Brit Hume to Tiger Woods: "Drop Buddhism, Take Christianity"

So this little bit got a few people up in arms this morning. And while I undoubtedly think that what Hume says here is exactly correct, it probably isn't something that should be said on a national news broadcast. It's a little odd to blog on this because people that know me would probably expect me to come down on both sides of this issue at the same time. I'm not going to. I am squarely in Hume's camp on this one.

Let me explain. Redemption isn't a concept in Buddhism that a person can explore. There's no moral room for it because in most Buddhist philosophies, one need not be redeemed. There is a particular strain of Buddhism, and forgive me for forgetting which one it is, in which adherents are capable of offering Redemption to others through right living, or following a moral code. Even if Tiger were of this Buddhist variety, he's already blown it.

What does Tiger, or anyone like him do? In Buddhism, there is no concept of sin for the most part, so Tiger can just move on as though nothing happened, trying to bridge his relationships were he can. For the Buddhist, forgiveness is primarily just a way to keep negative thoughts from consuming a person. In other words, you should forgive others so that you don't get bitter. Good advice, but where does this help Tiger? Tiger is the one who needs to be forgiven -- although I suppose he needs no forgiveness if he's Buddhist because he's committed so sin.

And lets be really honest about Buddhism for just a moment. In the case of Tiger Woods, an act of pardon or Grace is nonsense for the adherent. Instead, the emphasis in most Buddhist texts is not about Forgiveness -- it is about the foolishness of having taken offense in the first place. And that friends, is the great strength and the great weakness of Buddhism.

And personally, in Tiger's situation, it is why I solely agree with Brit Hume. Buddhism's approach is theoretically and practically inferior to Christianity in matters of forgiveness and redemption -- and pretending that in the course of our human experiences, we need no forgiveness or Redemption... well, that's an illogical insanity. And one of two reasons that I am not Buddhist.

The other is suffering, by the way.

Cheers.