The United Nations designated the first week in February as Interfaith Harmony Week. While I think we should be respecting and learning about other religions at any time of the year, this is the week set aside to really raise awareness and call our attention to how we interact with our brothers and sisters of other religions.
So this week I decided that I would spend a little time learning about another religion. Where I live in Illinois is not a religiously diverse community. I live in the kind of small town where the mayor put a giant nativity scene in the downtown square. There are religiously diverse communities outside of this small town and not too far, but this town itself is not that diverse, so I don't interact a lot with people of other faiths.
The religion I decided to spend time with this week was Buddhism. I knew very little about this faith, so I watched a PBS documentary and did a little online reading. It's a fascinating religion. Buddhism entered the world long before Christianity did, but it's fascinating to think about the parallels between stories and aspects of the Buddhist faith that correspond to the Christian faith. There are things about Buddha's life, for example, that parallel stories about the life of Jesus Christ (see the story of how Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan vs. the stories of how Buddha was tempted by the god of desire). Obviously there are areas in which Christianity and Buddhism differ radically, but I've learned overtime that the best way to learn about your own faith is to study the faith of another. Here's what I learned about my own faith.
I could not be a Buddhist, but I have a profound respect for their ability to find joy wherever and whenever they are. In the Christian tradition, we live this life in preparation for the life that comes after. We deal a lot wiht the question of what comes after. Often we ask, "What happens when we die?". We believe that what happens when we die is we are united in mind and spirit to our Creator. At least, we hope that we have lived lives that lead us down that path to that end. The Buddhist tradition does not ask what comes after because there is no need to. It's about being content in the moment and finding joy in everything around you. I suspect most Americans would have a hard time being Buddhist because culturally we have an almost impossible time finding contentment in anything.
Learning about the Buddhist tradition, though, made me think about my own faith and how much we do concern ourselves with the future. We put a lot of stock in stuff and the American Dream has the mentality of "Whoever dies with the most toys wins." Ideally, the Christian is able to put aside the wants of today for the needs of tomorrow. Ideally, God is enough, but rarely is that the case these days.
In my quest to simplify my life, I've decided to adopt some aspects of Buddhism. I don't mean I'm going to convert to Buddhism and adopt these philosophies, but I want to attempt to be more content with what is going on in this moment and stop worrying so much about a future that may or may not come to pass. We can affect change, but it is God who brings us where we need to be.
Specifically, I've decided to adopt three of the four principle noble truths of the Buddhist faith: first, that suffering (or discontentment) exists in the world. Second, suffering has a cause. Third, you can be free of suffering by understanding the cause of suffering. The Buddhists say that the cause of suffering is coupled to the stumbling block of desire. That's not to say that desire is a bad thing, because the human being was created to desire things. But if we turn to our own Christian faith and believe what the the Westminster Shorter Catechism says -- that the chief end of mankind is to serve God and enjoy Him forever -- then we take steps in our life to ask ourselves if the things we desire are really things we should be desiring.
What is it in your own life that is blocking you from finding joy? Eternal joy is a life with Christ. Are there things in your life that block you from seeking that eternal joy? What causes you discontentment? Is it worth it?
I'm over simplifying the noble truths, of course, and I'm not suggesting that we should convert to Buddhism. I'm simply suggesting that we should take our cue from our Buddhist brothers and sisters and find ways to seek contentment in mind, body, and spirit from the Creator that took such great care to put together these bodies we have and the world we have to live in. Maybe it will help us focus on the things in our lives that really are important.
Interfaith Harmony Week is over, but the learning never stops. Take some time to explore another religion. Like I said, sometimes the best way to learn about our own faith is to learn about the faith of others. There's no better way to walk with Christ than to fully understand why you've chosen to walk with Christ.
May you find peace and harmony in your lives this week and always and may God hold you to the light as you continue to discover new things about how your faith is your own.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Becki
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