Case study: Help! My son wants to marry a Buddhist.

• A mother pleads for assistance in introducing her son's Buddhist fiancée to Christianity and navigating cultural and familial challenges.
• The mother seeks suggestions for printed or video materials that can help introduce Christianity to her future daughter-in-law, who has shown interest in attending church events.
• Cultural differences, language proficiency, and parental disapproval complicate the situation.

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Is it wise for a Christian to marry a Buddhist?

Trying to share Jesus Christ with son's Buddhist fiancée

A mother wants to help her son's fiancée come to know Christ. The young lady comes from a Chinese Buddhist family. The mother wrote me an e-mail asking for help in bringing the young lady to faith in Jesus.

"I'm not really sure who to ask or where to go to get needed information. I'm a Christian mother whose son is marrying a Chinese girl who knows she is a Buddhist because her father told her she was.

"Are there videos or brochures that would help us introduce Jesus to this young lady?

"I'm a public school teacher. My husband is the worship pastor at our church. My son's fiancée has experienced our church's big Easter Pageant twice. She has expressed a desire to see it even more times.

"The young lady and her family have lived in the U.S. for 15 years. She speaks English fairly well. Of course, her father is against this marriage because it was not arranged by him. He also doesn't like it because my son is an American of European origin. The parents own a restaurant, and it seems that Jenny is not much more than an employee for them.

"Help me introduce Jesus to this young lady. Can you suggest printed or video material that would help us?"

• How would you respond to an e-mail like this?
• What are some things you think need to be said and heard?
• If some face-to-face conversations could be arranged . . .
  • If you could meet only with the mother, in what directions would you take the conversation?
  • If you could meet only with the son, in what directions would you take the conversation?
  • If you could meet only with the mother and son together, how would you approach that conversation?

    -- Howard Culbertson,

Differences between Buddhism and Christianity

Buddhism and Christianity are two major world religions. They originated in different parts of the world. They have distinct teachings, practices, and beliefs. Their differences include:

• Founders and Origins:
  • Christianity was founded by followers of Jesus Christ in the 1st century AD. It has deep roots in Judaism that looks to Abraham as its founder in the 21st century BC.
  • Buddhism was founded in India in the 6th century BC by Siddhartha Gautama. Most people today know him as the Buddha.
Judaism
• Concept of God:
  • Christianity is a monotheistic religion. Christians believe in one God who created the universe and is actively involved in human affairs today.
  • Buddhism is non-theistic and could even be considered atheistic since it does not posit the existence of a creator god. Instead, Buddhism focuses on the teachings of the Buddha and achieving enlightenment.
• Salvation and Afterlife:
  • In Christianity, salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance of sins, and acceptance of God's grace. Believers look forward to eternal life in heaven after death.
  • In Buddhism, the ultimate goal is to Nirvana, which is liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Nirvana is attained through enlightenment and the cessation of suffering. Buddhists do not emphasize an afterlife but rather the concept of reincarnation until one achieves Nirvana.
• Scriptures:
  • Christianity's sacred text is the Bible. It consists of the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) and the New Testament that includes the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
  • Buddhism's scriptures vary depending on the tradition. Theravada Buddhism relies on the Pali Canon (Tripitaka). Mahayana Buddhism has additional scriptures, such as the Mahayana Sutras and the Tibetan Buddhist canon.
• Concept of Self:
  • Christianity emphasizes the importance of the individual soul and the idea of an eternal self that was created by God. Salvation is seen as a personal journey.
  • Buddhism teaches the concept of anatta or "no-self," which suggests that there is no permanent, unchanging self or soul. Instead, the self is seen as a collection of constantly changing elements.
• Role of Rituals and Practices:
  • Christian practices include prayer, Bible reading, and communal worship. Baptism and communion are central rituals.
  • Buddhism includes practices such as meditation, chanting, and ethical conduct. These practices can be done individually or in group settings.

Related articles

• Other case studies involving Buddhism
• How Buddhists respond to suffering
• Are the "heathen" lost? Answers to an oft-asked question
• World Religions word scramble 3
• World Religions word scramble 5
• Hindu/Christian marriage proposal

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