Priest Praising Buddha in homily, no mention of Christ?!

[MagsM]

I am quite grieved at heart over this morning’s mass. The priest praised buddha’s teachings on detachment in relation to the reading on Job, with no mention of Jesus Christ. I wanted to flee that church in tears because it seemed to me he was saying that buddha’s name and teachings were to be more praised than Jesus, our Lord and Savior - who gave His very life for us. Surely the priest could find something in Jesus’ teachings to relate to the story of Job, especially in Jesus’ own church!

My question is: should I talk with this priest? Is this appropriate or is it going against his priestly authority?

I am not claiming to be holier than he - actually, I’ve been praying for him for weeks, thanking God that this priest is devout and reverent towards Jesus! And then this homily - I am so saddened and disturbed…surely Jesus is more relevant in His Own church than buddha! I almost did not participate in the Eucharist because of this.

I really would appreciate some guidance here…I have no desire to hear unity type stuff in church - if I want that, I needn’t go to the Catholic church. Jesus said “learn of ME”, not “learn of buddha”, and that is why I am Catholic, not buddhist!!! Isn’t this having other gods before our Lord???

ARGH. Help!

 

[ConstantineTG]

Buddha (whichever of them) is a man and has preached a lot of good things. I don’t think its a bad think to recognize that. He is a man who lived a good life and despite the theological conflicts, we can still surely learn something from his/their life/lives.

I don’t know what you want to talk to your priest about. Did he tell people to become Buddhists? I don’t think its such a bad thing if we can relate to another human being despite theological differences. As long as the priest doesn’t make Buddha into anything more than another human being (which he is). Haven’t we referenced to Ghandi in the past?

 

[SMHW]

Since we did not hear your priest’s exact words it is hard for us to truly comment.

It may be possible that your priest considers the Buddha to be the best example recognizable to modern people of what was being expressed in the Book of Job. I tend to believe that the Gospels do not expressly teach the sort of detachment seen in that Old Testament book. But that does not mean detachment cannot be valuable. Since you say that your priest is generally a devout and holy man I doubt he was trying to lift Buddha up before Jesus.

But your reaction should serve as a lesson to others that our words can give unintended “scandal” to others.

I will just add that even the worst of us are often “good examples” of something (even if that means being a good example of what NOT to do).

 

[GEddie]

I am quite grieved at heart over this morning’s mass. The priest praised buddha’s teachings on detachment in relation to the reading on Job, with no mention of Jesus Christ. I wanted to flee that church in tears because it seemed to me he was saying that buddha’s name and teachings were to be more praised than Jesus, our Lord and Savior - who gave His very life for us. Surely the priest could find something in Jesus’ teachings to relate to the story of Job, especially in Jesus’ own church!

My question is: should I talk with this priest? Is this appropriate or is it going against his priestly authority?

I am not claiming to be holier than he - actually, I’ve been praying for him for weeks, thanking God that this priest is devout and reverent towards Jesus! And then this homily - I am so saddened and disturbed…surely Jesus is more relevant in His Own church than buddha! I almost did not participate in the Eucharist because of this.

I really would appreciate some guidance here…I have no desire to hear unity type stuff in church - if I want that, I needn’t go to the Catholic church. Jesus said “learn of ME”, not “learn of buddha”, and that is why I am Catholic, not buddhist!!! Isn’t this having other gods before our Lord???

ARGH. Help!

There would be no disrespect to the Fr. in going to him with your concerns. Just be prepared, though, that he may not relate to them, since there is really nothing wrong with quoting another religion. I’ve heard a priest quote the Dalai Lama from the pulpit.

Part of an active spiritual life is to see what is true in other religions. If any religion contained no truth at all, it would go extinct.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Sirach2]

Hi MagsM,

I am not claiming to be holier than he - actually, I’ve been praying for him for weeks, thanking God that this priest is devout and reverent towards Jesus!

It sounds like this is an isolated incident, especially in light of your bolded words that he is devout and reverent. I also have the feeling you go regularly to morning mass, or you wouldn’t have heard the reading on Job. Just keep an open mind and let it go, unless you notice that he does this more and more often. At that time, if it comes to pass, you can decide how to approach him.

 

[ConstantineTG]

There would be no disrespect to the Fr. in going to him with your concerns. Just be prepared, though, that he may not relate to them, since there is really nothing wrong with quoting another religion. I’ve heard a priest quote the Dalai Lama from the pulpit.

Part of an active spiritual life is to see what is true in other religions. If any religion contained no truth at all, it would go extinct.

ICXC NIKA

The fact of the matter is, I believe (and I could be wrong) that Catholicism has more things in common with older non-Christian religions than modern day Christian sects. Buddhisim’s focus is detachment from the material world, which is also what God asks from us. So truly they have seen this truth in nature. Many modern day Christian sects doesn’t seek detachment from materialism, but would just justify everything as, “God will love us no matter what.” Which is true, but that doesn’t mean we get a free pass to sin. We won’t go to hell because God doesn’t love us, he will never stop loving us. We go to hell because we don’t love God back. And that is what materialism is, we love the creation more than the creator.

 

[MarianD]

I actually was thinking the same thing I assume your priest was thinking when he was writing the homily.

Buddha detached himself from the world in order to pursue what he thought was right. We Catholics should do the same, except we pursue what IS right.

It’s the same way that I admire the ancient Greeks and Romans for their devotion to their gods. They would live and die for their gods and devote themselves entirely to their gods, yet most Catholics don’t even care for the One True God outside of Sunday Mass. We should live and die for the real God just as the ancient societies lived and died for their gods.

It’s like the saying goes: Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

 

[SMHW]

I would also observe that Jesus featured a less than upstanding person in his parable of the dishonest steward as an example of how people ought to behave in some circumstances! He certainly wasn’t advocating the original dishonesty.

My point is that Jesus himself set a precedent of using behaviors that are not expressly Christian as examples of how Christians should sometimes act. For all we know Jesus was using an example that would have been known to his contemporaries just as Buddha is widely known today.

 

[MagsM]

Thanks everyone.

I am concerned because in recent years I have noticed an increase of Catholics quoting the Dali Lama, Buddha, etc. It seems to be some bizarre trend, and begs the question: Are you saying that Jesus Christ no longer relevant or all sufficient that we need to start quoting outside religions? Do you really need buddha there and not Christ during the Eucharist - whose mass are we celebrating BTW? Yes, it DOES seem like a priest preaching about buddhist detachment to achieve happiness instead of Christ is inappropriate while in preparation of the mass, and it seems like the priest was elevating buddha’s name and teachings above the name of Christ in Jesus’ own church.

I tell you, I strongly feel that if I want to learn about other religions, I can go to a Unitarian church, not a Catholic church. If you really must quote someone other than Jesus Christ in His own church - at the celebration of HIS mass, then at least give Him preference and more than equal time. (and why you would really need to do that is beyond my comprehension)

I have zero interest in unitarianism or making anyone feel good or secure about their religion if they are going to die in their sins. I could care less about eucanism or whatever it is called. I am disgusted by this trend in the church. Is it right that Jesus should share His glory with buddha before His own altar?? Did buddha die for your sins?

Last I checked, Apostle Paul preached Christ crucified and nothing else. It is a good practice to follow. The Catholic church teaches that they are the ‘true church’ and the other protestant religions should “come home”. Well, I cannot imagine a Baptist church preaching such nonsense. Last time I checked there was no other name by which we are saved but the name of Jesus Christ and His name was to be praised and every knee should bow before Him - not buddha, not mohammed, not a thousand hindu gods.

Seriously - what are we to gain by quoting outside religions during a celebration of Jesus’ Eucharist?

 

[MagsM]

It may be possible that your priest considers the Buddha to be the best example recognizable to modern people of what was being expressed in the Book of Job.

that is what it so grievous to me! He is supposed to set Christ as the example for the church, not buddha!

I tend to believe that the Gospels do not expressly teach the sort of detachment seen in that Old Testament book. But that does not mean detachment cannot be valuable.

O gosh…I think Jesus was far more detached from His own will than buddha ever was. What about happy and blessed is he who not only hears the words of Jesus, but does them? I’ve come not to do My own will, but the will of my Father, and For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his own soul?

Isn’t Jesus worth more than a thousand buddha’s? :crying:

But your reaction should serve as a lesson to others that our words can give unintended “scandal” to others.

Sorry, I know that my reaction may seem extreme, but I am jealous for my God. I cannot imagine Him to be ok with this - not in His own church.

 

[MarianD]

St. Justin Martyr proselytized by comparing the similarities of Christianity with the traditional religions of the time. St. Paul, as recorded in the Bible, used the Greek’s “Unknown God” altar to jump-start a sermon before the Areopagus.

You can use what other people know about to further the Truth. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. I think you’re mixing using the devotion of others with advocating the teachings of others. Those are two different things.

 

[MagsM]

, yet most Catholics don’t even care for the One True God outside of Sunday Mass. We should live and die for the real God just as the ancient societies lived and died for their gods.

This is exactly my point. What purpose is there in lifting up buddha as our example in Jesus Christ’s church? We should praise HIM and glorify HIM alone.

I thought the Catholic church was the “true church” of Jesus Christ. When did Jesus EVER lift up buddha as our example? Am I in the wrong church?

 

[SMHW]

O gosh…I think Jesus was far more detached from His own will than buddha ever was.

My point was that Buddha might be a good example of Job’s message.

I question whether Jesus was all that much like Job in the area of detachment. I think Jesus gave us the example of attachment to his Father’s will. Detachment from his own will was a by-product of that.

Unlike Jesus, we poor mortals often have to detach from our own desires first before we can “attach” to the Father’s will. Job and Buddha can show us something about detachment part. But we certainly need Jesus to show us where we should then go!

 

[MarkThompson]

Seriously - what are we to gain by quoting outside religions during a celebration of Jesus’ Eucharist?

Perspectives on the human experience, perhaps? That’s like asking what Christ gained by praising a Samaritan among a gathering of Jews. I can think of a few things off the top of my head: (1) shame that a non-believer is actually living his life more in keeping with our teachings than, often, we are; (2) recognition that even non-Christians are still Gods children; (3) motivation and advice about how to do some of the things the Church asks of us. Or to turn it around, would think it equally insane for a Protestant or Jew to be taught a lesson on charity and devotion by reference to Mother Theresa? If they cried, “It doesn’t matter how much she loved the poor; she was a Catholic, fercryinoutloud!”, wouldn’t you say they were kind of missing the point?

I actually think there are very, very valuable lessons to be drawn from other religions. Not from their theology, but (1) how come the Mormons are so dedicated that most of them spend two years of their youth on evangelical and charitable missions? Can we do anything to promote that kind of effort? (2) How come the Muslims are so devout that very many of them pray five times a day, even when very inconvenient, and they fast for a bloomin’ month every year? Can we do anything to foster that kind of devotion?

Of course, you have to present issues like this sensitively, and not confuse respect for another religion’s piety, charity, or strength of devotion with acknowledgment of its incorrect or even wacky theology. But religious xenophobia (“Ack! He was claiming that there are good things about non-Catholics!”) just causes us to miss out on worthwhile insights.

 

[tskrobacz]

Why is it so hard to believe that the same Christ conciousness that was revealed in Jesus has also been revealed in Saints and holy men and women of all walks throughout the ages? I would choose to see the Christ in Buddha, Dali Lama etc instead of assuming that somehow Christ is restricted to Jesus, the Catholic Church or christians.

 

[MagsM]

Perspectives on the human experience, perhaps? That’s like asking what Christ gained by praising a Samaritan among a gathering of Jews. I can think of a few things off the top of my head: (1) shame that a non-believer is actually living his life more in keeping with our teachings than, often, we are; (2) recognition that even non-Christians are still Gods children; (3) motivation and advice about how to do some of the things the Church asks of us. Or to turn it around, would think it equally insane for a Protestant or Jew to be taught a lesson on charity and devotion by reference to Mother Theresa? 1) If they cried, "It doesn’t matter how much she loved the poor; she was a Catholic, fercryinoutloud!", wouldn’t you say they were kind of missing the point?

I actually think there are very, very valuable lessons to be drawn from other religions. Not from their theology, but 2) how come the Mormons are so dedicated that most of them spend two years of their youth on evangelical and charitable missions? Can we do anything to promote that kind of effort? How come the Muslims are so devout that very many of them pray five times a day, even when very inconvenient, and they fast for a bloomin’ month every year? Can we do anything to foster that kind of devotion?

Of course, you have to present issues like this sensitively, and not confuse respect for another religion’s piety, charity, or strength of devotion with acknowledgment of its incorrect or even wacky theology. 3) But religious xenophobia (“Ack! He was claiming that there are good things about non-Catholics!”) just causes us to miss out on worthwhile insights.

Hi Mark,
Thanks for responding. I don’t mean to be argumentative with you, but I just disagree with the whole thing for the following reasons:

1. Totally missing the point - this is in celebration of a Eucharist. The most holy thing a Catholic does is to receive Jesus’ flesh and blood.
2. Exactly. How does reverence and holding up teachings OTHER than Christ’s in HIS OWN CHURCH foster faithfulness and devotion to Him? How about Jesus’ teaching of “take up your cross and follow ME” (not buddha).
3. I am not denying that buddhist teachings have value, I AM having trouble with lifting buddha up as the example in place of Jesus Christ when we are proclaiming Jesus’ death and resurrection. Do you really think we should revere someone other than Jesus while in a worship service FOR Him, and preparing to receive Him? The Eucharist IS the presence of Jesus Christ, isn’t it?

I just cannot agree with this - If people want to talk about buddha, do it outside the mass, but not during. The mass is FOR Jesus. It is HIS church. I am disgusted. :banghead:

 

[MagsM]

My point was that Buddha might be a good example of Job’s message.

I question whether Jesus was all that much like Job in the area of detachment. I think Jesus gave us the example of attachment to his Father’s will. Detachment from his own will was a by-product of that.

Unlike Jesus, we poor mortals often have to detach from our own desires first before we can “attach” to the Father’s will. Job and Buddha can show us something about detachment part. But we certainly need Jesus to show us where we should then go!

Hi SMHW,
Thanks for your further explanation. I also think Jesus was far more detached than Job was I appreciate your saying that we need Jesus to show us where we should then go. He said “I am the way the truth and the life, No one comes to the Father but through Me”. He is sufficient for happiness and salvation. At least God seemed to think so when He sent Him.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Hi Mark,
Thanks for responding. I don’t mean to be argumentative with you, but I just disagree with the whole thing for the following reasons:

1. Totally missing the point - this is in celebration of a Eucharist. The most holy thing a Catholic does is to receive Jesus’ flesh and blood.

The Homily is not the Celebration of the Eucharist, but a preaching of the Word of God. That is why its part of the Liturgy of the Word, not of the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

1. Exactly. How does reverence and holding up teachings OTHER than Christ’s in HIS OWN CHURCH foster faithfulness and devotion to Him? How about Jesus’ teaching of “take up your cross and follow ME” (not buddha).

We do not reverence Buddha, but we see him as another man who followed his belief and lifed a very good life even according to our own Christian standards. As Mark stated, we all are God’s children, whether we acknowledge God or not. And while Buddha may not have known God as He revealed Himself to the Israelites and incarnate as Jesus Christ, the Buddha may have lived a more Christian life than most Christians without even knowing it. I think its more humbling for a Catholic to realize that a non-Catholic does better spiritually than they are.

To make a case for it, I offer myself as an example. I lived with a cousin of mine for a month and a half when I moved to Canada. My cousin is an Evangelical. She is so devout and every other sentense she would say, “Praise God” and “Thank God”. Its humbling to me, as a Catholic, that I don’t praise God for the little blessings in life as much as an Evangelical would. And we boast that we have all the truths as revealed by Jesus Christ! So guess what, she made me want to become a better Catholic, despite being an Evangelical. The point of this is we can learn a lot from the lives of non-Catholics and even non-Christians that would help us become better persons. Truths are universal, the truth is the same whether its from a believer of Jesus Christ or not. The Buddha has shown that he has discovered some truths, why can’t we learn from that? Shouldn’t we feel that we should be better than the Buddha because Jesus himself revealed the truths to us?

1. I am not denying that buddhist teachings have value, I AM having trouble with lifting buddha up as the example in place of Jesus Christ when we are proclaiming Jesus’ death and resurrection. Do you really think we should revere someone other than Jesus while in a worship service FOR Him, and preparing to receive Him? The Eucharist IS the presence of Jesus Christ, isn’t it?

I just cannot agree with this - If people want to talk about buddha, do it outside the mass, but not during. The mass is FOR Jesus. It is HIS church. I am disgusted. :banghead:

Again, its not about revering the Buddha. Or perhaps it is. But we do not revere him for being the Buddha, but because he was a good human being. Bascially we revere him for what he has done, not what he is or made to be by Buddhists.

 

[MagsM]

Part of an active spiritual life is to see what is true in other religions. If any religion contained no truth at all, it would go extinct.

Thanks GEddie…Did Jesus really teach that we should see where other religions are right? As someone pointed out, we can admire positive traits in others and see where they as individuals are right, but I just don’t think reverence for it has any place in worship OF Jesus, while we receive His flesh and blood. It is just beyond me. :nope:

 

[tskrobacz]

Thanks GEddie…Did Jesus really teach that we should see where other religions are right? As someone pointed out, we can admire positive traits in others and see where they as individuals are right, but I just don’t think reverence for it has any place in worship OF Jesus, while we receive His flesh and blood. It is just beyond me. :nope:

When you can see Christ in all people, in all creation then you truly get the Good News!