Buddhism: A Christian Exploration and Appraisal [Paperback]

Keith Yandell (Author), Harold Netland (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0830838554 | ISBN-13: 978-0830838554 | Publication Date: May 22, 2009

The disproportionate influence of Buddhist thought and philosophy found in cultural circles such as education, entertainment and the media coupled with the dramatic recent surge of asian immigrants, many of whom are Buddhist, has brought Buddhism to the forefront of Western culture. And more and more of those who have become disenfranchised from Christian spirituality are embracing Buddhism as a replacement way of organizing their life. In this clear and balanced introduction, Keith Yandell and Harold Netland set out to educate Christians about Buddhism, laying out the central metaphysical claims of this significant world religion, including a concluding chapter which offers an honest comparison with Christianity. The authors acknowledge some overlap of belief while also noting the clear and significant differences between the two religions. As both religions affirm, these distinctions have enormous consequences for the spiritual well-being of adherents. This book guides any reader who wants to understand the central tenets and claims of Buddhism more deeply and how learn how it compares to Christian faith.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Yandell and Netland present an extraordinarily lucid and accessible account of Buddhist thought that simultaneously recognizes and preserves its nuanced complexity. The first half recounts the development of Buddhism from its birth in northern India to its modern-day embracement by those in the West seeking an alternative spirituality. In the second part they carefully and critically examine the cogency of central Buddhist doctrines, particularly the view of the persons that underlies the Buddhist doctrines of suffering, karma and rebirth, and liberation to nirvana. Those who adopt the current mantra that all religions are ultimately alike, that Buddhism and Christianity do not differ, that the Buddha and Jesus were historically interchangeable, will be seriously challenged by the way the authors meticulously deconstruct the pluralist view." (Bruce R. Reichenbach, Augsburg College )

"While in recent years evangelicals have finally engaged the question of the theology of religions, there are very few evangelicals equipped to do what Professor Netland, himself a leading theologian of religions, and Professor Yandell, a distinguished philosopher, have produced, namely, an informed and incisive engagement of a particular religion from an evangelical perspective. This book not only contains valuable lessons both from Buddhism as a religion and the Buddhist-Christian encounter but also serves as a paradigm for later works: a careful mapping out of key ideas of a living faith and a sympathetic yet unapologetic critique from a Christian perspective. For sure, I will include this book as a text in my courses in world religions." (Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, professor of systematic theology, Fuller Theological Seminary, and Docent of Ecumenics, University of Helsinki, Finland )

"Yandell and Netland's Buddhism: A Christian Exploration and Appraisal provides a clear, concise and accurate introduction to Buddhist history and doctrine. Although written for Christians, it is not a work of apologetics so much as one concerned to instruct Christians about what Buddhism is, and to clarify differences between the two religions. It does those things very well indeed, and I hope that it will rapidly become the point of first reference for Christians who want to understand Buddhism." (Paul J. Griffiths, Warren Chair of Catholic Theology, Duke Divinity School )

"Yandell and Netland have produced a brilliant, clear, engaging introduction to Buddhism that is both sympathetic and critical, highlighting points of convergence with and divergence from Christianity. Their book would be excellent in university courses in philosophy of religion or religious studies, but it would also reward general readers interested in finding both a reliable philosophical guide to Buddhism as well an exploration of Buddhist teaching in relation to Christian faith." (Charles Taliaferro, St. Olaf College )

"Keith Yandell and Harold Netland accomplish several important things in this concise work: (1) they authoritatively summarize Buddhist history; (2) they systematically outline Buddhist teachings; and (3) they clearly compare and contrast Buddhism with Christianity. A unique resource for Christians interested in Buddhism and Buddhist-Christian relationships." (Terry Muck, Asbury Seminary )

"At last we have a book that moves beyond the inaccurate, rather imprecise and sentimental level of so many books about Buddhism and the Christian-Buddhist encounter, and focuses on a serious consideration of Buddhist truth claims. The opening chapters give an acceptable first survey of Buddhism, and include material on dimensions of Buddhism, such as the personalist school and the historical context for the introduction of some rather idiosyncratic forms of Japanese Zen into the West, that are often neglected in popular introductions. It gives enough detail on Buddhist doctrines for one new to the subject to understand what the issues are and engage in a critical yet respectful manner with them. At many points this clearly written and readable book corrects, from the point of view of Buddhism as it has existed in history and in its Asian context, common Western misperceptions of Buddhism. But the really exciting section of this book is the philosophical analysis of key Buddhist doctrines such as not-self and momentariness. Netland and Yandell take Buddhist truth claims seriously, as Buddhists ask us to do, and in their analysis of those claims they make a truly original contribution, pitched at an accessible yet refined level of philosophical sophistication and knowledge of Buddhist doctrines and debates. The book throws down a challenge to Buddhists to clarify what they mean when they make their claims, and to enter into debate in defense of their truth. This philosophical analysis is followed by an outline of some absolutely fundamental differences between Christianity and Buddhism, and Christ and the Buddha. Here we see the basis of a critical Christian theological engagement with Buddhism as a religion. The book challenges Christians to move beyond polite small talk or minimalizing of essential differences that demand choice and commitment, and engage with Buddhists in debating their mutually incompatible claims to (as the Buddhists put it) 'see things the way they really are' regarding God, Jesus Christ, personhood, and our meaning, purpose and destiny. This book shows us (to use another Buddhist expression) 'analytical meditation' at its finest. It is an exciting book that I shall certainly use and recommend to my students. For those Christians and Buddhists who take truth seriously, and understand the significance of reasoning in making crucial choices, Netland and Yandell's book will contribute significantly to setting the agenda for serious dialogue between Christianity and Buddhism for some time to come." (Paul Williams, professor of Indian and Tibetan philosophy and codirector of the Centre for Buddhist Studies, University of Bristol, U.K. )

"This is a book which we have been waiting a long time to see. It is a well written, constructive and thorough treatment of Buddhism which demonstrates Netland's and Yandell's extensive experience with both the teachings of Buddhism, as well as the popular, lived faith of Buddhists. It provides an excellent survey of the spread of Buddhism in the ancient East as well as in the contemporary West, always keeping in mind the philosophical nuances of Buddhism as well as the popular, folk practices of Buddhists in their global and ethnic diversity. In a day when the search for common ground has often eclipsed the real and striking differences between the living faith of Buddhists and Christians, this book clearly sets forth the distinctiveness of the Christian faith vis-a-vis Buddhism, but does it in a refreshingly irenic way. The authors highlight common ground where it exists, but they are equally clear about the differences in each faith's understanding of the religious ultimate, the human predicament and the ways to overcome this. This volume regularly inspires and informs the reader. It is a must-read for all people who are seriously interested in the Buddhist-Christian encounter. I highly recommend it!" (Timothy C. Tennent, professor of world missions and Indian studies, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary )

"This is interfaith dialogue at its best. Netland and Yandell provide a thoughtful understanding of Buddhism, followed by a careful pressing of internal problems within Buddhism, followed by a constructive summary of real differences between Christianity and Buddhism. They also succeed in establishing the plausibility of Christianity in the light of various possible Buddhist critiques. No reader, Christian or Buddhist, will be left unchallenged by this lucid exposition, critique and proclamation." (Gavin D'Costa, professor of Christian theology, Bristol University, England )

Review

"Keith Yandell and Harold Netland accomplish several important things in this concise work: (1) they authoritatively summarize Buddhist history; (2) they systematically outline Buddhist teachings; and (3) they clearly compare and contrast Buddhism with Christianity. A unique resource for Christians interested in Buddhism and Buddhist-Christian relationships."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 230 pages
• Publisher: IVP Academic (May 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830838554
• ISBN-13: 978-0830838554
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #483,322 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Dharma and the Gospel, July 7, 2009

By 

George P. Wood (Springfield, MO) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Buddhism: A Christian Exploration and Appraisal (Paperback)

Keith Yandell and Harold Netland, Buddhism: A Christian Exploration and Appraisal (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2009). $22.00, 230 pages.

The diversity of the world's religions raises several important questions: Do religions make truth claims? Can these truth claims be assessed? Can the assessment be negative without also being violent?

For one group of people--especially in the religious studies guild--the answer to all three questions is negative. Properly interpreted, they argue, religions do not make truth claims. That is why such people believe in the epistemic and moral parity of religions. However, they go on to argue, religious fundamentalists--who do not interpret their own religions properly--do make truth claims which are absolute and mutually exclusive. Such truth claims inevitably lead to violence.

For another group of people--especially orthodox religious practitioners, but also hardcore atheists--the answer to all three questions is affirmative. Religions make truth claims about the way things should be, the way things are, and the way to align is with ought. Religions diagnose the human condition and prescribe a remedy. These truth claims may therefore be assessed on the basis of how correctly they diagnose reality and how helpful the prescribed remedy is. And the process of diagnosis and prescription can be done nonviolently. As Pope John Paul II put it of Roman Catholicism: The church imposes nothing; she only proposes.

In their exploration and appraisal of Buddhism, Keith Yandell and Harold Netland clearly belong to the second group of people. Both are philosophers of religion and practicing Christians. Their study of Buddhism, in both its description of what that religion is and its assessment of that religion's truth claims, strives to be fair and critical.

The authors divide their study into three parts: the first three chapters are historical. Chapter 1 narrates the history of the Buddha and the evolution of his religious insights within India, culminating in Theravada Buddhism. Chapter 2 narrates the history of Buddhism as it spread throughout Asia and developed new forms, culminating in Mahayana Buddhism. Chapter 3 narrates the arrival of Buddhism in the West, focusing especially on how D.T. Suzuki's unique interpretation of Zen Buddhism shaped America's understanding of religion. The next two chapters are analytical. Chapter 4 focuses on core Buddhist doctrines, while chapter 5 focuses on three schools of Buddhist thought: personalism, the varieties of Madhyamaka, and reductionism. The final chapter provides a concise description of fundamental differences--even contradictions--between Christianity and Buddhism.

Although Yandell and Netland eschew any intention of refuting Buddhism, at several points in chapters 4 and 5, that is the effect nonetheless. The authors argue that certain core Buddhist doctrines, considered singly and in relationship to one another, are problematic. Among the doctrines considered are karma, impermanence, no-self, dependent co-origination, conscious states, and nirvana. While chapters 1-3 and 6 are introductory and can be read quickly, chapters 4-5 are tough sledding for anyone not interested in metaphysics. They are the most philosophical chapters in the book, and they repay the dedicated reader with new insight.

I appreciated this book, both for its introductory chapters and its philosophical discussion. It is an excellent model of how adherents of one religion can engage adherents of another religion at a very high level of intellectual sophistication. However, the book had several shortcomings in my opinion.

First, the focus on metaphysics overwhelmed what interests many Americans--including many American Christians--about Buddhism: namely, meditation and morals. The book is largely, though not solely, a metaphysical critique of Buddhism. In the author's defense, metaphysics lies at the heart of Buddhism. If Buddhism describes reality incorrectly, then its prescribed remedy will not work. In other words, if the metaphysics is wrong, the meditation and morals will be of no avail. Still, I would have liked to have seen more discussion of Buddhist meditation and moral philosophy.

Second, a glossary would have been very helpful. Many of Buddhism's core doctrines have Indian, Chinese, Tibetan, and Japanese names. In a book this long, one starts to get one's Buddha and Bodhisattva confused, not to mention one's karma and dharma. If there is a second edition of this book, I would recommend adding a glossary for the benefit of readers new to Buddhist terminology.

Third, the book provides a bibliography of secondary source material. I would appreciate a similar bibliography of primary source material. That way, I and other readers can read Buddhist "scriptures" ourselves. Finally, there were a few misspellings and typographical errors in the text, including a misspelling of Theravada in the table of contents.

None of these shortcomings should stop you from purchasing and reading this book, however. It is exactly what it says it is: "a Christian exploration and appraisal" of Buddhism. It is both fair and critical, and as I wrote above, a model of how Christians should interact with adherents of other religions. I recommend this book enthusiastically.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Exploration of the Metaphysics of Buddhism, September 27, 2010

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Snubnosed in Alpha - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buddhism: A Christian Exploration and Appraisal (Paperback)

G.K. Chesterton once observed that it was fashionable in his day to suppose that "Christianity and Buddhism are very much alike, especially Buddhism." Though he risked being found out of step with his times, Chesterton went on not only to challenge the equivalence, but also to argue for the greater plausibility of Christian orthodoxy.

The authors of Buddhism: A Christian Exploration and Appraisal are at similar risk. They describe their book as being a "part of a genre known as interreligious polemics or interreligious apologetics," which, they note, "strikes many as inappropriate" (p. xv). A chief end of interreligious dialog by many students of religion is the promotion of mutual understanding and respect among adherents of the different world religions. To many such readers, the very idea of urging reasons for thinking that the religious beliefs of others may be false is anathema.

However, Yandell and Netland argue that it is more respectful of a tradition to take its central truth claims seriously--and to engage them as such--than it is to downplay the doctrinal differences that adherents themselves regard as being of great significance. And they observe that there is no necessary connection between thinking a religious belief false and treating those who hold the belief in a manner that is inappropriate. (One might add that thinking some religious doctrines false is a necessary condition of thinking any of them true. To believe a thing is to believe it to be true, and to believe it to be true entails thinking any and all contrary beliefs false. If there is anything inappropriate about thinking any religious beliefs false, the only remedy would thus seem to be to refrain from believing anything at all.)

Further, it is commonly asserted that, while exclusivism appears to be a hallmark of Western religious traditions, such is not to be found in the Asian traditions. The authors do much to dispel this notion--which seems itself to be a hallmark of Western religious studies departments--noting that there is a long tradition of interreligious polemic among the Asian traditions themselves. This point is argued explicitly in the introduction and amply illustrated in the ensuing discussion of the various schools of Buddhism as they have encountered other traditions.

Yandell and Netland divide their book into six chapters. The first three provide a nice account of the origins of Buddhism against its Vedic backdrop, and its subsequent migration to China, Japan and the rest of Asia, and, much later, to the West. The reader will find a helpful summary of the various schools of Buddhism--Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana, etc.--and will have a sense of how Buddhist thought evolved as it encountered other religious perspectives, such as Taoism. Perhaps of particular interest to Christians is the authors' comparison of Pure Land Buddhism, with its doctrine of grace, to Protestant Christianity. There are also helpful discussions of Zen Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism--arguably the two varieties best known in the West--and the relation that they bear to classical Buddhism. Chapter Three concludes with a discussion of the profound influence of two scholars of Zen Buddhism, D.T. Suzuki and Masao Abe, and the way in which their scholarship has come to shape the Western perception of Zen, as well as Buddhism in general. The discussion of Abe notes some controversy among Zen scholars regarding the moral implications of Abe's metaphysics, as ultimate reality is said to transcend all distinctions, including that between good and evil.

Chapter four, "Aspects of Buddhist Doctrine," opens with a defense of the approach that is to follow. The claim is that Buddhism, though often viewed as being practical in its concerns, with a soteriological rather than metaphysical focus, does, in fact, make assertions about the nature of reality. As with all religions, Buddhism begins with a diagnosis of the human predicament and then goes on to prescribe a remedy. As with most Indian religions, Buddhism diagnoses the fundamental problem as ignorance of the true nature of reality, and prescribes a cure in the form of enlightenment--an overcoming of ignorance through a full realization of the true nature of things.

Different Indian religious systems offer different accounts of what that true nature amounts to. A standard Buddhist account has it that everything is radically impermanent. The fundamental and pervasive error that holds us in bondage is the false belief that there are enduring substances, and, more specifically, that we are enduring, substantial selves. (This false belief is responsible for selfish grasping and a futile search for lasting happiness in a world that is inherently unsatisfactory.) The truth is that composite existing things, such as people and pagodas, are mere constructs. Only the simple constituents of such things exist, and these are momentary. Each originates in dependence upon its causal antecedent, endures for only an instant, and is replaced by its causal descendant. At any given time, what we call a person is a bundle of these constituents, and a person over a period of time is a causally linked series of such bundles.

Much of chapter four is given to the question of whether there is a coherent way of putting the requisite metaphysics that is also capable of accommodating other essential Buddhist tenets. Perhaps the most crucial concern is that something must exist in order to manifest the allegedly erroneous belief, There are enduring conscious minds, and in order for the Buddhist account to be true that something must be other than such a mind. Essentially, it must be possible to account for such beliefs by appeal to a variety of "unowned" conscious states.

The chapter also considers whether the Buddhist doctrine of dependent origination is compatible with the sort of freedom that is presupposed by Buddhist talk of karma and enlightenment. The doctrine requires that, at any time, every momentary state that constitutes a bundle that we think of as a "person" is the inevitable consequence of prior momentary states (which, in fact, are a part of a beginningless sequence of such states). But then it is difficult to see how any account of free will--short of compatibilism--can be accommodated, for it would seem to require unconditioned states within the sequence, which are precluded by the doctrine. The authors explore the sort of account that might be available given the constraints of other Buddhist metaphysical commitments.

The chapter concludes with a discussion of several possible Buddhist approaches to accounting for the doctrine of Nirvana. Among them is the suggestion that there is no accounting for it, as it is, in fact, ineffable. But, the authors argue, if the ineffability of Nirvana ends all such discussion, it serves equally well to "preclude any beginning of the discussion of Nirvana." Buddhist traditions typically describe Nirvana in "honorific terms." But "if it is literally ineffable, then it is not better described in one way better than another. It is as accurate to describe it as hell in which torture is carried out by gods and goddesses who are masters of their wicked trade as it is to describe it in terms that might make it desirable to a sane person" (p. 142). People who like to speak of their religious ultimate as "ineffable" tend to cheat, as they violate the ineffability ban on property ascription just long enough to say what their religious beliefs otherwise require.

Generally, the discussion is valuable for looking past common metaphors and asking hard questions about what the actual metaphysics must look like if the doctrines are to be taken literally and with any seriousness. Some may object to the somewhat ahistorical nature of the discussion, as the focus is more upon what the Buddhist might possibly say, given certain commitments, as opposed to exegesis of what any particular Buddhists have, in fact said. In my opinion, this is the very charm and strength of the chapter as it is precisely what is required in order to understand the philosophical implications of the doctrines.

Chapter five, "Some Buddhist Schools and Issues," considers three varieties of Buddhism: the "heretical" Personalist school, which appeared in the third century, Nagarjuna's Madhyamika school, which is one of the more influential Mahayana traditions, and "Buddhist Reductionism," which includes a number of traditions claiming that the objects of common sense belief are mere constructs, and that reality is exhausted by more basic constituents, such as fleeting mental or physical states.

The Personalist school emerged, and, for a time, enjoyed a great deal of popularity, largely because some philosophers within the Buddhist tradition concluded that adequate accounts of personal identity, action, karma and rebirth, or enlightenment cannot be had on the standard Buddhist views of dependent origination, impermanence and no-self (anatman). It is enlightening to discover that such philosophical worries are not limited to Western analytic--and Christian--philosophers. But here is where closer attention to actual texts might have been desirable instead of textually unsupported references to this or that "Personalist argument." Perhaps a running discussion of such texts could have been included in the footnotes.

Discussion of Madhyamika is given largely to three interpretations. On a nihilist interpretation, nothing whatsoever ultimately exists. Not only is this suggestion rife with difficulties (for one thing, were it true there would be no one around either to affirm or deny it), but it is generally not thought to be a correct interpretation of Madhyamika. On an Absolutist interpretation, which strongly... Read more ›

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Buddhism book review, November 24, 2009

By 

P. Shirley "P.S." (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Buddhism: A Christian Exploration and Appraisal (Paperback)

I recently received a copy of Buddhism: A Christian Exploration and Appraisal. One of the reasons that I wanted to read it was because I know so little about Buddhism. To be perfectly I don't know many, in any, Buddhists. So I am not able to learn about Buddhism from friends. So I did the next best thing, I found a book on it. I was not disappointed with this book either. Yandell and Netland do a superb job of overviewing Buddhism. I have read several other shorter works on the topic of Buddhism, and this blows them all out of the water!

Yanhdell and Netland help the reader better understand Buddhism by overviewing the history of Buddhism, explaining the development of Buddhism (including the different branches of Buddhism), detailing the doctrines of Buddhism, and finally comparing the differences between Christianity and Buddhism.

The final section, which compares Christianity and Buddhism, was the most helpful to me for two reasons. First, I know Christian doctrine so when the authors compared Buddhism to Christianity it gave me some categories that I could use to better understand Buddhism. Second, the authors provide some very helpful information with respect to evangelism. As the authors put it,

The Buddha or the Christ? The dharma or the gospel? These are not simply variations on a common theme, or different ways of expressing the same spiritual insight. The choice here is between two radically different perspectives on reality, on the nature of the human predicament, and the way to overcome it.

For anyone looking to learn more about Buddhism, and the differences between buddhism and Christianity this is a very helpful book. I would highly suggest it.