Buddha used as decoration?

[Lost_Wanderer]

Since, it is displeasing God, i would get ride of it and offer her to take it back.

I suggest you first take your recommendation to the world’s museums since they must also be displeasing God by displaying pagan statues of their own (bigger ones as well).

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

My home now has only Christian art and paintings made by family members (I have several talented artists in the family. )

It seems like you aren’t sure if you like the art or if it makes you uncomfortable. Why don’t you look for Eastern-themed Christian art instead. There are depictions of Mary and Jesus in Japanese and Chinese (etc.) style. Also some of the famous missionaries to the East like St Francis Xavier. Perhaps you can share what you learn with your aunt. Or simply thank her for her gift and move on.

I think you might be failing to account human taste here. I’m not the kind to have a statue of Buddha but I’m not fond so-called ‘Christian alternatives’ to anything. Most often they milk the religious aspect as if they’re meant to make up for tackiness (not saying that’s the case for traditional Japanese Christian art but that’s just my general experience).

I have never met a person who has a crucifix displayed simply for decoration purposes. These images mean something: they are related to one’s faith. Or at least they should be.

I have. My guess is you’ve never hung out with a lot of goths and punks have you?

And I have been seeing this Buddha stuff a lot in so many stores around my area they have all these buddhist and hindu decorations and very little to no Christian decorations even though everyone is Christian in my area.

Yeah well my room doesn’t have a lot of religious decorations either. Won’t change the Catholic label I got listed here, on Facebook, or in my government records. BP

A good many other people have given up playing video or card games in favor of more edifying pursuits, even though the cards weren’t taking over their lives, and look back with no regrets except maybe that it was not done sooner. That’s fine. It might well be praiseworthy, but it is certainly OK.

Let’s not give the impression that the opposite of that isn’t praiseworthy either. A pious person would realize how much of an irritating, anti-social Pharisee they’ve been and discover that videogames, hanging with friends, and going to parties more often benefits them more than their reclusive retreats to the adoration chapel and railing about pagan decorations on online boards.

Unlike a pentagram, for instance, or other symbols that are specifically anti-Christian in nature, a statue of the Buddha is not considered sacrilegious, provided it is not a near occasion of sin, such as the sin of relativism or the sins of idolatry or apostasy.

Actually a pentagram is just like any other symbol: whatever it is you make of it. Semioticians have been saying this well beyond the 1950s so rest assured folks that it’s nothing New Age-y.

I’m curious though, Would anyone have an Slayer/Alice in Chains/Pantera shirt with a Pentagram, just because they liked their music? Or maybe some like the History of the Salem Witch trials… Would you have a token that had a Pentalpha?

As a fantasy buff, pentagrams, runes, all-seeing eyes and any other ‘occult’ symbols are a given. Why do I enjoy them (runes in particular)? Simple. I just like how they look (especially when either arranged in circles with all them elemental colors or engraved on weapons of super awesome-sauce).

Does someone else have mixed emotions on it and can’t come to terms with Catholic+ _____ = ?
If not, then no worries.

No worries indeed seeing as how even a religious traditionalist like J.R.R. Tolkien can have a strong fascination for pagan Europe’s folklore.

For the Lurkers who are discerning the spiritual/theological and philisophical side of this… Perhaps reading on “negative energies in relation to Satan” may also be something to look into…

Good Book to start: “An Exorcist Tells His Story” by Fr. Gabriele Amorth

I suggest lurkers also be made aware that Amorth is known for exaggerating his claims… like the one where Satan has apparently succeeded in prevailing against the Church by infiltrating the Vatican.

 

[TheWarriorMonk]

If he was such an enlightened and awakened man, why was he so fat! I guess that was his weakness-good food!

He sat too much. Later on in history, Boddhidarma noticed how out of shape the monks were and solved that problem. The Warrior Monks that followed were in much better shape.

 

[TheWarriorMonk]

True, not a sin. But if I saw a statue of Buddha in a Christian home I would assume that the person was into a mix and match your religion kind of thing.

I think context is important. If it’s just a Buddha statue in a Asian-style garden, few people would think anything of it. OTOH, if the person has a home temple with Buddha sitting right in the middle of it, obviously it sends a different message.

 

[EasterJoy]

True, not a sin. But if I saw a statue of Buddha in a Christian home I would assume that the person was into a mix and match your religion kind of thing. I’m not saying that what other people may think is of utmost importance, but it could be something to consider. I have never met a person who has a crucifix displayed simply for decoration purposes. These images mean something: they are related to one’s faith. Or at least they should be.

If a statue of a Buddha in a Christian home were to lead you to assume “the person was into a mix and match your religion kind of thing”, then you would be guilty of rash judgment. That argues that displaying a Buddha could be a near occasion of sin for someone else, but I’m not sure it is realistic to live in such a way that no one can possibly judge one rashly. Perhaps someone so easily lead to take scandal ought not accept invitations to see another person’s bedroom? But yes, it is not out of place to decide that an otherwise innocent piece of art might cause scandal. (I somehow doubt that this applies to the OP’s specific case, though.)

I wish I had never seen someone display a crucifix simply for decoration purposes, since I have seen people wear rosaries around their necks who have not the slightest idea how to actually use one. Alas, people who are “into” vampires are “into” crucifixes, too. I have even, I am afraid to say, seen a “crucifix” on which the corpus was a depiction of Batman. The Golden Rule, then, tells us that we must never display a piece of art that would defile or mock someone else’s religious beliefs, even if the beliefs are patently false. Even a Satan worshiper should be admonished, but never mocked. We are bound to educate ourselves enough to avoid giving offense by our ignorance. Otherwise, yes, just avoid the objects of other religions entirely.

 

[aspirant]

{Buddha} is closely related to a religion that he started and that has been named after him.

Plato is closely related to a philosophical movement that he started and that has been named after him. It is quite difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish many ancient philosophical movements from religious movements and vice-versa. Consider Stoicism, Confucianism, Pythagoreanism, Taoism. It’s no wonder “religion” is notoriously difficult to define.

Buddha’s philosophy presupposes a doctrine of rebirth? Plato, likewise, believed in the transmigration of souls. We Christians do not believe in reincarnation, yet we do not have any problem with Christians who study Plato and even become regarded, to some extent, Christian Platonists (St. Augustine and J.R.R. Tolkien come to mind, among others). There has been less interaction, thus far, between the philosophy of Buddha and the religion of Christ. Yet some interactions have been quite positive, such as the classic Christian story of Sts. Barlaam and Josaphat (a condensed version appears in the Golden Legend; it is impossible to read the beginning without recognizing the similarity to the story of Siddhartha’s four sights).

I just don’t think a statue of a Buddha is something for Christians to get upset about unless it becomes an occasion of sin for the person who owns it.

If he was such an enlightened and awakened man, why was he so fat!

Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha, was not fat. You are probably thinking of Hotei.

It is certainly OK for a Christian to decide against any items that they don’t think has 100% positive associations, whether secular or religious. Still, it is OK for a Christian to have non-Christian art, even religious art. It is not a near occasion of sin, per se.

Agreed.

If a statue of a Buddha in a Christian home were to lead you to assume “the person was into a mix and match your religion kind of thing”, then you would be guilty of rash judgment.

You beat me to it.

I’m not sure it is realistic to live in such a way that no one can possibly judge one rashly.

No, there’s really nothing you can do to prevent someone else’s rash judgment (or any other prejudice) precisely because it is not reasonable and based on prior unreasonable assumptions.

The Golden Rule, then, tells us that we must never display a piece of art that would defile or mock someone else’s religious beliefs, even if the beliefs are patently false.

I agree.

 

[AllSeasons]

My room is decorated in a Japanese type style…but my question is…I received a small statue of a Buddha from my aunt on my birthday. She said it would go great with my room. I know that she had nothing but good intentions when she gave it to me. But, I am not sure as a catholic I should put it In my bedroom…because it may be against Catholicism. If I were to put in in my bedroom it would be ONLY for decoration…does this make it ok to place it in my bedroom?

            Thanks in advance,
                      Trey C.

I think it depends on how you view the statue. If you see it purely as a decorative piece, then I don’t see anything wrong with it. However, if you do see religious associations with the statue, and it bothers you, then I would recommend not keeping it in your home.

From your post it seems that you’re trying to see it as a decorative object, but it’s difficult to separate the decorative value from the religious associations. If that is indeed the case, I would recommend against the statue.

 

[2benlightened]

Having lived in Asia for more than a decade, I view a Buddha image much differently than I did in the past. I believe any object mimicking or used in religious practices and worship need to be handled with respect. “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52 KJV) and I believe He is our role model. Whether you have Asian friends who might see your room or not, a Buddha image should be treated with respect to the people who revere him. And yes, many Buddhists do worship Buddha and an image is understood by many Asians as having spiritual power thus prayers are made before them, they are worn as charms, etc. Also, Buddhist traditions are very conscientious about having a Buddha image lower than their head and certainly not lower than their body. This would be very disrespectful.

Whether you choose to use the image in your room or not, treat it with the same respect you would a Bible, the Koran, or even a picture of your mother!