I'm a new Buddhist

[Samana]

Christ was born a long time after the death of the Buddha and possibly may have been influenced by Buddhist teachings.

Although personally I can't see the point in looking for any superficial connections that there might be, it doesn't make me a fundamentalist just because I prefer to stick exclusively to the Buddha's path to overcoming dissatisfaction and stress. I still wish others well, whatever path they choose for themselves.

By 'finding a connection' I don't simply mean to hunt for superficial consistencies.

I mean being open to embrace/explore other views that may expand and forward a common path of inquiry.

And no, I don't consider you a fundamentalist Samana because you prefer to stick exclusively to the Buddha's path to overcoming dissatisfaction and stress.

But I wasn't making a connection there about the OP's reference to stress & following a particular path = fundamentalism.

I was referring only to pre-dawn's statement that it is impossible to be a Christian-Buddhist.

[Lazarus72]

Personally I've thought that 500 years is a notably small amount of time between the origin of the two doctrines when considered in relation to potentially tens if not hundreds of thousands of years of the spiritual evolution of man.

...... I could go further, but don't wish to derail.

Originally Posted by Elijah

By 'finding a connection' I don't simply mean to hunt for superficial consistencies.

I mean being open to embrace/explore other views that may expand and forward a common path of inquiry.

I was referring only to pre-dawn's statement that it is impossible to be a Christian-Buddhist.

The OP did not say I am a Christian with Buddhist interests which is obviously possible, but I am a Christian-Buddhist which is not.
The American Catholic Bishops realized that with regards to Reiki, a practice arising out of a Daoist and Buddhist background.

To put it very simple. Christianity begins and ends with God. Ultimately God is the central figure. Buddhism discards God in his entirety. How could these 2 viewpoints be compatible?
A Buddhist could conceivably consider a belief in God as good attachment but like all attachments one should strive to release it. Even good attachments one has to let go. A Christian could never let go of God. The one who actually said he would do so under certain conditions, Meister Eckhart, was declared a heretic by the Church.

Originally Posted by pre-dawn

The OP did not say I am a Christian with Buddhist interests which is obviously possible, but I am a Christian-Buddhist which is not.

Which is why I said this in my first post to you:
Most people who say they are x, y, z really mean they have an interest in x, y, z.
In this way it's entierly possible for someone to intergrate both Christianity/Buddhism into their life without conflict.
Thomas Merton was a Catholic monk who was deeply influenced by Buddhsim, Zen in particular: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Merton
There are also Christian-Buddhist societies, I guess it's all down to one's interpretation of each.

Originally Posted by pre-dawn

To put it very simple. Christianity begins and ends with God.
Buddhism discards God in his entirety. How could these 2 viewpoints be compatible?

The incompatability is really only an issue with those that hold dear to generalizations.
Yes, Buddhism discards the notion of a creator, but not all believe as such.

Originally Posted by pre-dawn

A Christian could never let go of God.
The one who actually said he would do so under certain conditions, Meister Eckhart, was declared a heretic by the Church.

That's nonsense. There is nothing to cling to in reality, no God and not even a Meister Eckhart that could cling.

Originally Posted by pre-dawn
The OP did not say I am a Christian with Buddhist interests which is obviously possible, but I am a Christian-Buddhist which is not.

Buddhism teaches tolerance and acceptance for other beliefs. Even to the point of celebrating the religious holidays. Adding a few christian teachings that are valid would probably be encouraged more then discounted.

Originally Posted by Elijah

That's nonsense. There is nothing to cling to in reality, no God and not even a Meister Eckhart that could cling.

Being a Christian-Buddhist myself. I think pre-dawn is narrowly definining the "God" Christian's follow. Ask 100 people who/what God is and you will get 100 different answers. To me God is so indescribable, mysterious, and complex that no man could possibly be able to grasp his/its entire existence. Personally I embrace the teachings of both Jesus and Buddha, without taking either too literally and knowing that what I read/hear today might not be their exact words but do contain overarching ideas presented by these great teachers.

And perhaps Pre-dawn is right in saying that you must follow Christianity literally and to the point like the organized church does to be a "Christian" but I am of the belief that these labels are useless and spirituality is one's own. You can argue that the religions contradict eachother but there are also contradictions within each religion individually. I just take what is on my heart and follow that. It is all I can really do.

[Samana]

Originally Posted by Time

Buddhism teaches tolerance and acceptance for other beliefs. Even to the point of celebrating the religious holidays. Adding a few christian teachings that are valid would probably be encouraged more then discounted.

Yes Buddhists are very tolerant of others - but I have been attending offline Buddhist centres ( from 2 different Buddhist traditions) for many years and have never heard Christianity mentioned in any of the teachings. The Buddha's teachings are complete enough in themselves without having to be mixed in with other religions.

It really winds me up when people say you can't be a Buddhist and a Christian. You can be whatever you like. Pre dawn is either a dogmatic Christian or a dogmatic Buddhist. There have been many Christian Buddhists throughout the years, and not just lay people, I've known of Christian priests who are also Zen masters. So many of us want so badly to divide everything up. If you do this you CAN'T do that, if you believe in this you CAN'T believe in that. Do whatever YOU WANT and what makes you a happier and more compassionate person.