- Joined
- Apr 28, 2011
- Messages
- 33,936
- Reaction score
- 37,143
- Location
- With Yo Mama
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Independent
Having grown up Christian, with parents who took me to church every time the doors were open, I feel comfortable in saying that Christians actually feel sadness and loss when one of their adherents leaves the fold. They start reflecting on how it could have been a failure on their own part, and they wonder if there is anything they can do to help.
Having been raised the same way I understand. As with most people the world over I was expected to believe as my parents, my family, my friends, etc. believed. I'm here to tell you darlin' it is no walk through the park vocally disagreeing when your questions can't be answered satisfactorily. Before you realize it you succumb or you remain steadfast. Ain't easy to stand up and disagree. In fact, you are very much seen as being disrespectful to your parents and you are disagreeing with damn near everyone you know. Tell your church, family and friends next week that you cannot accept virgin birth, just for starters. Declare it. Think about doing it much, much earlier in life. Like when you haven't even reached puberty.
My doubt began, as I remember it, with reincarnation. Next was the garden of eden thing. Following that was virgin birth, I think. Somewhere in there was god being a "he". Did god have penis and balls like me? What did god do with them other than boffing Mary. That honest and serious question hurt, emotionally and psychologically. What was wrong with me that I asked such perverted questions? Why couldn't I just believe like everyone else? Well, I couldn't. I don't know why. I wasn't their fault. It was quite obvious to me that I was the one who was ****ed up because my beliefs were different. My parents, my family, my friends, my church was good and right and correct and I was wrong, terribly wrong. I couldn't get what was soooo easy for everyone else to see. Was there great lament among the parish when I left the church? LOL! I don't think so. It was probably more like relief. My experience, at one age or another, is probably more the exception than the rule.
I fell backward into Buddhism years later. Zen to be exact. I wasn't looking for anything and Zen wasn't looking for me. For the most part western Buddhism doesn't work that way. That's another story, but it fit. It works for me. I don't recommend it to anyone. All must find their own way. What the hell do I know about anyone else's spiritual needs? LOL!
Here's what I would share as a western Buddhist who has experience and understanding of two religions. They cannot realistically be compared from one perspective. I wasn't cognizant of that for several years, then I made the transition. Buddhist ethics are often different from Christian ethics. Better? No, just different. We often come to the same point from entirely different positions. It is not in my experience that Buddhist are worried or saddened that most people aren't Buddhists. Most Buddhists have no problem with people having two or more religions. Is that good or better? No. Here is the point, the perspective is often different.
When I first began practicing Buddhism I evaluated most of what I saw or heard or learned through a Christian perspective. That was the one I was most familiar with. Over the years my perspective has changed. Good? Better? No, different. I do know, however that it is most difficult to judge other religions from a single perspective.