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Earning the right to be a belief? Is it ignorance?

How does that question have any logical sense? My friend just asked me "Did you earn the right to be Buddhist yet?" How do you earn the right to be a religion? I did not say anything but in my mind I was like, wth is wrong with you... I was born and raised a Buddhist and my father is a Buddhist. I am not a convert nor is my father, we are just Buddhist... Has anyone else seen ignorance like this happen towards you due to your belief/religion? Share your experience below...

February 16, 2013

3 Comments • Newest first

MatthewDough

I've never had this problem anywhere (yet).
Pretty much everyone I'm around is accepting of whatever religion and stuff.

Reply February 16, 2013
RiverStar

Well people are always ignorant about something but that doesn't mean you need to say bad things about them
I think your friend is ignorant (lacking in knowledge) regarding buddhism but not in the sense that they're completely stupid/incompetent.
Maybe he assumed buddhism was like catholicism where you have to do so and so to become a priest or some other title. Or maybe he's misheard some things related to buddhism. Correct me if I'm wrong, but buddhism involves karma and in a sense 'earning' a better position in the next life. They probably got confused by this.

The 2nd poster also presents a good question. How can you born with a belief system? Yes, you were raised in a buddhist home, but I urge you as you grow up and become more independent, to have your own thoughts. If buddhism is something you truly believe and not just a daily ritual you have become accustomed to because you've grown up with it then I respect your decision. However, there is a misconception amongst christianity (that could be said for other religions) where "I will go to heaven because my parents are christians, I go to church every Sunday, I got christened when I was younger". If you are merely piggy-backing onto your parents faith, then can you say it is truly your own? So if you haven't already searched for what you yourself believe, then I urge you to go on a journey of discovery Let me make it clear to you that I'm not pushing my beliefs onto you even though I have mentioned my own faith within this post. You will see that I haven't been aggressive at all. All I have done is prompt you to reflect on your own life and beliefs. If you do go on a journey of discovery and find that you want to be a follower of Jesus Christ, welcome to the family. If you're satisfied with your life now, then so be it.

For the last part of your post, yes, people say a lot of things about christianity when they haven't experienced it for themselves. Usually a large number of misconceptions arise from having seen 'christians' (only by name but not by lifestyle) not be very christian. It's especially hard to sit down with people and share about what you believe when they don't want to listen to your answers too. They bombard you with questions without giving you a chance to answer or listen half-heartedly so often there is no point reasoning with them. They are comfortable with what they believe in and aren't open to new ideas. Christianity is not just about doing things - that is on the outside and any one can modify their behaviour - but it takes the Holy Spirit to change them from the inside out so that their actions match their hearts. Both faith and deeds matter.

Reply February 16, 2013
SriLankanKen

[quote=eean]how can you be born with a belief system[/quote]

That is what I am wondering.

Edit: By born a Buddhist I mean I did not mean it literally. I meant it like into a Buddhist family.

Reply February 16, 2013 - edited