DO IT MYSELF

They say the easiest example of looking at a fallen nature is to look at children.  Without being taught, we are naturally self centered, self absorbed, self indulgent.  The first exclamation learned is, “Mine!”  The second is, “Do it myself!.”   It is not only the natural way, it is the “American Way.”  And the Buddhist way.

As I was reading Ephesians 6 this morning,
“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, ….”

While reading, I couldn’t help but think of the contrast this was with several conversations I’ve had with a girl “who follows Buddhism.”  It is funny how this generation is so “me centered,” they will not say, “I am Buddhist” because “I don’t want that to define me.”  This whole struggle about “ME.”

Anyway, it was a fascinating conversation which began with talking about “Slum Dog Millionaire,” going to “Why was I in India?”,” Why was I in SL?”, “Why are they in a civil war?”  My answer surface answer was that the Buddhists hate the Hindus (and Christians), and repress them, periodically killing them, so the Hindus being a minority have their terrorist group, and so everybody dies?  She was horrified that I said, “Buddhists kill everybody,” as she said, “Buddhists believe in peace!”  I said, “When you go home tonight, google “Buddhist nations,” then take each of the nations and google that nation and genocide.  Then come back and tell me why wherever Buddhism is the dominant and especially the national religion, there is ALWAYS horrific genocide.  She was kind of aghast, and I asked her if she’d like to see an example of this, in an email I rec’d that morning from Sri Lanka…

She asked, “Why would Buddhism which supports peace result in genocide?” I told her that it was the sticking point on Anthropology that differentiates Christianity from all other religions – they don’t believe man was created in the image of God. After some conversation about that and the atheistic foundation of Buddhism, I asked her, based on Buddhism, is man of any greater value than an animal? She said of course! I asked why? She said because man is cognitive.  I asked her if our abilities, how smart we are, or being cognitive result in our having value and worth, where does that leave Uncle Ken? Buddhist anthropology and theology is why genocide happens, even in a culture where a major tenant is “peace.”  By definition, “culture is an outward expression of its religion.”

It really made me appreciate the beauty not only the first item of  Christian anthropology –created in the image of God – but also the second, it’s not about me.  Everything in Buddhism is “about me.”  It is about “Do it myself.” Narcissism on steroids. My generation was represented by materialism.  The new generation (yes yours) is represented as the “Me generation.”  Never in modern times has any generation ever been so “me-centered.”  No wonder Buddhism is alive and rampant in other country[USA].

As I was reading Ephesians 6, it was  all about one more example of the beauty of the Christian theology. It’s not about me, it’s about Him – He did it for us, He does it with us, He does it in us. We have a relationship with our Creator. It just doesn’t get any better than that!


Loving,
Martin