Coffee Talk...I'll give you a topic

"Welcome to Coffee Talk. On this show we talk about coffee, New York, dawters, dawgs, you know no big whoop just Coffee Talk. I'll give you a topic and we'll talk.

Remember these Mike Meyers skits from Saturday Night Live?

Well I thought it might be fun to have a discussion on a topic that has piqued my interest. I normally don't get into political or religious centered discussions on my blog, but as a college student I did a lot of "discussing." Imagine me, a conservative (albeit naive) college freshman debating my beliefs with a bunch of other (some very liberal) journalism majors...it wasn't pretty, but fortunately it wasn't all that bad either as there were about 3 other guys who believed the same way I did. We had some interesting and some intense topics on the table and for the most part respected each others differences.


Just recently, I have been following and participating in a discussion on my favorite 2 peas message board with Buddhists, Christians and atheists regarding the recently aired Survivor China reality show. The discussion revolved around a so called "welcoming" ceremony in a Buddhist temple where the Survivor contestants were asked to participate along with the Buddhist monks. One of the contestants, a Christian radio talk show host, walked out during the ceremony as it (bowing in front of a statue of Buddah) conflicted with her beliefs. Now people on message boards all over the Internet are expressing their views on this issue. Some are saying by doing this, she was disrespecting their culture...Others are saying they would do the same thing.

"I'm a little verklempt! Talk amongst yourselves..I'll give you a topic"

"would you have walked out?"

If you didn't catch the show you can watch this YouTube clip and see for yourself (there is also a discussion going on at the youtube link.)

In my first reply, I wrote:

The Bible is very clear that we are not to bow before false gods/idols. I think what she did is perfectly acceptable as she was not rude about it and tried to go along with the ceremony until her beliefs convicted her to remove herself from what seemed to her as crossing the line.

Then throught the couse of the conversation it was brought up that Buddha is not technicaly a god, he was an enlightened teacher, so the question was brought up "Why couldn't she bow out of respect?"

Somewhere on page 5 of the discussion I replied:

...bowing is a sign of RESPECT for you (I and most others here get that point loud and clear)...for Christians, however bowing is how we show submission to God. Bowing (or laying prostrate as was shown on the show) in front of a statue (whether it's Buddha or any other statue) is disrespecting OUR Commandments...that is why she left.

Here are some points brought up by various people at 2 peas that I agree with:

"Jesus said that whoever follows him must "take up their cross". That means standing for him in the face of public ridicule, and being willing to be crucified... though I agree I never thought it would be on Survivor!"

"Christians are not called to blend in, to make others comfortable, or to avoid rustling feathers."

"For Christians, our #1 commandment is to not worship idols. Kneeling before a statue of a man would feel like idolatry to a lot of Christians, especially if you are clasping your hands and showing reverence for it."

"Though it may not be a religious gesture in "that" culture, it "is" an act of worship in "my" culture, and I need to honor my God and my conscience first and foremost. Putting a different name on it does not change what it represents for me, personally. I could not have participated without feeling like it was an act of worship. That's my conscience and my belief, to which I am equally entitled as you are to your belief that it's not."


So, what would you do (WWYD?)

"Talk amongst yourselves!"
(Actually post comments...that would be much more fun!)