Buddhism and a high school assignment

The Coffee Shop
1

Religion and politics are personal to me and I rarely get into public debate about these subjects.

What happened to me this weekend really got me hot.

My son is in high school and they have 5 cultural activities they had to do this year.

This Saturday they had an option to go to a Zen Center in town for a tour and a discussion about Buddhism and meditation.

My son asked if I could take a couple of his friends. Sure, no problem. But this is where it gets upsetting.

One boy indicates his dad needs to talk to me before I take his son.

I am greeted with “Are you a good Christian?” Uh, OK, where is this headed?

I am then informed that Buddhists are slaughtering Christians around the world and burning churches. Interesting. I make the mistake of saying that I thought Buddhists were pacifists. That led to a full on assault about the evils of Buddhism and questioning my Christianity. All I was doing was taking his kid to a school assignment. WTF? Teach me to do a good deed and volunteer to take a bunch of kids to a school event, wait around a couple of hours, and drive them home.

I don’t really know much about Buddhism, but is there a full scale Buddhist war against Christians that I missed in the news?

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Hmmm…I recently wrote a post about how when Christianity is inserted into schools and its opposed by an atheist group, it’s always, “what’s the big deal? We’re just offering another view for healthy discussion. We’re just using their facilities.” Etc.

I contended that if you were to do the same but make it any other religion, all of the sudden they think its a big deal. e can cal this exhibit A.

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Out of curiosity, did any of the other cultural activities focus on religion?

It shouldn’t matter whether or not Buddhists are waging war against Christians; the point of the exercise, I presume, is to learn about cultural elements foreign to most American students. Parents should feel free to supplement their child’s education with whatever information they deem appropriate; protesting or obstructing the exercise only betrays their own ignorance and prejudice, and highlights the need for public education to focus more on these areas.

Shouldn’t be too difficult to dig up factual information on the subject he raised. You may make some headway by engaging him in an informed discussion on the topic, assuming he’s genuinely interested.

There is a situation in Bangladash that fits his description, though I think it’s fair to say that they probably represent a small sliver of a fraction of the minority in their aggression and oppression.

http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/bangladesh/18416/

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I am greeted with “Are you a good Christian?” Uh, OK, where is this headed?

Don’t worry too much about that one … My brother, a Baptist minister, always tells me I’m a “bad Christian” because I’m Catholic.

I find that generally, whenever someone asks that question, they’ve already passed judgement on you and nothing you say is gonna make them change their mind.

The kid’s dad might also be the kind of knucklehead who doesn’t know the difference between Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism and a whole boatload of other Eastern “-isms” … some which may or may NOT be performing such activities

I’d suggest he read “Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal” by Christopher Moore. It describes Jesus’s quest to find the Three Maji with his best friend “as Biff recalls his journey with Jesus [dubbed Joshua here according to the Greek translation’ into and out of the clutches of Balthasar, then into a Buddhist monastery in China and finally off to India, where they dabble in the spiritual aspects of Hinduism.” This novel shows that, when you break it all down “If you live your life the right way, Karma takes care of itself.”

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I am then informed that Buddhists are slaughtering Christians around the world and burning churches. Interesting. I make the mistake of saying that I thought Buddhists were pacifists.

I don’t really know much about Buddhism, but is there a full scale Buddhist war against Christians that I missed in the news?

Well he was a quarter correct, maybe. You are more correct though.

In the Bhutan, Christians are persecuted. Buddhism is the national religion. No churches are allowed, no religious texts other than Buddhist are allowed into the country. No one is killed though. The only got good electricity in the last 20 years or so - they were basically a medieval civilization high in the Himalayas.

Laos is a communist country with no state religion. 50-60% of the people are Buddhist, 30% indigenous religions, and 1% christian. About 7 years ago, there was a big push to stomp out Christianity. One person was killed. Lots thrown in jail for a couple weeks/months. BUT, most of the christians in Laos are Hmong - it’s more of a anti-Hmong scheme.

In Vietnam, there has been a lot of different crap since the French left. 85% are Buddhist, 5% Christian. The government we backed was Christian and heavily persecuted Buddhists. There were the Hue Phat Dan shootings - 9 Buddhist protesters were shot by the army. So after we got out, the communists favoured the Buddhists, and persecuted Christians, which is still going on today. At least 4 christians have been killed in the last 10 years.

Mynamar is a Buddhist Communist country too. Christians are discriminated against - most can’t get jobs - but not killed.

Buddhists are pacifists - technically non-violent to sentient life, which is why monks are vegetarians. Many are atheists too (as in the opposite of monotheism and polytheism, there are no deities), but it depends on where they are from.
On the other hand, according to many, including MLK, Christians are supposed to be pacifists too…

Anyway, did you guys go to the temple?
If not, and your still planing on going, try going at lunch time! The temple I go to has an amazing lunch! According to my friends, most temples serve lunch on the weekends.

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Any time you are greated with “Are you a good Christian,” you should be afraid. It is the second most terrifying opening statements. Second only to, “Hi, I’m from the government and I am here to help you.”

Explain these “cultural activities.” I assume this is a public high school, correct? Were all the “cultural activities” religion-based? What were the other four?

As far as Buddhism goes, I have gone public on a few threads regarding my faith. I was raised fire-and-brimstone Catholic, but, now follow the teachings of the Buddha. I do not consider myself an actual Buddhist b/c I admit I am not devote enough in my practice to be consider as such. The parent you encountered would likely love me …

But, I am curious about these “cultural activities,” if you would not mind sharing.

7

Hmmm…I recently wrote a post about how when Christianity is inserted into schools and its opposed by an atheist group, it’s always, “what’s the big deal? We’re just offering another view for healthy discussion. We’re just using their facilities.” Etc.

I contended that if you were to do the same but make it any other religion, all of the sudden they think its a big deal. e can cal this exhibit A.

Barry, be fair and think this one through. Requiring a public school students to attend a Buddhist temple/ceremony and learn about the practice is completely different than holding a public school graduation ceremony in a church that has all the religious symbols covered. Come on man…

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Any time you are greated with “Are you a good Christian,” you should be afraid. It is the second most terrifying opening statements. Second only to, “Hi, I’m from the government and I am here to help you.”

I was thinking the same thing. The right answer to this is always “No”, even if you consider yourself a christian you’re likely not the kind of christian that will be referenced in the upcoming conversation :slight_smile:

Same for the government “No”…regardless of question :slight_smile:

~Matt

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Any time you are greated with “Are you a good Christian,” you should be afraid. It is the second most terrifying opening statements. Second only to, “Hi, I’m from the government and I am here to help you.”

Like I said … I always say, “Nope. I’m Catholic”

As far as Buddhism goes, I have gone public on a few threads regarding my faith. I was raised fire-and-brimstone Catholic, but, now follow the teachings of the Buddha. I do not consider myself an actual Buddhist b/c I admit I am not devote enough in my practice to be consider as such. The parent you encountered would likely love me …

To be specific, I say “Zen-Catholic” … I go to Mass every Sunday , Confession twice a year, observe all the Holy Days of Obligation, say Rosarys and such; I also believe in reincarnation and the the Catholic Church is a pretty effed-up Organization

Jesus and Buddha* both* taught: “If you live the right Way, Karma takes care of itself”

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To be specific, I say “Zen-Catholic” …

I like that!

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Thank’s dude …

A lot of the Zen part comes from my inherent surfiness and such, but … I* think* you get the drift

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You think this person who is concerned with the Bhuddist religion’s killing of Christians around the world would approve of having graduation in a holy house of the Bhudda?

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I’d suggest he read “Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal” by Christopher Moore. It describes Jesus’s quest to find the Three Maji with his best friend "as Biff recalls his journey with Jesus

That was one of the more amusing books I have ever read…and you’re the first person I’ve ever seen reference it. Good to know that someone else is out there enjoying it.

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Our former pastor loved Christopher Moore, too
.

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You think this person who is concerned with the Bhuddist religion’s killing of Christians around the world would approve of having graduation in a holy house of the Bhudda?

Once again, not what I am saying. What I am saying is that the two event are very distinct.

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Yes, this is a public high school. I do nto recall any assignments to visit a Christian based facility. I cna only assume that the thought is the majority of th estudents are well aware of Christianity.

One other cutltural activity was seeign an Imax film about a man who climbed a mountain that took his dad in a climbing accident years before.

Two of the other assignments were watching documentaries at school. There was a list of options, so I gather if someone were morally opposed to going to a Buddhist center, they could have made different choices.

The son informed me that his dad thinks all other religions are killing Christians. I was just frustrated to get a religious lecture when all I was doing was taking the guy’s kid to a school assignment. I knew I was in trouble when his first comment was asking me abotu my faith.

I wish I had gone into the temple, but I ran an errand while downtown.

My personal experience is that when I meet people from different walks of life and get to know them, their culture becomes more understandable.

In particular, I have a Palestinian and Iranian that I consider friends. They have now lived in in the USA longer than they lived in their home countries and proudly consider themselves Americans. IMHO, if we could meet people who are different, perhaps we lose some of the need to persecute them, and hopefully, they gain a similar insight.

I thought a visit to a Buddhist center would be informative for my son. I appreciate that a teacher made this an assignment. When I had lunch with him and his friends afterward, there was a very intelligent discussion.

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One is a single class assignment to go and observe a buddhist temple, the other is to have to attend your one and only graduation ceremony in a mega church.

So yes, they are clearly different as evidenced by the fact that they have different words in their descriptions. You win.

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One is a single class assignment to go and observe a buddhist temple, the other is to have to attend your one and only graduation ceremony in a mega church.

So yes, they are clearly different as evidenced by the fact that they have different words in their descriptions. You win.

You are an engineer. From what you have told us, you are a very intelligent engineer. As such, your analytical skills should be at a much, much higher level. Therefore, I trust that I truly need not explain this any further to you and that you really can see the stark differences. However, if you are still struggling, let me know. I am here to help.

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That was one of the more amusing books I have ever read…and you’re the first person I’ve ever seen reference it. Good to know that someone else is out there enjoying it.

I read it also. Great book!

.

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Yes, and you are a lawyer, so we both know that you actually understand the point I am making but don’t like it so you are attempting to argue your way out of it.

At the end of the day I have no choice but to admit that there actually ARE differences, and being different…the two situations are not the same. Like I said, you win. Congrats!

In your world, and in the world of any religious nut who, in reality, has no problem with forcing kids to have their own religion marketed to them, but don’t wish their children to be exposed to other religions, THIS scenario is a big deal while the former is completely innocent.

Here we have a class assignment that supposedly the parents and kids can opt out of and move on with their lives. The other is forcing a kid to attend graduation on someone else’s sacred ground of bigotry and homophobia…of course they can opt out of that as well and again, al you have to say is “what’s the big deal? The religious symbols are covered up. It’s just graduation…you don’t have to come.”

Okay…symbols covered up…free building…no taxes and you can just skip graduation…these church people are just being nice and friendly. I can’t argue with that. You win.