Would Jesus and Buddha Agree?
Can a person be both a Christian and a Buddhist?
Two professors from competing universities will discuss this idea at 7 p.m. today in the auditorium of the new College of Business building. Both are nationally recognized experts on the topic.
Dr. Jay McDaniel of Hendrix College and Dr. Jim Deitrick of UCA will present their views on the compatibility, or lack of it, between these two major world religions. They will discuss the possibility of a Christian attaining the enlightment promoted by Buddhism while simultaneously following the teachings of Jesus.
Jay McDaniel
McDaniel is chairman of the Religion Department at Hendrix and teaches both Christian theology and Buddhist thought. He also is director of the Steel Center for the Study of Religion and Philosophy. His research has focused on reconciling Christianity and Buddhism. McDaniel also is an ordained United Methodist minister and an active member of First United Methodist Church in Conway.
He has written several books and studied under a Zen Buddhist priest. He is co-founder of a Zen meditation group that meets at 7 p.m. every Monday at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Conway.
Deitrick is an associate professor of comparative philosophy and religion at UCA and director of the Humanities and World Cultures Institute. His research has focused on the meeting between Asian religions and Western civilization. He is a contributing editor to the Encyclopedia of Buddhism and has written articles and chapters of books about Buddhism in the West.
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