This article in the Star Tribune about "Buddhist Christians" (or was it Christian Buddhists?) is one of many I've noticed in the last fifteen years about Christians co-opting Buddhist-style meditation techniques. Not ever having tried it myself, and not really knowing much about Buddhist-style meditation, I won't offer any comments about the practice itself --- except to note that Christianity already has a long and diverse history of meditation techniques, and I often wonder how much of these have been explored by Christians who eventually turn to techniques drawn from other faiths.
But the thing that I really noticed about this particular article was what was missing from it, and what begged to be covered. The article includes numerous references to Christians who are critical of this thing embraced by "Christian Buddhists" (or "Buddhist Christians"), and answers the criticism like this:
What Meadow [a retired religious studies professor] will explain to her critics -- at least the ones who do her the courtesy of letting her respond -- is that there's a distinction between Buddhism as religion and Buddhism as a meditation technique. One is a belief system; she doesn't teach that. The other, the one she focuses on, is a process.
So what I want to know is: What do Buddhists think of this? Of Christians, who say they don't believe in Buddhism, taking up meditation technique and calling themselves "Buddhist?" Not a single Buddhist is quoted in this article, nor is there any information in it about Buddhism as a religion. Talk about a dropped ball!
Oh, and there's one more thing that I just can't let go by. We have in this article -- completely unchallenged by the journalist -- a quote from the featured "retired religious studies professor," described as "one of the world's foremost experts on Buddhist Christians," as follows:
"Christianity includes a call to meditate, but it never provides a method of meditating, a step-by-step guide on how to do it," she said.
That is, um, bullshit. Off the top of my head I can think of two methods of Western Christian meditation that have provided a step-by-step guide, for, oh, at least a few hundred years. Lectio Divina anyone? That dates to 220 AD. Rosary? Since the 1200's at the latest, and it's had a "step by step" form since 1569. There are of course upstarts like the Divine Mercy Chaplet, very timely since the feast is tomorrow, born in Poland in the early part of this century. And then there's Eastern Christianity. Hello? Icons?
Journalists should beware of the word "never," and not let it slip by unchallenged.
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