Buddha in the Vatican

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Lady_Kikyo

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Is there a statue of Buddha in the Vatican? I’m debating with a Baptist, and one thing he shared with me was how a Catholic he talked to defended the statue being there. I did ask for a link, but I doubt he’ll provide one. I tried googling it myself, but only came up with Cardinal so-and-so or Bishop such-and-such commenting on buddha being in this parish or that parish.

Does anyone know if there is a statue in the Vatican? Is it permanent or was it temporary? Either way, why?

Thanks.
 
Lady_Kikyo said:
Is there a statue of Buddha in the Vatican? I’m debating with a Baptist, and one thing he shared with me was how a Catholic he talked to defended the statue being there. I did ask for a link, but I doubt he’ll provide one. I tried googling it myself, but only came up with Cardinal so-and-so or Bishop such-and-such commenting on buddha being in this parish or that parish.

Does anyone know if there is a statue in the Vatican? Is it permanent or was it temporary? Either way, why?

Thanks.
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Maybe he is confused with the inter-faith gathering John Paul II had at Assisi, when a statue of Buddha was placed on top of the tabernacle. I never heard of any in the Vatican though.
 
I haven’t heard of it. However, there is a lot of secular art in the Vatican museums. I recall seeing the statue The Thinker there someplace. It would seem possible that they have a statue of the Buddha. I am fairly sure that he is not an object of worship for Buddhists.
 
Joe_Kelley said:
I haven’t heard of it. However, there is a lot of secular art in the Vatican museums. I recall seeing the statue The Thinker there someplace. It would seem possible that they have a statue of the Buddha. I am fairly sure that he is not an object of worship for Buddhists.
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If you saw “The Thinker” in the Vatican, then it would have been a replica. The original is in the Rodin Museum in Paris, which used to be the Hotel Biron.

I know how the Vatican Museums can become a blur after a while. There is so much to see and admire.
 
Marc_Anthony said:
I don’t know about optimism, but the Buddha IS a Catholic Saint. Or some form of him. No, really.

catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1503

St. Josaphat is a Catholic Saint who is really the Christianized version of the Buddha.
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The story of Saints Barlaam and Josephat has, indeed, been claimed by some to be based upon the Buddha’s early life. However, that certainly does not make it so. They could very well have existed upon their own(as distinct individuals).
 
Young_Thinker said:
The story of Saints Barlaam and Josephat has, indeed, been claimed by some to be based upon the Buddha’s early life. However, that certainly does not make it so. They could very well have existed upon their own(as distinct individuals).
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You have to admit it does parallel the Buddha’s life very closely.
 
cyberwolf001 said:
You have to admit it does parallel the Buddha’s life very closely.
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Yes, but I am sure that other similarities in the lives of people. In the saints and others, there may also sometimes be embellishments, understatements, or exaggerations, like that of St. Ursula being martyred with 11,000 other girls.
 
Even the name Josaphat comes from a translation corruption of Boddhisitvha (I think I spelled that wrong, but whatever).

Obviously there is no guarantee that he is the man traditionally known as the Buddha, but I’m convinced.
 
I don’t know whether there is a statue of buddah in the in the Vatican or not. But I do know that if there is, it shouldn’t be there…

God Bless
 
Is it in the Vatican (as in Sistine Chapel) or in the Vatican Museum? There is, I believe, a lot of non-Catholic artwork in the Vatican Museum, such as a bust of Socrates. Buddha is not a god in Buddhism, but a philosopher, like Confucius and Socrates.
 
If it is there, they keep it pretty well hidden. I saw nothing like that in St. Peter’s Basilica, or in the galleries that lead to the Sistine Chapel, when I visited there about 15 years ago.
Lady_Kikyo said:
Is there a statue of Buddha in the Vatican? I’m debating with a Baptist, and one thing he shared with me was how a Catholic he talked to defended the statue being there. I did ask for a link, but I doubt he’ll provide one. I tried googling it myself, but only came up with Cardinal so-and-so or Bishop such-and-such commenting on buddha being in this parish or that parish.

Does anyone know if there is a statue in the Vatican? Is it permanent or was it temporary? Either way, why?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
Is it in an area of Vatican City owned by Buddhists, a Jewish owned one, or a Catholic owned area?
 
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