Buddhism and Tiger Woods

I just read an excellent article by Tamara Lush (Associated Press) in the Star Bulletin this morning concerning Fox sports analyst, Brit Hume saying that Tiger Woods should look to Christianity rather than Buddhism to gain redemption and forgiveness. He is referring to the fact that Woods said he applies a lot of what he learned from his mom's Thai Buddhism to focus his game...meaning golf.

I'm tired of this. I'm really tired of anybody trying to impose their belief systems on others by saying their system IS better than ALL the others. Wars often start for just this reason.

I'm thrilled that you have a religion or belief system that works for you, but please don't look down on what other people might believe, especially when you don't really understand their beliefs.

Here is an excerpt from Lush's article in the Star Bulletin. I tried to find the link but it's not there yet so I'm copying it off the paper.

..."Adultery is as much of a sin in Buddhism as it is in Christianity," Thurman (Robert Thurman, professor of Tibetan studies at Columbia University) said. "The ethics are the same in both traditions. Adultery is a sin and cause the kinds of problems that Tiger Woods is in."

Where many Westerners stumble is that Buddhists' definition of sin-- and what happens after it--differs from the Judeo-Christian tradition, as the consequences of Buddhists' actions are a result of a person's thoughts and deeds rather than divine punishment. Believers have to look to themselves and turn to an ethical way of life for redemption, although there are savior figures to help a Buddhist in need. There is no one, omnipotent "creator god" to bestow redemption as in Christianity.

You have the law of karma, so no matter what Woods says or does, he is going to have to pay for whatever wrongs he's done," said Stephen Prothero, a Boston University professor on Buddhism and the author of "Religious Literacy: What Americans Need to Know." "There's no accountant in the sky wiping sins off your balance sheet, like there is in Christianity." ...

I guess that's what surprised me when I went to college and met a dorm mate who told me she slept with her friend's boyfriend but she wasn't worried because she was going to church that evening to confess her sins and be fine again. Then there was that other dorm mate who was crying hysterically for a whole bunch of us because she said we were all going to hell for not belonging to her church even though she knew how nice we all were.

Sigh...