Category: Opinions

Recently, I was tasked with an assignment at seminary that called for me to interview someone with a different religious belief from mine. The purpose was to get to know someone and engage in a conversation that revealed what beliefs they had specifically. What follows is the fourth part of a series of posts that will describe my interaction with a self-proclaimed Buddhist. Click here for part 1, part 2 or part 3.  In the end, it seemed Carrie is melding some agnostic, postmodern tendencies with Buddhist philosophy. It is a syncretism of philosophies rather than religions. She made clear that she didn’t see Buddha as a god and didn’t see...

Recently, I was tasked with an assignment at seminary that called for me to interview someone with a different religious belief from mine. The purpose was to get to know someone and engage in a conversation that revealed what beliefs they had specifically. What follows is Part 3 of a series of posts that will describe my interaction with a self-proclaimed Buddhist. Click here for part 1 or part 2. A phrase Carrie kept using was “I really believe that.” That led me to wonder if she really did, or if she was trying to convince herself of it. I think what she was trying to get across was that peace was the thing we...

Recently, I was tasked with an assignment at seminary that called for me to interview someone with a different religious belief from mine. The purpose was to get to know someone and engage in a conversation that revealed what beliefs they had specifically. What follows is Part 2 of a series of posts that will describe my interaction with a self-proclaimed Buddhist. If you have not read part 1 please click here. “What really drew you to Buddhism anyway?” I asked. Carrie told me that she has a fine arts degree, has travelled quite a bit, and “just became open to whatever.” She moved to California...