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refined level, it cannot be denied that in a world where terrorism In recent decades, Christianity, riding on the wave of
is always a possibility, people live in fear and worry, but this is globalisation, has swept through many traditional Buddhist grounds.
where the message of peace taught by the Buddha provides the best Tens of thousands of Christian NGOs and churches, supported by
antidote. Thus, when human beings cannot find answers to their their governments, are invading these areas in a scale unseen before
problems in the current global culture, they can find an alternative in human history. They adopted military-like strategies in their
solution in Buddhism. efforts to conquer the faiths of others. (For a more detail grasp of
this scenario please read the chapter on Global Evangelisation in
There is evidence to this. After the September 11 tragedy, this book)
Buddhism gradually gained world-wide attention. Wherever
the Dalai Lama goes, hundreds of thousands of people gathered When a religion is bent on converting every human being into
to listen to him. People wanted to know what Buddhism has to its own faith, even to the extent of adopting unethical means, other
offer to the world. Buddhism has also become an active member religions would not sit still. This will definitely result in vicious
in inter-religious dialogues. Hence, it may be seen that Buddhism competition. Such a competition had transformed from wrestling
can enrich the global culture. Lay Buddhism can contribute in this beneath the surface in the past to open confrontation today. It
direction by developing human resources and promoting Buddhist would eventually threaten world peace. When a religion tries
culture at the intellectual level. to convert others, it is not certain whether the new convert will
enter heaven, but it is certain that hell will be created on earth –
At the masses level, lay Buddhists are the consumers of the process of conversion brings about tremendous suffering to all
popular culture, and may therefore make relevant contribution. Lay parties concerned right here on earth.
Buddhists can produce cultural products such as films, books, CDs,
calligraphy, pictures, paintings, etc. for mass distribution amongst How do lay Buddhists response to such a threat? Firstly, lay
the masses. If these products can further be distributed to the West, Buddhists must be fully aware of the current situation. Without
it will help to counter the effects of cultural-dumping to the East by such awareness, Buddhists will continue to indulge ourselves in
the West. self-satisfaction thinking that Buddhism has progressed very well.
Only when there is awareness of the seriousness of the problem,
v. Counter evangelisation will there be the will to act. Further, lay Buddhists must develop
a comprehensive plan, which is based on the Dharma that will
In the wake of globalisation, one of the greatest challenges facing protect the religion while avoiding unhealthy competition. In
Buddhism, and other non-Christian faiths such as Confucianism, this way Buddhism will be offering a peaceful solution to the
Taoism, Islam and Orthodox Christianity is evangelisation and the world. Such a plan should consider how to harness the power of
spread of Christian culture. the masses to contribute to the development of Buddhism; how to
improve Buddhist out-reach programs; how to support the weak
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