Why do things happen to us in life? There are 3 positions you could take on this question:
1) It's controlled or predetermined by a higher power, such as God or fate
2) It's random, and we're all part of a giant cosmic lottery
3) It's causal, so we reap what we sow - there are 'causes' for all the 'effects' in our life, even though the relationship between cause and effect is too complex for us to ever understand it in its entirety
The ancient Indian philosophers - the Hindus, Buddhists and Jains - termed the first two 'eternalism' and 'nihilism' respectively. These are both seen as 'extreme views', and much of Indian philosophy was about establishing why extreme views are a bad thing, and how to build a middle way between these two - the Madhyamika. The philosophy of the middle way rejects the two extreme views of eternalism and nihilism, and accepts the third position of interdependence, which is at the heart of how Buddhists explain why things happen in the world.
But although this debate was settled many centuries ago in India, at least at a philosophical level, it doesn't seem to have made much difference to the way we live our lives. For most of us, either we haven't thought much about it, or else our actions don't line up with our professed beliefs. Meanwhile, extreme views continue to spread like invasive species in an unsuspecting and defenceless ecosystem, and many people actually take pride in holding such beliefs. Sam Harris has clearly set out how religious extremism has led to great human suffering and death from religious wars over the years, and this terrible legacy continues today with the nightmare unfolding right now in Gaza. You might think we'd be ready to scream 'enough is enough'. But the popularity of extremism continues.
And now we have a new representative here in the Pacific North West. In the article "Who Would Jesus Smack Down", The New York Times profiles Mark Driscoll, the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, a megachurch which draws 7,600 people weekly. He's got "fashionably distressed jeans and a taste for indie rock", and his churches are filled with worshippers - and staff - sporting buzz-cuts and tattoos. He's out to make Calvinism cool. And if, like me, you're not up on your Calvinist theology, that means:
"you are not captain of your soul or master of your fate but a depraved worm whose hard work and good deeds will get you nowhere, because God marked you for heaven or condemned you to hell before the beginning of time"
Extreme views, anyone? And it's no surprise that these views don't lead naturally to compassion in your meditation or your action. Driscoll feels that the American church has transformed Jesus into “a Richard Simmons, hippie, queer Christ,” a “neutered and limp-wristed popular Sky Fairy of pop culture that . . . would never talk about sin or send anyone to hell.” Not exactly HH The Dalai Lama.
.jpg)
.jpg)
I live in Seattle and I live three blocks away from a Mars Hill church. I have knowingly met a couple of people who attend Mars Hill Church and I actually work with someone who attends Mars Hill and is dating another Mars Hill congregant. What I find surprising is that all three of these people really like me, two of them wanted to be friends even though I told them I was Buddhist and the co-worker goes out of her way to have lunch with me when she's not busy. I don't feel like they are contemplating that I am hell bound while we talk. What I suspect is that people often attend churches based on the "scene" and not quite so much based on the message. They just learn the message to belong to something. Mars Hill has a very slick and hip appeal for those who wish to be connected but are offended by the cheesiness of some mainstream churches. It's as if religion for many is a way to feel like they belong to something, a sort of tribe. I don't think all church goers actually sit down and thoroughly examen their lives as methodically as those drawn to Eastern Philosophy. Buddhism is ruthlessly contempletive and there is no one to tell you every Sunday how to live or what to think. Also, since there is often less emphasis put on community, Buddhism only manages to sustain people who are truly willing to unflinchingly look at their own hearts and minds, hence the emphasis on courage, bravery i.e warriorship. So, it seems to me, that even though a church professes extreme views, its slick packaging and its promise of belonging to a cool tribe is very easy and the most appealing for people who may feel a little lonely at best or extremely lost at worst. In contrast, Buddhists seem to read about Buddhism extensively before they ever consider seeking out actual meditation instruction or the help of a master. Buddhists are not passive in their search for meaning and are not easily put off by a lack of cool image or comfort (i.e. indoctrination). In fact, I have personally heard a few Buddhists complain of organizations becoming "too slick". It seems Buddhists have noticed suffering in themselves and others before they ever get involved and are trying to learn a method to end it. Afterwards, they may take some comfort in the idea of sangha, but are quickly disillusioned when they realize Buddhist sanghas are not clingy and no one is going to take the time to indoctrinate you in any dogma. So, I think it is hardly surprising that extremism is so popular. There is something very comforting and appealing in the illusion of belonging to this cool exclusive tribe such as Mars Hill, that requires no critical thinking, just a willingness to submit to formal sessions of indoctrination (i.e. blind faith). This is what I think.
ReplyDelete