Buddha used as decoration?

[Mrs_Sally]

I have had several eastern pieces - like a buddha or hindu or pagan art objects over the years. Over time I have gotten rid of them because I preferred other items more and so didn’t have room for them. 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.

catholic.org/saints/japanese.php

 

[Forkfoot]

I guess my objection here is coming from the distinct impression that all this resistance to the idea of a buddha statue is coming from a place of fear and ignorance, and maybe fear of other cultures. Nobody’s attempted to answer why a bust of Plato (pagan philosopher) or a painting of Zeus (pagan god) would probably be met with less resistance from this crowd. It just seems like people are going “Nooo, scary religion from mysterious Orient! Danger!”

 

[EasterJoy]

I have had several eastern pieces - like a buddha or hindu or pagan art objects over the years. Over time I have gotten rid of them because I preferred other items more and so didn’t have room for them. 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.

catholic.org/saints/japanese.php

The OP could do any of those things. If the OP had been given a deck of playing cards by a relative, the OP also could have decided to buy a rosary, instead, because it is, of course, preferably for a Catholic to spend time praying the rosary than playing solitaire. Anyone who has gotten into any trouble with gambling or playing cards is bound to do that. As soon as something neutral becomes the enemy of the good, it is no longer neutral. 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.

That wasn’t the OP’s question, however. The question was whether it is permissible to have decorations in a Catholic home, specifically a Catholic bedroom, that could be connected with a non-Christian religion, even if the purpose of the items was PURELY decorative.

The OP is permitted to decide to graciously accept the gift of non-Catholic art from a relative and find it a place on a shelf at home, including a shelf in the bedroom. 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. I think the OP’s contention that the item is purely decorative indicates that those are not concerns, but if they do, the statue would need to go, yes.

 

[Kamaduck]

I guess my objection here is coming from the distinct impression that all this resistance to the idea of a buddha statue is coming from a place of fear and ignorance, and maybe fear of other cultures. Nobody’s attempted to answer why a bust of Plato (pagan philosopher) or a painting of Zeus (pagan god) would probably be met with less resistance from this crowd. It just seems like people are going “Nooo, scary religion from mysterious Orient! Danger!”

I think it’s because Buddhism is a modern religion, while almost nobody really believes in Zeus anymore. And Plato isn’t a religious figure at all, so it’s not really the same.

That said, I don’t really think it’s a problem- except that it might indeed be disrespectful of Buddhists. I’m pretty ignorant here, so maybe it’s not an issue. I suppose it depends on what the significance of a Buddha statue actually is for Buddhists. Is it treated as similar to a crucifix, or a statue of a saint, or what?

Because if it does have the same significance, it should not be used merely for decoration. (I get the feeling it’s not the same, but I wouldn’t display one until I knew for sure.)

 

[EasterJoy]

I think it’s because Buddhism is a modern religion, while almost nobody really believes in Zeus anymore. And Plato isn’t a religious figure at all, so it’s not really the same.

That said, I don’t really think it’s a problem- except that it might indeed be disrespectful of Buddhists. I’m pretty ignorant here, so maybe it’s not an issue. I suppose it depends on what the significance of a Buddha statue actually is for Buddhists. Is it treated as similar to a crucifix, or a statue of a saint, or what?

Because if it does have the same significance, it should not be used merely for decoration. (I get the feeling it’s not the same, but I wouldn’t display one until I knew for sure.)

The Buddha isn’t considered a deity by Buddhists, and “Buddha statues” aren’t usually depictions of the Buddha, anyway. Buddhists use these statues to remind them of what some aspect of the Buddha stands for to them. The fat smiling image isn’t the founder of the religion, but either Hotei, a 10th-century Buddhist monk known for his girth and his pleasant nature, or Maitreya, also called The Future Buddha. In addition to his large belly, Hotei frequently carries a fabric sack, which is meant to be permanently full of valuable items such as treats for children. It would be like someone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas but still likes the idea of Santa Claus. There are other Buddhist ideals that have their own Buddha depiction…sort of like Catholic patron saints or Greek deities, which is to say for those outside the religion, more of art about an idea than a religious piece. For instance, if the room were to have a theme of the United States, a similar statue might be of Lady Justice wearing a blindfold, or the Statue of Liberty. Not a replacement for a Marian statue or a crucifix, but not religiously offensive, either.

 

[Kamaduck]

The Buddha isn’t considered a deity by Buddhists, and “Buddha statues” aren’t usually depictions of the Buddha, anyway. Buddhists use these statues to remind them of what some aspect of the Buddha stands for to them. The fat smiling image isn’t the founder of the religion, but either Hotei, a 10th-century Buddhist monk known for his girth and his pleasant nature, or Maitreya, also called The Future Buddha. In addition to his large belly, Hotei frequently carries a fabric sack, which is meant to be permanently full of valuable items such as treats for children. It would be like someone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas but still likes the idea of Santa Claus. There are other Buddhist ideals that have their own Buddha depiction…sort of like Catholic patron saints or Greek deities, which is to say for those outside the religion, more of art about an idea than a religious piece. For instance, if the room were to have a theme of the United States, a similar statue might be of Lady Justice wearing a blindfold, or the Statue of Liberty. Not a replacement for a Marian statue or a crucifix, but not religiously offensive, either.

OK then. If that’s really how they see it, and it doesn’t confuse/bother either the decorator or others who enter the room, I see no issue.

 

[EasterJoy]

OK then. If that’s really how they see it, and it doesn’t confuse/bother either the decorator or others who enter the room, I see no issue.

As I understand it, this is how they see it, yes. They certainly do not use these items as objects of worship. They treat it as if it were a statue of a real person deserving esteem–say, a statue of your parents. It is not offensive for non-Buddhists to have these unless the non-Buddhists treat them as ridiculous or without any meaning. They would have others treat them as if it were a statue of a saint or a patriotic figure. If it is a patriotic figure that is distasteful to you, then if you were to dispose of it instead of giving it away, you’d do so as if it were the picture of a friend’s relative that you never met…it still meaningful to someone, even if not to you.

If you decide it ought to be destroyed, destroy it with respect for those whose feelings would be offended by disposing of it thoughtlessly. Again, like an image of a relative, burn or otherwise render it unrecognizable before putting it in the trash.

 

[aspirant]

Plato and Socratese were pagan also. I wouldn’t let it bother me.

Yep. I’ve got small sculptures of Socrates and the Buddha. I’ve also got some mythological figures, such as Athena and Sun Wukong. I’m especially fond of art with philosophical, mythological, and/or religious significance, because these are things I enjoy studying, and they encourage my zeal for Christ. That’s just my personal experience; I’m not claiming everyone is the same.

 

[GWright]

There is nothing wrong with admiring aspects of other cultures or religions.

I am a real sucker for Islamic architechture and the aesthetics of Hinduism. I even have a wooden carving of “Lord Ganesh*” (a Hindu God) to this end. I know nothing much about these religions, but I do not think its wrong for me appreciate aspects of them - even just on a relatively shallow level of “visuals”.

Certainly, when I was in Italy recently, there were many tourists who either came from non-Christian nations or who likely werent Catholic, but this didnt stop them from sucking up the splendour and majesty of the Vatican and its Museumsm, or St Marks in Venice etc etc.

The only danger is if the OP allowed him or herself to use the presence of the Buddha statue as a portal / entry point to doubting the truth of Christianity. (Catholic Christianity is, of course, the only truth - being the only faith directly instituted by God Himself.)

However, I do not think there is much chance of this happening given they were consciensious and thoughtful enough to ask this questiuon in the first instance.

The key word here - as used by the OP personally - is that the budda is just decoration.

(*Dont worry - my statues of the Virgin Mary and St Theresa of Lisuex keep a close eye on Lord Ganesh, just incase he gets any ideas about spreading Hindu propaganda lol )

 

[MrsMacaron]

So for my account.

I was heavily into the Japanese/Korean themes, in my house. Tansu’s …my own bed was an imported mattress…bedding…
BUT …I refrained from the decorative’s like Buddha’s, Daruma’s and the like. About the only thing was a Kokeshi …and they’re the version of Laura Ingall’s ragdoll! Haha…

I did my best at finding Statue’s of Mary … You may try Akita Mary… She’s very pretty.

Like another poster mentioned, perhaps your Aunt can get a refund & you can use it towards a Japanese Style of Mary…

I just had a hard time reconciling at one point or another the sad History of Asian religions making “Christian’s” stomp on an Image of Mary or Jesus… because it did not Jive with their belief system… {I won’t get into the specific’s for many can learn about all of that on their own}

So I just did my best to keep the items that held superstitious/religious meaning away from my environment.

God speaks to us in our own language, when we’re ready.

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?
A Krishna from your travels to Singapore?

What was the view about the Golden Calf? Remember… At the end of the day is it something that God would mind? Is it driving you away from Him? Does someone else have mixed emotions on it and can’t come to terms with Catholic+ _____ = ?
If not, then no worries.

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

 

[MrsMacaron]

There is nothing wrong with admiring aspects of other cultures or religions.

I am a real sucker for Islamic architechture and the aesthetics of Hinduism. I even have a wooden carving of “Lord Ganesh*” (a Hindu God) to this end. I know nothing much about these religions, but I do not think its wrong for me appreciate aspects of them - even just on a relatively shallow level of “visuals”.

Certainly, when I was in Italy recently, there were many tourists who either came from non-Christian nations or who likely werent Catholic, but this didnt stop them from sucking up the splendour and majesty of the Vatican and its Museumsm, or St Marks in Venice etc etc.

The only danger is if the OP allowed him or herself to use the presence of the Buddha statue as a portal / entry point to doubting the truth of Christianity. (Catholic Christianity is, of course, the only truth - being the only faith directly instituted by God Himself.)

However, I do not think there is much chance of this happening given they were consciensious and thoughtful enough to ask this questiuon in the first instance.

The key word here - as used by the OP personally - is that the budda is just decoration.

*(Dont worry - my statues of the Virgin Mary and St Theresa of Lisuex keep a close eye on Lord Ganesh, just incase he gets any ideas about spreading Hindu propaganda lol )

Haha… Gave me a chuckle. So many perspectives on it isn’t there, which is great!

Anyone see “The Rite” or read the book based on it… Anyone recall the Bracelet? LOL.

 

[Ridgerunner]

When I was a kid, lots of older people had orientalia in their homes, including pagan gods and statutes of buddha. It meant nothing in itself. It was just a touch of neo-Victorian exotica, like the mounted statue of a Sikh lancer on the “whatnot stand”.

Nowadays, one is not so sure if one sees something like a statue of Buddha. With some, it’s linked to “new age” sorts of thinking. I have known not a few people who currently claim to be “into” what they think of as Buddhism, but is really a sort of vague deism.

I think I would display the Buddha statue on the floor of the closet behind the old shoes that are “too good” to throw away, lest people misunderstand.

 

[Tampa_Rays]

Meh, doesn’t seem like a problem to me its probably just the same as having a statue or bust of another historical figure. I have busts of both Ronald Reagan and Abe Lincoln on my desk and I can assure you I am not praying to them! This is probably the same thing, just from a different culture.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

Nobody’s attempted to answer why a bust of Plato (pagan philosopher) or a painting of Zeus (pagan god) would probably be met with less resistance from this crowd. It just seems like people are going “Nooo, scary religion from mysterious Orient! Danger!”

See, there is a difference between Plato, Zeus and Buddha. Plato is not really an issue since he is relevant to our theology and was never thought to be a god by anyone, Zeus belongs to a religion no longer practiced, while Buddha represents a religion that is alive. I’m most certainly not afraid of scary religion from the mysterious orient, but there is no way I’d have anything related to those religions in my home. It just seems so tasteless to me.

 

[aspirant]

I’m curious though, Would anyone have an Slayer/Alice in Chains/Pantera shirt with a Pentagram, just because they liked their music? … Would you have a token that had a Pentalpha?

I don’t care for their music, so no. But I would have no objection to a pentagram. The five-pointed figure has long been a Christian symbol. Here’s a classic 14th century depiction:
Sir Gawain & the Green Knight:

Then they brought {Sir Gawain} his shield, which was of bright red, with the pentangle painted thereon in gleaming gold. And why that noble prince bare the pentangle I am minded to tell you, though my tale tarry thereby. It is a sign that Solomon set ere-while, as betokening truth; for it is a figure with five points and each line overlaps the other, and nowhere hath it beginning or end, so that in English it is called “the endless knot.” And therefore was it well suiting to this knight and to his arms, since Gawain was faithful in five and five-fold, for pure was he as gold, void of all villainy and endowed with all virtues. Therefore he bare the pentangle on shield and surcoat as truest of heroes and gentlest of knights.

For first he was faultless in his five senses; and his five fingers never failed him; and all his trust upon earth was in the five wounds that Christ bare on the cross, as the Creed tells. And wherever this knight found himself in stress of battle he deemed well that he drew his strength from the five joys which the Queen of Heaven had of her Child. And for this cause did he bear an image of Our Lady on the one half of his shield, that whenever he looked upon it he might not lack for aid. And the fifth five that the hero used were frankness and fellowship above all, purity and courtesy that never failed him, and compassion that surpasses all; and in these five virtues was that hero wrapped and clothed. And all these, five-fold, were linked one in the other, so that they had no end, and were fixed on five points that never failed, neither at any side were they joined or sundered, nor could ye find beginning or end. And therefore on his shield was the knot shapen, red-gold upon red, which is the pure pentangle.

A Krishna from your travels to Singapore?

Most definitely. Like I said, I love mythology.

 

[aspirant]

Plato … was never thought to be a god by anyone

Nor Buddha. In fact, he explicitly denied being a god:

Dona, following the Blessed One’s footprints, saw him sitting at the root of the tree: confident, inspiring confidence, his senses calmed, his mind calmed, having attained the utmost control & tranquility, tamed, guarded, his senses restrained, a great being. On seeing him, {Dona} went to {the Buddha} and said, “Master, are you a god?”

“No, brahmin, I am not a god… I’m awake.”

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

Nor Buddha. In fact, he explicitly denied being a god:

Yes. But he is closely related to a religion that he started and that has been named after him. Why is this so hard to understand?
I still think it is simply not appropriate for a Christian to adorn their home with pagan religious items.

 

[rebeccanew]

Buddha is not a pagan deity worshiped by Buddhists. He is thought to be an enlightened, awakened man, and is respected as such in Buddhism.

I had, at one point, several busts of interesting people worthy of respect in my room, including, for instance, Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press. I respected those historical figures, but did not venerate or worship them. I respect Buddha, too, and would probably put the statue on display if I was into Japanese culture and received one as a gift.

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

 

[EasterJoy]

Yes. But he is closely related to a religion that he started and that has been named after him. Why is this so hard to understand?
I still think it is simply not appropriate for a Christian to adorn their home with pagan religious items.

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.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

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.

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.