Check it out. It's just an article about "Jesus through Buddhist eyes". It's about a Christian man who turned to Buddhism in this early thirties. He just talks about how now that he's a Buddhist, his views about Christianity have changed and in what ways they've changed.

I realize that people turn away from Christianity as well as turn to Christianity. But the part that bothered me the most was the last paragraph on the second page.

So, as the Dalai Lama said: 'Everyone wants to be happy; no one wants to suffer.' Jesus and the Buddha are extraordinary friends and teachers. They can show us the Way, but we can't rely on them to make us happy, or to take away our suffering. That is up to us.

I don't think that it's up to us to find happiness or peace. I think it's actually kind of frustrating if you're trying to attain enlightenment and you never get there. If it's all up to you what kind of solace is that? We are only human. We are only capable of so much. Whereas God.... GOD is capable of ALL THINGS. How can we NOT rely on him to free us from sin and grant salvation?

Yeah, Jesus & Buddha could be teaching similar things but again whose authority is higher? Jesus or Buddha's? Another part that bothered me was that the author, after having converted to Buddhism, saw Jesus as more human than God as if the idea of Jesus' authority was dulled. Does it matter that the image of Jesus is now that of just a human rather than fully man and fully God? YES. It does matter. He specifically says that He is the son of God. He wasn't conceived in a natural but supernatural way. He's not your blood brother or father but rather the son of God who is ordained with all the powers of God. If His authority is higher, then whose words would you believe? Jesus or Buddha?

Buddha can teach how to be more compassionate, how to give generously and willingly, and how to let anger just flow right through you, but what is the ultimate goal of doing these "good" things? Is it to make you feel better about yourself? Is it to make you look good in front of others? Is it to make the world "a better place"? The world is also temporary just like ourselves. So what's the point of making the world "better" when tomorrow the end could come? We need to live for the ETERNAL. Jesus shows us the Way so that we can live eternally with Him and the Father. If we prepare the world for the ETERNAL then that's a much noble cause rather than just striving for the world to be better.

I don't mind like looking at Buddhist art and reading about Buddhism. It's really interesting and more knowledge doesn't hurt one bit. But my faith will not be shaken. There is one purpose for me: To live for the God Almighty and HIS PURPOSE, NOT MY OWN.