Comments on: The Last Airbender: How Should Christians Respond to Buddhist Philosophy?

By: Kim Tai Tran

Kim Tai Tran — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 23:13:10 +0000

So when you put Christianity up against Buddhism it is wrong! And can tell that you are not really open towards the buddhism. And it's natural for people to take a stand in life – but I believe it is wrong to exclude one belief over another – I think that the truth and the best thing for humanity lies within us combinating our beliefs to create a middleway. And by writing that it looks like I have just took a stand myself – but that is wrong. I'm open towards everything. Everything is to me equal – whether it is Christianity, Islam, Buddhism or Hinduism it doesn't matter. For me every single religion/belief contains some truth.
But again this is not me trying to persuade you to think likewise – this is me trying to open your eyes. But if you want to keep the same opinion, to keep being christian and to look at other religions and beliefs as them being totally wrong – then I will accept it 100 %. Cause in this world I believe it is our destiny to stay different and have different religions/beliefs/opinions and to become extinct because of that. This is not something we can change.
So stay as you are, and I'll see you in hell/heaven/next life/never or whatsoever

By: John Metta

John Metta — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:44:36 +0000

Are you serious?
You're serious, aren't you?
Really?
You're serious?
…
Wow.

By: The Last Airhead: Christians vs. Buddhists! | Positively Glorious!

The Last Airhead: Christians vs. Buddhists! | Positively Glorious! — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:40:26 +0000

[...] full article is: The Last Airbender: How Should Christians Respond to Buddhist Philosophy? It’s short and not particularly deep, so it’s easy enough to read real quick. Though I [...]

By: kmcdade

kmcdade — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:53:29 +0000

Part of me can't believe this is even a question. Unfortunately, I know that to many people it is.

First of all, if we're following Jesus, our first response to pretty much anything has got to be Love.

Second, there is no Christianity vs. Buddhism competition. Or at least there shouldn't be.

Thirdly, I take great exception to Christopher's comment above that a "solid Christian" cannot benefit from using Buddhist meditation techniques, and with his use of the word "wickedness" in relation to Buddhism. I suppose you're against Christians doing yoga, too? Spiritual practices do not change one's beliefs. Or do they? Perhaps getting closer to God does change one…and change is what Jesus was after, anyway.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:09:35 +0000

Bob,
When you respond to someone is it through the convictions of your beliefs or through the perspective of your values? Or is my question just a matter of splitting hair through semantics? The reason I inquire is that I believe the thesis of your response is in error. Buddhism is a philosophical religion. Either an individual is a Buddhist or they are not.

I do agree that King’s approach is a simplistic one-dimensional view of Buddhism, which totally misses the mark. I also agree that Jesus embraced suffering and His followers are called to do the same.

That being said, Buddha himself taught that desire is the source of suffering. Therefore, in order to eliminate suffering one must eliminate desire. Besides being an obviously difficult goal to attain, I find it curious since it requires desiring to eliminate desire. You asserted that Christians are told to give up desire. Really? What about Seek first the Kingdom of God or blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled? According to Jesus, then, the issue is having the right desire, not eliminating desire.

Curious, how does a solid Christians benefit from using Buddhist meditation techniques? I suggest that it cannot be, for what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

I wonder, could there be a correlation between those solid Christians using Buddhist meditation techniques and those practicing western Christianity and acting like philosophical materialists who worship to get emotional highs?

Countering Buddhism is not the issue here, fulfilling what God commanded through the Great Commission & Great Commandment is. At best, King’s attempt at using a contemporary movie to engage Buddhists with the reality of Jesus Christ is a weak attempt at evangelism at worst it is still a weak attempt at evangelism. As long as it lines up with the Word who are we to question what the Spirit has lead him to do? Perhaps a better question to ponder is does a weak attempt at evangelism do more harm than good?