Recently during the Tiger Woods brouhaha, one of the Fox Network commentators, Brit Hume, made the case that if only Mr. Woods would give up his interest in Buddhism, which in his words: “The extent to which he can recover seems to me depends on his faith," said Hume. "He is said to be a Buddhist. I don't think that faith offers the kind of redemption and forgiveness offered by the Christian faith. My message to Tiger is, 'Tiger turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world."
- all would be well. If only he would take up what I can only assume is Mr. Hume’s choice of a spiritual path, his life would take on a new and lasting sheen of goodness and serenity.
Now I take this all rather personally since I am, and have been for all my spiritual life – a Buddhist. We are the most non-proselytizing of religions and therefore I am not looking for converts here but rather I feel a need to defend the spiritual Path that not only works for me but for millions of others as well.
I have studied Christianity, along with many of the world’s religions, unlike I fear many who claim knowledge without study; and I find it to be as sure a spiritual Path as any. As His Holiness the Dalia Lama has said on many occasions, there is no need to convert to Buddhism to find your way to Enlightenment – you can be the best Christian, the best Jew, the best Jain – whatever spiritual Path works for you; for unlike Mr. Hume, we Buddhists, allow that there is more than one Path.
Now I have no personal knowledge of Mr. Woods' problems and quite frankly I don’t want to know but I do know that choosing a spiritual Path is a deeply personal experience. I’m glad that Christianity works for Mr. Hume but quite frankly I think he might want to look into “tolerance” and see what his scripture has to say about that. As for Mr. Woods, I think he is best suited to pick his religious preference.
The following links give some other views and a more detailed clip of Mr. Hume’s statements.
Buddhist blog: http://buddhism.about.com/b/2010/01/04/lets-forgive-brit-hume.htm
US News:
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/letters-to-the-editor/2010/01/08/tiger-woods-brit-hume-and-religion.html
full clip: http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/brit-hume-to-tiger-woods-forget-buddhism----come-on-over-to-christianity-if-you-want-forgiveness-and.php
10 comments:
One never ceases to be amazed at the things said about Tiger Woods and these incidents.
But this is a doozie.
It's interesting how non-Christians are so good at seeking out the kooky side of what is, after all, a philanthropic faith [see Gospels] and then presenting it as evidence of the whole faith.
It's like taking the satanist side of the pagans and saying that that is what paganism is all about. Of course it's not.
Brit Hume is an idiot.
jmb
Isn't it though?! Thank you for coming by.
James
A more tolerate view is good for all eh? Thank you for coming by.
Mama Zen
And there you have it! :-) Thank you for coming by.
For years I've been a Buddhism dilettante without making a commitment. I don't commit easily, ask my assorted wives. At the same time the insufferable arrogance of so-called Christians is insufferable. So, the attitude you present is so symptomatic of extreme self-defeating hubris. Tiger's problem wasn't religion, it was his dick being in places it shouldn't have been.
If Brit Humes or anyone else from that hideous Fox "News" said that the sun rose in the east I would have to reconsider my cosmology. Mr. Humes would do well to read Hahn Thich Nhat's wonderful book, "Living Buddha, Living Christ". Good post, Crickett!
Thanks for visiting my blog. Good post and I agree with Mama Zen's comment that Brit Hume is an idiot!
why is it that only the christians spout this sort of vitriol? i don't recall ever hearing a hindu encourage anyone to join their spiritual path for a better outlook on life. and they have been around quite a bit longer. man, i hate it when people say crazy shit like that.
Ian
And this would be why you have been my cyber crush for lo these many years! So very well said; I'm still grinning.
Thank you for coming by.
Gary
Thank you and thank you for coming by.
Carver
Oh I enjoyed my visit. Thank you for coming by.
darth
I have no answer for you - it's a mystery to me! Thank you for coming by.
I never knew that Tiger Woods studied Buddahism. It never occurred to me that his religion was the problem either, I always thought his problem was that he's a tool.
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