Ken Fuller
wrote:
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Hello,
I have a question.
I just finished reading The Seven Story
Mountain by Thomas Merton, a very good book. A friend gave
me another one of his books called The Asian Journal.
It was from this friend that I learned that Thomas Merton was
into the Buddhist and Zen religions very much and studied
a lot of other eastern religions. I know that most, if not all
Eastern religions, are atheistic or believe in some God other than
Jehovah God and do not accept Christian teachings at all.
Is it wrong to accept and incorporate Eastern, atheist practices
into Catholicism?
As you know I am a convert and I am in RCIA at this time. I have certain family members that say I am joining
a pagan religion. I sure don't want to tell them there
are also Eastern religions in the mix.
Thank You,
Ken Fuller
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Is it wrong to accept and incorporate Eastern, atheistic practices
into Catholicism as Merton did? }
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Mary Ann replied:
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Ken,
The short answer is that Thomas Merton is not the Catholic
Church. Whatever Merton was interested in or wrote at the
end of his life decades later, (and
there is debate about that), does not change the Catholic
faith, which believes in One God in Three Persons: one
of Whom, the Son, became incarnate as Man, suffered
and died for our salvation, of which He is The Only Way,
the Truth, and the Life.
I hope that helps.
Those who say
that Catholicism is pagan are misled. Even though you are
in RCIA, I suggest you get a Catholic Catechism and read
it.
Mary Ann
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Bob replied:
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Ken,
Christianity does not incorporate any eastern religions into itself even
though on the surface some things look similar, i.e., meditation.
Any Christian who purports to follow Christ, while following Buddha or
someone else is a fraud. Be very careful in discriminating what belongs
to the authentic doctrine of the Church and someone's personal interests
or teaching.
There are many wonderful books by contemporary writers, especially Pope St. John Paul II,
that can give you a more culturally relevant spiritual context for living
and interpreting your Christian faith. Our current Pope is a magnificent
writer as well. Just be careful of writers who borrow from other religions
extensively, especially while you are in your most formative stage.
Peace,
Bob Kirby
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