The Perils of Being a Buddhist

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If you have been following, my one devout friend hsa been mentioning that, as a Christian, he feels he's persecuted for his faith. I find this mention growing, but, then again, on my FB page, I noticed, I know seven different ministers of different faiths.

None of them are Buddhists. None of them are Taoists.

Nor am I.

Neither am I.

There's something grammatically wrong there, but whatever.

But I try. I do believe in buddhism. I don't seem them blowing up stuff in Gaza, looking for wards to discriminate against their fellows, or using planes to kill people to show how peaceful they are.  Followers tend to be a peaceful lot and I like that. It's helped me more, it seems like, when Christianity left me because of my oreitnation and no one in the church would stop, other than to tell me I was wrong, going to burn in hell and to encourage me to kill myself.

Yes.

You know, that "Thou Shalt Not Kill" thing, apparently means alot in the faith.

I live in the Bible Belt as well and this kinda thing that is mentioned in the article is everyday. I tell people I'm a "Zennist," a form of buddhist philosophy, and I get laughed out and then sought out when they put up a Christmas tree-to make sure I see it. As if the presence of a pagan token will some how make me like God more. It's painful-but here ya go. Another child...A CHILD was put down for his beliefs.

Yes, I am a Christian too, but I had the benefit of being raised by a father who was not the same faith. I think it went a long way in understanding that we can, all, coexist.

But there's something else here too, and I think it infuriates me more. This was a teacher, a supposedly educated professional. I think to my own personal example. One of my conservative friends detests the Muslim faith. She goes about actively talking about it at our workplace. However, we have a huge Muslim population at several of our workspaces.

I watched her work with a young lady in a beautiful chador/burka without incident. And she said, "the child isn't the problem. It's the faith that is."

Misguided, yes, but I think she is half-way there.

So, yes, I'm a Taoist. And a Zennist.

And a Christian.

But, moreso, I'm everything, because, in the end, I can't take words with me. I can only take my history and actions. So I know better than to put down a kid who doesn't agree with one of my views.

Peace,
Roo