Expert: Edward Bode - 4/22/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hello Mr. Edward!
I don't know if you can answer this question but maybe you can.
I've been reading about Zen Buddhism lately and I started to wonder what would a Christian say about Zen Buddhism, namely what faults would he find in this philosophy/religion, why would a Christian say that his religion/faith is better than this one and why my religion is a true one and Buddhism is not.
thanks
ANSWER: The Council of Vatican II in its decree on non-Christian religions, commented that the Church does not reject what is holy and true in these religions.  However, the decree pointed out that the Church must always proclaim that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life [John 14:6], in whom people find the fullness of religious life and in whom God has reconciled all things to Himself [2 Cor 5:18-19].  
The decree mentioned that Buddhism does acknowledge the insufficiency of this world and seeks enlightenment for people.
To summarize my thoughts, Jesus is the one, true savior of the world.  However, we can acknowlege the values of non-Christian culture and society.
Such is the summary of what I can provide since I am not a student of the details of Buddhism.
Best wishes again, Luke.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi.I meant "emphasized" not "underminned", sorry for this mistake in my follow up question. By the way
I think it's good to combine these two religions, that is to draw something useful for ourselves from each of them. For example I think that Christians do not train their bodies/minds in any way, that is why they could practice meditation and try to focus on each part of their bodies, simply to feel them, a so called body-awareness, this, undoubtedly would bring some benefits. I'm a Catholic and apart from saying prayers I'm also trying to practice zazen (meditation) from time to time. Zen is about questioning. You're not told to believe anything but are instead directed to experience for yourself. Rather than memorizing hearsay passed down from generation to generation, each practicioner of Zen sets out to personally have the same kind of enlightenment that was experienced by the founder. I think it's very interesting.
I'm just trying to say that it's good to draw anything that seems to be useful from other religions and incorporate them into our lives. That's what I'm trying to do and I think it's nothing bad.
Best wishes Mr. Edward!

Answer
I am not a student of Buddhism.  The Catholic faith since the time of the apostles has emphasized that Jesus Christ is the one Savior, whose graces come especially through the Sacraments and the Mass.  
God's grace may provide enlightenment but enlightenment of itself does not produce grace.  
Meditation has received an emphasis in Catholic spiritual theology at least since the founding of monastic orders before the middle ages.  Among recent Catholic writers, Eugene Boylan and Edward Leen have stressed the importance of meditative prayer.
Many years ago, a friend of mine used to comment, "Why go searching for oleo when you have butter in the refrigerator?"  He was alluding to the cost and the shortage of butter during World War II.
Best wishes, Luke.