What if Jesus came back as a Buddhist?

Well... What if?? I mean, what if Jesus truely did come back, and this was beyond any doubt. And he was a buddhist, or any other religion for that matter. Would that shake a christians faith?

I think that it would be interesting to see the reactions. I think it would put an end to the whole "One True Church" argument, but that's just me. I don't know if Jesus was to be reborn again in a baby, or just come back in spiritual form or what not. I'm completely behind on the second coming stuff.

Eynah said:

I think that it would be interesting to see the reactions. I think it would put an end to the whole "One True Church" argument, but that's just me. I don't know if Jesus was to be reborn again in a baby, or just come back in spiritual form or what not. I'm completely behind on the second coming stuff.

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I was just thinking the same thing. It's a bit hard to claim to be the 'one true religion' when your Messiah is putting himself about with the opposition.

didn't you know? God is buddhist and the mormons were the right religion! They're up in heaven making puppets out of milk cartons! (sorry, had to South Park it)

No, it would not shake my faith, and yes, it would be quite interesting! I presume it would be his 2nd coming? My 1st question would be "What was wrote about you, what parts did we get wrong? And please, reply in English.

Master Vigil said:

Well... What if?? I mean, what if Jesus truely did come back, and this was beyond any doubt. And he was a buddhist, or any other religion for that matter. Would that shake a christians faith?

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im a christian/pagan with a hint of buddhism - i don't think it would hit me too hard :bounce

The fact remains that these personalities are trailblazers, not followers. To me, it is unlikely they would ever follow any current religion. It is almost laughable to think they would.

Why do you assume he would be generally recognized this time? There are lots of people alive today who are regarded by small groups of followers as messiahs, avatars, &c, and thousands more recognized only by themselves.

I suspect a real messiah would barely be noticed in his/her lifetime even if s/he were Christian.
Pretenders of foreign faiths would most likely be completely ignored (as they are being as I type) by the Christian communities.

Master Vigil said:

Well... What if?? I mean, what if Jesus truely did come back, and this was beyond any doubt. And he was a buddhist, or any other religion for that matter. Would that shake a christians faith?

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Christian = Follower of Christ, so I guess they'd just have to change their practises, but not their religion.

It is an excellent point MV assuming Jesus actually existed. He never wrote anything down. As many of the Christians have adroitly pointed out in the past, those that follow Christianty are really following the interpretations and writings of Paul and those who wrote after his death and than that of their church. The only natural progression of a movement without a leader (Jesus again never recorded his thoughts) is diversity and splintering based on tangent theories of a leader who is for all times a mystery. So like you say, who is to say he wasn't philosophically speaking, a buddhist, a taoists, a philosopher who agreed with Socrates, a materialists, a hedonists, a nihlists, or a polytheists---Paul?

Master Vigil said:

Well... What if?? I mean, what if Jesus truely did come back, and this was beyond any doubt. And he was a buddhist, or any other religion for that matter. Would that shake a christians faith?

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I don't see why it should - after all Buddhism is more of a philosophy than a 'religion'.......besides, didn't Jesus Christ spend some time with Buddhists, during his time on Earth, or am I going gaga ?

Well, first of all Jesus came as Christ, not a Christian.

Buddha came before Christ, but He did not come as a Buddhist, He came as the Founder.

In my personal opinion both came as Manifestations of God, just like Moses, Zoroaster, the Bab, Baha`u'llah, Abraham, Noah, Salih, Krsna and Hud. However, Baha`u'llah came as a Prophet, not as a Muslim, Buddhist, Christian or Jew.

People who FOLLOW the teachings of Christ are Christians. People who follow the teachings of the Qur'an are Muslims. Muhammed was not a Muslim He was the Founder of Islam.

Get the difference?

Regards,
Scott

It would make a lot more sense than him being Christian. He can't exactly follow himself now can he?

He would be a better person and his followers(JC's) would no longer have to continue to worship something that is not there. But most likely all christains would deny him because a buddhist does not believe that this world is created and ruled by a God.

jgallandt said:

No, it would not shake my faith, and yes, it would be quite interesting! I presume it would be his 2nd coming? My 1st question would be "What was wrote about you, what parts did we get wrong? And please, reply in English.

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Why should Jesus converse with you in English? He might used his limited Hebrew and his original native tongue and whatever tongue he happened to be born into, could be Chinese, Hindu, Arabic etc. He might tell you "I have written nothing in my former life, I talked a lot, but did not put anything into writing, those who wrote about me made tons of mistakes, I regretted I did not put my teaching into writing, and had to do it second hand through Paul, who did not do a very good job as well. That is why I had to reincarnate as a Buddist and this time, I am going to make it right. I am going to post in English (though I speak no English) in RF to make sure everyone can read me correctly. "

michel said:

I don't see why it should - after all Buddhism is more of a philosophy than a 'religion'.......besides, didn't Jesus Christ spend some time with Buddhists, during his time on Earth, or am I going gaga ?

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I do not think Jesus wander far enough out of the area of Jewish settlement during his era to encounter Buddhists. Later Fathers did have encountered with Buddists, but Buddist thought and philosphy have very little influence on early Fathers in their development of the Canon and Christian doctrines. In fact, the Persian religion and Greek and Roman mythology and philosophy of life have more influence in the development of the Canon and Christian doctrines in the early developmental stage.

Master Vigil said:

Well... What if?? I mean, what if Jesus truely did come back, and this was beyond any doubt. And he was a buddhist, or any other religion for that matter. Would that shake a christians faith?

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Uh... maybe I'm dense or something, but just how would that work? It just doesn't make any sense to me.

What if He came back as a Mormon? Now there's a question I'd like to see some answers to?

Katzpur said:

Uh... maybe I'm dense or something, but just how would that work? It just doesn't make any sense to me.

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It means, what if Jesus came back and wasn't a modern day christian? What if he came back, and basically told christians that they are wrong? What if he came back, and his teachings resembled buddhism, or taoism, or even paganism? And there was no doubt that it was Christ returned. Would that shake your present faith?

Master Vigil said:

It means, what if Jesus came back and wasn't a modern day christian? What if he came back, and basically told christians that they are wrong? What if he came back, and his teachings resembled buddhism, or taoism, or even paganism? And there was no doubt that it was Christ returned. Would that shake your present faith?

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My faith is based on the fact that since Christ's death on the cross, He has in fact done just that THREE times. Once as Muhammed, once as the Bab and once as Baha`u'llah. Same SPirit, different vessels. My faith is actually maintained by that fact.

"The purpose of this is to show that the holy Manifestations of God, the divine prophets, are the first teachers of the human race. They are universal educators and the fundamental principles they have laid down are the causes and factors of the advancement of nations. Forms and imitations which creep in afterward are not conducive to that progress. On the contrary these are destroyers of human foundations established by the heavenly educators. These are clouds which obscure the Sun of Reality. If you reflect upon the essential teachings of Jesus you will realize that they are the light of the world. Nobody can question their truth. They are the very source of life and the cause of happiness to the human race. The forms and superstitions which appeared and obscured the light did not affect the reality of Christ. For example, His Holiness Jesus Christ said: "Put up the sword into the sheath." The meaning is that warfare is forbidden and abrogated; but consider the Christian wars which took place afterward. Christian hostility and inquisition spared not even the learned; he who proclaimed the revolution of the earth was imprisoned; he who announced the new astronomical system was persecuted as a heretic; scholars and scientists became objects of fanatical hatred and many were killed and tortured. How do these actions conform with the teachings of Jesus Christ and what relation do they bear to his own example?"
(Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 250)


Regards,
Scott

Master Vigil said:

It means, what if Jesus came back and wasn't a modern day christian? What if he came back, and basically told christians that they are wrong? What if he came back, and his teachings resembled buddhism, or taoism, or even paganism? And there was no doubt that it was Christ returned. Would that shake your present faith?

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Well, first off, He never was a "Christian." I'm sure He would find great truths in all of the world's major religions, but I can't exactly imagine Him calling Himself a Buddhist or a Hindu or even a Christian. I mean, if He truly is who He claimed to be, it wouldn't make sense for Him to do so.