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MADISON, Wis., Feb. 10, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- In a recent Sify article, the Dalai Lama, a Buddhist, said he is a Marxist who opposes Communist China's version of Marxism.
Karl Marx, founder of Marxism, said religion is the "opium of the masses." He believed religion was the result of rich oppressors taking advantage of poor people. Marx said, "Abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness."
The Dalai Lama is one of TIME magazine's all-time favorite religious leaders. His promotion of Marxism is confusing because most Marxists oppose religion. However, some Marxists try to combine their beliefs with Christianity.
An example of this is liberation theology which became popular over the last few years. President Obama's former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, promotes black liberation theology.
Marxism has never produced good results. More than 100 million people have been slaughtered by Marxist governments. Also, the Nazis, who many consider to be a form of Marxism, killed an additional 24 million people.
For the Dalai Lama to believe that Marxism is good is hypocritical. He fled Tibet and went to India in 1959 because of Chinese Communist persecution.
How could the Dalai Lama promote Marxism after being persecuted by the Marxist Chinese regime? There is no such thing as a benign Marxist regime. Some start out idealistic, but eventually destroy true Christianity and other religions.
Also, from a Christian point of view, the Dalai Lama's promotion of Buddhism is in error. The Dalai Lama claims to be the fourteenth reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. The Bible does not support reincarnation.
Buddha, founder of Buddhism, did not believe in God. Jesus Christ is thought of as an enlightened teacher, but not God.
The ultimate goal of Buddhists is to arrive at nirvana, the elimination of desires and cravings. By doing this, a person supposedly escapes suffering.
Christian Investigator President Steve McConkey says, "I admire the Dalai Lama's opposition to Chinese dictators, however, the promotion of ungodly Marxism is troubling. Additionally, pastors need to teach people about these popular beliefs so Christians can defend their faith."
Steve McConkey is the President-Founder of 4 WINDS which offers the news-apologetics site Christian Investigator (CI). Also, CI produces articles that are distributed worldwide on important issues. He is an honor graduate of Minnesota State University-Mankato (BS-Public Health) and Western Kentucky University (Masters of Public Health).
