Buddhists for Jesus? They've always been that way. HILLARY RHODES finds a group of Christians who aren't too keen on the notion of 'many paths to enlightenment.'
Comparing some Buddhists with some Christians brings up an essential question about religious exploration: Is there just one right answer?
A group of Christian missionaries from the group Interserve U.S.A. has expressed concern that Buddhist influences in the western world might rob followers of what they see as the most important element in religious practice: belief in Jesus as the only truth.
The group recently published "Jesus in a New Age, Dalai Lama World: Defending and Sharing Christ with Buddhists," and recently held a series of lectures in the cities around the country where the Dalai Lama was to visit on a recent tour.
According to churchgoers at one such gathering in Northampton, Mass., their intentions are pure; they want nothing more than to spread the hope they believe Jesus can bring to people. They see the Buddhist religion as one of endless suffering and meaningless ritual and superstition.
However, many converted Buddhists in the west feel quite the opposite. According to those gathering at a recent retreat at the Tibet House in New York, there is a flaw in the thinking that if you must have Jesus for your given faith to be valid. They believe Buddhists and Christians are on different paths to the same goal.
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Hillary Rhodes is an asap reporter based in New York.
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