On Sat, 14 May 2016 22:42:47 -0600, rbowman
wrote:

On 05/14/2016 06:44 PM, Mr Macaw wrote:
You can't believe two religions. If you became Buddhist, you must think
Catholicism was incorrect, or you'd still be in that religion.

http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Catholicis.../dp/0824514254
http://www.ncregister.com/site/artic..._collide_dont/

Some have tried to straddle the fence.

http://www.budsas.org/ebud/whatbudbeliev/277.htm

Religion of Freedom

This is a religion of freedom and reason for man to lead a noble life.

Buddhism does not prevent anyone from learning the teachings of other
religions. In fact, the Buddha encouraged His followers to learn about
other religions and to compare His Teachings with other teachings. The
Buddha says that if there are reasonable and rational teachings. The
Buddha says that if there are reasonable and rational teachings in
other religions, His followers are free to respect such teachings. It
seems that certain religionists try to keep their followers in the
dark, some of them are not even allowed to touch other religious
objects or books. They are instructed not to listen to the preachings
of other religions. They are enjoined not to doubt the teachings of
their own religion, however unconvincing their teachings may appear to
be. The more they keep their followers on a one-track mind, the more
easily they can keep them under control. If anyone of them exercises
freedom of thought and realizes that he had been in the dark all the
time, then it is alleged that the devil has possessed his mind. The
poor man is given no opportunity to use his common sense, education,
of his intelligence. Those who wish to change their views on religion
are taught to believe that they are not perfect enough to be allowed
to use free will in judging anything for themselves.

According to the Buddha, religion should be left to one's own free
choice. Religion is not a law, but a disciplinary code which should be
followed with understanding. To Buddhists true religious principles
are neither a divine law nor a human law, but a natural law.

In actual fact, there is no real religious freedom in any part of the
world today. Man has not the freedom even to think freely. Whenever he
realizes that he cannot find satisfaction through his own religion to
which he belongs, which cannot provide him with satisfactory answers
to certain questions, he has no liberty to give it up and to accept
another which appeals to him. The reason is that religious
authorities, leaders, and family members have taken that freedom away
from him. Man should be allowed to choose his religion which is in
accordance with his own conviction. One has no right to force another
to accept a particular religion. Some people surrender their religion
for the sake of love, without a proper understanding of their
partner's religion. Religion should not be changed to suit man's
emotions and human weaknesses. One must think very carefully before
changing one's religion. Religion is not a subject for bargaining; one
should not change one's religion for personal, material gains.
Religion is to be sued for spiritual development and for
self-salvation.

Buddhists never try to influence other religionists to come and
embrace their religion for material gain. Nor do they try to exploit
poverty, sickness, illiteracy and ignorance in order to increase the
number of Buddhist population. The Buddha advised those who indicated
their wish to follow Him, not to be hasty in accepting His Teachings.
He advised them to consider carefully His Teaching and to determine
for themselves whether it was practical or not for them to follow.

Buddhism teaches that mere belief or outward rituals are insufficient
for attaining wisdom and perfection. In this sense, outward conversion
becomes meaningless. To promote Buddhism by force would mean
pretending to propagate justice and love by means of oppression and
injustice. It is of no importance to a follower of the Buddha whether
a person calls himself a Buddhist or not. Buddhists know that only
through man's understanding and exertion will they come nearer to the
goal preached by the Buddha.

Amongst the followers of every religion are some fanatics. Religious
fanaticism is dangerous. A fanatic is incapable of guiding himself by
reason or even by the scientific principles of observation and
analysis. According to the Buddha, a Buddhist must be a free man with
an open mind and must not be subservient to anyone for his spiritual
development. He seeks refuge in the Buddha by accepting Him as a
source of supreme guidance and inspiration. He seeks refuge in the
Buddha, not blindly, but with understanding. To Buddhists, the Buddha
is not a savior nor is He an anthropomorphic being who claims to
possess the power of washing away other's sins. Buddhists regard the
Buddha as a Teacher who shows the Path to salvation.

Buddhism has always supported the freedom and progress of mankind.
Buddhism has always stood for the advancement of knowledge and freedom
for humanity in every sphere of life. There is nothing in the Buddha's
Teaching that has to be withdrawn in the face of modern, scientific
inventions and knowledge. The more new things that scientists
discover, the closer they come to the Buddha.

The Buddha emancipated man from the thralldom of religion. He also
released man from the monopoly and the tyranny of the priestcraft. It
was the Buddha who first advised man to exercise his reason and not to
allow himself to be driven meekly like dumb cattle, following the
dogma of religion. The Buddha stood for rationalism, democracy and
practical, ethical conduct in religion. He introduced this religion
for people to practise with human dignity.

The followers of the Buddha were advised not to believe anything
without considering it properly. In the Kalama Sutta,the Buddha gave
the following guidelines to a group of young people:

'Do not accept anything based upon mere reports,
traditions or hearsay,
Nor upon the authority of religious texts,
Nor upon mere reasons and arguments,
Nor upon one's own inference,
Nor upon anything which appears to be true,
Nor upon one's own speculative opinion,
Nor upon another's seeming ability,
Nor upon the consideration: 'This is our Teacher.'
'But, when you know for yourselves the certain things are
unwholesome and bad: tending to harm yourself of others, reject them.
'And when you know for yourselves that certain things are
wholesome and good: conducive to the spiritual welfare of yourself as
well as others, accept and follow them.'

Buddhists are advised to accept religious practices only after careful
observation and analysis, and only after being certain that the method
agrees with reason and is conducive to the good of one and all.

A true Buddhist does not depend on external powers for his salvation.
Nor does he expect to get rid of miseries through the intervention of
some unknown power. He must try to eradicate all his mental impurities
to find eternal Happiness. The Buddha says, 'If anyone were to speak
ill of me, my teaching and my disciples, do not be upset or perturbed,
for this kind of reaction will only cause you harm. On the other hand,
if anyone were to speak well of me, my teaching and my disciples, do
not be over-joyed, thrilled or elated, for this kind of reaction will
only be an obstacle in forming a correct judgment. If you are elated,
you cannot judge whether the qualities praised are real and actually
found in us.' -- (Brahma Jala Sutta). Such is the unbiased attitude of
a genuine Buddhist.

The Buddha had upheld the highest degree of freedom not only in its
human essence but also in its divine qualities. It is a freedom that
does not deprive man of his dignity. It is a freedom that releases one
from slavery to dogmas and dictatorial religious laws or religious
punishments.