buddhisme and crisian

Introduction

  • The collaboration between University of Hawai'i Press and JSTOR aims to digitize, preserve, and extend access to scholarly content, highlighting works like Buddhist-Christian Studies.

  • The focus is on the cross-cultural appropriation of Christianity in Burma, specifically exploring the question: Is Buddhism Indispensable in this process?

Author Background

  • La Seng Dingrin, the author, serves as a former faculty member at Myanmar Institute of Theology. His research aims to challenge traditional Protestant Christian assumptions about Buddhism's role and relevance to Christianity in Burma.

Contrasting Beliefs

Traditional Protestant Views

  • Early Burmese Protestant views, particularly from Adoniram Judson, suggest that Buddhism is dispensable to Christianity due to their fundamental differences:

    • Theism vs. Non-theism: Christianity emphasizes a personal God, while Buddhism focuses on self-effort.

    • Grace vs. Self-Effort: Salvation in Christianity is viewed as a gift from God, contrasting Buddhism's philosophy of self-liberation.

  • Non-Buddhists often label Buddhism as idolatrous because of the veneration of Buddha images, assuming no connection between the two religions.

Judson's Contributions

  • Judson was America's first overseas missionary who translated various Christian works into Burmese, notably "A View of the Christian Religion" and "The Golden Balance".

    • Judson's work examined key Burmese Buddhist concepts, linking them to Christian ideas.

    • His efforts included translating the Bible and compiling dictionaries, making significant contributions to understanding the language and culture.

Linguistic and Cultural Contributions

Key Buddhist Terms

  • The author highlights three essential Burmese Buddhist terms used by Judson:

    1. bhãsã (religion)

    2. tar^ (law or truth)

    3. bhur^ (God or god)

  • These terms underpin discussions of both Christian and Buddhist teachings in Burma.

The Role of Pali

  • Burmese Buddhism's language, particularly its Pali roots, is argued to be crucial for translating and presenting Christian doctrine in a culturally relevant way.

  • The close relationship between Burmese Buddhist terminology and Christian concepts indicates a deeper connection between the two religions than traditionally acknowledged.

The Missionary Context

Historical Factors

  • The development of Burmese as a literary language intertwined with Buddhism's propagation.

    • Burmese kings historically supported Pali scholarship and translations, enriching Burmese literature with Pali terms.

    • Local and foreign missionaries, including early Catholics and later Baptists, laid the groundwork for religious discourse and translation efforts.

Judson’s Approach

  • Judson's translations and tracts were crafted for a contemporary audience with limited exposure to Christianity, especially targeting Burmese languages and cultural contexts.

  • His works sought to establish Christianity not only as distinct but also as a superior belief, often labeling Buddhism in derogatory terms.

Theological Perspectives

Presentation of God and Salvation

  • Judson maintained a view of God as the only ultimate being, rejecting Buddhism's relational aspects.

  • His interpretation of Buddhism as flawed and incapable of providing true salvation emphasizes Christianity's exclusivity and perceived superiority.

Predictions of Religious Change

  • Judson argued that Buddhism would decline while Christianity would prevail globally, reflecting an evangelical millennialist perspective common in his era.

Philological Study of Buddhist Terms

Analysis of Key Terms

  • Judson's choice of terms such as bhãsã for religion and bhur^ for God highlights the complex interplay between Buddhism and Christianity in Burma.

  • It is noted that the understanding of these terms diverges significantly between Buddhist and Christian contexts, suggesting that translation attempts were underway.

Terminological Disparities

  • Injunctions regarding specific terms used include:

    • Judson’s usage of bhur^ and bhãsã, which diverges from traditional Buddhist meanings, aims to create theological categories that resonate within Christian frameworks.

    • His use of tar^ in relation to Jesus’ teachings reflects a selective adaptation of Buddhist language for Christian purposes.

Conclusion

  • The study argues that Burmese Buddhism, through its linguistic and cultural tools, facilitated the translation and appropriation of Christianity in Burma.

  • The relationship between Buddhism and Christianity is nuanced, revealing areas of linguistic affinity and potential common ground that contradicts the notion of total divergence.

  • Thus, the exploration of Buddhist terminology is crucial in understanding the dynamics of religious exchange and adaptation in Burma.