In a discussion about Tiger Woods on Sunday morning, Fox News' Brit Hume suggested that Tiger Woods ditch his Buddhist faith and become a Christian because Buddhism "...doesn't offer the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith..." He went on to urge Woods to become a Christian so he could "...make a total recovery and be a great example to the world...".
In my not-so-humble opinion, this is wrong on several counts. First, is a news program the proper place for a game of "my religion is better (more true) than your religion"? If Fox News were a religion program, specifically a Christian religious program, I would say "no problem", there are church sponsored and Christian-oriented programs and infomercials all over the airwaves. These programs are for Christians and by Christians and don't masquerade as "news".
My second objection is the propriety of publically labelling another's faith as inferior. One of the things that make this a great country is the religious pluralism that is part of our national character. No one is required to join any particular religion, nor are those outside the established flock forced to pay an "unbeliever tax" or accept second class citizen status. Hume was indulging in, at the very least, bad manners.
Third, it is arguable whether Christianity offers anything in the way of helping someone in Woods' position to "...make a total recovery and be a great example to the world" that other religions, specifically Buddhism, do not. This doesn't mean that I'm saying that Christianity can't help Woods recover and be a great example, I'm sure that it can, it has, for many people. What I'm saying is that many faiths have ways and means to help people get through these kinds of situations, and Woods apparently already has a faith that he can turn to if he chooses.
And finally, religious faith, whether it be Buddhist, Christian or anything else, is no guarantee that a person won't 'sin' and it's not assured that a person of faith will be able to turn his life around with that faith; it all comes down to the individual.
In my not-so-humble opinion, this is wrong on several counts. First, is a news program the proper place for a game of "my religion is better (more true) than your religion"? If Fox News were a religion program, specifically a Christian religious program, I would say "no problem", there are church sponsored and Christian-oriented programs and infomercials all over the airwaves. These programs are for Christians and by Christians and don't masquerade as "news".
My second objection is the propriety of publically labelling another's faith as inferior. One of the things that make this a great country is the religious pluralism that is part of our national character. No one is required to join any particular religion, nor are those outside the established flock forced to pay an "unbeliever tax" or accept second class citizen status. Hume was indulging in, at the very least, bad manners.
Third, it is arguable whether Christianity offers anything in the way of helping someone in Woods' position to "...make a total recovery and be a great example to the world" that other religions, specifically Buddhism, do not. This doesn't mean that I'm saying that Christianity can't help Woods recover and be a great example, I'm sure that it can, it has, for many people. What I'm saying is that many faiths have ways and means to help people get through these kinds of situations, and Woods apparently already has a faith that he can turn to if he chooses.
And finally, religious faith, whether it be Buddhist, Christian or anything else, is no guarantee that a person won't 'sin' and it's not assured that a person of faith will be able to turn his life around with that faith; it all comes down to the individual.
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