Restore the Buddhas of Afghanistan

[GregoryPalamas]

“Five years after the Taliban were ousted from power, Bamiyan’s Buddhist relics are once again the focus of debate: Is it possible to restore the great Buddhas? And, if so, can the extraordinary investment that would be required be justified in a country crippled by poverty and a continued Taliban insurgency in the south and that is, after all, overwhelmingly Muslim?”

nytimes.com/2006/12/06/world/asia/06budd.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&th&emc=th

I don’t care for the politics of the NYT but they do have some great articles.

The report here is about the international effort or “dream” to restore the giant Buddhas in Afghanistan that were destroyed by the Taliban five years ago. One way to begin is to project models of the Buddhas into their niches using laser technology. The generators needed for the lasers would also provide electricity to the village and the rebuilding would bring in tourists to bolster the economy.

It seems to me that this is a way not only to help restore Afghanistan but to gently reintroduce Christ to the area. Or am I just an elitist for being intrigued by a project that would restore a non-Christian site?

CDL

 

[oldfogey]

Exactly how would this introduce Christ to the area? And why should I as a Catholic want to spend one penny to erect a Buddah statue?

 

[GregoryPalamas]

In two ways:

The personal witness of the workers. I’d like to volunteer, but I doubt that I’d have many skills that would be useful. But think of all the time a devout Catholic would have to witness.

Second, the electricity generated to the town would be a real boon to the people.

We aren’t be particularly creative now. This might give us a foothold in the area.

CDL

 

[Dale_M]

Afghanistan has so many problems. The Buddhas, if they could be restored, should be restored (even if only as holographic images). But given the poverty and the instability of the country I don’t think it will be happening soon.

 

[thistle]

“Five years after the Taliban were ousted from power, Bamiyan’s Buddhist relics are once again the focus of debate: Is it possible to restore the great Buddhas? And, if so, can the extraordinary investment that would be required be justified in a country crippled by poverty and a continued Taliban insurgency in the south and that is, after all, overwhelmingly Muslim?”

nytimes.com/2006/12/06/world/asia/06budd.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&th&emc=th

I don’t care for the politics of the NYT but they do have some great articles.

The report here is about the international effort or “dream” to restore the giant Buddhas in Afghanistan that were destroyed by the Taliban five years ago. One way to begin is to project models of the Buddhas into their niches using laser technology. The generators needed for the lasers would also provide electricity to the village and the rebuilding would bring in tourists to bolster the economy.

It seems to me that this is a way not only to help restore Afghanistan but to gently reintroduce Christ to the area. Or am I just an elitist for being intrigued by a project that would restore a non-Christian site?

CDL

There is no way we should promote, encourage, support the restoration of anything belonging to a false religion.
In my view that is doing an evil with the aim of achieving a good and that is forbidden by the Church and is a sin.

THE END DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS!!!

 

[Thursday1]

There is no way we should promote, encourage, support the restoration of anything belonging to a false religion.
In my view that is doing an evil with the aim of achieving a good and that is forbidden by the Church and is a sin.

THE END DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS!!!

Taking your post to its logical conclusion, we shouldn’t support the preservation of the Acropolis, the Pyramids, Angkor wat, Stonehenge, or Chichen Itza. Should we destroy these wonders? What about the great works of art from pagan peoples? Are they worthless because the people did not know the One True God?

Yours in Christ,
Thursday

 

[thistle]

Taking your post to its logical conclusion, we shouldn’t support the preservation of the Acropolis, the Pyramids, Angkor wat, Stonehenge, or Chichen Itza. Should we destroy these wonders? What about the great works of art from pagan peoples? Are they worthless because the people did not know the One True God?

Yours in Christ,
Thursday

The OP is talking about restoring/rebuilding statues for a false religion which still exists and is flourishing (unfortunately) and not talking about (using your examples) destroying buildings and artifacts of religions and beliefs long gone. I see a considerable difference.
As Catholics we should do NOTHING which in the slightest way supports a false religion.

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

“Five years after the Taliban were ousted from power, Bamiyan’s Buddhist relics are once again the focus of debate: Is it possible to restore the great Buddhas? And, if so, can the extraordinary investment that would be required be justified in a country crippled by poverty and a continued Taliban insurgency in the south and that is, after all, overwhelmingly Muslim?”

nytimes.com/2006/12/06/world/asia/06budd.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&th&emc=th

I don’t care for the politics of the NYT but they do have some great articles.

The report here is about the international effort or “dream” to restore the giant Buddhas in Afghanistan that were destroyed by the Taliban five years ago. One way to begin is to project models of the Buddhas into their niches using laser technology. The generators needed for the lasers would also provide electricity to the village and the rebuilding would bring in tourists to bolster the economy.

It seems to me that this is a way not only to help restore Afghanistan but to gently reintroduce Christ to the area. Or am I just an elitist for being intrigued by a project that would restore a non-Christian site?

CDL

The ends do not justify the means when there’s thousands of starving people in Afghanistan. BUDDHA DOESN’T EXIST. Jesus Christ does. It would be no evangelical help for a Catholic to help restore a pagan idol. You’re way off base on this one Greg.

 

[GregoryPalamas]

The OP is talking about restoring/rebuilding statues for a false religion which still exists and is flourishing (unfortunately) and not talking about (using your examples) destroying buildings and artifacts of religions and beliefs long gone. I see a considerable difference.
As Catholics we should do NOTHING which in the slightest way supports a false religion.

Have you ever examined the statuary in the Pope’s Church, St. John Lateran?

CDL

 

[Damascus]

If the shoe was on the other foot, and this was our problem and no religious entities wanted to help us restore our precious statuary if we were at a loss to do so for ourselves, would a group helping us rebuild be supporting our religion? nope. They would just be guilty of helping someone in need.
If anyone assisted re-building the Buddhas would it be condoning false worship? I am really not convinced it would be. It would be showing them how we respect them as neighbors and have compassion for their situation.

If this would be such a bad thing to do, what do the posters here who dont like the idea think of Assisi?

Those Buddhas dont scare me., and in fact what efforts have Catholics made in evangelizing Buddhists? I am not being sarcastic, I really dont know - maybe because I live in the US and dont hear about it? If someone knows please post it.

As Catholics we help all people regardless of their religious beliefs. I am wondering how this puts us in jepordy or where it is in the CCC or anywhere else that we cant help this way.

 

[Rolltide]

The ends do not justify the means when there’s thousands of starving people in Afghanistan. BUDDHA DOESN’T EXIST. Jesus Christ does. It would be no evangelical help for a Catholic to help restore a pagan idol. You’re way off base on this one Greg.

Actually, I think you’d be more accurate in saying that Buddhism is false, since Buddha (Guatama) was indeed an actual historical person.

 

[Rolltide]

The ends do not justify the means when there’s thousands of starving people in Afghanistan. BUDDHA DOESN’T EXIST. Jesus Christ does. It would be no evangelical help for a Catholic to help restore a pagan idol. You’re way off base on this one Greg.

Actually, I think you’d be more accurate in saying that Buddhism is false, since Buddha (Guatama) was indeed an actual historical person. Gautama (563-483 BC) was born the son of the chief of a small tribe on the slopes of the Himalayas. There’s a fair amount of historical evidence to back up his existence. As to his religion, I’m with ya there.

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

Actually, I think you’d be more accurate in saying that Buddhism is false, since Buddha (Guatama) was indeed an actual historical person.

Yes, Buddha was a historical person but has evolved into a myth over millenia.