First temple

Not Just the Unborn

For those of you who think prolifers only care about fetuses, I've started a separate blog to rant about other issues that I'm passionate about. Find out what else is compelling to this "friend of the fetus."

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

First temple

My guide, Lek, is a Buddhist, and he brought me to a temple that was dedicated to the monk who founded it. The monk died 17 years ago and his body is preserved in the glass coffin you see here. There was a biography of the monk and he was an impressive man.

The whole experience of visiting a Buddhist temple was awkward for me, as a Christian. I want to show respect for other folks' desire to pursue holiness, without giving the impression that I make no distinction between Christianity and other faiths. I dealt with it by behaving the way I'd want a Buddhist to behave when visiting a Christian church. I was quiet and respectful, asked first before taking pictures, and listened to what Lek was telling me about the temple, the monk, and so forth. I asked questions about various things and found commonality with Christianity wherever possible. Lek showed me the Five Precepts of Buddhism, and I explained that we have Ten Commandments. 

And I prayed quietly that all the hunger for holiness will help the Buddhists to find their way to the Father, as I do in Korea when confronted with Buddhism. 

My fear isn't being unpopular; it's that I don't want to teach other people of other faiths that Christians are jerks. I want to leave a positive impression of Christians so that they'll be open to the Gospel. And frankly I don't know what to do around folks who actually have another faith. I'm used to dealing with straightforward unbelievers.

Just a little of what was going through my head and heart as I visited this beautiful site and pondered what the appropriate Christian response should be.

So, enjoy the beautiful pictures.