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Christianity Today, September, 2008 |

Salvation through Buddhism?

Exclusivist view of Christianity might not be so rare.

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra | posted 8/05/2008 08:32AM

Many Christian leaders lamented the results of a Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey from June, which revealed that 57 percent of those affiliated with evangelical churches agree with the statement ...

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Madelyn

Posted: August 11, 2008 9:00 PM

In the Christian ideology, man is a sinner and needs saving. Christ died to save all who would believe in Him. In Eastern religions, man works hard all of his life to become better and better. If he fails, he is reincarnated to try again. And as many times as man fails, he is reincarnated to try again. Should he finally become good enough (and who can?) he fizzles out into nothingness. To compare, man is a sinner and needs saving. Christ came to save all who would believe in Him. Because a man believes, when he dies, his reward is to live a perfect life for eternity. Eastern religion says that man is the guardian of himself, that he must become better and better until, finally, in one of his lifetimes, he reaches perfection. Then he fizzles out into nothingness. I choose to believe in Him, my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Anonymous

Posted: August 11, 2008 3:11 PM


God is loving and just. Is it loving or just to condemn people over a name? If you say you believe in Jesus but go out and commit murder do you serve God more than Ghandi, who sacrificed his life to benefit millions?

Greg Buckley

Posted: August 11, 2008 8:45 AM

I believe, Paul (again) has a fundamental (pun intended) flaw in his studies & evaluation of Christ. Christ was not just a very good man; he was not just a great teacher; rather we believe he was just who he said he was: The God of the Universe; the Son of God and the Son of man. And, yes, that makes him either extremely egotistical, or insane; or, as Christians believe; and to paraphrase our Creed, "God of God Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance wit the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man: And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate: He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead; whose Kingdom shall have no end...."

Sydney

Posted: August 10, 2008 2:39 PM


I'm not a Christian, though was raised one and ran away from it as fast as I could when I was young. Amazing it is, that so many people push away religions other than Christianity, but when questioned, don't know anything about the other religions. NOTHING! That is not only arrogant and ignorant, but shows a lack of being able to think for themselves. Scary!

Steve Skeete

Posted: August 07, 2008 6:28 PM

It is one thing to want the Bible to say a certain thing, wish that it would say a certain thing or believe it says something that it does not, and quite another to believe what the Bible teaches. The fact is, the clear teaching of the Bible is that Jesus is the ONLY way to God. Putting aside sentimentality, politeness and political correctness that is the scriptural truth that every Christian ought to accept. Of course I would love to see my mother in heaven, but she will get there only through Jesus because He is the only way. If you do not like that Christianity will present problems for you. The dilemna will be if there are other ways then why Jesus? Why anything about Jesus. Other men have lived good lives, taught good things, and had large followings. Jesus, who is also God (I wonder how many today believe that anymore) says I am the way. After all, God should know about salvation, should He not?

Ephrem Hagos

Posted: August 07, 2008 11:22 AM

What Christianity has abandoned altogether, other religions seem to be holding to, e.g., "the tree of life" --an important symbol of immortality in nearly every culture (http://altreligion.about.com) and powerful type of the cross of Christ. According to the promise and seal of the "new covenant" (Jer. 31: 31-34; Matt. 26: 26-29), the latter is the exclusive way to eternal life through direct and revealed firsthand knowledge of who Jesus is! Therefore, the question should not be "Is there salvation through Buddhism?" but "Is there salvation through Christianity?" We can expect more surprises and shocks at the end of the road. That's for sure!!!!!!!!

assaji

Posted: August 07, 2008 9:01 AM


for a religion that teaches the universe is 6,000 years old, man is made from mud and woman from a rib, talking snakes, magic apples, noah's ark and jonah living inside a whale, I think Christians should celebrate the fact that they believe there are other paths equal or better than their own.

Hlaktoog

Posted: August 06, 2008 3:47 PM

Hey guys, long time Buddhist here. It seems as I see various sites try to come to grips with Buddhism I am struck by the utter self assured belief in that only one way is the absolute path to peace & freedom. I don't care if you reject Buddhism that is your free choice, but do it with a proper understanding of what you are rejecting. I was raised a Catholic so no need to push the scriptures here or tell me about the hell & damnation spiel, heard it all before. But if you want to know some basic things I might be able to help. Also I'm not into trying to convert people through a blog medium, Buddhism is much to hard for that, but I'm sure we can hit some basics in a system that is very different in it's perspective on the uiverse that you might not be aware or used to. Thanks.

Ken	Posted: August 06, 2008 1:50 PM

When Jesus says "I am the way...no one comes to the Father except through me", and Paul builds a solid case for Christ and the only redeemer of mankind I wonder how Chuck sees that as an obscure verse. Frankly, I wish Jesus had said, Everyone who seeks the light finds the Father. My hope, like C.S. Lewis, is that God has one final redemptive act that rescues all of the ones created in His image. But I won't act like that is true. I will act like there is only one way out of this scenario and it is by receiving the death of Jesus as my (and my friends') payment for my sin. I don't plan on "shooting each other down in the street". I plan on praying and being ready to give a reason for the faith I have...when asked...and living in a way that shines like a star to a darkened world so they will ask.

Howard Pepper

Posted: August 06, 2008 11:51 AM

The poll results, however read, are encouraging. Christian Smith is probably right that most people are likely not thoughtful about their position... not studying it seriously. But including both those who HAVE thought it through carefully and those who haven't, I take the trend as a positive indication of the maturation of religious views overall. Not in the sense of sometimes sloppy postmodern thinking. Rather, possible changes in things like this: Christians, even "critical" scholars, have typically begun with the ASSUMPTION of Christ and Christianity being "uniquely unique" instead of looking closely for how they may only be "unique" in the same way other systems are unique. There is much to be gleaned from greater understanding of Christianity as formed along natural lines of complex social and religious/worldview development. That can be pursued without needing to deny the truths and transformative power it conveys as well.

Skye (Again)

Posted: August 06, 2008 11:20 AM

Here’s the thing Paul: All religions have shades of the truth within them. That’s what makes them attractive, because nobody wants to follow a lie, they want to think that there’s something right with what they believe. Buddhism takes a concept of Christianity (that is, the teachings of Jesus and scripture), unconditional love and denying one’s self, and makes it essential. Self-denial is good, but not enough. In fact, self-denial removed from God is dangerous, because we are made in the image of God, and if we deny ourselves but do not pursue him, we are in essence running away from his image, and thus him. You forgot the second part of Jesus’ statement, “No one comes to the father except through me.” Jesus was God in human form. So for him to make that statement is not to be an egomaniac, but simply to tell what is a fact. You don’t get to God without going through him. Following his teachings aren’t enough, because if you reject him as God, then you have rejected the Father.

alison

Posted: August 06, 2008 9:29 AM


It all depends on how you define the word "through," or, rather, how God defines it.

Raul	Posted: August 06, 2008 12:14 AM


If 57 percent agreed on salvation through "other religions" because of the misunderstanding between religion and denomination, then what worries me is the 43 percent that disagreed. To me what is alarming is that there is still evangelicals that think Catholics, Lutherans and those other "religions" cannot find salvation unless they change denomination.

Dave R

Posted: August 05, 2008 11:49 PM

This article shows how Evangelical Christians have been swayed by proponents of tolerance. Even though they believe in Jesus Christ, they feel guilty pronouncing judgment on all non-believers. However, there seems to be some ambiguity in the poll question: How much do you agree/disagree: If a person is sincerely seeking God, he/she can obtain eternal life through religions other than Christianity. Interpretation #1: ...obtain eternal life through ANOTHER RELIGION INSTEAD OF Christianity. Interpretation #2: ...obtain eternal life THROUGH CHRIST VIA ANOTHER RELIGION. Interpretation #1 looks for agreement/disagreement with the exclusiveness of Christ, as in John 14:6 referenced by Brian above. Even though interpretation #2 is likely an uncommon understanding, it may account for those who still see Christ as the only way, though found by the sincere seeker who arrives at the truth of Jesus Christ because He is the only sufficient answer to questions posed BY ANY OTHER RELIGION.

Scott

Posted: August 05, 2008 7:59 PM

I believe the 57% at the very top of the page is low, as it should be 100% will have eternal life. It's a choice where you choose to spend eternity, Heaven or Hell. As Oprah once said "There are many paths to who you call God,..." She has at least that part right, as all paths do lead to God, but not to Heaven. Romans 14:11 Philppians 2:8-10. If we are to take Jesus and the Bible literally, John 1:1, then John 3:16 is the only way to salvation. Where some of the Churches today are leading people astray is they are trying to justify the sin in our hearts. Hard not to call a spade a spade, but that is the road some are being led down...Hey, we don't want anyone to feel bad, so let's not talk about that. God didn't mean that. The Bible can't be taken literally. It's just a story, and so on.. As far as other religions go, they are wrong in regards to heaven. If you go back to Genesis 3 you'll find the same underlying lie in most religions that Satan told Eve way back in the garden

shane

Posted: August 05, 2008 6:45 PM

CS Lewis explored this idea, though most Christians seem to have missed it; he said "it is possible that people drawn to the Christ-like characteristics of other religions are being saved." He also used this idea in his final Narnia book, The Last Battle - when a follower of Aslan's foe said he could not follow Aslan because he was a disciple of another, Aslan said (paraphrase) "I have counted all the works you did for him as if they were done for me." Young's The Shack also does a nice job of introducing the idea of finding Christ within other cultures' belief systems. I wish more Christians were aware of this. As Dallas Willard said in an interview I read recently, "We know salvation only comes through Christ - we just don't know exactly how that works." (paraphrase)

other prophets and liturgies places of worship and scriptures

Posted: August 05, 2008 6:09 PM

We have to take more radically Jesus statement that no one comes comes to the Father except through him; specifically that Jesus is the final arbiter/judge. Many who cry Lord...Lord all their lives do not qualify because they do not do the work of the Father even when they cast out demons in Jesus name they were not doing the will of the Father. Therefore salvation is much more than either spiritual power in the name of Jesus or confessing verbally and even intellectually that Jesus is Lord. Indeed Jesus decides who is honest and pure of heart and who is innocent and gentle and generous and loving. And his parable about the Good Samaritan is not, in these very terms, a tale about Christians being generous. No, it is a tale about the tendency of the elect to exclude people who have other prophets/liturgies/places of worship/canons of scripture. Just as the Jews excluded Samaritans so we exclude Muslims and Jews and Buddhists when Jesus judges their kindness to strangers very positively.

A hermit

Posted: August 05, 2008 5:21 PM

'Salvation' is not the intellectual assent to a belief system, but becoming 'one' with the Father and Son, to seek only the will of God, so that others may see the Father working through us. God is love- whoever acts and is moved in Unity with Love, is closer that those who merely profess that their belief system is superior to others. Those who profess faith in Jesus, often do not live based on that professed faith- the values they practise are no different than the 'unsaved'. They will know we are Christians through our love, through our life, not how loudly we profess with our lips.

Paul (again)

Posted: August 05, 2008 5:06 PM

Whenever I discuss Buddhism with Christians it always ends the same way,... yes but, Christ stated that "I am the truth and the way and the light, whosoever believe in me shall have eternal life". I don't discount the statement, but to believe that Christ was talking about Himself and not about His practice of Non-Ego and Non-Attachment turns Christ and Christianity on its head. Buddhism, to me, is about the methods of Christ, i.e., Non-Ego and Non-Attachment to worldly things. If you interpret His words as referencing Himself aren't you holding Him as some kind of Egomaniac?

Ruthy

Posted: August 05, 2008 4:48 PM


Jesus Said... I am the Way the Truth and the Life no one comes to the Father exept through Me. Jesus chooses how He reveals Himself to people BUT He is the only WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE. Christianity is the only Faith that teaches this WONDERFUL truth.

Benny

Posted: August 05, 2008 3:14 PM


This may seem pedantic, but I don't believe that salvation comes through either Buddhism or Christianity. It comes through Christ and Christ alone. Just how he reveals himself to us is another matter, as those who have spoken of Muslims encountering him in dreams have indicated.

John G.

Posted: August 05, 2008 3:04 PM

I'm always a bit suspicious of polls, particularly when, as pointed out, we don't know just how the questions and answers were framed. I'm reminded of the old canard, "Have you stopped beating your wife?" Any answer is going to be incriminating! As for the issue raised by some of the respondents, consider Genesis 18:25b: "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" It is entirely in God's hands what to do with those who have never heard the gospel, and God can be relied on to do the right thing, always . Our job is to see that as many people as possible DO hear it!

Rick	Posted: August 05, 2008 2:10 PM

Nice comment Skye. This is a complex issue and bald choices on a survey like, "are all Buddhists going to hell" are not very helpful. They reveal more about the question askers than the respondents. It may be true that the evangelical world view is becoming less orthodox and biblical in response to living in our pluralistic era... but forcing people to weigh in on eternal judgment will not reveal that. More helpful would be world view questions about what people believe regarding grace and works. Is relationship/oneness with God (and everything that comes with it, heaven etc.) achievable by human effort? That question and others like it would clarify the uniqueness of the Christian way and whether someone understands it/accepts it or not.

Brian

Posted: August 05, 2008 1:50 PM

If we follow the historical definition of a "Christian" we can only hold to one possible point of view. That view is that what Jesus Christ said and did is valid. Otherwise we must abandon the name Christian and take on the label of whatever faith we decide is valid. Jesus stated in John 14:6: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." This is followed up with his prediction of how he would die and the proof of the resurrection. Each person must decide who he or she will follow, this is the concept of "Freewill"; however, remember that with "Freewill" comes consequences. I would challenge your readers to comment on the following two observations: 1) Christianity is not about religion but all about God's relationship with man. Meaning Sin is the barrier that separates us from God and Christ is the reconciler who destroys that barrier. 2) All religions fall into two categories - manmade works based or God made grace based (the cross).

Skye	Posted: August 05, 2008 1:33 PM

There are no easy answers to these questions Paul, but consider this: There have been multiple stories of Muslims being visited by Jesus in dreams and visions that led them to a conversion to Christianity. Likewise for some remote tribes in South America. It's hard for humans to tell how God is at work in the world and how people are being reached in most cases, but he is doing it. The bottom line is this: the whole of scripture shows that we have a choice, to accept or reject Christ. God judges, but not unjustly, and it is my belief that no one goes to Hell without first getting a choice in some shape or fashion. What that looks like for the Thai people who have never heard of Jesus I don't know, but just remember that if we were all bound to make decisions by where we were born then revolutionaries like Martin Luther King Jr. would never have risen up, because they would have resigned themselves to their socially accepted practices. There is more to life than nature/nurture.

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