Asked to change religion? Here's help
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My thoughts: would be helpful to some, but please learn the teachings of Buddhism first. If so called 'Buddhists' don't know what Buddhism is, of course conversion will happen as one will be 'bought over'.
For those interested in reading the book, I posted it days ago at Agree to Disagree: Conversations on Conversions
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Yen Feng
Mon, May 17, 2010
The Straits Times
BUDDHISTS hurt by Pastor Rony Tan's criticism of their faith are talking back with the help of a new guidebook out this month.
Titled Agree To Disagree: Conversations About Conversions, the 28-page booklet gives readers prepared responses for situations in which they are asked by others to convert to another religion.
The project is sponsored by two of the largest Buddhist temples here - the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, off Sin Ming Avenue, and the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple in Waterloo Street.
http://news.asiaone.com/News/the%2BS...17-216540.html
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If you are firm, they will not bother you. I have been approached by cell group leaders recommended by my relatives but they gave up after talking to me.
Don't believe in free tickets to heaven. Earthly life is already so complex, so do you think death and afterlife is as simple as ABC ? Believe, do nothing and get free tickets to heaven ? Have a deeper thought, there is more to it, not just heaven and hell.
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Hey great contribution
Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu!!!
The scenario conversation was very real. I believe almost everyone has such an encounter in one way or another.
I remember when I was at my ex-churchmate wedding, a active friend also tried to convert me. He said that his relative was also a Buddhist but in the end accept Christ etc. Hence I ask him, what make you think that he is a Buddhist? He reply because he take joss stick and pray to Guan Yin. So I ask him has he taken refuge in the triple gem. He was dumbfound. I told him, there are a lot of so called Buddhist out there who has the same misconception as you. I thank him and left the wedding.
I think as a Buddhist, we should know our stuff well. Sometime due to profoundity of the Sutra sometimes we do not studies them with a dose of understanding. Whereas Christian are faithful in their Bible studies and interpretation (of course interpretation is sound within their circle).
Beside, we need to care and keep a lookout for our Buddhist brethen. Being geniune interested in your bro's well being. Most of us goes to temple because we have unspoken needs. It can be family, social, spiritual and etc. As Buddha tender to the disciples who was down with boils. We need to learn to translate the Buddha teaching into care and concern action.
Gassho
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i wonder if this is such a good idea... esp with the newspaper article, whether it wld polarise society further thru religion differences... anyway, the book shd focus on Buddhism itself, not on how to handle proselytising... if Buddhism knowledge is clearly known, then automatically conversion by others is not so easily done...
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Rony tan ? Since when was he a big shot lol. Aiya dont get affected lah, not the first time anyway. Immune liao...
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If there is yuan, one will become buddhist.
I am still searching.
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You sure if auto conversion not easily done? A nice little needle jab is all it needs.
Religion is the only thing that is stupid, not people.
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The book compiled by the two Buddhist organisations is a good effort. We can complement such efforts by continuing to share with fellow Buddhists how we can be firm but yet cordial when being drawn into conversations with the purpose of religious conversion by others. What are some of those phrases we can say or use in certain scenarios? We cannot claim to cover all scenarios but if we continue to share, we will stand to benefit individually at our own pace, in collective and cumulative wisdom.
When we share our own personal experiences of how we were firm but cordial when approached or challenged by members of other faith at any point in time, we are directly and indirectly providing good reference sources of behaviour to adopt or not to adopt for various life scenarios.
No one can really say that his or her own experience is the only one that should be used (as circumstances vary from time to time), but that shouldn't stop us from sharing freely with those who really wish to know how to handle strong or subtle but very regular religious approaches by members of other faiths.
Thank you AEN for the post. =)
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Thank you AEN for the post
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Originally posted by Herzog_Zwei:
Religion is the only thing that is stupid, not people.
nice paradox u got here :)
sounds abit like 'bold statements are the only things that are stupid, not the person making them'
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Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
My thoughts: would be helpful to some, but please learn the teachings of Buddhism first. If so called 'Buddhists' don't know what Buddhism is, of course conversion will happen as one will be 'bought over'.
For those interested in reading the book, I posted it days ago at Agree to Disagree: Conversations on Conversions
------------
Yen Feng
Mon, May 17, 2010
The Straits Times
BUDDHISTS hurt by Pastor Rony Tan's criticism of their faith are talking back with the help of a new guidebook out this month.
Titled Agree To Disagree: Conversations About Conversions, the 28-page booklet gives readers prepared responses for situations in which they are asked by others to convert to another religion.
The project is sponsored by two of the largest Buddhist temples here - the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, off Sin Ming Avenue, and the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple in Waterloo Street.
http://news.asiaone.com/News/the%2BS...17-216540.html This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized %1%2.i believe this is a right step towards a better understanding of Buddhism. many seeds will be planted, now waiting for the right conditions to help blossom the flowers.
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Originally posted by geis:
nice paradox u got here :)
sounds abit like 'bold statements are the only things that are stupid, not the person making them'
maybe so. maybe not.