Buddha and Christ

A couple of years ago my life was enriched when I was asked to officiate at a joint Episcopal-Buddhist wedding for Pilar and Jeff Tumulo. Pilar is a devout Tibetan Buddhist. Our friendship has grown and recently we have been meditating together and teaching each other about our religious traditions. The experience has been very rich for me. Intrigued by our relationship, many people have asked that we do something that would share our experience with the wider community. This Monday, October 4, at 7pm, we will begin a monthly program at St. Thomas Church where we will invite people into our meditation and discussion. More information is available on our web page: www.stthomassunvalley.org.

Our two local papers did a marvelous job last Wednesday publicizing the event. A couple of concerned Christians have contacted me. They are worried and upset that I would teach a class that looked at Buddhism in a positive light. Here is my response:

"I would like to thank you for your letter of concern. It is clear that we interpret the teachings of Jesus and Christianity differently. I do not pretend to have the last word on matters of doctrine. My beliefs have evolved as I have grown deeper in my walk with Christ. I, of course, can be wrong. I try to articulate my faith as it is today as clearly and carefully as I can so that it can be one voice in the chorus that makes up the Body of Christ. If my beliefs cause you distress, I apologize. That certainly is not my intent. As a priest, my goal is not to transmit my views as if they were necessary components of Christian doctrine; rather I strive to invite people into a life-transforming relationship with Christ where their beliefs will be shaped by that relationship.
Thank you again for your thoughtful comments and I welcome future correspondence."

Sharing our faith is tricky business. While I have a very open view toward people of other faiths, not all Christians do. My behavior as a public Christian in this community is bound to offend some. It is my hope, however, that we can continue to live with one another in love and respect, even as we disagree.