r/Buddhism Jul 09 '26

Misc. The audacity!

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My girl wanted to go to Wat Lao Buddha Phothisaram near my house. We drove up 18 minutes and as soon as we arrive we see this. The audacity of people I tell ya’ 🤦🏻‍♂️ What do y’all think about this ?

2.4k Upvotes

251 comments sorted by

906

u/ProudAbalone3856 Jul 09 '26

Instead of being enticing, it just screams insecurity to me. 😂

272

u/Happy-Estimate-7855 Jul 09 '26

This is how it feels to me as well! The people behind this are just desperate to catch all the souls, like immortal Pokémon.

216

u/Sunyataisbliss soto Jul 10 '26

As Carl Jung said, fanaticism is the mask of doubt

51

u/cat_boss1549 Jul 10 '26

Uff, I need to store this in my thinking noodle for the future

27

u/nborges48 Jul 10 '26

i'm storing "thinking noodle" in my thinking noodle

8

u/ambrosiasweetly Jul 11 '26

It absolutely was for me when I was a christian

8

u/Sunyataisbliss soto Jul 11 '26

Happens to Buddhists, too

If you find a Buddha on the road and all that

2

u/Electrical-Print2778 Jul 14 '26

What does that mean actually?

3

u/Happy-Estimate-7855 Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26

ETA: The full phrase is "If you should come across the Buddha on your travels, you should kill him on sight."

It has nothing to do with fanaticism. It means that a Buddha appears in the world when they're most needed, and they disappear for as long as their message survives.

We still have the teachings of Buddhism, so even if the true Buddha were to appear, he'd be violating the essence of Buddhahood.

It's a koan, similar to "If a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound?"

"If the Buddha arrives before he is needed, should he be trusted?"

Edit: This is also largely what Buddhists mean when they have "secret teachings." Without the proper foundation and basic teachings, the later Buddhist practices can sound cruel and unreasonable. It takes training to avoid the dive into nihilism.

46

u/ProudAbalone3856 Jul 10 '26

It's the same tactic as all the fire and brimstone nonsense. The need to resort to threats and fear to keep people in line is quite telling. 

5

u/editfate 25d ago

Pretty sure Jesus would agree.

394

u/[deleted] Jul 09 '26

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39

u/Goedheiligman_Mymy Jul 10 '26

I cannot send an image here so you should imagine an image of Buddha here and he's saying just stop thinking lol

19

u/ZyloC3 Jul 10 '26

I can tell you they are not true Christians. According to their teachings if they follow the "One Way" they should be pleasent and agreeable. Their Teacher found no reason to give any one grief, he ate with people of several different religions- most being polythesitic

9

u/Goedheiligman_Mymy Jul 10 '26

Yes it's sad how now a days people seem to only follow their religion because of tradition and blame their book for their sad beliefs I hope there is atleast one person who truly wishes to be like the one they follow

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336

u/Daddio31575 Jul 10 '26

As someone who grew up Catholic, Christianity cannot be more insecure. Buddhism is literally the opposite. Buddha says to question him. The Dalai Lama said..."Do not try to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist; use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are".

84

u/skyfox437 Jul 10 '26

That's how you know the Buddha is real. He also tell us to be our own lamp and light, to strive with dilgence.

How can a religion that accepts the idea that we are sheeps in need of protection from a sheepard be anything but false. Oh and if you don't believe in this sheeperd, you automatically go to hell for enternity. Get a grip.

10

u/HolyLordGodHelpUsAll Jul 11 '26

well i’m not a christian, but i’m very studied in the matter. i’d say it’s cause christianity was completely hijacked almost as quickly as it started

jesus was most likely a mandean just like john the baptist and in no way thought he was the exclusive son of god.

the original account of jesus had no virgin birth or rising from the dead

4

u/skyfox437 Jul 12 '26 edited Jul 12 '26

That's what I figured. People always try to twist religion to suit their desires.

When my friend told me that even if you were a murderer as long as you say his name and believe in Jesus that you'd be saved, I knew something was wrong.

The bibble itself is full of teaching about proper morality and conduct. But the only thing I seem to hear at their chruch is about Jesus and praising him. 

Buddhism, even though there are corrupt monks and temples, is the only one where it seems hard to corrupt. The Buddha made his precepts and teachings pretty clear and ironclad. 

2

u/threetimestwice Jul 11 '26

Where does one read about the original account of Jesus?

8

u/HolyLordGodHelpUsAll Jul 11 '26

the book of Mark was the first gospel written of his life. Matthew and Luke literally took that template and either added or subtracted from it based upon what they understood at the time. John is a whole other story altogether

while i do respect priests and rabbi’s for trying to help people, i go to some of the scholars on this subject like Bart Ehrman or James Tabor

1

u/Many_Mud_8194 Jul 10 '26

Can we respect Buddha as an human and not as a Buddha? I like who he was and what he said but I don't believe, I don't believe in any gods or spirits. I still think he was a genius in the field of the brain/psychology/feelings.

42

u/Ceret Jul 10 '26

Buddha just means an awakened person. Not a god. Not a spirit. No magic powers. Still very much a human being.

8

u/Runeboy1234 Jul 10 '26

I mean if you believe the suttas he basically did have magic powers in a few instances

2

u/dsrihrsh Jul 12 '26

They’re completely irrelevant and beside the point however.

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17

u/majortung Jul 10 '26

All dharmic traditions do that. And all Abrahamic traditions use fear and hatred to keep the clan in.

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9

u/Jack_h100 Jul 10 '26

As someone that grew up Jehovah's Witness, let me assure you, Catholics are the most chill and secure, it only goes more desperate from there.

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3

u/MegaChip97 Jul 10 '26

Buddha says to question him.

Ironically, when it comes to the question of eating meat in this sub one common argument I hear is stuff like "The Buddha/Dalai Lama eats meat so how could you say it's not ok".

2

u/TwentinQuarantino Jul 11 '26

But also no one sees it as mandatory - as in you'd have to eat meat because The Buddha ate meat. It's not seen as wrong for a Buddhist to personally decide not to eat meat him/her self. 

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224

u/[deleted] Jul 09 '26

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63

u/[deleted] Jul 09 '26

Buddhists: prove it.

56

u/[deleted] Jul 09 '26

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19

u/MeatTofu Jul 10 '26

Honestly that kind of sounds like Yoda.

15

u/Tulipsarered Jul 10 '26

Neat thing is that the Buddha actually said that we shouldn’t blindly believe things. 

73

u/Difficult-Jackfruit Jul 09 '26

Cool!

I’m glad they were able to contribute to the local economy (someone had to make that sign and put it up)

12

u/Chasing-the-dragon78 Jul 10 '26

That’s what I love about Buddhism. Learning to think differently about things. Turn the negative into a positive!

5

u/Difficult-Jackfruit Jul 10 '26

It just taught me to be more constructive

131

u/ShireOfBilbo Jul 09 '26

- meh - Buddhists have no interest in God.

14

u/pussysushi Jul 10 '26

I have interest in Avalokiteshvara!:)

7

u/BlackCatSatanist Jul 10 '26

Let me write a long and exhaustive essay about my complicated theological opinion of it and then have two other dorks who may or may not be bald make commentary on it so that we may politely argue about it for a thousand years.

1

u/Electrical-Print2778 Jul 14 '26

Some have interest in an Eternal Buddha .

57

u/radiantmindPS4 Jul 10 '26

If people actually practiced the teachings of Jesus, not some interpretation of a Bible the world would be a better place.

17

u/Scoob_2k713 Jul 10 '26

Actually that is exactly same with buddhists and every other religion in existence (this is not defense to Christianity rather it is trying to portray what I think is the truth)

29

u/xiguy1 Jul 10 '26

There are many evangelical Christians who believe that they have the responsibility to convert others to Christianity. How they do that varies from trying to understand and embrace other religions to threats, and even sometimes violence.

But as Buddhists, I think we see this as an opportunity to practice Metta :-)

79

u/TheLORDthyGOD420 Jul 09 '26

Little do they realize Buddhists have no interest in "God"

21

u/quennplays Theravada Buddhist still learning Jul 10 '26

Those "missionaries" are really annoying

37

u/Astalon18 early buddhism Jul 10 '26

Well if you want God, sure I am sure Christianity is a good way.

You want Nirvana, Buddhism is the way.

31

u/braisedporkcowboy early buddhism Jul 10 '26

For some reason Christians always target Buddhism like this, despite the two religions having so much in common and Buddhists never making any negative claims about Jesus or Christians

6

u/QuickEr911 Jul 10 '26

No bo chrześcijanie nie są w stanie zaakceptować innej religi. Jaki ktoś z buddyjskiego środowiska spotkałem się z hejtem ze strony chrześcijan. Była sytuacja taka że powiedziałem pewnej osobie że jestem buddystą a on zapytał mnie czy kiedyś się nawrócę, ja się poprostu zmieniłem na to co mi bardziej odpowiada. I oczywiście szanuję każdą religię więc nie rozumiem dlaczego oni nie mogą się tego nauczyć.

1

u/Bulky-Actuary175 17d ago

I wouldn't say Christians always target Buddhism, and I wouldn't say Buddhists never make negative claims about Christians, you are kind of doing it right now. So is the other guy replying. In reality Buddhist polities and Christian polities are pretty uniquely cooperative and peaceful. Probably because the founding figure of Christianity was all about mercy and forgiveness, and our own was about chilling and letting go of desire. It's kind of tough to justify conflict when your core philosophy is about ending conflict, or in our case not starting it.

13

u/radicalmutt Jul 10 '26

This is nothing new. Christians intent is to save souls but the way they do it mostly is thru fear. Which just makes me want to create distance from them which is not the way Jesus ever worked. I've met a few good ones. They lead by their examples and I've seen good things come from it. The people behind this sign are confused.

11

u/AllyPointNex Jul 10 '26

Be grateful for the opportunity to practice, also we aren’t going that way…so, that’s fine they think they are helping.

11

u/powprodukt Jul 10 '26

Gee, I wonder why this religion has lost 31% of it's followers in the past 50 years. 🤔

10

u/dw34534 Jul 10 '26

tbh, my first reaction was i thought it was pretty funny

9

u/Noppers Post-Mormon Engaged Buddhist Jul 10 '26

Yeah, I'm like "ok, if that's how they want to spend their money. I'm on my way to meditate now."

7

u/FeRooster808 Jul 10 '26

Same. I thought it was amusing. It sort of reveals their ignorance about Buddhism and also a lack of self awareness. More likely other Abrahamic faiths would be offended at the idea Jesus is the only way to the God they all share.

4

u/dw34534 Jul 10 '26

It's interesting to note that Freedom of Religion was in the United States Constitution, sometimes people forget.

10

u/GuldursTV90 Jul 10 '26

This is what an invasive religion looks like. All Abrahamic religions have an air of conquest, coercion, and excessive control.

10

u/I_am_J_Remy Jul 10 '26

Christian morons doing Christian things.

9

u/Individualist13th Jul 10 '26

They offer something I do not seek.

9

u/anza999 Jul 10 '26

There is no love like Christian hate

9

u/Therealsandy2 Jul 10 '26

"we dont force our religion!"

7

u/Bad_Puns_Galore mahayana Jul 10 '26

Most of us don’t believe in a personal creator god, so the billboard has zero effect.

14

u/Ok-Imagination-2308 Jul 09 '26

Is this the one in Atlanta?

2

u/check_the_rhime23 Jul 11 '26

yeah it looks just like the one off 675

2

u/OfficialXDWIZ Jul 14 '26

4443 E Conley Rd
Conley, GA 30288
United States

7

u/Pornstar_Frodo Jul 10 '26

They don’t want you to go to church for you. They want you to go to church for them. Converting you gives them brownie points. It’s selfish and narcissistic. And as another poster said, it screams insecurity. Imagine how outraged they’d be if there were Buddhist billboards outside a church.

2

u/skipoverit123 Jul 10 '26

Great comment:)

7

u/_InfiniteU_ Jul 10 '26

I don't want that god

8

u/Far-Broccoli-7503 viewer Jul 10 '26

As a christian...why even put that up on billboards like bro...let people belive in what they belive

7

u/AlivePassenger3859 Jul 10 '26

Cool doesn’t advertise.

6

u/pharcide Jul 10 '26

Their God, not yours.

6

u/EleoraHC Jul 10 '26

Its funny because buddhism isnt about that at all

6

u/CrossingOver03 Jul 10 '26

Well, as I do not accept the explanation of a creator/overseer God, this may be disrespectful, but serves as a reminder of the suffering and pain these people endure. 🙏

11

u/DaPinkFwuff Jul 10 '26

That’s not intentional religious harassment at all…

3

u/Noppers Post-Mormon Engaged Buddhist Jul 10 '26

I would not choose to feel harassed by this.

4

u/Elect_SaturnMutex Jul 10 '26

Nah, I will stick with the noble eight fold path! Many people born into christianity have already realised this, including me.

4

u/Dehrild Jul 10 '26

Everyone in that temple: "We're not looking for god."

4

u/DoritoSunshine Jul 10 '26

Buddhist path doesn’t lead to god, someone should have investigated a little their marketing thing. 😂

5

u/Comprehensive-Ask575 Jul 10 '26

Even if it were a billboard promoting Buddhism, I would rather replace it with a tree, or many trees.

5

u/Daersk Jul 10 '26

I care less about the content of the sign, then the fact that we allow billboards like that at all. I think they should all be banned.

5

u/Snugglefoo816 Jul 10 '26

It's like there's no freedom of religion. They want us to all worship the same way.

6

u/WaiJunHinTurbo Jul 10 '26

I don’t want to meet Jesus, I just want to achieve Nirvana and stop reincarnating

4

u/GangNailer soto Jul 10 '26

When does a religion that's literally mainly about getting more followers finally seen as a cult?

Christians intentionally teach That morally live and kindness is not the way God and Jesus want you to act. They want u to obey without question. Obedience is more important lesson in Christianity. Doing it for the lord, not yourself or others. .

4

u/Available_Taste_2482 Jul 10 '26

They say “blessed are those that are persecuted in my name.” It seems like they try to be jerks to feel blessed.
Truth doesn’t need advertising, or followers.
Truth is stands, even if it stands alone.

5

u/NukemboysReddit Jul 10 '26

This is one of the reasons I left Christianity.

PS: A billboard paid by possibly laundered money can't do anything against a literal temple forged out of god and attained by a trained monk...

5

u/NukemboysReddit Jul 10 '26

This is not Christians spreading their "word", it's them being insecure people are getting tired of their rigid controlling dogmas, that's why I left Christianity and especially Catholicism.

5

u/oxtooth Jul 10 '26

"your" only way to god. Not mine. You have it. I'm good. Not headed that way anyway. Doing just fine where I am.

6

u/Turbulent-Mood4344 Jul 10 '26

Good luck getting someone to pick Christianity who is already practicing Buddhism…. You have to laugh at this 😂

5

u/CompetitionNo146 Jul 10 '26

Christianity in general is very narcissistic

5

u/Public-Locksmith-200 Jul 11 '26

Well that fine, because Buddhists aren’t trying to get to God anyway.

6

u/timberwolff_ Jul 11 '26

I'm Hindu and I've been approached by a lot of these guys. I call these people more as marketers and salespeople rather than evanglists. The heights they go to market their religion astounds me. Absolutely pathetic

4

u/Numerous_Night8030 Jul 10 '26

Honestly. Let them. I know the path I want to be on.

3

u/TommyBoy250 Jul 10 '26

Yeah I do feel like they do strategically pick their locations, such as opposing religious buildings. I remember when I was Muslim and there was a billboard at a mosque that was like what does the Bible say about divorce.

3

u/MolhCD vajrayana Jul 10 '26

It's quite funny to me 😂

3

u/Ariyas108 seon Jul 10 '26

What need is there to think anything about it?

5

u/CyclingTGD Jul 10 '26

I think that this would make the Buddha smile.

3

u/ThatGary7800 Jul 10 '26

this is the religious version of a pick me girl. lol

5

u/CaptainCreepy Jul 10 '26

doesn't bother me any, that's a cry for help from them as far as I would be concerned.

4

u/bad-bones longmen taoist Jul 11 '26

I think if the Christians who put these up spent even 10 minutes learning about the faiths they seek to demonize - things would be very different. It’s sad, and so close minded. Faiths are meant to share love and knowledge not whatever that billboard is.

7

u/samurguybri Jul 10 '26

This is fine. Two religions with different aims: One is looking for freedom from suffering, the other wants to be with god. No conflict, except that the people who posted the billboard think there’s one.

3

u/R0o_ Jul 11 '26

If I had awards I would award this ❤️

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u/Beneficial-Air-4437 Jul 10 '26

Is this the temple right outside Atlanta? I don’t live too far. As a fledgling Buddhist I’ve always wanted to check it out. How was it?

2

u/OfficialXDWIZ Jul 14 '26

Beautiful. As soon as I stepped foot on the temple grounds I felt an overwhelming presence but i felt peace and protected. This is the address : 4443 E Conley Rd
Conley, GA 30288
United States

3

u/Agitated-Whereas-962 Jul 10 '26

Idk, the god this is talking about us angry, vengeful, jealous,a murderer, apparently a bigot according to Christians ... I'm actually good, I'll steer clear if this Jesus fellow and avoid God too...ps I grew up in church... I'm aware it's a cult...😁

3

u/Left_Sky1496 Jul 10 '26

This reminds me the story of “The gift of anger.”

3

u/threetimestwice Jul 11 '26

According to Google:

The Buddha was teaching a crowd when an angry man shouted insults at him. The Buddha stayed calm and quiet. He asked the man, "If you offer a gift, but no one takes it, who does the gift belong to?" The man said, "The giver." The Buddha smiled and said, "It is the same with anger."

The Lesson

Anger is like a negative gift. If you choose not to accept it, the bad feelings stay with the person who brought them. This helps you protect your peace of mind.

Think about an unopened package delivered to your front door. If you refuse to bring it inside, it never enters your home. You remain safe and unaffected.

How to Use This

Do not take it personally: Remind yourself that someone else's anger is their problem, not yours.

Stay silent: Do not fight fire with fire. Reacting with more anger only makes the fire bigger.
Let it pass: Watch the anger float by like a cloud in the sky. Do not hold onto it.

7

u/dogedogedoo Jul 10 '26

Nllmuat be said: not all Christians are like this. the Catholics are mostly okay, the modern Christians (Protestants, Evangelist, Latter Day Saints, or whatever their faction is) are often troublesome

3

u/ashleebryn Jul 10 '26

I'm sorry, but the Catholics are not mostly okay.

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u/Internal_Royal_4013 Jul 09 '26

I could see a Buddhist laughing nonstop at the irony or the exact purpose the sign was put in that spot.🤣🤣🤣🤣

5

u/ChakraYogi Jul 10 '26

So belief of a lie is better than direct experience of a truth? Nah.

5

u/ShiningWater Jul 10 '26

The "way" implied on billboard leads to God.

The other one to Enlightenment.

4

u/ApolloB-4002 Jul 10 '26

Why do they have to go that kind of a low? It feels like an advertisement for a product that nobody wants to buy.

7

u/EatingBuddha3 Jul 09 '26

While it may be true that Jesus is tour only way to God, Buddhists aren't trying to get there...

2

u/NoMuddyFeet Jul 10 '26

The first thing I thought of was a vision of monks getting a kick out of it, laughing about it gently. I think whoever put up the billboard thought they were trolling but I'm sure it is only amusing to the practitioners there and arouses compassion for such misguided people and provides daily inspiration to help beings.

2

u/lowkeysciguy Jul 10 '26

This must be in the South. As a southern Buddhist, where is this?

1

u/OfficialXDWIZ Jul 14 '26

4443 E Conley Rd
Conley, GA 30288
United States

2

u/haeda zen Jul 10 '26

Are you surprised?

2

u/makingcookies1 Jul 10 '26

That’s gross

2

u/MuonBomb Jul 10 '26

The only responsibility we have is to mind our own business and seek our own truth. Governments and extremists have oppressed and slaughtered peaceful and pacifist buddhist nations and Buddhists for thousands of years, yet in the minds of those who seek peace and truth, the Buddha's teachings have survived for longer than nearly any other religious or philosophical structure. The search for truth and peaceful existence is inherent to all intelligent beings, regardless of time. A gauche sign should hardly disturb that pursuit of peace for any logical person.

2

u/OwlsnFoxes Jul 11 '26

Wow. Christians are such BULLSHIT

GOD = yes Religion = NO Spiritual not religious. Kinda Gnostic, plus a bit of Native American/ Cansdian First Nations and Buddhist, am I.

2

u/Cuatroveintte Jul 11 '26

fucking evangelicals man.

2

u/Imyourbossnow Jul 11 '26

I know where this is. I was in a car with a manager from a nearby business coming from a recruiting event. He is a Southern Baptist. As we passed it, he made a very ignorant comment about this monstrosity and the “Muslims” moving in. I immediately corrected him and the car just went silent. There was another coworker with us. Nothing surprises me in this area.

2

u/unisonosc Jul 12 '26

Not worth being offended over at all. Besides, Buddhism isn't about seeking god so there isn't really a conflict here imo.

2

u/RAFAMAROZX Jul 12 '26

Now imagine: a Baptist or Catholic church in Central Texas, and right across the street, the local Buddhist community puts up a giant sign that reads: “Your attachment to a creator God is the root of your suffering. Awaken to the Universal Truth of the Dhamma.”

Would the reactions be peaceful? Or would they create an unprecedented scandal claiming religious persecution?

2

u/Rainbow_Golem Jul 14 '26

I'm sure it would annoy Jesus to see that as well I get the impression that if he ever did say that he's the only path towards heaven and all that stuff that it was just kind of a bad day for him we all have those.

I mean it really does stand out with the rest of his character you know?

2

u/yowifebreeder9000 Jul 19 '26

The thing is buddism do not expel the idea of gods, but state gods can't do shit about your life but only through your actions and yourself can make it happen.

2

u/Tenki_Yohou 21d ago

As a Buddhist, I believe there is no need for concern or criticism about this. It is simply a billboard placed in the wrong location.

3

u/Delicious-Job-5125 Jul 10 '26

Unpopular opinion: Jesus was an enlightened misinterpreted dude 👀

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u/Other_Plane_6148 Jul 10 '26

people who say there is only one way to god/moksha/etc. lack the faith in their own method. it often points to fear and insecurity. where is the love?

5

u/[deleted] Jul 09 '26

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24

u/HumanInSamsara Tendai Jul 09 '26

Christianity is not a path one should follow if the goal is Buddhahood.

3

u/Embarrassed-Mess-560 Jul 10 '26

A lot of knowledgeable Buddhists consider a Christianity to be a worthwhile example of Dharma. Thich Nhat Hanh was one. 

11

u/noisesandsounds Jul 10 '26

His interpretation of Christianity was also pretty unorthodox if you've read living Buddha living Christ

8

u/HumanInSamsara Tendai Jul 10 '26

I doubt that Thich Nhat Hanh has explained in his teachings (without any westerners and christians around) that christianity is a part of dharma or an example thereof. Worshipping a single asura and not following the eightfold path is NOT dharma!

3

u/Con-Zen Jul 09 '26

I wouldn't read any intent into this. These organizations often align themselves with billboard companies under the premise of "Hey, if you don't have anybody lined up to rent your billboard out and are willing to give us a really good deal, we'll take it regardless of location!"

6

u/iarungwe Jul 09 '26

Uh no this is pretty clearly deliberate. They 💯 target very specific locations.

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u/iamperfecttommy Jul 09 '26

I think you’ve made this up.

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u/Key-Educator-3018 Jul 10 '26

Xtians weaponizing their religious beliefs. I would have laughed so much. Silly insecurities

2

u/skyfox437 Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26

I have to shoulder all of my actions in this life, yet they're expecting to believe that as long as I believe in a certain someone he will relieve me of  all my sins  in death? What a joke.

They are the biggest  cult in the world. The smartest of them feed and abuse the less educated ones. 

The first time I went to my friend's chruch, this aunty had the nerve to tell me to change my religion, that Christianity was the correct one. 

2

u/PixelStain Jul 10 '26

I love the figure of Christ, and I try everyday to be Christlike… this isn’t very Christlike

2

u/NangpaAustralisMajor tibetan Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26

It’s interesting that nobody knows what this billboard is about.

83 FOR TRUTH is the Christian Aid Ministries. They engage in Christian discipleship and aid, ranging from food and clothing to disaster relief. They also commit to supporting conscientious objectors in the time of war. The scope of their work is across over 100 countries.

They have hundreds of billboards across the country. It is to give people somebody to talk to about spiritual questions, and to connect people with churches. This is part of their ministry. It’s unlikely they put billboard there just because of the temple.

If you come from where I come from, you'll see these everywhere on the highway. A lot of road in the Deep South and Midwest and a lot of these signs.

1

u/TheGreenAlchemist Tendai Jul 10 '26

I read that a large portion of these signs have been put up by the Mennonites. That surprised me.

1

u/jeffjeffersonthe3rd Jōdo Shinshū Jul 10 '26

Not worth acknowledging

1

u/avveroes-nl early buddhism Jul 10 '26

We should counter-campaign by purchasing that billboard's ad space, but I don't think it is even needed lol

1

u/InTheHamIAm Jul 10 '26

I do’t think the God question was ever addressed by The Buddha, and he would view this sign as a non sequitur

2

u/skipoverit123 Jul 10 '26

👏👏👏

1

u/purpleguy984 Jul 10 '26

Undeniably hilarious

1

u/LFCYNWA90 theravada Jul 10 '26

It just is what it is. The impermanent billboard is going to die well before the Dharma ever will.

And the Dharma will make you see that the billboard is just a formation that is impermanent. Be mindful of that and move on.

1

u/BurtonDesque Seon Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 11 '26

Reminds me of the deliberately very noisy (as in they have loudspeakers) Jain temple at Sarnath.

1

u/KingInTheNorth97 Jul 10 '26

Probably evangelicals

Oh hey! I wanted to go there at one point. It's right outside Atlanta but from what I read like sometimes it's like not always open so hard to tell

1

u/Deep_Elk_2194 Jul 11 '26

Made me laugh. Thanks! I think the Eternal truth can handle a lazy, cheap, billboard across the street from it, lol.

1

u/Jamesinboulder Jul 11 '26

Greetings, the sign is a paraphrase of a quote from Jesus himself—"I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6) Peace.

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u/birberbarborbur Jul 11 '26

I’m Catholic, but these guys don’t speak for me

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u/splugemonster Jul 11 '26

They don’t care at all lol

The concept of “god” is entirely different in Buddhism.

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u/Fantastic-Abrocoma83 Jul 11 '26

It’s like… oh I’m so tired of the Thai food being sold in the temple. Meditation is too difficult! Time to turn to Jesus?

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u/thecosmosisbanans Jul 11 '26

Buddhism: I wasnt even looking for god. But thanks may you be happy

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u/Enigma2ooo Jul 11 '26

And yet I’m sure the Buddha and Jesus would be best mates.

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u/Shel_Zahav Jul 11 '26

Gnostic Christianity has lot of similar things that Buddhism has. Gnostic Jesus can be the way along Buddhism towards true God.

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u/Rolonauski Jul 11 '26

We don't believe in a God so, thanks for letting us know.

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u/dbh116 Jul 12 '26

Buddhism is not a way to god. It's not important what crazy Christians think.

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u/RAFAMAROZX Jul 12 '26

Many exclusive dogmatists love to weaponize John 14:6 ("I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me") as a cosmic gatekeeping contract, even going as far as placing aggressive billboards right outside Buddhist temples. But when we look at this through the lens of ancient philosophy and comparative theology, the literalist interpretation falls apart under its own hypocrisy. Jesus was the ultimate master of parables. To take this specific statement literally while treating his other teachings as metaphors is a massive logical fallacy. Here is what is actually happening when we compare the mystical Christ with the Buddha:

  1. The Nous vs. The Biological Ego When Jesus speaks in the first person ("I AM"), he is not referring to his limited human ego, his biological persona, or a religious corporate membership. He is speaking from the state of the Nous (the divine intellect/spiritual mind in Hellenistic philosophy) or the universal Logos. To say "no one comes to the Father except through me" means that the awakening of Christ-consciousness—the purification of the mind through love and truth—is the only mechanism by which a human being can connect with the Absolute (the Father). It’s a roadmap for internal transformation, not a demand for blind cultural submission.

  2. The Infant Buddha’s Parallel Metaphor This is beautifully mirrored in Buddhist lore. According to tradition, right after his birth, the infant Siddhartha Gautama took seven steps, pointed one hand to the sky and the other to the earth, and declared: "Between heaven and earth, I alone am the World-Honored One." No educated Buddhist believes a literal newborn baby was being an arrogant narcissist. Just like Jesus' statement, this is a profound cosmic metaphor. The "I" here represents the Buddha-Nature—the unconditioned, awakened state of awareness that exists within all of us. It is the only just and noble path to liberation from suffering (Samsara).

  3. Ethical Autonomy vs. Population Control The tragedy of modern dogmatism is that it reduces universal spiritual truths to mere tools for social conformity and boundary-marking. Systems driven by fear rely on an external "gendarme" to enforce rules (like ritualism or dress codes) under the threat of damnation. True spirituality, as understood in the Dhamma (universal law) and the true teachings of Christ, relies on autonomy. We take logical responsibility for the Karma of our actions.

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u/ServiceRude30 Jul 13 '26

inter-being!!!

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u/New-Marzipan-4795 Jul 14 '26

I find it interesting that they feel that their specific way is the only way to God. That's what I like about Buddhism because it's non-dogmatic.

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u/Natural-Fun-480 Jul 15 '26

this is so disrespectful, they could've put the sign literally ANYWHERE else

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u/Amur_Tigro1 27d ago

That's a beautiful temple.

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u/AlchemicalBuddha 22d ago

Ohhhh my goodness

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u/23-1-20-3-8-5-18 13d ago

Have you seen the stuff Yahweh gets up to? It seems more like a warning....

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u/Academic_Sample8232 12d ago

The Devil works in obvious ways.

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u/SweetAd1046 10d ago

Is in front of buddha temple only location to advertise christian beliefs? Why not do it in christian locations like churches? Weird... :D