It is indeed like christianity, but it appears you didn't read very much:  Pure landers, like christians, believe their pure land is found after death.  Not here, not now, not within-but in a world elsewhere, after they die.

Also, I don't know much about Pure Land Buddhists either, but I know enough that Dio indeed bastardized the foundations of their beliefs.  And what I know is based on a close friend of mine, I've known her for about 20 years now.  She practices Nichiren Buddhism like myself, but was raised in a Pureland Buddhism family, and didn't convert until she was 18 I believe, she's now 75.  So like Bob O, I have personal experience, in my case with a former Pure Land person.  How many pure land buddhists does dio know I wonder?

This is what I know:

This sect, like my own, arose around 12th or 13th Century Japan and became very popular, it is called "Jodo Shu" which means "School of Pure Land [Buddhism]" and "Jodo Shinshu"  which means "TRUE School of Pure Land [Buddhism]", founded by Shinran-or as they refer to him "Shinran Shonin"  (shonin is a term applied to a preist).

He taught that Amida Buddha could save people.  One had to devote themself TO Amida Buddha.  They did so by chanting their devotion accordingly:  "Nam Amida Butsu"  (ie, I devote myself to the Buddha Amida".  A daily practice, typically performed at a home altar.

By repeating this mantra (and I assume faith is required) they would be reborn in the "Pure Land of Perfect Bliss".  I believe this is in the "western region of the Universe" as they believe.

Lastly, I assume:  This concept is based on the idea of a Buddha who instead of "entering Nirvana", chooses to stay in the world and help others achieve enlightenment-in this case, obviously in an afterlife rebirth.  

So note:  the "REBIRTH" part-that means NOT IN THIS LIFE dio, thus you bastardized it.  Note the "Pure Land of Perfect Bliss" in the "Western region of the Universe"... again, NOT HERE, NOT ON PLANET EARTH, thus again-you bastardized it.

It is indeed arguably the Buddhism MOST like christianity.  But you aren't describing chrisitanity, nor Buddhism (pure land or otherwise), you are describing Dioism.

This is basically making TWO STRAWMEN and then tying them together with some bailing wire.  Nothing fancier Dio.  Your love of strawmen makes me wonder why you don't find Bahai attractive.

Feb 25, 2012 -- 3:47PM, dio wrote:

Feb 25, 2012 -- 1:33PM, Bob_the_Lunatic wrote:

It is indeed like christianity, but it appears you didn't read very much:  Pure landers, like christians, believe their pure land is found after death.  Not here, not now, not within-but in a world elsewhere, after they die.

Oh that after death thing, I thought pure landers believed they could live in the pure land in their lifetime. Too bad, can there be a combination of here and now Zen with pure land?

First, why dont' you take Bob's advice and ASK THEM.  Second, you've more than proven that you are capable of redesigning any philosophy or religion you come across to suit your needs (ie you are a master of strawmen), so from YOUR perspective the answer is:  Of course, you can combine anything Dio, with enough Dio-it's all the same.

Feb 25, 2012 -- 4:17PM, Aka_me wrote:

Feb 25, 2012 -- 2:21PM, Ferretling wrote:

I just can't understand, dio, why you can't let Christianity remain Christianity and Buddhism remain Buddhism. Just because they have similarities, that doesn't make them the same thing.

because Buddhism is not specific in describing what it is, and what it is not.

had Buddhism been specific in describing what it is and what it is not...

there would never have been divisions, fractioning, splinters, schisms, and denominations.

Buddhism does not say "do not mix religions".

if some members choose to mix their Hinduism with Buddhism, there is no reason preventing other members from mixing their Christianity and Buddhism.

Then you have taken on the burden of showing that the Pure Land of Pure Land Buddhism is in THIS WORLD.  Otherwise, your point is a fallacy, care to back it up?