Christian and Islamic misconceptions about Buddhism

[dyanaprajna2011]

Diary of a Dharma-Greenhorn: Plowing the fields of delusion, sowing the seeds of change...: Lost in Translation: Christian, Islamic and Secular misunderstandings of Buddhism clarified.

I came across this blog post, and thought it was interesting enough to share. It's kind of long, and contains some Youtube videos from Christian and Muslim apologists giving their beliefs on Buddhism. The blog post is a response to those videos. And actually, the use of the word 'misconceptions' in the thread title doesn't quite do these videos justice. I don't really have a topic for discussion, but this has brought up the thought, how best to counter such inaccuracies and misconceptions about Buddhism, or even if it can be done.

 

[Secret Chief]

My experience generally, from any quarter, is that the Buddha was a fat bloke who said Om and believed in reincarnation.

I don't even try.

 

[Tristengarde]

this has brought up the thought, how best to counter such inaccuracies and misconceptions about Buddhism, or even if it can be done.

"Inaccuracy" in understanding the nuances and details of religion seems to be a huge problem now. Used to be (anteinternet) that enclaves of like-minded people simply made up a consensus on what "others" stand for, often without any actual knowledge of the platform.

I studied Buddhism for a while, about 20 years ago or so, and found it very compelling - however, it was also very difficult to "get", as an Occidentally brought up American. The mindsets are so dissimilar... it's like trying to describe snow to someone who lives in the tropics; or describe the experience of childbirth to a male (or even a childless woman!)....

I have incorporated many Buddhist principles (as I understand them) into my worldview, and yet I know I can never really "grasp" it as someone born into it would be.

 

[punkdbass]

My fundamentalist Christian friends have absolutely no clue what the Buddha actually taught. Honestly, I don't even think it's worth my time to try to explain it to them. They so vehemently cling to their "idea" of God that anything I say about Buddhism(which obviously has no substantial support for their ideas about God and Reality) just goes in one ear and out the other, because unless I'm somehow affirming their idea of God, whatever I'm going to say is just sinful nonsense to them.

But secondly, another reason why I feel it's not worth the time to debate with these people, is because even when someone sincerely wants to learn about Buddhism - and reads books about it or attends a sangha, it can be extremely difficult and is a slow learning process! It's taken me many years of exposure to Buddhism to start to gain an intuitive understanding of it's fundamental truths... so if it's this hard for someone sincerely wanting to learn about Buddhism with an open mind, imagine how much harder it will be for a closed minded fundamentalist to learn about Buddhism, ha! Them talking with me, a lay Buddhist, for a few minutes can hardly do anything lol.. although I suppose it could plant the seeds for some potential good karma, for opening their minds and bringing more compassion.. in which case it is probably worth talking with them a little.

 

[Sb1995]

Both arrogant and ignorant groups of people. Jai Buddhaji

 

[crossfire]

My fundamentalist Christian friends have absolutely no clue what the Buddha actually taught. Honestly, I don't even think it's worth my time to try to explain it to them. They so vehemently cling to their "idea" of God that anything I say about Buddhism(which obviously has no substantial support for their ideas about God and Reality) just goes in one ear and out the other, because unless I'm somehow affirming their idea of God, whatever I'm going to say is just sinful nonsense to them.

That's why I like to read the gospels and bring out the Buddhadhamma in it.

 

[psychoslice]

Both arrogant and ignorant groups of people. Jai Buddhaji

This is so true.

 

[Secret Chief]

That's why I like to read the gospels and bring out the Buddhadhamma in it.

Yeah, but you're just subversive.

 

[crossfire]

Yeah, but you're just subversive.

Hmm, misconception, or accurate representation?