Expert: Joe McSorley - 3/29/2005

Question
Joe,

I read a while back, multiple times, your answer/essay about trying to unite Christianity and Buddhism. I found this very well written and informative.  Out of this comes my question.

If Buddhism is correct than what are we to think of Jesus and the prophets.  I speak mostly of Jesus (most familiar with).  If we are to believe at least part of what was written he spoke some powerful words that are hard to refute that he was THE son of God etc.  I'm inclined to think that most of what we believe/know about him is man made for various purposes (power, rise of the church etc) but my devout Christian friends cannot agree.  Perhaps Jesus was no more than an enlightened man and his message is one in the same with Buddhism or on the flip side maybe I'm reaching.

So what are your thoughts on Jesus?  How do we explain him, the church etc?

Thanks

Chuck

Answer
Hi Chuck,
 Having been a member of the Church for years I don't try to explain it, it doesn't make any sense.  This is why religions rely on blind faith because the the problems they contain.  I think I sent you my essay of faith, if not, let me know and I'll send it.  
 We don't know what Jesus said or didn't say and he more often denied he was the son of God than said he was.  So was he lying, and if so, which times?  These arguments go round and round and you will never get someone of faith, any faith, to think about this.  It would destroy their entire world view and devastate them.  Why do you care what they believe?
 Chrisitianity is most problematic at the philosophical level in its contraditions.  There's an all loving God that sends the Jews in time after to time to smite his enemies. He allows a snake in the garden with his children before they know the difference between good and evil, so how can they choose?  Would you allow a snake in the garden with your children? If I create a virus knowing it will wreck havoc on mankind I would be held responsible for it but God created Lucifer knowing what he would become and is not commiting a wrong, why?  Moses hit the rock twice and was punished for his lack of faith but Jesus, on the cross cried,'My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me?" and was not cited for his lack of faith. Odd.  God killed the first born sons of the Egyptians, murdered them, baby killer, where is the mercy and justice for innocents here?
 So,it goes on and on and just creates arguments with beleiver because they have an excuse for all of it.  Simply put; how does God kill innocent babies?  It's clear he did but we supposed to have some kind of faith about his intentions.  I hear many an abusive father tell this to his children citing it's beyond their understanding.  The heart of the religion gets lost in this.  Jesus as a good,moral, ethical and brave man who went against his religion and societal norms and that's about all we can know.
 The Gospels of St Thomas from the Nag Hammadhi library, which were excluded from the Bible, sound like Buddhism.  "I drink from the lips of Christ and become Him" and " The kingdon of heaven is not to be obtained, rather it is before you now, you need gain the ability to see it'.
Christians don't accept this.
 By the way the idea of the divinity of Christ didn't come about until years after his death, why?
       Joe