This sort of conference is not something which I would have attended on my own but I had a family member who was interested in attending and I was mildly curious as to what might be said at the conference. Generally speaking, my expectations were low since I knew that the answers to such issues didn’t lie in a meeting of the minds among academia and religious leaders but in the resurrection of the soul which comes from a life surrendered to Jesus Christ. But I went anyway…

We arrived early but not early enough. There was already a line a block long to get into the auditorium and those working the event all wore name badges inscribed “The Visit” (as if God Himself had deigned to grace us with His presence). It was a sold out event and after passing through security we eventually made our way inside. The auditorium was set as if for a rock concert with a sophisticated audio and lighting system that threw psychedelic colors and patterns around the room accompanied by Tibetan Buddhist music and chants. A group of robed monks sat on the front row.

We watched as panel members made their way onto the stage and enthusiastic applause greeted the arrival of the Dalai Lama. After about 40 minutes of greetings, remarks, and introductions the actual discussion began. The format was intended to allow each religious leader to give some opening remarks on the conference theme and then to have a moderator ask questions which they would respond to. If time allowed, questions which had been submitted online by people and screened by the moderators would be asked. I had submitted a couple of questions, however (SURPRISE! SURPRISE!) it appears that they didn’t make it past the screeners.

The opening remarks by each of the speakers were very polite and banal with complimentary nods to the other panelists. No subjects that were offensive or uncomfortable were broached. When the Dalai spoke, his thick accent and unfamiliarity with our language made him difficult to understand. However, the gist of his remarks focused on how people need affection from their mother in order to grow up to be happy, calm people. His analogy of how content a baby is to have a mother’s nipple in its mouth brought a few giggles. He went on to talk about how even animals (such as a puppy or cat) respond to affection and he further amused the audience with his imitation of a purring kitten.

The moderator then asked the first (and last due to the time constraints) question. It had to do with examples of where each of the panelists had to address problems within their own faith.

The Dalai began to speak on the subject and then lost track of what he was saying. The response seemed a little rambling and unrelated but touched on how all religion is human religion and that militant Muslims and Hindus are a small minority.

Rabbi Rosen told of a conversation that he had with Christian colleague. In it, he tried to emphasize that what Christianity and Judaism have in common is more important than their differences. The Christian, much to his chagrin, said that since he didn’t believe in Jesus that he was going to hell and that he had to save him. This witty anecdote was received with wise laughter as everyone smiled at the ridiculousness of such a notion.

Gandhi’s grandson had something to say but for the life of me I can’t remember a significant enough theme to report it.

I was anxious to see what confessions Professor An-Na'im might have concerning Islam since the entire world seems to be in an uproar at the moment from Islamic violence. I was stunned when all he said was “to be the change you want to see in the world” and then proceeded to berate the US for their record on human rights.

Sister Joan was the only one who brought up anything resembling an answer to the question that was asked. She ranted on with passion and a certain degree of vehemence about the evil done by Christianity and the US government and how we need to focus on helping instead of converting people. Of course, this was greeted with wild applause (I booed). It’s really sadly funny how anything derogatory that is said about Christianity or the USA is enthusiastically welcomed with open arms as “gospel truth” but whenever anything that even remotely casts a bad light on any other religion is mentioned it is quickly shouted down as intolerant and racist. Whether it’s true or not is irrelevant.

When the meeting broke up, it was impossible to avoid the conclusion that no issues concerning conflict between religions had even been discussed (even though that had been the subject of the conference). Strangely though, I think most people left satisfied with what they had heard. There seemed to be an attitude of patting each other on the back about how a significant breakthrough had begun and then there was the “celebrity” factor. Everyone was simply thrilled to have been in the presence of the Dalai Lama…”The Visit,” you know.

It made me think of the Foundation trilogy by Isaac Asimov. In this distant fictional future, sociology had advanced to such a degree that one was able to accurately predict “macro” events concerning the human race. One byproduct was the ability to convert conversations to mathematical equations. If this entire conference could be converted to an equation, I’m sure it would be quite long and impressive but the sum would be zero (i.e., many words were spoken but nothing of value was said).

This conference was a good microcosm of the attitude of the world concerning religion and truth in general. It is considered a virtue to seek after truth but we have completely given up on the idea of ever finding it. The most you can hope for is to find something that works for you. Therefore, it is a greater virtue to be tolerant of all beliefs and refrain from anything which might offend others who have chosen a different “truth.” It’s more about being happy and being a relatively good person. You see, once you have dispensed with the concept of objective reality and absolute truth, then you have nothing left but to obsess about the “Self” (i.e., what works for me and makes me happy).

This relative lens of viewing the world was once relegated to purely philosophical, theological, and moral discussions (not that it was valid even there). But it is beginning to permeate all areas of modern life to such an extent that people can’t tell the truth about anything anymore including things that should be plain common sense.

Since the Dalai Lama was the “star attraction” of this event, allow me to make few observations about Buddhism. Although different sects vary somewhat, there really is no God in Buddhism. There are “divine entities” such as the devas and the Buddhas but nothing which really fits the concept of God. Others say it really isn’t a religion at all, but a philosophy based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. His teachings refer to the Four Noble Truths (recognizing and avoiding suffering through eliminating all desire) and the Noble Eightfold Path (the method to avoid suffering through right thinking, speaking, and actions). Through these concepts, one can break the cycle of reincarnation and achieve Nirvana.

Underlying all of these beliefs and teachings, is the concept of the “Middle Way.” Basically, it says that one should avoid all extremes including absolutes about whether anything really exists. A perfect fit for today’s society, no?

However, the inevitable result of such a worldview is that nothing, in the final analysis, really matters. If your goal is to eliminate all desire, then what you’re striving to achieve is to not really care about anything. If you can’t even say with confidence what exists and what does not, then how can you have any meaningful understanding concerning the truth about anything? Consequently, passion, love, and truth become meaningless and apathy and ambiguity are elevated as the highest virtues. And if you make the wrong choice then you don’t have to worry about the consequences because you have an infinite number of times to try it again via reincarnation. Ergo, nothing really matters…

Instead of acknowledging that suffering is an essential part of life, Buddhism says it is something to be avoided at all costs and provides an imaginary path to escape it through making indifference and self-centeredness the highest goals. The fact is that there is no love without pain and there is no life without love.

These beliefs are completely at odds with the Bible’s concepts:

Hebrews 9:27 …it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment

Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

And life isn’t about avoiding suffering. Suffering is a tool which God uses in the life of the believer to prepare him for God’s will for his life:

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Hebrews 12:11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

1 Peter 5:10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

1 Peter 4:12,13 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Matthew 13:49,50 So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.