Deal and Beal on Textuality and Religion

On 10/26 I attended a presentation at the Museum of the Rockies, which dealt a great deal with the textuality of religion, specifically Christianity and Buddhism. The two authors/professors that spoke, Timothy Beal and William Deal, briefly explained the differences and similarities within religious scripture and the importance of both texts, The Bible, and The Lotus Sutra.

Professor Beal explained briefly, and acknowledged author Max Mueller's importance in deciphering religious script, mainly Buddhist and Sanskrit. However, Beal dealt mainly with the Bible and how many peoples opinions of the bible are misconstrued as 'God's Words' when in reality they are not. The bible is merely a religious script of rules and orders under God's command. However, what many do not know is that this book was written by men, it is not one authoritative voice without contradiction, or rival. It is a book written by men, for god, not by god for men.

On a more mythologically interesting note, the first known Christian scripture was written on animal skin, where the outlined veins of the seemingly still-living animal were still quite apparent.

Professor Deal however, asked first who had heard of, or read the entire Lotus Sutra, Buddhism's holy scripture, the answer became immediately apparent--none. Knowing this, Deal overviewed the beginnings of this text and examined its textual importance in religion. One of his teachings was that of Ananda, or the Buddha’s disciple who is the eternal intermediary between teacher and student. His name can be also be known as the Guardian of the Dharma, keeper of the Buddha’s sacred text. His duty was to write the first Lotus Sutra for future practicing Buddhist's.

Furthermore, Deal explained the significance of the Lotus Sutra and that for practicing Buddhist’s; they must complete five separate teachings or practices which are upholding, reading, recitation, preaching, and copying of the Lotus Sutra. In doing this, we sentient beings can thus be transported from the shores of pain and suffering to those of enlightenment and peace.

In conclusion, this presentation taught me much I did not know about the Lotus Sutra in Buddhism and reiterated much I knew about The Bible in Christianity