saintmichaeldefendthem
Gold Member
I know so little about this religion. I know the basics about Prince Siddhartha's quest to answer the dilemma of human suffering. I know what I can glean off of wikipedia and other sources, but they can't answer the real questions I have about Buddhism as a world religion.
I observe that this is an ancient religion, older than Christianity, with millions of adherents and a tradition that spans the centuries and weathers the changes of time....much like my own Catholic tradition.
And I also see that many people decide to dedicate their lives to this religion, joining monasteries, foregoing the passing pleasures of this life and living an austere existence in pursuit of spiritual perfection, many more so than Catholic and Orthodox monks and nuns. What kind of religion inspires such dedication?
I was angry that Islam, a POS religion I'll never respect, destroyed Buddhist statues that were 2000 years old, and then marveled that there were statues of such astonishing antiquity.
I sense greatness in Buddhism and I dare not disrespect such an awe inspiring religion, philosophy, and way of life. So here's the point of my thread. Can anyone give me more insight into the passion of Buddhism, why it's so popular even today, why it's spreading across the globe, and why it inspires such remarkable zeal in its adherents.
No I'm not thinking of becoming one and would never abandon my Catholic faith. And as a cautionary note, this thread is not an invitation to attack Buddhism and demonstrate the theological incorrectness of its teachings. So you'll understand, being forewarned, that I'll disregard any posts that do that. I'm just searching for anyone with insight into this marvelous and very ancient body of beliefs.
I observe that this is an ancient religion, older than Christianity, with millions of adherents and a tradition that spans the centuries and weathers the changes of time....much like my own Catholic tradition.
And I also see that many people decide to dedicate their lives to this religion, joining monasteries, foregoing the passing pleasures of this life and living an austere existence in pursuit of spiritual perfection, many more so than Catholic and Orthodox monks and nuns. What kind of religion inspires such dedication?
I was angry that Islam, a POS religion I'll never respect, destroyed Buddhist statues that were 2000 years old, and then marveled that there were statues of such astonishing antiquity.
I sense greatness in Buddhism and I dare not disrespect such an awe inspiring religion, philosophy, and way of life. So here's the point of my thread. Can anyone give me more insight into the passion of Buddhism, why it's so popular even today, why it's spreading across the globe, and why it inspires such remarkable zeal in its adherents.
No I'm not thinking of becoming one and would never abandon my Catholic faith. And as a cautionary note, this thread is not an invitation to attack Buddhism and demonstrate the theological incorrectness of its teachings. So you'll understand, being forewarned, that I'll disregard any posts that do that. I'm just searching for anyone with insight into this marvelous and very ancient body of beliefs.
