and conceit that one's simple chance encounter with one part of an elephant would represent all possible encounters- condemned the joint expedition into an unsolvable stale mate if not quarrel.
And thus the moral of the poem with which it ends:
"So, oft in theological wars, The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance- Of what each other mean;
And prate about an Elephant - Not one of them has seen!"
It is thus no surprise that within Christianity for instance, there exists three mainstream divisions (Catholic vs Orthodox vs Protestant*) and within the category of Protestant Christianity, mainstream sub-divisions include Methodist, Presbyterian, Anglican, Calvinism, Lutheranism, Evangelicalism* - IIRC; AFAIK (* lists denote NO order of importance).
Atheist or members of other religions might conclude that this vast diversity denoted confusion and contradiction- but in the story of the 'The Blind Men and the Elephant', the fact that 6 unique observations did not cast any aspersions on the existence of the said elephant- but rather, besides suggesting the immense size of the elephant, also reflected the arrogance and stupidity of the 6 blind men concerned.
In my discovery in regard to Christianity, the words of Jesus Christ as listed in [Mark 12:28-31 (NIV)] (now titled: 'The Greatest Commandment') should remain instructive as to the basic laws of Christianity:
In short, Christians, by the teaching of Jesus Christ himself (God reincarnate) must firstly honour only one God and "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" and secondly "Love your neighbor as yourself."
It is thus my personal method of the judgement of the 'Christian-ness' of a Christian is by the extent to which a self professing Christian conforms to the theology behind 2 commandments and to a lesser extent any other orthodox/ unorthodox ceremonious protocol: baptism, bread/ wine partaken, Church attendance/ membership, circumcision, frequency of prayer, amounts of Church donations given etc that I believe these are of either lesser or even misplaced importance in the context of sound theology- please don't flame me for saying this as its just personal opinion from my observation as skeptical, and questioning I always am- thus the existence of various either descriptive or else derogatory terms to describe the less than theological faith of some Christians: 'Sunday Christians'- pious on Sunday only, shameless the next; 'Ceremonial/ Recreational/ By Genealogy/ Cultural Christians' (each in isolation; as each term depicts)- 'Christian' by tradition only but possibly still a 'lost soul' who will 'quit' as circumstances change (see Pharisee); 'Wolf in sheep clothing Christians'- those who self-proclaim Christianity with the ulterior motive of intentionally or unintentionally deceiving others for profit; who register their private/ public recreational clubs/ ponzi schemes as 'Churches' to evade government scrutiny or simply to exploit various tax exemption schemes that not-for-profit organisations typically enjoy (GST exemptions etc). (PLEASE USE THESE TERMS WITH EXTREME CAUTION AS THEY ARE USUALLY INSULTING, DEROGATORY OR/AND DEFAMATORY TO THE SUBJECT IN MENTION).
You will ultimately decide what you believe, but the quality of this belief most likely is premised upon the depth of your observations and the effort you have made to forment your thoughts. You can chose the right opportunities to put you on the right path rather than be distracted/ confused by the wrong, the addictive or the just irrelevant kinds of activity.
" 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" [John 8:31-32(NIV)]
All the best to you on your righteous endeavor. Your state of eventual freedom will be what you justly deserve.
PS: The true Christians are committed ambassador of Christ; stay far from the 'wolves in sheep clothing'.
Rgds
B.C.
Nevertheless, I shall not criticize any further as I know nothing about your background other than what is publically viewable to all forum participants.
All that I can conclude from my observation of the conversations in this thread between persons of diverse religious backgrounds and personal experiences, can well conform to the observation by John G. Saxe, in his artful translation of an ancient Indian fable: 'The Blind Men and the Elephant' :
Synopsis: 6 Blind men decided to study an elephant but due perhaps to pride, ended up being so over-confident of each his own incidental observation that all the 6 ended up quarreling over their 6 unique observations: that an elephant was to each- a wall, a spear, a snake, a tree, a fan, a rope- depending on which part of the elephant that each had chanced upon.
For the avoidance of doubt, the specific observation by each blind-man was correct, however, the arrogance of each individual member, the self-righteousness and conceit that one's simple chance encounter with one part of an elephant would represent all possible encounters- condemned the joint expedition into an unsolvable stale mate if not quarrel.
And thus the moral of the poem with which it ends:
"So, oft in theological wars, The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance- Of what each other mean;
And prate about an Elephant - Not one of them has seen!"
It is thus no surprise that within Christianity for instance, there exists three mainstream divisions (Catholic vs Orthodox vs Protestant*) and within the category of Protestant Christianity, mainstream sub-divisions include Methodist, Presbyterian, Anglican, Calvinism, Lutheranism, Evangelicalism* - IIRC; AFAIK (* lists denote NO order of importance).
Atheist or members of other religions might conclude that this vast diversity denoted confusion and contradiction- but in the story of the 'The Blind Men and the Elephant', the fact that 6 unique observations did not cast any aspersions on the existence of the said elephant- but rather, besides suggesting the immense size of the elephant, also reflected the arrogance and stupidity of the 6 blind men concerned.
In my discovery in regard to Christianity, the words of Jesus Christ as listed in [Mark 12:28-31 (NIV)] (now titled: 'The Greatest Commandment') should remain instructive as to the basic laws of Christianity:
Quote:
| The Greatest Commandment: 28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” [Mark 12:28-31 (NIV)] |
It is thus my personal method of the judgement of the 'Christian-ness' of a Christian is by the extent to which a self professing Christian conforms to the theology behind 2 commandments and to a lesser extent any other orthodox/ unorthodox ceremonious protocol: baptism, bread/ wine partaken, Church attendance/ membership, circumcision, frequency of prayer, amounts of Church donations given etc that I believe these are of either lesser or even misplaced importance in the context of sound theology- please don't flame me for saying this as its just personal opinion from my observation as skeptical, and questioning I always am- thus the existence of various either descriptive or else derogatory terms to describe the less than theological faith of some Christians: 'Sunday Christians'- pious on Sunday only, shameless the next; 'Ceremonial/ Recreational/ By Genealogy/ Cultural Christians' (each in isolation; as each term depicts)- 'Christian' by tradition only but possibly still a 'lost soul' who will 'quit' as circumstances change (see Pharisee); 'Wolf in sheep clothing Christians'- those who self-proclaim Christianity with the ulterior motive of intentionally or unintentionally deceiving others for profit; who register their private/ public recreational clubs/ ponzi schemes as 'Churches' to evade government scrutiny or simply to exploit various tax exemption schemes that not-for-profit organisations typically enjoy (GST exemptions etc). (PLEASE USE THESE TERMS WITH EXTREME CAUTION AS THEY ARE USUALLY INSULTING, DEROGATORY OR/AND DEFAMATORY TO THE SUBJECT IN MENTION).
You will ultimately decide what you believe, but the quality of this belief most likely is premised upon the depth of your observations and the effort you have made to forment your thoughts. You can chose the right opportunities to put you on the right path rather than be distracted/ confused by the wrong, the addictive or the just irrelevant kinds of activity.
" 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" [John 8:31-32(NIV)]
All the best to you on your righteous endeavor. Your state of eventual freedom will be what you justly deserve.
PS: The true Christians are committed ambassador of Christ; stay far from the 'wolves in sheep clothing'.
Rgds
B.C.
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10Apr2012: Can A Christian convert to Taoism/Buddhism?
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