This discussion was very very verry interesting. I went in with a high amount of skepticism. I have personal reasons for disliking interfaithism type activities. Organizations like the United Religions Initiative and the Parliament of the World's Religions ring very true of a prophesied World Religion prophesied in the Bible. I realize that many people do not believe it possible for there to be one, single, worldwide religion, but what they don't see is a worldwide religion as a common set of beliefs that everybody adheres to. No one condemns anyone else, and all roads lead to heaven or paradise or whatever you want to call it. I see a religion of intolerance disguised as tolerance. Needless to say, I was very skeptical going into this lecture.
As the speaker began and continued speaking about inter-religious dialogue. Instead of the topic being about all religions, it was specifically about Christian-Buddhist dialogue. The whole lecture was very sketchy and hard to follow, but most of it led to key similarities and key differences between the two religions. He spoke about these two religions, because he had experienced these two firsthand. I found the most interesting comparison to be his comparisons between the death of Jesus and the death of Buddha. While Buddha died lying on his side (horizontal), Jesus laying upward (vertical). This fundamental difference is a cornerstone to the misunderstandings between the two religions. The horizontal is a representation of oneness with the earth and peace and tranquility, while the vertical is a sign of struggle and pain. That idea of struggle and pain to achieve "perfection" is very difficult for Buddhists to comprehend. The speaker's main point, as he was closing was to suggest that we lay down our walls that we have built in order to understand each other's religions.
As the speaker began and continued speaking about inter-religious dialogue. Instead of the topic being about all religions, it was specifically about Christian-Buddhist dialogue. The whole lecture was very sketchy and hard to follow, but most of it led to key similarities and key differences between the two religions. He spoke about these two religions, because he had experienced these two firsthand. I found the most interesting comparison to be his comparisons between the death of Jesus and the death of Buddha. While Buddha died lying on his side (horizontal), Jesus laying upward (vertical). This fundamental difference is a cornerstone to the misunderstandings between the two religions. The horizontal is a representation of oneness with the earth and peace and tranquility, while the vertical is a sign of struggle and pain. That idea of struggle and pain to achieve "perfection" is very difficult for Buddhists to comprehend. The speaker's main point, as he was closing was to suggest that we lay down our walls that we have built in order to understand each other's religions.
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