>>I would be interested in your thoughts on a couple questions about the Buddhist scriptures:<<
I have not read all of their scriptures (the complete canon takes over 5 linear feet of shelf space), but have read a good chunk. I'd be happy to give you my layman's, non-expert view...
Note that I am speaking only to the Theravadan school of buddhism, and I know very little about later schools such as Mahayana, Zen, etc.
>>1. What does it teach about the character and nature of God?<<
Which God? There are many god's in the classical buddhist cosmology. There is even a creator god (Pajapati) who deluded himself into believing that he created everything. But no god in any of the heavens is eternal or all-powerful. They are bound by the cycle of kamma into samsaric existence.
>>2. What does it teach about sin and man's relationship to God?<<
The closest thing to sin would be "unskillfulness" or "unwholesomeness". Thoughts, speech, and acts of this character would cause rebirth in a lower state (poor and ugly person, animal, or even one of the hells). This is seen as a natural consequence of such acts and not punishment or judgement.
>>3. What does it offer as a means of salvation?<<
There are two different concepts of salvation...
Kammic salvation would be rebirth in one of the higher realms (heavens, if you will...). It is caused by the opposite of unskillful or unwholesome acts. These skillful/wholesome acts would be similar to those espoused by Christians or many other religions (non-violence, non-greed, non-hatred, etc). Existence in these heavens are long-lasting, but not permanent. Eventually you will fall back to earth and start again in the samsaric cycle.
Nibbanic salvation (or Nirvana) is a release from the cycle of samsara. It is the cessation of all suffering. Many outsiders have characterized Nibbana polemically as total annihilation, but this is not the correct understanding, and is specifically refuted in the scriptures. An understanding of Nibbana is not something you can get from reading a blurb or a paper on buddhism.
Nibbana is obtained through human effort. Specifically, following the eightfold path, which can be read about in any introductory paper on buddhism.
>>4. Why do you believe that it is true and of divine origin?
<<
"Divine" does not apply. Most of the suttas are simply recordings of talks the Buddha gave, passed on through an oral tradition. Although there are some suttas which record discussions that the Buddha had with various Gods or the devil (Mara).
The age and transmission method (oral) are fairly certain, and I believe that the scriptures are based on an actual historical figure just like I believe the New Testament is based on an actual historical figure. But I doubt the accuracy of some of the more fantastic/supernatural feats of the Buddha, just as I doubt the miracle stories in the Bible.
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Your questions only make sense when interpreted through a Christian cultural lens. You select a set of key doctinal positions about which you are certain you hold the correct answers. This way, you can dismiss other scripture as "wrong" when it deviates from your positions, without the hassle of trying to learn about them on their own level. It would be similar to a Buddhist asking you to answer three questions as they would be answered in the Christian scriptures:
1) Is all existence permanent or impermanent?
2) Is what is impermanent satisfactory or unsatisfactory?
3) Is what is impermanent and unsatisfactory something that should be clung to as "Me" or "Mine"?
An incorrect or a "it depends..." answer to any of the above questions would cause most Theravadan buddhists to regard you as a deluded fool, blinded by ignorance. Yet most Christians would consider the above questions conditional or irrelevant.
So can you see how questions about the "character and nature of God" might be irrelevant to people from other perspectives? |
